AFL 2014 ROUND 1; GEELONG V ADELAIDE; TEAMS AND MATCH PREVIEW
Ben Jensen 19 March 2014

By Ben Jensen GEELONG CATS V ADELAIDE CROWS GEELONG has named Hamish McIntosh for his first game for the Cats, edging out fellow ruckman Dawson Simpson. Jimmy Bartel will play his 250th match, with skipper Joel Selwood also named, having fully recovered from a hamstring injury he picked up in Alice Springs during the NAB Challenge. Lincoln McCarthy gets his chance as does Travis Varcoe who is looking to put an injury ravaged 2013 behind him. Eddie Betts makes his debut for Adelaide after coming over from Carlton.

MATCH REPORT - CATS SHAKE OFF CROWS UNDER LIGHTS AT GEELONG

The match is on this Thursday night, yes, Thursday night, in the second week of the first round of the 2014 AFL season. For reasons we're yet to hear about the game is being played under lights midweek, which is sure to result in a much smaller crowd considering a large chunk if not the largest chunk of Geelong's membership is Melbourne-based and presumably many have to work the next day.

AFL hopeful Shane Kersten will unfortunately miss at least half the season with a knee issue. Skipper Selwood, just 25 with 160 games and three AFL premierships to his name, pulled up with a minor hamstring complaint in a practice game against Melbourne in Alice Springs. Already on the long term injury list are Nathan Vardy, Daniel Menzel and Allen Christensen.

Back to the timing of the game one only hopes the club gets a decent crowd and if not the AFL heeds the lesson and considers the paying membership not just the TV rights holders in future fixturing decisions. In other off-field news Geelong boss Brian Cook, hitherto not mentioned at all in dispatches when considering who may in be line to replace outgoing AFL chief Andrew Demetriou, was thrown up as an option by the Geelong Advertiser today. Cook all but downplayed his chances but confirmed he would 'consider' an offer should it be forthcoming. Cook has served the club with distinction since 1999.

JUMP TO FULL TEAM LISTINGS

LAST GAME DETAILS

UMPIRES

TBA

TIP: Cats by 6 points

CATS INJURY LIST

Updated 19/3/2014

George Burbury Jaw 3 weeks
Allen Christensen* Back 9-10 weeks
Shane Kersten Knee 9-10 weeks
Daniel Menzel* Knee Indefinite
Steven Motlop Knee 3-5 weeks
Joel Selwood Hamstring Test
Billie Smedts Leg bone bruising 2 weeks
Nathan Vardy* Knee Season

* On long term injury list

LATEST LIST

CROWS INJURY LIST

Updated 19/3/2014

Richard Douglas Groin 3-5 weeks
Ricky Henderson Fibula 4-5 months
Tom Lynch Shoulder 4-6 weeks
Andy Otten Knee 4-6 weeks
Nathan van Berlo Achilles 4-6 months
Taylor Walker Knee 5-10 weeks

LAST TIME

AFL ROUND 18, 2013; SUNDAY 21 JULY 2013 15:20 AEST, AAMI STADIUM

CATS LOSE THIRD GAME OF SEASON TO CROWS
Ben Jensen 21 July 2013

FOUR WEEKS after the dramatic loss to Brisbane at the Gabba, Geelong let a thirty point lead over Adelaide slip today losing by two points after having two chances to win the match in the final minute, scoring behinds each time. After Sydney beat West Coast in the final match of the rounds the Cats dropped down to third on the ladder, the Swans moving ahead on percentage. On a brighter note in the VFL the Cats beat Collingwood on Friday night in the fund raising match for Casey Tutungi. CATS LOSE THIRD GAME OF SEASON TO CROWS

20 JULY 2013 AFL 2013 ROUND 17; GEELONG V ADELAIDE; MATCH PREVIEW

ADELAIDE 3.5, 4.8, 9.8, 14.10 (94) DEFEATED
GEELONG 4.0, 9.2, 12.4, 14.8 (92)

GOALS
ADELAIDE: Wright 4, Lynch 3, Vince 2, Otten 2, Jenkins, Crouch, van Berlo
GEELONG: Selwood 3, Caddy 3, Motlop 2, Kelly 2, Hawkins 2, Lonergan, Blicavs

BEST
ADELAIDE: Douglas, Henderson, Crouch, Wright, Vince, Sloane, Lynch, van Berlo
GEELONG: Corey, Selwood, Caddy, Bartel, Simpson, Duncan

CHANGES
ADELAIDE: Nil
GEELONG: Taylor Hunt (ankle) replaced in selected side by Jesse Stringer

INJURIES
ADELAIDE: Thompson (groin)
GEELONG: Nil

SUBS
ADELAIDE: Mitch Grigg, replaced Scott Thompson in the 3rd quarter
GEELONG: Jordan Murdoch, replaced Travis Varcoe in the 4th quarter

UMPIRES:

FIELD: Luke Farmer (4) Jef Dalgleish (7) Mathew Nicholls (15)EM: Sam Hay (20)
BOUNDARY: Darren Wilson Jonathan Creasey Matthew KonetschkaMark Hill
GOAL: Steven Axon Matthew Norton EM: Mathew Wilson

CROWD: 28,603 at AAMI Stadium

PRE-MATCH TIP: " Cats by 28 points"

BLU-RAY $59.95 + P&H

VFL

BEGINS NEXT WEEK