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AFL ROUND 4: WESTERN BULLDOGS V GEELONG;
CATS MAKE FOUR CHANGES; MATCH
PREVIEW AND TEAM LIST GEELONG HAS made four changes to the side that will face the undefeated Western Bulldogs this Saturday at Telstra Dome in AFL Round four ANZAC remembrance round action. While Captain Steven King injured his hamstring last match and was expected to miss, the shock was full forward Kent Kingsley's hamstring injury. The injury, suffered in Geelong's second round NAB Cup win over the Kangaroos, kept Kingsley out of the NAB Cup final and Round One win over the Brisbane Lions. Meanwhile, Peter Riccardi returns via the VFL. Surprisingly dropped was ruckman Mark Blake - ruck duties will now be shared between fragile forward-ruck Brad Ottens and utility Cameron Mooney. Also making way was forward Andrew Mackie. Coming into the side are tall forwards Nathan Ablett and Tom Lonergan, and also small defenders David Wojcinski and Tim Callan. Wojcinski's promotion was anticipated, while Callan is a bit of a surprise, but performed well last season. Wojcinksi is returning from a knee reconstruction, suffered during Geelong's round two loss against West Coast at Subiaco last season. He has played the last few games in the VFL, and will help restore some speed to the centre. While the Bulldogs are missing key big men in Luke Darcy, Will Minson and Adam Morgan, Geelong will miss captain Steven King, suspended full back Matthew Scarlett and key defender Tom Harley, and now the dropped Mark Blake. The Cats come off a ten goal thumping at the hands of Hawthorn. Bulldog Daniel Cross is due to play his 50th game, while former Geelong big man Peter Street is set to play against his old club. According to Sportingbet.com.au, Geelong's
the favorite, at $1.80, with the Bulldogs not far behind on $2.00. The Bulldogs refused media access to their training session tomorrow, and have virtually shunned the media, granting only a thirty minute interview window prior to their closed training session. Bulldog president David Smorgon's cousin Graham Smorgon took the reigns of fellow AFL struggling club Carlton after incumbent Ian Collins left to concentrate on running Telstra Dome. In the VFL, the Bendigo Bank Cats play Port Melbourne at TEAC Oval this Sunday. Expect to see some movement between the VFL and AFL teams, with David Wojcinski set to return and possibly Tom Lonergan or Charlie Gardiner to earn a promotion. TIP? BULLDOGS BY 13 POINTS
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WESTERN BULLDOGS V GEELONG SATURDAY 22 APRIL 2006 TELSTRA DOME TV: LIVE COVERAGE FOX FOOTY (FOXTEL / OPTUS / AUSTAR) RADIO: ABC774 1300-1800
SPEEDY BACKMAN/WINGER DAVID WOJCINSKI, WHO RETURNS FROM A KNEE RECONSTRUCTION, TOOK THIS HANGER IN 2004
FORMER GEELONG RUCKMAN PETER STREET, NOW AT THE BULLDOGS |
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GEELONG IN: Callan, Wojcinski, Lonergan, Nathan Ablett B: Milburn, Mooney, D.Johnson |
WESTERN BULLDOGS IN: Ray, Street B: McMahon, Harris, Morris |
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LAST TIME ROUND 6 2005 GEELONG'S premiership hopes were all but extinguished with a thirty-five point defeat at the hands of the Western Bulldogs at Telstra Dome. The Bulldogs controlled the game throughout, although in the third and final quarter the Cats did peg back their lead and had half a chance with five minutes to go, only to be snuffed out. Despite their impressive victory over Port Adelaide the week before, Geelong didn't display the skill nor the fight of the previous round. No players stood up when required; this season when a team such as the Bulldogs, Swans or Lions have a run of goals the Cats' fail to fire until it's too late and their deficit is insurmountable. The only time Geelong's came back from this position this season was their breakthrough victory over Port back in round four at Football Park. As reported on The Cattery last week, Brad Ottens did not take his place in the side, instead replaced by Steve Johnson. Ottens is reportedly set to play this Friday night, although it has been confirmed he will not be playing ruck due to his limited mobility. This mobility restriction is the result of the groin injury that's kept Ottens out of the side since round twelve's narrow win over the Adelaide Crows.
WESTERN BULLDOGS: 6.4, 10.9, 17.12, 20.13 (133)
DEFEATED GOALS - WESTERN BULLDOGS: Skipper 5, Eagleton
4, Smith 3, Giansiracusa 2, Robbins 2, Cooney, Hahn, Johnson, R.Murphy |
Sports Delivered/AFL Video are the official distributor of AFL videos (including DVDs)
Sports Delivered/AFL Video are the official distributor of AFL videos (including DVDs) |
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VFL ROUND 3 - SUNDAY 23 APRIL 10:30AM (GEELONG) BENDIGO BANK CATS B Sheringham S. Hunt Cook |
PORT MELBOURNE B Obst Pinwill Morrison |
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