In the latest instalment of Opposition Watch, Swans Media examines all things Geelong ahead of the Sydney Swans’ trip to GMHBA Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Recent form
Geelong sits four points clear on top of the ladder with nine wins and one loss pencilled in.
The Cats have won their last six games – a streak stamped with a 58-point victory over reigning premier West Coast – and toppled Gold Coast by 27 points at Metricon Stadium last Saturday.
Chris Scott’s men led by just two points at the final change in the Round 10 encounter against Gold Coast, but they’d blast home four last-term goals to the Suns’ none to clinch a 13.13 (91) to 9.10 (64) win.
Geelong stars Tim Kelly (35 disposals, eight clearances) and Tom Hawkins (four goals) were the heroes of the night.
Ins and outs
Brownlow Medallist Patrick Dangerfield and rising forward Esava Ratugolea will return to replace Gary Ablett (suspended) and Darcy Fort (omitted).
Dangerfield has overcome a knee injury, which sidelined the former Crow for one match, while Ratugolea has been named for his first game since Round 8 after being managed.
Key match-up
With Sydney’s Josh Kennedy confined to the injury ward and Geelong’s Dangerfield potentially underdone on return from a knee complaint, spiritual leaders Luke Parker and Joel Selwood are set for greater responsibility.
Parker (12.3 contested possessions per match) and Selwood (9.8) have again been instrumental at the coalface in season 2019, and the two stars are both shining lights for their emerging midfield teammates.
Selwood sets a stellar example for Kelly, Brandan Parfitt and a number of other blossoming Geelong midfielders.
Last time they met
Geelong chiselled out a 12-point win at the SCG when the Swans and Cats last met in Round 16, 2018.
Scores were level at 46-apiece at three-quarter time, before Geelong added three final-term goals to Sydney’s two to claim an 8.23 (71) to 9.5 (59) win.
Mitch Duncan gathered a Cats-high 32 touches and Kelly finished with 21 disposals and two goals, including a clutch snap from the right-forward pocket with three minutes left on the clock.
What they said
Veteran Geelong defender Harry Taylor: “I think with their taller forward line we’ll all have to rotate on ‘Buddy’ at different stages. I’m not sure which way ‘Scarlo’ (defence coach Matthew Scarlett) exactly wants it to look like just yet, but we’ll find out before the game and we will have all done our preparation regardless. We need to be aware of a really dangerous Sydney forward line who are going to be well supported by their midfielders, who we think are an elite group as well.”
