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July 05, 2007
Round 14 Preview
Essendon v Geelong
Telstra Dome
Friday 7:40pm
Teams
Essendon
B: Slattery Michael M Johnson
HB: McPhee Ryder Hislop
C: McVeigh Ramanauskas Nash
HF: Hird Lucas Welsh
FOR: J Johnson Fletcher Davey
FOLL: Laycock Watson Rover: Peverill
INTER: Dyson Lovett Hille Johns
EMER: Camporeale Monfries Bolton
IN: Hislop Ramanauskas Dyson Hille Johns
OUT: Lloyd (suspended) Winderlich (hamstring) Stanton (ankle) Bolton Camporeale New: Tom Hislop, 19, Tasmania U18
Geelong
B: Milburn Scarlett Enright
HB: Mackie Egan Harley
C: Corey Bartel Wojcinski
HF: Chapman Mooney Varcoe
F: S Johnson Hawkins Stokes
FOLL: Ottens Ling Rover: G Ablett
INTER: Blake Kelly Tenace Selwood
EMER: Hunt Prismall D Johnson
IN: Tenace Hawkins
OUT: N Ablett (hip) Rooke (hamstring)
Umpires
Vozzo, McBurney, McInerney
Last 5
R11 2006 Geelong 20.10 (130) d Essendon 13.10 (88) Telstra Dome
R18 2005 Essendon 16.11 (107) d Geelong 13.16 (94) Telstra Dome
R4 2005 Geelong 19.17 (131) d Essendon 11.9 (75) Telstra Dome
SF 2004 Geelong 10.14 (74) d Essendon 9.10 (64) MCG
R9 2004 Geelong 18.12 (120) d Essendon 14.13 (97) Telstra Dome
Betting
Essendon $3.55, Geelong $1.28
__________________________
It's sentiment versus momentum tomorrow night at the Telstra Dome when ladder leaders, Geelong, take on Essendon.
Although the game will be James Hird's 250th AFL match, remarkably, it's another occasion altogether that will stir the black and red. Adam Ramanauskas makes his second comeback to AFL football after battling cancer.
In any other game you'd just about ink-in a win to Essendon with so much emotional fuel for them in this game. But this is no ordinary game.
The Bombers meet a rampaging Geelong outfit fresh from its eighth straight win. The Cats have defeated all comers including both Grand Finalists from the past two years and both South Australian teams in Adelaide.
So it is with that foundation that this match brings so much anticipation.
A sell out crowd will watch two teams that few would have considered would be in the positions these teams currently find themselves, first and fifth on the ladder.
A closer look at the recent records of these two teams gives significant insight. While Geelong's wins have been both numerous, large and against quality opposition, Essendon's previous three wins have been by a total of four points. In their wins against cellar-dwellers Melbourne and Richmond, they found themselves behind deep into red time in both matches only to find something extra to get them over the line.
At face value that's not the kind of form a team would want to carry into a game against the top side of the competition. But in addition to the sentimental boost they will no doubt receive, one should not be too quick to discount that good teams tend to win close matches. Essendon have done that and should be given the according respect.
Essendon have made five changes for the match, with the most significant being the loss of skipper Matthew Lloyd to a controversial suspension. This is somewhat counterbalanced by the return of first-choice ruck David Hille, although question marks must exist over the ability of the Bombers to kick a winning score against the competition's number one defensive and attacking outfit.
Geelong suffered two forced changes with Max Rooke succumbing once again to a hamstring injury and Nathan Ablett not able to shake a hip and knee problem. But with the brevity of Geelong's current injury list, the Cats have the luxury of slotting back Kane Tenace and exciting first year player, Tom Hawkins.
Geelong have thwarted their opposition this season with a lethal combination of frugal defence and scintillating attack. Essendon's immediate concern will be how to kick enough goals on Scarlett, Egan and Harley and how to stop Mooney, Ottens, Hawkins and, perhaps the most dangerous of them all, Steve Johnson.
But it is in the midfield where Essendon will be up against it. Brownlow favourite, Gary Ablett, and his partner in crime Jimmy Bartel (who looks to have pulled up well from a head and neck injury scare) as well as specialist extractor Joel Corey will be more than a handful for the Bombers. James Hird will look to spark Essendon but they will need plenty of first use from Jason Johnson and Jobe Watson if they are to have any chance.
Overall, while it is tempting to tip with sentiment in a game such as this, too many signs point to another Geelong victory.
Geelong by 20 points.
Posted by catempire at July 5, 2007 11:35 PM
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