SEMI FINAL MCG - 7:30PM AEST, SATURDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2004

GEELONG

LAST TIME AROUND, KENT KINGSLEY KICKED SEVEN

ESSENDON

UMPIRE'S FAVORITE, MATTHEW LLOYD

GEELONG SQUAD

IN: David Johnson, Corey Enright, Charlie Gardiner
OUT:

B: Corey, Scarlett, Milburn
HB: Hunt, Harley, Wojcinski
C: Koulouriotis, Ling, Riccardi
HF: Gardiner, Mooney, Bartel
F: S.Johnson, Graham, Haynes
FOLL: King, Chapman, Ablett
I/C: Moloney, Playfair, D.Johnson, Enright
EMG: Byrnes, Rahilly, Chambers

ESSENDON SQUAD

IN: McPhee, Richards
OUT: Lovett-Murray, Haynes

B: Ramanauskas, Fletcher, Welsh
HB: Murphy, Bolton, Peverill
C: McVeigh, Hird, Wellman
HF: McPhee, Lucas, Watson
F: Cupido, Lloyd. M.Johnson
FOLL: Hille, Solomon, J.Johnson
I/C: Allan, Stanton, Bullen, Richards
EMG: Lovett-Murray, Mercuri, Alvey

PREVIEW

Geelong does have a good chance against Essendon next week, if they can shrug off this setback and start again. The Cats have consistently played a much better brand of football than the Bombers all season, and should be able to match them around the ground. Geelong may be troubled by injury and suspension, which may well tip the scales in favour of the Bombers. The Cats had the better of the Bomber last time around, to the tune of twenty three points in round nine (Read Match Report).

The important thing is that this is a vital stepping stone in the team's development. No team comes into a final series with virtually the entire list never having played a final and expects to beat the top team in the first match. Every player out on the ground, including experienced ones like Peter Riccardi, Ben Graham, will have learned something. That also goes for the coaching staff. The team will be much better prepared next season, and hopefully for the matchup against the Bombers this Saturday night

Tickets, starting at $45 for Adults (FOR SOME REASON NO MEMBER DISCOUNT) go on sale for Members 9AM on Monday - visit www.ticketmaster7.com.au.

LAST TIME

GEELONG: 6.5, 10.6, 13.10 18.12 (120) DEFEATED
ESSENDON: 6.1, 8.8, 12.11 14.13 (97)

GOALS: GEELONG: Kingsley 7, Chapman 3, Graham 2, Kelly 2, Haynes, Riccardi, Milburn, Ling
ESSENDON: M. Johnson 3, Lovett-Murray 2, Lloyd 2, Cupido, Hille, J. Johnson, Ramanauskas, Solomon, Murphy, McPhee
BEST: GEELONG: Scarlett, Kingsley, Ling, Kelly, Mooney, Chapman, Riccardi, Haynes
ESSENDON: Solomon, M.Johnson, J.Johnson, McPhee, Rioli, Murphy

Relive the Match Report from last time.

Tip? GEELONG by 21 points