Simonds Stadium will host the first night match since getting the new lights installed. The game is to be played between Geelong Cats and Gold Coast Suns. The opening bounce will commence at 7:40pm local time with Geelong holding long odds on favouritism in the match despite Gold Coasts improving performances. View our AFL Live Scores and results for the game between Geelong Cats and Gold Coast Suns.
WHERE AND WHEN: Simonds Stadium, Saturday 1st June, 7:40pm
Preview:
Speaking of thrillers, the next game probably wont be one. Geelong take on the Gold Coast, Saturday, 7.40pm at Simonds Stadium. Geelong will be almost impossibleto beat in this one, even though the Suns are playing OK at the moment. While they went down to Hawthorn by 26 points last week, Gary Ablett continued to dominate even in a losing team. Speaking of Ablett, his return to Simonds Stadium will probably be the highlight of this match, with the former Cat being the only real worry for the current Geelong team.
Teams:
Geelong Cats:
B: Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Cameron Guthrie, Harry Taylor, Josh Hunt
C: James Kelly, Jimmy Bartel, Steven Motlop
HF: Mathew Stokes, Steve Johnson, Allen Christensen
F: Mitch Brown, Tom Hawkins, Nathan Vardy
Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, Joel Corey
Int: George Burbury, Jordan Schroder, Mitch Duncan, Mark Blicavs
Emerg: Jordan Murdoch, Billie Smedts, Jesse Stringer
In: J. Kelly, N. Vardy
Out: J. Podsiadly (knee), J. Thurlow (rested)
Gold Coast Suns:
B: Trent McKenzie, Sam Day, Joel Wilkinson
HB: David Swallow, Rory Thompson, Tom Murphy
C: Matt Shaw, Gary Ablett, Jarrod Harbrow
HF: Michael Rischitelli, Tom Lynch, Aaron Hall
F: Campbell Brown, Daniel Gorringe, Brandon Matera
Foll: Tom Nicholls, Danny Stanley, Dion Prestia
Int: Kyal Horsley, Timmy Sumner, Luke Russell, Jaeger O’Meara
Emerg: Jack Hutchins, Greg Broughton, Steven May
In: M.Rischitelli, K.Horsley, J.Wilkinson, T.Nicholls, T.Sumner
Out: J. Brennan (knee), G. Broughton, S. May, J. Hutchins, J. Lonergan (hamstring)
PM launches Geelong’s new AFL lights
Prime Minister Julia Gillard described Geelong’s unveiling of their $10 million light towers for their round 10 AFL match at Simonds Stadium on Saturday night as a fantastic moment.
Ms Gillard battled driving rain to flick the switch in an on-field ceremony about 20 minutes before the match began.
Adding to the sense of occasion, the Cats were hosting Gold Coast, led by 2009 Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett. A two-time club champion at Geelong and the Suns, Ablett was making his first on-field appearance back in Geelong since quitting the club after the 2010 season.
The lights are part of the latest redevelopment of what is one of the best regional sporting venues in Australia, boasting an increased capacity of 33,600.
Geelong also unveiled a new scoreboard and their players’ stand.
“We’re witnessing the debut of this stadium as a genuine third-stadium option for big events in Victoria,” Gillard told the pre-match function as a capacity crowd packed into the stadium.
“I’m very pleased to be here in what is a tremendous facility.”
The 73m high towers dominate the Geelong skyline, rising above the spire of nearby St Mary’s church.
Geelong Football Club president Colin Carter thanked the federal government, the Victorian government, the City of Greater Geelong and the AFL for their financial support in redeveloping the stadium.
AFL chairman Mike Fitzpatrick and deputy chief executive Gillon McLachlan were also guests at the pre-match dinner.
