Friday’s only game of AFL Round 7 is between Geelong Cats and Essendon Bombers with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50pm local time with home team Geelong Cats currently holding favouritism despite both teams being undefeated so far this season. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Geelong Cats and Essendon Bombers.
WHERE AND WHEN: Etihad Stadium, Friday 10th May, 7:50pm
Opening Odds:
Geelong Cats $1.64 vs Essendon Bombers $2.25 at Sportsbet Australia
Geelong Cats $1.62 vs Essendon Bombers $2.30 at Luxbet Australia
Preview:
AFL Round 7 swings into action this weekend, with some of the most mouth watering encounters yet. Not only do we get to witness a re-match of the 2012 Grand Final, we also get to see the only two undefeated teams battle it out for a lone spot at the top of the table.
The first match is between the Geelong Cats and Essendon, kicking off at 7.50pm on Friday night at Etihad Stadium. With both teams sitting on 6-0, this will be a fiercely contested match.
The Cats have already beaten both Sydney and Hawthorn this season, and are proving many people wrong with their great start in 2013. While the Bombers are also going great, they have only beaten the Cats once since 2005, a fact that may play with their confidence going into this game. Essendon also had a slow start last week, something they can not afford against Geelong this week.
Teams:
Geelong Cats:
B: Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Cameron Guthrie, Harry Taylor, Taylor Hunt
C: Mitch Duncan, Jimmy Bartel, Steven Motlop
HF: Allen Christensen, Steve Johnson, Billie Smedts
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, James Podsiadly
Foll: Trent West, Joel Selwood, James Kelly
Int: George Horlin-Smith, Jackson Thurlow, Jordan Schroder, Mark Blicavs
Emerg: Josh Hunt, Josh Caddy, Joshua Walker
In: J.Schroder, J.Thurlow
Out: J.Corey (knee), J.Murdoch
Essendon Bombers:
B: Kyle Hardingham, Dustin Fletcher, Michael Hibberd
HB: Dyson Heppell, Jake Carlisle, Mark Baguley
C: David Zaharakis, Jobe Watson, Jason Winderlich
HF: Alwyn Davey, Scott Gumbleton, Brendon Goddard
F: Michael Hurley, Stewart Crameri, Nick Kommer
R: Tom Bellchambers, Jake Melksham, Ben Howlett
Int: David Myers, Heath Hocking, Cale Hooker, Nathan Lovett-Murray
Emerg: Paddy Ryder, Jackson Merritt, Tayte Pears
In: N.Lovett-Murray, J.Winderlich, M.Hurley, D.Heppell, J.Carlisle, D.Fletcher
Out: D.Hille, B.Stanton (groin), C.Dempsey (ankle), L.Jetta, T.Pears, J.Merrett
Scott praises Cats forward Hawkins
Geelong’s leading goalkicker Tom Hawkins will again be a key figure in Friday night’s AFL table-topper against Essendon, even though he continues to be hampered by a stiff back.
Hawkins sat out the round-five win over the Western Bulldogs and was well below his best in a two-goal, six-disposal performance in Saturday’s victory over Richmond.
But with James Podsiadly averaging only a goal a game this year and swingman Harry Taylor likely to be required in defence against the towering Bombers’ forwards, Hawkins remains Geelong’s most potent marking option in attack.
“His form’s been pretty good,” coach Chris Scott said on Tuesday.
“Tom has got a stiff back and we’ve been up-front about that.
“… The medical opinion is that he’s certainly not doing himself any harm by playing – he’s just a little bit limited.
“At some point we need to decide if he’s so limited that it’s affecting his performance too much.
“There’s no secret in the fact that he’s a little bit stiff and he’s not as agile as he is at his best.
“But he’s still a bit of a handful close to goal.”
Hawkins has kicked 13 goals in five games this year, with small forwards Allen Christensen (11) and Steven Motlop (10) the other Cats in double figures.
Geelong hope to recall Paul Chapman for Friday night’s Etihad Stadium clash with the Bombers after the tough utility missed the last two games with a hamstring strain.
Tall defenders Mitch Brown and Shane Kersten are also in the mix as Scott ponders how to match up against a Bombers’ attack set to be bolstered by the return of Michael Hurley from injury and Paddy Ryder from suspension.
With Essendon expected to make up to half a dozen changes from the side which made hard work of beating the GWS Giants, luckless Scott Gumbleton could struggle to hold his spot, even though he’s kicked nine goals in the past three games during a rare injury-free run.
Scott says the unbeaten Bombers have played better than anyone else in the first six weeks of the season, presenting another big challenge for his team, who also boast a 6-0 record.
“We really enjoy playing against the best teams and at the moment we think Essendon are the best team,” said Scott.
“These are the kind of games that the good players live for.
“Short of playing finals footy, you crave games against the best opposition and hopefully that brings out our best.”
