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March 31, 2006
Round 1: Geelong Vs. Brisbane
GEELONG Vs. BRISBANE
WHERE & WHEN: Skilled Stadium, 2.10pm, Saturday 1 April.
TV & RADIO: Fox Footy Channel, ABC Radio, 3AW, Triple-M, K-Rock
OUR COVERAGE: live scores, stats & audio, Game Day News Desk, match replay (24 hour delay)
HEAD TO HEAD: Geelong 11, Brisbane Lions 16, 1 draw
LAST TIME: Brisbane 17.14 (116) def. Geelong 6.11 (47), Round 13, 2005, at the Gabba
Geelong
Backs: D. Milburn M. Scarlett M. Egan
Half Backs: J. Rooke C. Mooney J. Hunt
Centre: C. Enright J. Bartel D. Johnson
Half Forwards: G. Ablett H. Playfair A. Mackie
Forwards: C. Gardiner B. Ottens P. Chapman
Followers: S. King, J. Corey, C. Ling
Interchange: M. Blake, W. Slade, S. Byrnes, K. Tenace
Emergency: M. Spencer, B. Prismall, S. Johnson
Brisbane
Backs: C. Johnson M. Michael J. Drummond
Half Backs: B. Scott D. Bradshaw B. Fixter
Centre: J. Sherman M. Voss T. Notting
Half Forwards: A. McGrath J. Brown J. Brennan
Forwards: L. Power D. Merrett J. Leppitsch
Followers: J. Charman, S. Black, J. Akermanis
Interchange: M. Clark, S. Harding, M. Rischitelli, A. Corrie
Emergency: C. Keating, R. Copeland, T. Selwood
Ahh a new season. You can already smell the liniment. This game comes in with a bit of an unknown factor over it due to the injuries to both sides. For Geelong Kingsley, Riccardi, Kelly, N. Ablett & Harley are missing while Steve Johnson has been named in the emergencies, but if theories are to be believed could be playing. We've named 3 rucks (Kings, Ottens, Blake) so you'd suspect that one of either King or Ottens would be a late withdrawl unless they plan to have Ottens at FF all game. Also Will Slade finds himself on the bench after being promoted to the list for Nick Bachelor who is on the long term injured list with a torn hamstring.
Brisbane are missing key players Nigel Lappin & Chris Scott, which Richard Hadley is out for the rest of the season. Young star Mitchell Clark may miss the opportunity to make his debut if a fractured thumb is still troubling him.
Who knows how this game will end up? We had great pre-season cup form obviously taking home the trophy, but come round 1 that means little. Brisbane are a still a very dangerous, physical side that is ready to prove they're still finals material and host heaps of champion names.
I'm going to pick us just because we're at home, but wouldn't be surprised if we get turned over by an experienced outfit.
Prediction: Geelong by 4 points
Posted by Sammy D at March 31, 2006 07:53 PM