Game Day Geelong Cats v North Melbourne, Round 21 - 19:25 AEST, Aug 10, 2019.

[Chief]

Who should be in? Who should be dropped?

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Geelong Cats Vs North Melbourne - Match Centre - AFL.com.au

Get a summary of the Geelong Cats vs. North Melbourne AFL Match at GMHBA Stadium

www.afl.com.au

Where and when: GMHBA Stadium, Saturday August 10, 7.25pm AEST

TV, radio and online: Click here for broadcast guide

What it means for Geelong: The three-week tune-up for finals starts now. The coach and captain have both said it's not panic stations despite all key numbers being down. Time to prove it.

What it means for North Melbourne: A chance to show the rest of the competition that last week's win in Rhyce Shaw's first official game as coach wasn't purely emotion.


The stat: After leading the competition for scoring before their bye, the Cats have recorded 25 fewer points per game in their past seven matches. It has seen them fall from first to 13th in the competition.

The match-up: Mark Blicavs v Ben Brown

Very few key forwards have got hold of Geelong's defence this season like Ben Brown did against the Cats with five majors back in round eight. Blicavs (No.4 ranked key defender in the Official AFL Player Ratings), will be keen to stem the influence of Brown (No.11 ranked key forward) to help teammate Tom Hawkins' push for the Coleman Medal.

It's a big week for: Nick Larkey

It's been quiet month for the up-and-coming key forward after re-signing a contract extension until the end of 2021. With plenty of focus to centre on Ben Brown, Larkey will be keen for a big showing against a top-four side that possesses a quality defence.

Big call: Joel Selwood to put his hand up with a match-winning performance after a below-par outing against the Dockers.

Prediction: Cats by 17 points

More By Mitch Cleary

 

[Madness101]

Geelong by the length of the Rockhampton straight.

 

[demondavey]

Geelong should bounce back really well. Two more games at Geelong should see them finish top. Whatever they do they have to find a way to play the MCG better and use the space it has. Corridor football is great at home, but not at the MCG.

 

[The Warlord]

Will be very interesting one in terms of tactics - Shaw has already shown a high level of tactical nous and I will be very interested to see how he sets us up down there.

We really weren't far off Geelong first time up, when we were still encumbered with Brad Scott, and one of the greatest players in history in Ablett ended up being the difference.

He will probably do it again, but if Geelong remain flat and we bring our pressure and physical game, could get very interesting down at Taxpayer Stadium.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Will be very interesting one in terms of tactics - Shaw has already shown a high level of tactical nous and I will be very interested to see how he sets us up down there.

We really weren't far off Geelong first time up, when we were still encumbered with Brad Scott, and one of the greatest players in history in Ablett ended up being the difference.

He will probably do it again, but if Geelong remain flat and we bring our pressure and physical game, could get very interesting down at Kardinia Park.

I would tend to agree... I think most Cats fans would too.

 

[The Warlord]

I would tend to agree... I think most Cats fans would too.

Ablett appears to have special liking for us, he goes up a gear against us.

 

[Chinacats]

Premiership tilt on line for cats. Expect them to be ferocious. Kangaroos better form. More on the line for cats. Cats by 26.

 

[Iago]

Geelong should bounce back really well. Two more games at Geelong should see them finish top. Whatever they do they have to find a way to play the MCG better and use the space it has. Corridor football is great at home, but not at the MCG.

I see your point. However win loss this year is 4-1 at the MCG.

 

[Benno_900]

We will win this by 30+.

 

[JackFlash]

It will be cold, wet, windy and with the ground soaked after about 4 days of rain it will be very interesting how the Cats players respond? This will be a game of attrition. Old fashioned footy between two mid table teams.

 

[demondavey]

It will be cold, wet, windy and with the ground soaked after about 4 days of rain it will be very interesting how the Cats players respond? This will be a game of attrition. Old fashioned footy between two mid table teams.

Cunnington and Dangerfield should have a contested day out

 

[Kangaroo Cat]

Premiership tilt on line for cats. Expect them to be ferocious. Kangaroos better form. More on the line for cats. Cats by 26.

I agree, i think the cats with make an example of us but i think it will be a good learning experience for our younger guys too, will be a great game either way!

 

[Chief]

Stats and preview

 

[Whiskers]

If we don’t win this we will finish 5th as GWS win their last 3 and a big % booster vs GC.

 

[Xtreme]

Match of the round

Geelong need to respond to last weeks horrendous effort against the Dockers
North Melbourne are riding high after beating highly fancied Hawthorn last Friday night

 

[STPer18]

Match of the round

Geelong need to respond to last weeks horrendous effort against the Dockers
North Melbourne are riding high after beating highly fancied Hawthorn last Friday night

LOL

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Geelong should bounce back really well. Two more games at Geelong should see them finish top. Whatever they do they have to find a way to play the MCG better and use the space it has. Corridor football is great at home, but not at the MCG.

Have you seen Geelong play at all this year? We've played better at the MCG than what we have at KP. We also play through the wings more than we do the corridor.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

And Narkle is back. Has all the tools to be a seriously good AFL player so it's good they've given him the opportunity after some stellar VFL form.

 

[gingernuts]

Geelong should bounce back really well. Two more games at Geelong should see them finish top. Whatever they do they have to find a way to play the MCG better and use the space it has. Corridor football is great at home, but not at the MCG.

I reckon Geelong stopped playing corridor footy after Port and bullies gave them a touch up mid season. Now the coach is too scared to revert to the corridor.Now they play the flanks slow it down and it all turns to crap.If they continue in this manner they will get slaughtered by the better sides come finals.

 

[PerthBoy86]

If this was at Etihad I would give the Roos a real chance, but in Geelong I give them an outside chance. If it is very wet things could get very interesting, tends to even up the playing field even more. Hoping hard for a Roos win but won't get my hopes up.

 

[ROOINYOU]

hope we get up!
sadly I think the Cats win in a close one.
the weather tilts this to Geelong.
not expecting Browny to have much of an influence on this game.

 

[The Warlord]

If it is wet we will be hitting them hard and hitting them often. Even if Geelong win in the context of the season it could cost them.

Also Rhyce Shaw is being smart and staging the retirements of beloved clubmen (Wright last week, Scoter Thompson this week) to keep the group on an emotional edge.

Still reckon Ablett wins it off his own boot, he hates us with a passion.

 

[Wojcinski]

If it is wet we will be hitting them hard and hitting them often. Even if Geelong win in the context of the season it could cost them.

Also Rhyce Shaw is being smart and staging the retirements of beloved clubmen (Wright last week, Scoter Thompson this week) to keep the group on an emotional edge.

Still reckon Ablett wins it off his own boot, he hates us with a passion.

Why would you think Ablett hates you with a passion?

 

[The Warlord]

Why would you think Ablett hates you with a passion?

He seems to bring his best footy for us.

 

[Wojcinski]

He seems to bring his best footy for us.

I'm not sure that's because he hates North though, more like an "easy kill"

edit: I can imagine all the North people saving this comment for Geelong's inevitable collapse and loss. I am prepared!