It is do-or-die for Geelong when they host Collingwood in the first semi final at the Gabba on Saturday night.
The winner will face Brisbane in a preliminary final and for the loser their season will come to an end.
Patrick Dangerfield is confident that won’t be Geelong and that the boys can ‘bounce back’ after going down to Port in the first week of finals.
“I don’t feel like we played that poorly, we just didn’t execute the way we would have liked,” Dangerfield said at Wednesday’s press conference.
“Finals are a game of inches, when you get your opportunities and you have the momentum swings in games, you have got to make sure that you have got that scoreboard pressure.
“We had opportunities to do that and didn’t capitalise on them.
“Whilst we were really disappointed, there were positives to come out of it I think, and we are really confident we will bounce back and play really good footy this week.”
For and Against: Played 235 games | Won: 100 | Drawn: 1 | Lost: 134
Recent history suggests this game should be a closely fought encounter with the last three matches decided by an average of 13 points.
Last time they met: R7, 2020 – Geelong 5.5 (35) def by Collingwood 8.9 (57)
Dangerfield (32 disposals, 10 clearances) and Cam Guthrie (28 disposals, 8 clearances) were the major ball winners for the Cats in their 22-point loss.
Jordan De Goey was the star for the Pies kicking five goals. He was well supported by Adam Treloar who had a game-high 34 disposals and 11 clearances.
Broadcast & Match Details
Saturday 10 October from 7.40pm AEDT.
Watch: Seven, Fox Footy, Kayo
Listen: K Rock Football
A big night for Hawkins…
Tom Hawkins is set to qualify for AFL life membership on Saturday night with his 300th official game since making his debut in 2007. Comprising of 274 premiership matches, 24 pre-season matches and one state game.
The 2020 Coleman Medallist is only four goals away from reaching 600 for his career and we are backing him in to achieve the milestone this week and join club greats Gary Ablett Snr and Doug Wade as the only other men to do so.
Limiting damage when opposition are in control…
Defending with the ball in hand will be crucial when the opposition has the momentum according to star onballer Patrick Dangerfield.
Port Adelaide’s dominant third term proved decisive and Geelong has taken some learnings from what to do should something similar occur against Collingwood.
“For us it is getting the ball back and not just defending without the ball. So, you can defend with ball in hand and retain possession, that’s the key you want to compose possession.
“It’s one thing to defend well, but the best thing is to defend with the ball in hand and we need to be better when we do win possession that we can maintain it for one or two minutes, versus kick it down the line or giving the opposition the opportunity to win it back.”
Into the record books...
Joel Selwood is due to play his 32nd final and if named in Geelong's team will move to outright third behind only Michael Tuck and Shaun Burgoyne for most finals in VFL/AFL history. Harry Taylor is set to play his 29th final which would move him up to equal fifth on the same list alongside Bruce Doull, Leigh Matthews and Wayne Schimmelbusch.
