The second game on Saturday for AFL Round 20 is between Geelong Cats and Port Adelaide Power. The match is to be played at Skilled Stadium with the opening bounce set to commence at 2:10pm local time with home team Geelong Cats currently holding favouritism in the market. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Geelong Cats and Port Adelaide Power.

WHERE AND WHEN: Skilled Stadium, 2:10pm AEST, Saturday 10 August

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Opening odds comparison:

Geelong Cats	1.15	1.12	1.13	1.12	1.15	1.15
Port Adelaide Power	5.50	6.25	6.00	6.25	5.50	5.50

Preview:

Geelong take on Port Adelaide on Saturday, 2.10pm at Simonds Stadium. The Cats might have suffered a shock defeat last round to the Kangaroos, but shouldn’t have the same trouble with the Power. Saying that, however, Port Adelaide themselves are coming off a fantastic victory over the Crows and will not lie down without a fight. It’s very hard to go past the Cats at home though, with their loss last round probably enough of an incentive to get them through this one.

Teams:

Geelong Cats:
B: S.Morris, A.Rance, D.Astbury
HB: C.Newman, T.Chaplin, N.Vlastuin
C: S.Grigg, T.Cotchin, D.Jackson
HF: M.White, S.Edwards, B.Ellis
F: L.McGuane, J.Riewoldt, D.Martin
R: I.Maric, B.Deledio, N.Foley
I/C: B.Houli, R.Conca, T.Vickery, S.Tuck
EMG: J.Batchelor, M.McDonough, O.Stephenson
IN: James Podsiadly, Allen Christensen, Jared Rivers, Josh Walker, Jesse Stringer
OUT: Josh Hunt (omitted), Trent West (omitted), Taylor Hunt (omitted), Billie Smedts (omitted), Mark Blicavs (omitted)

Port Adelaide Power:
B: C.O’Shea, A.Carlile, D.Cassisi
HB: M.Broadbent, J.Trengove, J.Pittard
C: C.Wingard, T.Boak, S.Colquhoun
HF: R.Gray, J.Butcher, A.Monfries
F: J.Westhoff, J.Schulz, H.Hartlett
FOLL: M.Lobbe, Bra.Ebert, K.Cornes
I/C: K.Mitchell, O.Wines, A.Moore, N.Blee
EMG: C.Hitchcock, L.Stevenson, T.Logan
IN: Nathan Blee
OUT: Paul Stewart (broken wrist)

Ricciuto not backing off Hird claim

Former Adelaide skipper Mark Ricciuto isn’t ready to back away from his claim that Essendon coach James Hird has been urged to resign over the AFL club’s supplements scandal.

The Bombers and Hird have denied that the coach has been issued an ultimatum to resign by Thursday or “someone else might make the decision for him”.

Essendon issued a statement on Monday night saying they categorically denied what they termed a baseless rumour.

Hird on Tuesday repeated that denial.

“I think if you read the Essendon statement, they’re all untrue,” Hird told reporters at Windy Hill.

But Ricciuto told Adelaide’s Triple M radio on Tuesday that while he hoped he was wrong, he had received the information from someone he regarded as a credible source.

He said it was not unknown for AFL clubs to deny things that turned out to be true, although he stressed he wasn’t accusing the Bombers of lying.

“They could (be). I’m not saying they are,” Ricciuto said.

“And I’m not saying James is guilty here and I never said that last night.

“Of course that (issuing a denial) is what they’re going to come out and do.

“A lot of people do come out and make statements at times.

“I’m not going to make another statement saying that they’re lying here either.

“But it’s not unusual for them to come out and defend themselves, but time will tell.”

Hird said he hadn’t been shocked or frustrated by Ricciuto’s initial claim, as he had become used to hearing allegations he regarded as false throughout the six-month saga.

“I’m not shocked by anything in this investigation or this process,” he said.

“There seems to be a lot of rumour and innuendo that has no fact to it.”

The AFL on Friday received the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) report into the Bombers, which was also handed to the club on Sunday.

Hird wasn’t sure about the timing of the process from now and when he and the Bombers would get the chance to offer a more forthright public statement.

But he said what he most wanted to see was the players absolved of blame.

“It depends when we’re allowed to speak about the report,” Hird said.

“It depends when, more importantly and most importantly, our players have the chance to be cleared.

“I think that the most important thing in this is that our players are cleared.

“Hopefully very soon, our players get a chance to come out and say that they’re clear.”