Simonds Stadium, Saturday, 12 April @ 7:40pm
An unbeaten start to the season is destined to end for one of Geelong and West Coast when the two teams clash on Saturday night. The Eagles were universally viewed as a premiership contender last season and, despite finishing 13th in 2013, they are again favoured to make the finals. The revitalised West Coast have an unblemished record under new coach Adam Simpson with a healthy percentage of 216.6, but have so far only played sides who finished in the bottom four last year. Overcoming the Cats at Simonds Stadium is a far greater challenge. Geelong are brimming with confidence after three consecutive victories, seemingly unaffected by injuries to key personnel. The only game they lost at Kardinia Park last year was the Qualifying Final against Fremantle. The emerging Eagles have dominated lowly placed opposition this season and if they are able to match the achievement of their cross town rivals and win in Geelong they will undoubtedly be a finals force.
LAST TIME THEY MET
Patersons Stadium, Round 21, 2013
Geelong 16.11 (107)
West Coast 6.5 (41)
Geelong dominated their last contest with West Coast from the opening bounce, scoring six first quarter goals in wet and slippery conditions. The result was beyond doubt by half time with the Cats taking a 51 point into the major break. Joel Selwood was the stand out performer on the night, collecting 29 disposals and contributing a career high four goals to Geelong’s 66 point victory.
KEY MATCH-UP
Joel Selwood vs Scott Selwood
The Geelong captain elevated his game to new heights in 2013. An uncompromising, contested football specialist, Selwood added goal kicking to his game, scoring 30 goals for the year. He won his second Carji Greeves medal, finished second in the Brownlow, and was named All Australian Captain, earning recognition not only for his strength and skill, but for his on-field leadership.
Scott Selwood did not share the same success as his older brother in 2013, but is an improving young player and potentially a future captain of the Eagles. The youngest Selwood possesses the same appetite for physicality as the rest of his family, leading the competition last year for pressure acts and recording the second highest number of tackles. Congestion is where Scott Selwood thrives, ranking eight in the league for clearances per game. He was the winner of the 2012 West Coast best and fairest and if he can improve his disposal efficiency Scott Selwood is sure to become an elite midfielder.
Geelong has cycled a large number of inexperienced players through the centre this season and are likely to empower their young onballers with responsibility again this week. The West Coast midfield is depleted, missing Luke Shuey and Chris Masten, and will rely heavily on Scott Selwood. The Selwood brothers are ruthless in their attack on the contest, especially when they come up against each other, and are the best stoppage players in their respective sides. Joel has won 12 games against his brothers and lost just the once. Scott will need to deliver a commanding performance in the centre for his team or concede game number 13.
DID YOU KNOW?
Dean Cox equalled Glen Jakovich as games record holder for the Eagles last week and will secure the title for himself when he runs out against the Cats. Cox has played 276 games with West Coast since he debuted in 2001 and is poised to overtake the record set by Jakovich in 2004.
Dean Cox, regarded as the best ruckman of the AFL era, joined the Eagles as a rookie. Cox is a six time All-Australian and premiership player, but was overlooked by 16 clubs in the national draft and then by every club in the rookie draft before West Coast selected him with their second choice.
