In 2015, the Cats are thrilled to be partnering with fantasy experts footyprophet.com to bring you all the insight you need about AFL Fantasy and the Cats’ fantasy value. Every week Footy Prophet will rank their ‘Footy Prophet Fantasy Five’, ranking the top 5 players predicted to score the highest and then will review the results in the review!
FORM & HISTORY
The Geelong & Hawthorn matchup is a modern day football rivalry that has matched the best of them. There’s not a tagline that represents this clash, such as The Q Clash nor a Derby or Showdown. This rivalry is quite simply built on two powerhouses of recent years. This rivalry is built on pride, it dates back to the grievance the Cats felt when Hawthorn snatched the 2008 Premiership and it has remained fierce ever since.
Since that loss in the 2008 Grand Final, the two greatest sides in recent history have battled it out on 15 occasions with the winning margin less than two goals in 10 of those. The Kennett Curse is no longer, but the rivalry remains and Geelong are yet lose an Easter Monday clash.
Both teams are a fantasy goldmine with point scorers right across the board but in this match there will be no easy touches. These two teams will earn every kick, every handball and every goal.
THE LEAD UP
With active trade periods and three pre-season matches in the bank both teams will be eager to get the season proper off to a winning start. Mitch Clark ($156,000 FWD in AFL Fantasy) has added another damaging tall target forward at Geelong, while first round draft pick Nakia Cockatoo ($271,000 MID) is expected to be named to play.
Geelong will welcome back a host of players who did not play in the Semi Final loss to North Melbourne, Steve Johnson the biggest of them. Hamish McIntosh ($451,000 RUCK) has recovered from injury and competed well in Geelong's VFL practice matches while Dawson Simpson ($279,000 RUCK) has played in all three of Geelong's NAB Challenge hitouts.
KEY MATCH-UP
Cameron Guthrie ($420,000 MID) was Geelong's number one tagger in 2014 but the coaching staff have said he will be given the chance to hunt the football a little more this season. Given the importance of the round one clash with the reigning premiers, Guthrie is expected to play a similar role to that which he played against Carlton in Geelong's final NAB Challenge match.
Against Carlton, the 22 year old divided his time between tagging the dangerous Chris Judd and trying to impact the play himself. He was damaging when he hunted the football working away from Judd, with 26 touches, 7 clearances and a goal. Guthrie's work rate was immense and it will need to be again if he wants to produce something similar against Jordan Lewis on Monday.
Now thriving in the midfield in the prime of his career, Jordan Lewis ($621,000 MID) enjoyed his best season to date at Hawthorn in 2014. He averaged almost 28 disposals and a goal a game but most damaging perhaps was his ability to go third man up at the stoppages. Guthrie has a mighty task ahead of him if he is to curb the devastating influence that Lewis can have on the game.
BOOM OR BUSTS
Harry Taylor ($390,000 DEF) has had a huge pre-season coming off the back of what was by his own admission a “patchy” 2014. He has played all three NAB Challenge matches for a tally of 31 marks and an AFL Fantasy average of 91. If you managed to snare a draft bargain in Taylor, you must consider him a certain starter in your team.
Josh Caddy ($392,000 MID) on the other hand has had a patchy pre-season. He had a slow start against his former team Gold Coast and finished quietly against Carlton. Caddy is widely expected to have a breakout season and will be looking to make amends for his poor recent form against the reigning premiers. In a bid to arrest their clearance issues from last season, Geelong will be looking for Caddy use his strength over the football, so expect him to feature in quite a few stoppages on Monday afternoon.
FOOTY PROPHET'S FANTASY FIVE
1. Jimmy Bartel ($562,000 FWD)
2. Mitch Duncan ($537,000 MID)
3. Joel Selwood ($603,000 MID)
4. Matthew Stokes ($511,000 MID)
5. Steve Johnson ($613,000 MID)
