The third game of Sunday AFL Round 16 matches is between Geelong Cats and Western Bulldogs. The game is set to commence at 4:40 PM local time with the game to be played at Simonds Stadium. Home team Geelong Cats go into the match as the favourites in the market. View our preview and teams for the game between Geelong Cats and Western Bulldogs.

Round:Round 16 , July 06, 2014 , 4:40 PM
Stadium:Simonds Stadium
Weather:15° A few showers.

Featured Bookmakers:

Tips: Geelong -39.5 at $1.92 with Sportsbet Australia + get a $250 FREE BET on the match

Preview:

BOTH sides are coming off thrilling wins. The Cats defeated Essendon in a Friday night classic at Etihad Stadium, while the Dogs edged out Melbourne in a down-to-the-wire clash at the same venue two days later. But it is Geelong that has the most to play for this time around. The Cats are only percentage outside the top four, and they can’t afford to drop games like this if they want to end their home and away campaign with a double chance. The Dogs, in contrast, are out of finals contention and are already building towards 2015.

LAST FIVE TIMES
R5, 2013, Geelong 15.17 (107) d Western Bulldogs 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
R22, 2012, Geelong 16.11 (107) d Western Bulldogs 11.7 (73) at Simonds Stadium
R9, 2012, Geelong 14.11 (95) d Western Bulldogs 11.9 (75) at Etihad Stadium
R11, 2011, Geelong 23.10 (148) d Western Bulldogs 13.9 (87) at Simonds Stadium
R20, 2010, Geelong 25.11 (161) d Western Bulldogs 9.6 (60) at Etihad Stadium

THE SIX POINTS
1. Geelong has dominated the Western Bulldogs over a long period, winning 10 of the past 12 games, including four by more than 50 points.

2. The Bulldogs are not big fans of kicking the ball. They have averaged only 187.5 kicks per game this season, the lowest in the competition. The Cats average 204.6 kicks per game.

3. The Bulldogs are ranked second for tackles, averaging 74.7 per game. Dogs midfielder Tom Liberatore is the No. 1 tackler in the AFL this year, with a total of 129.

4. The Dogs have won just 13 of their 53 games at Simonds Stadium. Their last win at the venue was in 2003.

5. In the past four clashes between the teams at Simonds Stadium, Geelong has kicked an average score of 123 points to the Bulldogs’ 75.

6. Geelong half-forward Steven Motlop, whose brilliant final-quarter goals helped the Cats defeat Essendon last weekend, is on the verge of cracking the top 50 in the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade.

Teams:

GEELONG – THREE TO BE OMITTED
B Corey Enright, Tom Lonergan, Andrew Mackie
HB Cameron Guthrie, Harry Taylor, Jared Rivers
C Mitch Duncan, Joel Selwood, James Kelly
HF Allen Christensen, Mark Blicavs, Steve Johnson
F Steven Motlop, Tom Hawkins, Hamish McIntosh
FOLL Dawson Simpson, Jimmy Bartel, George Horlin-Smith
I/C Shane Kersten, Josh Caddy, Travis Varcoe, Jed Bews, Brad Hartman, Jordan Murdoch, Billie Smedts
IN Hamish McIntosh, Brad Hartman, Billie Smedts

WESTERN BULLDOGS – THREE TO BE OMITTED
B Liam Picken, Jordan Roughead, Mark Austin
HB Robert Murphy, Dale Morris, Easton Wood
C Marcus Bontempelli, Matthew Boyd, Shaun Higgins
HF Koby Stevens, Stewart Crameri, Lachie Hunter
F Luke Dahlhaus, Jack Redpath, Nathan Hrovat
FOLL Will Minson, Ryan Griffen, Tom Liberatore
I/C Mitch Wallis, Jake Stringer, Jack Macrae, Jason Tutt, Fletcher Roberts, Mitch Honeychurch, Tom Campbell
IN Jordan Roughead, Jack Redpath, Ryan Griffen,Jason Tutt, Tom Campbell
OUT Sam Darley (Omitted), Liam Jones (Omitted)
NEW Jack Redpath