Cats v Swans My Preview
The game between the Cats and Swans promises to be an intriguing. Both teams will fight to gain the ascendancy with the midfield battle being pivotal in deciding the final result. Geelong will need a solid performance from the likes of Menegola, Duncan and Scott Selwood. While the Swans will rely on the likes of Heeney, Parker and Lloyd. You know what you’re going to get from Joel Selwood and Dangerfield, whilst, the Swans usually have a good performance from the likes Kennedy, Parker and Hannebery. Both teams will need goals from the midfield.
The ruck battle should also be important in determining the momentum of the contest. Swans talls Naismith and Sinclair will be the ruck options for their team. The Cats go into the battle with one genuine ruckman; Zac Smith. They will look to Stanley to play the second ruck role. Whilst, the Swans chose to leave out big name recruit Tippett.
Franklin has been in ominous form lately, kicking ten and four goals in his last two outings. However, the Swans have other avenues to goal. They have Sinclair and Reid as tall options. Sinclair in particular has relished the role of getting game time ahead of fellow recruit Tippett. In this era of footy you can’t be one dimensional as the days of forwards keeping one hundred plus goals in a season seem to be over. Henderson should get the job to curtail Lance Franklin. That leaves the second and third tall back role up in the air with Harry Taylor playing most of his footy up forward. Tuohy and Mackie will look to create run from the backline for the Cats.
The Swans have named defender Heath Grundy as their only tall defender, along with Newman, although tall plays as a running defender, meaning Rampe may have to play a role curtailing dangerous swing man Harry Taylor. Menzel will probably play a part in determining which team is on the right side of the ledger at full time. He should take the pressure off Parsons and Motlop. No fuss defender Nick Smith, should play on Menzel.
Cats Game Changer: Rhys Stanley
Swans Game Changer: Zak Jones
My Prediction: Cats