Round 23 - Geelong

[Cpt. Kirk]

Cats by 34 (15.10 to 6.30)

Thats an accurate day for the swans.

[Big Al]

The Cats will be too strong but they'll get a more competitive outing than what they're used to at home.

Cats by 34 (15.10 to 6.30)

[Panttz]

If the cats are sluggish at the start and we can keep our accuracy above 70% in front of goal we have a chance. The Cats will always come back though and we cant go full defense with 60 points in the bag like the Saints did yesterday. Field kicking needs to be above 60% too.

[Matt79]

I love the optimism! After the loss against Richmond, the world was caving in (for some posters) and we could not beat the Wonthaggi U/9's according to some! One week later...we can beat Geelong...in Geelong!!

[aardvark]

Cats due for a loss.

[Cheer Squad]

How can we possibly defeat Geelong this week?

Here's their record at SS this year:

R3 - Port Adelaide - 79 points
R7 - North Melbourne - 66 points
R11 - Western Bulldogs - 61 points
R14 - Adelaide - 52 points
R19 - Melbourne - 186 points
R20 - Gold Coast - 150 points

In other words, their average winning margin at home this year is 99 points! Bradman would be proud!

Interestingly, this imposing home record against bottom-eight sides is the only reason their overall percentage is so high, because their record against other top 8 sides is pretty average, really. Win against St. Kilda (1 point, 28 points), Collingwood (3 points), Carlton (2 points), Hawthorn (19 points, 5 points), and losses to Essendon (4 points), and West Coast (8 points). And of course, they beat us at the SCG by 27 points.

The fact is, the Cats have had a pretty soft past couple of months. An easy win against Adelaide, losses to Essendon and West Coast, easy wins against Brisbane and Richmond, uncompetitive massacres of Melbourne and the Gold Coast, and then the bye. It's not exactly ideal preparation for the business end of the year.

If we're going to have any chance of winning, we must play a four quarter game, have no passengers, and keep persisting until the final siren, like we did yesterday, goal kicking yips and all. And maybe Longmire can have a word to Bomber Thompson?

Do all that, and we just might catch them off their guard on the day. How's that for optimism?

Swans to win by 10 points.