AFL 2014 ROUND 2; BRISBANE V GEELONG; TEAMS AND MATCH PREVIEW
Ben Jensen 29 March 2014

By Ben Jensen BRISBANE LIONS V GEELONG CATS ANDREW MACKIE plays his 200th game this Sunday when Geelong plays Brisbane at the Gabba. Earlier today Josh Hunt played his 200th, with the Greater Western Sydney Giants in their narrow loss to St Kilda at Etihad Stadium.

Following their 38 point win over the Crows last Thursday night at Simonds Stadium, the Cats will be full of confidence while the Lions will take some confidence out of what was an eventual eight goal loss to Hawthorn in Launceston.

Mitch Brown, who had an excellent start to the season last week, was in some doubt with an ankle complaint and may yet face a fitness test but has had his place confirmed in the side. Other than that there are no fresh injury concerns; on Thursday the Cats brought in the minimum three players into their squad of 25, all three being named as emergencies: George Horlin-Smith, Jackson Sherringham and Josh Walker.

Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff will miss after accepting a one match penalty for rough conduct on former Hawks skipper Sam Mitchell, with Ryan Harwood to miss with a shoulder injury. Their two inclusions are Rohan Bewick and Jordan Lisle.

Mackie was one of the all time 'smokey' recruits, drafted by the Cats with the first pick of the 2002 despite not featuring in any South Australian representative sides. Then Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy complained "something fishy has been going on"; the Bombers and the Bulldogs also reportedly had their eye on the lad from Glenelg. He played in all three premierships, and made the 2013 All Australian side.

JUMP TO FULL TEAM LISTINGS

LAST GAME DETAILS

UMPIRES

FIELD: Dalgleish, Mitchell, Mollison EM: Stephens
BOUNDARY: Ward, Wade, Deckys, Creasy
GOAL: Symes, Apted EM: Whitehead

TIP: Cats by 26 points

CATS INJURY LIST

Updated 26/3/2014

Mitch Brown Ankle Test
George Burbury Jaw 1-2 weeks
Allen Christensen* Back 8-9 weeks
Shane Kersten Knee 9-10 weeks
Daniel Menzel* Knee Indefinite
Steven Motlop Knee 2-4 weeks
Billie Smedts Leg bone bruising 1 week
Nathan Vardy* Knee Season

* On long term injury list

LATEST LIST

LIONS INJURY LIST

Updated 26/3/2014

Claye Beams Foot 5 weeks
Stefan Martin Back 2 weeks
Ash McGrath Calf 2-3 weeks
Luke McGuane Knee 3-4 weeks
Sam Michael Hamstring 1-2 weeks
James Polkinghorne Knee 1-2 weeks
Tom Rockliff Suspended Round 3
Brent Staker Calf 6 weeks
Patrick Weardon Ankle 12 weeks

LAST TIME

AFL ROUND 23, 2013; SIMONDS STADIUM

SATURDAY 31 AUGUST 2013 14:10 AEST

LUCKY ESCAPE FOR CATS; HISTORIC HOME FINAL CONFIRMED
Ben Jensen 31 August 2013

GEELONG just managed to hang on against the Brisbane Lions today, winning by just one point securing second spot on the ladder and a historic home final that will be at Simonds Stadium next Saturday night against the Fremantle Dockers. Tickets go on sale for Geelong and Fremantle members 9am on Monday morning. Note reserved seat holders do not have rights to those seats in the final, all allocations are being organised by the AFL.

The Cats had struggled against the Lions most of the game but appeared to have pulled ahead after extending their three quarter time lead to 26 points minutes into the final term. But the Lions soon went up a gear and took advantage of the wind, booting three unanswered goals to move within a couple kicks of the lead. Twice the Cats kicked a goal to get the lead back into double figures but each time the Lions struck back immediately. With a minute to go Jordan Lisle booted the final goal of the match, setting off a tense minute with the Cats' lead now just two points.

31 AUGUST 2013 LUCKY ESCAPE FOR CATS; HISTORIC HOME FINAL CONFIRMED

29 AUGUST 2013 AFL 2013 ROUND 23; GEELONG V BRISBANE; MATCH PREVIEW

GEELONG: 5.5, 7.11, 12.20, 15.22 (112) DEFEATED
BRISBANE: 3.3, 9.5, 11.6, 17.9 (111)

GOALS
GEELONG: Varcoe 2, Caddy 2, Chapman 2, Podsiadly, Johnson, Kelly, Hawkins, Bartel, Taylor, Christensen, Duncan, Selwood
BRISBANE: McGrath 6, Lisle 3, Lester 2, Zorko 2, Green 2, Bewick, Golby

BEST
GEELONG: Bartel, Stokes, Chapman, Selwood, Kelly, Rivers
BRISBANE: McGrath, Rockliff, Raines, Maguire, Patfull, Lisle, Yeo

INJURIES
GEELONG: Mark Blicavs (head, possible concussion)
BRISBANE: Nil

REPORTS: NIL

SUBSTITUTES
GEELONG: Joel Corey, replaced Steven Motlop in the third quarter BRISBANE: Josh Green, replaced Rohan Bewick at three quarter time

CHANGES
GEELONG: Cameron Guthrie replaced in selected side by Taylor Hunt

UMPIRES:

FIELD: Stephen McBurney (3) Heath Ryan (14) Chris Kamolins (19) EM: David Harris (24)
BOUNDARY: Mitchell Lefevre Robert Haala John Morris Michael Marantelli
GOAL: David Dixon Jason Venkataya EM: Darren Mills

CROWD: 27,467 at Simonds Stadium, Geelong

PRE-MATCH TIP: "Cats by 51 points"

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