Saturday’s first AFL Round 11 match is between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Geelong Cats with the game to be played at Skoda Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 1:40pm local time with away team Geelong Cats currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Geelong Cats.

WHERE AND WHEN: Skoda Stadium, Saturday June 8, 1:40pm

Opening odds comparison:

Greater Western Sydney Giants	21.00	19.00	31.00	19.00	21.00	21.00
Geelong Cats	1.001	1.01	1.01	1.01	1.001	1.01

Preview:
The first Saturday game of Round 11 is between the GWS Giants and Geelong Cats, in a highly uneven match that is unlikely to pull any surprises. Taking place at 1.40pm at Skoda Stadium, the Cats are big, big favourites to take victory. While the Cats have been far from consistent from quarter to quarter in 2013, they have still managed a 9-1 record and should face little resistance against a Giants side in serious trouble.
Teams:

Greater Western Sydney Giants:
B: Stephen Gilham, Tim Mohr, Adam Kennedy
HB: Curtly Hampton, Joshua Bruce, Adam Treloar
C: Lachie Whitfield, Dylan Shiel, Stephen Coniglio
HF: Devon Smith, Jonathan Giles, Adam Tomlinson
F: Rhys Palmer, Jeremy Cameron, Gerald Ugle
Foll: Dean Brogan, Tom Scully, Callan Ward
Int: Taylor Adams, Jacob Townsend, Toby Greene, Lachie Plowman
Emerg: Zachary Williams, Sam Reid, Aidan Corr

In: D.Brogan, S.Gilham, G.Ugle, L.Plowman
Out: S.O’hAilpin, M.Buntine, N.Wilson (calf), A.Corr

Geelong Cats:
B: Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Cameron Guthrie, Mitch Brown, Josh Hunt
C: Jordan Murdoch, Jimmy Bartel, Jesse Stringer
HF: Mathew Stokes, Steve Johnson, Mitch Duncan
F: Allen Christensen, Tom Hawkins, James Podsiadly
Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, James Kelly
Int: Jackson Thurlow, Joel Corey, Billie Smedts, Nathan Vardy
Emerg: Jordan Schroder, Jed Bews, Josh Walker

In: J.Podsiadly, B.Smedts, J.Stringer, J.Thurlow, J.Murdoch
Out: H.Taylor (rest), S.Motlop (knee), J.Schroder, G.Burbury (quad), M.Blicavs (rest)

GWS ready for AFL’s best forward line

Life won’t get any easier for the AFL’s leakiest defence when Geelong comes to town on Saturday.

Greater Western Sydney host the Cats at Skoda Stadium, with key forward James Podsiadly returning to link up with Tom Hawkins in what Stephen Gilham rates the best forward line in the competition.

With GWS conceeding a league-worst average of 21.1 goals this season, it has all the makings of a massacre.

Gilham, who will be marshalling the Giants’ defenders with co-captain Phil Davis still sidelined due to a back injury, views it in a different light.

“We get a chance to test ourselves against what is probably the best forward line in the competition,” the 28-year-old said.

“It’s going to be a challenge for our young defenders, but they’re all looking forward to playing on the best and testing themselves. Seeing how far they’ve improved and how much there is to go.”

Gilham, who played 98 of his 107 games with Hawthorn, knows all too well the strengths of Geelong.

Ever since the 2008 grand final, in which he played a key role in the Hawks’ win over the Cats, Hawthorn have lost every contest against Geelong.

“They’re such a well-drilled, well-coached and well-organised side,” Gilham said.

“It is amazing they’ve been able to hold onto that consistency for so long.

“Certainly a lot has changed since then (2008) … Tom (Hawkins) has turned into a powerhouse forward.

“I’ve had a couple of good duels with Hawkins and Podsiadly in the past, and obviously now (Nathan) Vardy is up and going.

“Then even when you’ve done your hard work and managed to get the ball to ground, they’re still really threatening with their small guys.”

Despite all the plaudits, Gilham suggested the cellar dwellers would not be overawed or intimidated on the weekend.

“Nobody is invincible and everyone feels pressure.

“We’ve got to try to pressure them into making those mistakes.”

Gilham admitted his teammates were going through a “tough period” in the context of their winless start to the season.

“But we see progress each week … it’s going to take a lot of time obviously, but we’re getting there,” he added.