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Geelong will be hoping to maintain its ridiculous final-round record and give superstar Patrick Dangerfield a 300th game to remember against West Coast on Saturday night.
The Cats (17-4, 139.7%), who’ve already secured the minor premiership, have been outstanding in final home and away games over the past two decades at GMHBA Stadium, winning 11 of their past 12.
The odds are monumentally against the Eagles (2-19, 61.2%), who’ve had a year to forget in 2022.
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Sam Menegola was a late out for the Cats, replaced in the starting side by Jon Ceglar.
Tom Atkins (Geelong) and Greg Clark (West Coast) were the medical subs.
Brad Close kicked the first goal of the game.
This match gets underway at 4.35pm AEST from GMHBA Stadium
Watch it live on Fox Footy (channel 504) from 4.30pm AEST.
Follow Geelong v West Coast in our live blog below!
QUARTER BY QUARTER MATCH REPORT
Milestone man Patrick Dangerfield came out firing in his 300th game, and hit his first contest with a bang. It was Brad Close’s incredible work rate that got Geelong their first as the Cats went coast-to-coast from the kick-in.
Tom Stewart went long to Tom Hawkins, who was able to bring the ball to ground.
Max Holmes got to the back of the pack and was away as Close, who was at that initial contest with Hawkins, bolted forwards.
He got on the end of a Jack Henry handpass to kick the first goal of the day.
“Huge run from Close on that occasion. His ability to push through the middle of the ground is excellent,” commentator Brad Johnson said.
“He’s off and once they win the ball and get goalside, his leg speed … there’s Close with a superior work rate to the right spot.”
“(Opponent) Duggan just caught in the wrong spot at the stoppage,” Jason Dunstall added.
Hawkins earlier had his teammates in stitches after he forgot to put on his playing jumper when he headed out for the banner.
Jamie Cripps got West Coast’s first with a stunning set shot from the pocket, but it was all Geelong in the first term.
“They’ve had the overlap run, they used the wings really well,” Johnson praised.
“(The midfielders) are all there pushing up.”
Isaac Smith was denied a goal from a late score review, despite Eagle Rhett Bazzo not even appealing for touched.
But it mattered little as Gryan Miers, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins – who remains the only player capable of chasing down Charlie Cameron for the Coleman Medal – all got on the board early.
Geelong’s day was soured when Jake Kolodjashnij was assisted from the field and later subbed out after crashing to the turf in a marking contest with Jack Darling.
Junior Rioli was then denied a ripping goal late in the opening term when penalised for running too far.
“Surely the umpire didn’t see him bounce it early?” commentator Cam Mooney questioned.
“It was very tight,” Dunstall said.
Two goals in 90 seconds from Cam Guthrie ensured the Cats took a big lead into the first break.
The first was a quick snap from the contest while his second was a brilliant piece of follow up footy from the centre clearance.
“I think the midfielders might have something on today – how many goals are we going to kick?” Johnson laughed.
“The follow up – (Eagle Tim) Kelly jogging in behind – no push up to support defence.
“They’ve got to be better than that the Eagles mids.”
Kelly did get one back for his side, to the boos from the Cats faithful, before a controversial Jack Darling free kick cut Geelong’s lead to 20 points at the first change.
A big Cripps tackle on Tom Stewart early in the second gifted Jack Darling an opportunity to kick his second for the day.
The crowd didn’t like the holding the ball call on Stewart after Cripps did appear to collect the Cat high as he brought him to ground.
Darling was able to narrow the Cats’ lead to just 15 points with his snap on goal – his second for the day.
But from that point, the quarter belonged to Geelong as they kicked the next six goals.
Cat Tyson Stengle brought the crowd to their feet when he snapped truly from the boundary, despite being mid-tackle.
Jack Henry, Gary Rohan and Hawkins all piled on the pain for the Eagles.
By half time, Geelong had opened up a 51-point lead.
A bout of friendly fire once again soured Geelong’s efforts as Patrick Dangerfield collided with teammate Cam Guthrie in the centre square.
Guthrie was left clutching at his shoulder as he came from the ground and didn’t reappear for the remainder of the term. The Cats then placed him in cotton wool for the second half, but they were adamant it was precautionary.
The Eagles got the first goal of the quarter through Liam Ryan, but Gary Rohan quickly replied with a terrific snap goal.
Stengle and Selwood then piled on the pain by booting their second goals each.
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