Saturday Fourth AFL Round 4 match is between Geelong Cats and West Coast West Coast Eagles with the game to be played at Simonds Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7.40pm with home team Geelong Cats currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Geelong Cats and West Coast West Coast Eagles.

Round: Round 4, Saturday, April 12, 7.40pm
Stadium: Simonds Stadium
Weather: 19° Few showers.

Odds Comparison:

Geelong Cats	1.25	1.20	1.19	1.20	1.25	1.22
West Coast West Coast Eagles	4.25	4.60	5.00	4.60	4.25	4.40

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The Cats play the Eagles on Saturday night, 7.40PM at Simonds Stadium.  This could be the match of the round, with both teams unbeaten heading into this game.  Even though the Cats are in 3rd ladder position and the Eagles are out in front, both teams are 3-0 after firmly imprinting themselves on the 2014 competition.

Josh Kennedy has been a consistent threat for the Eagles in the first three rounds, as has Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, and Callum Sinclair.  Geelong will go into this encounter as favourites, however, and will offer the Eagles their first real test of the season.  The home ground advantage will be a big factor for the Cats this weekend, who will take on a depleted West Coast side without captain Darren Glass and four other players.

Teams:

Geelong Cats:
B Jared Rivers, Tom Lonergan, Cameron Guthrie
HB Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Taylor Hunt
C James Kelly, Steve Johnson, Mitch Duncan
HF Mathew Stokes, Mark Blicavs, Jordan Murdoch
F Travis Varcoe, Tom Hawkins, George Burbury
FOL Hamish McIntosh, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood
I/C Corey Enright, Josh Caddy, Dawson Simpson, George Horlin-Smith
EMG Jackson Sheringham, Josh Walker, Jesse Stringer

IN Corey Enright, Taylor Hunt
OUT Jackson Sheringham (Omitted), Mitch Brown (Ankle)

West Coast West Coast Eagles:
B Sam Butler, Mitchell Brown, Jamie Bennell
HB Xavier Ellis, Eric Mackenzie, Matt Rosa
C Andrew Gaff, Scott Selwood, Brad Sheppard
HF Brant Colledge, Josh Kennedy, Elliot Yeo
F Jamie Cripps, Nic Naitanui, Jack Darling
FOL Dean Cox, Matt Priddis, Sharrod Wellingham
I/C Will Schofield, Scott Lycett, Josh Hill, Dom Sheed
EMG Patrick McGinnity, Jeremy McGovern, Jacob Brennan

IN Sharrod Wellingham, Sam Butler, Scott Lycett, Josh Hill, Dom Sheed
OUT Mark LeCras (Arm), Darren Glass (Hip), Chris Masten (Hamstring), Luke Shuey (Suspension), Callum Sinclair (Omitted)

News:

Any Geelong fans still uneasy about the decision to move on Paul Chapman should watch a replay of the Cats’ AFL win over Collingwood last Saturday night.

It would be exhibit A in the club’s case for letting Chapman go.

The most notable aspect of the gritty 11-point win was the strong performances of younger players such as Cam Guthrie, George Horlin-Smith and Mitch Duncan.

After an injury-plagued pre-season, the Cats are flying and will start favourites on Saturday night against West Coast at Simonds Stadium.

Like Geelong, the Eagles are unbeaten after three rounds.

Their strong start emphasises the fact that cutting Chapman was tough, but it was right.

The time had come for Chapman to move on and younger forwards such as 22-year-old Jordan Murdoch to start moving up.

It is also proving a win for everyone, with Chapman already a fan favourite at his new club Essendon.

“Credit to him – he’s a great player and he’s started the season well,” Murdoch said.

“But last year, a lot of people went on about how he’d leave a big hole in the side.

“He didn’t play a lot last year and we still got to a preliminary final.

“It has opened up the door for guys like Lincoln McCarthy, George Burbury and myself – we now have that opportunity.”

Murdoch has played 22 games for the Cats since his 2012 debut.

He is another product of a strong development and coaching regime at Geelong that means they are regenerating the team without having to rebuild.

“We’ve lost some big names, that’s well-publicised, but we have a lot of young blokes who are just chewing at the bit to get their chance,” Murdoch said.

While captain Joel Selwood starred on Saturday night and Tom Hawkins kicked three crucial last-term goals, it was the performances of younger team-mates that most delighted the Cats.

Murdoch also had a personal reason for enjoying the win.

“It’s the first time I’ve played Collingwood and I’ve really disliked them my whole life, probably,” he said.

“It’s a really good sign – it’s not always the old guard that has to do it.”

Now it is West Coast’s turn to show their depth of talent, with four forced changes to their line-up for Saturday’s game.

The absentees include captain Darren Glass because of a hip injury.

“They’re obviously missing a couple of players … but what we need to not do first and foremost is take them lightly,” Murdoch said.

“They’re a really good footy club, they have good depth and the players coming in are more than capable of playing their roles.”