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August 18, 2007
Round 20 Preview
Kangaroos v Geelong
Telstra Dome
2:10pm Sunday
Teams
KANGAROOS
B: Green, Watt, Rawlings
HB: Smith, Firrito, Pratt
C: Sinclair, Harris, Grant
HF: Harvey, Jones, Archer
F: Hale, Petrie, McMahon
FOLL: McIntosh, Simpson, Wells
I/C: Sansbury, Swallow, Campbell, Brown
EM: Lower, Edwards, Moran
IN: Brown, Campbell
OUT: Thomas, Moran
GEELONG
B: Milburn, Scarlett, Harley
HB: Wojcinski, Egan, Mackie
C: Kelly, Bartel, Corey
HF: S.Johnson, Mooney, Selwood
F: Chapman, Ablett, Stokes
FOLL: Ottens, Ling, G.Ablett
I/C: Enright, J.Hunt, Varcoe, King
EM: Blake, Gardiner, Byrnes
IN: Hunt, Chapman
OUT: D.Johnson, Byrnes
Past 5
R5 2007 Kangaroos 18.10 (118) d Geelong 15.12 (102) Skilled Stadium
R17 2006 Kangaroos 13.12 (90) d Geelong 8.12 (60) Manuka Oval
R2 2006 Geelong 22.6 (138) d Kangaroos 10.9 (69) Skilled Stadium
R9 2005 Geelong 22.14 (146) d Kangaroos 8.13 (61) Skilled Stadium
R12 2004Geelong 14.10 (94) d Kangaroos12.12 (84) Skilled Stadium
Betting
Kangaroos $3.75, Geelong $1.25
________________________________
A fresh challenge awaits the Cats this round as they take on the most recent team to take four premiership points off them – the Kangaroos.
After round 5 of this season the tension in Geelong reached near breaking point after the Roos inflicted Geelong's third loss of the season in what appeared to be yet another epitome of a Geelong side that promised so much but was to deliver so little.
Who would have thought that what would follow from that game was a string of victories by Geelong that has made the league and the premiership favouritism their own?
And so Geelong will find itself with fresh motivation as it takes on the Shinboner spirit. Geelong will be keen to atone for its round 5 effort, but will also be motivated to avoid giving a finals contender a 2-0 record against it coming into September.
The Cats dispatched with a hungry Adelaide last weekend. It was simply a case of more of the same. Geelong has made a habit of destroying teams early in the first quarter, toying with them in the middle period of the game before finally demolishing them in the final stanza. Adelaide were the unfortunate recipients of this very treatment last Saturday.
But the Kangaroos bring with them quite a different prospect. This is a side that has defied its critics – particularly those of its senior coach, Dean Laidly – and has transformed itself into a top four and premiership contender. Without much fuss or fashion, the Kangaroos are a formidable opponent in any week because they rely not on a Wayne Carey, Chris Judd or Jonathan Brown. The Kangaroos are a team in the purest form of the word. They are young, fit and enthusiastic for the contest.
Geelong must be on its game if it is to continue its streak.
So often in the modern game the match is won and lost in the midfield. This game is no different. North's Harris, Grant, Simpson and Wells will need to limit the effectiveness of the red-hot and in-form Geelong engine room consisting of Bartel, Ablett, Corey and Ling.
On the slick Telstra Dome surface, the league's highest scoring team will be on show again. At the other end, the most frugal defense going around will choke down on the royal blue and white.
Geelong's resolve shows no signs of wavering. It has been reported that the team has gained no self-satisfaction in locking in the minor premiership. It would be a brave person to tip against a team that has won 14 matches in a row. I am not that man. Call me a coward.
Geelong by 30 points.
Posted by catempire at August 18, 2007 11:14 PM
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