The season defining clash at the recently ‘snowed in’ Eureka Stadium, sees the VFL Cats who are perched in 8th position with 8 wins, 7 losses and a percentage of 117.35, take on the partially aligned Roosters, who sit two positions higher in 6th position with 9 wins, 6 losses and a percentage of 117.98.
A win for either side will see them move one step closer to cementing a place in this year’s finals series, while the loser will move back into the football wilderness with a group of clubs who are fighting to keep their 2014 dreams alive.
The Cats have been given a boost at the selection table with inclusion of experienced utility Taylor Hunt who has not played since sustaining a groin injury in the Round 12 match against the Northern Blues.
23-year-old Hunt, has been joined on the list of VFL inclusions by AFL omission Dawson Simpson who has made way for Hamish McIntosh.
St Joseph’s midfielder Tom Atkins has been added to the squad and will play his fifth and final home and away match as the Cats 23rd player. Atkins will replace his Joey’s teammate Brant Haintz who had a very impressive VFL debut against Frankston, kicking two goals and collecting 15 disposals.
Aside from Haintz, Daniel Gibbs is the only other outgoing player from the squad after injuring his hamstring in the 61-point victory over the Dolphins.
The headline act of the finals like match up, will no doubt be the return of North Melbourne superstar Daniel Wells who has not played since AFL Round 5. Wells sustained a serious foot injury in a training mishap and has undergone an extensive rehabilitation program. The 28-year-old midfielder has been added to the squad along with key AFL listed key defender Joel Tippett, AFL omission Aaron Mullett, Roosters skipper Michael Searl and former St Kilda rookie listed forward Jordan Staley.
The key inclusions further strengthen a North Ballarat Roosters side that has been one of the competitions big improvers this season,
The Roosters, who continue to be mentored by three-time VFL premiership coach Gerard Fitzgerald, have taken a number of big scalps in 2015, including victories over the 2nd placed Footscray Bulldogs in Round 5 and the 4th placed Box Hill Hawks in Round 9 at Box Hill.
The 27-man Roosters squad also features North Melbourne listed players Liam Anthony, Brad McKenzie, Max Warren Trent Dumont, Mitch Wilkins, Eric Wallace and a host of established VFL listed players such as midfielder Lachlan George, Nick Couch, Oliver Tate, Nick Peters, James Keeble and former Brisbane Lion Matt Austin.
For all Cats fans that cannot get to the picturesque Eureka Stadium on Sunday, the match will be tweeted live, so follow @GeelongVFL on Twitter for all the action including live scores, stats updates and photos.
Bendigo Bank Cats – Round 18 Selected Side
B: Jed Bews, Jake Kolodjashnij, Taylor Hunt
HB: Billie Smedts, Joel Hamling, Jackson Thurlow
C: Jarrad Jansen, Brad Hartman, Jackson Sheringham
HF: Lincoln McCarthy, Josh Walker, Michael Luxford
F: Dominic Gleeson (c), Mitch Brown, Darcy Lang
R: Dawson Simpson, Jesse Stringer, Jordan Schroder
I/C: James Toohey, Nick Bourke, Kieren Paliouras, Tom Maas, Matthew Sully, Jack Hollmer, Andrew Banjanin, Mitch Herbison, Tom Atkins (23rd Player).
