GEELONG v WEST COAST
MARGIN - CATS 1-39 (x2.5)LOSS
The Cats time is Now!
Geelong will prove to much for the young up and coming Eagles to withstand on Saturday and advance to their 4th Grand final in 5 years! This is also the Cats 5th straight Prelim Final! Amazing considering the quality of personnel that left Geelong last year.
The Eagles have been outstanding in 2011! Coming from wooden spooners to top 4! But I just feel they may have played their Grandfinal last week. That was a huge effort from the players to withstand the Blues late charge and manage all the knocks and injuries along the way. I still have concerns on how Kennedy, LeCra & McKenzie will pull up. Geelong has one major injury of it's own with young star Menzel out with a knee. This is a big loss as he has added fresh legs and a spark that I believe the Cats were lacking in 2010. Having said that, when you are Able to replace him with a 2 time All Australian and Best & Fairest in Joel Corey your doing pretty well. The Depth of the Cats is top of the class with 3 premiership players, 2 of which are also All Australian named as emergencies. Milburn, Mooney & Byrnes.
One big question for the Cats is can they control the tall Eagles forwards, Kennedy, Lynch, Darling, Cox and Nic Natinui? Tough ask as most teams have discovered this year but with the experience of the Cats Backline that boasts 3 All Australians and all of which are premiership players Scarlett, Enright, Taylor, Hunt, Wocjinski & Mackie, they will hold the forwards at bay.
I expect a real tough tight contest. Hense the reason I have played Geelong 1-39. West Coast have only lost 6 games all year, and only once has it been over this margin (52pts v Collingwood). All the rest have been by 13(SYD), 7(HAW), 16(ESS), 21(STK)& 20(COLL). West Coast will have confidence having beaten Geelong in their one and only encounter this year. West Coast has not won @ the MCG for along time and the Cats have a perfect 7-0 record here in 2011. All bar the Round 24 massacre of Collingwood (96pts) have been close encounters. Margins are 1(STK), 17(HAW), 3(COLL), 5(HAW), 28(STK)& 31(COLL).
I expect the Eagles to throw everything at Geelong but as against the Hawks the class and experience of the Cats will see them advance to the big dance again! The extra week rest will prove the difference against a banged up West Coast.
CATS by 26pts
(2.1u @ 2.2 @ Sportingbet)
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