Fridays’s only AFL Round 7 match is between Geelong Cats and Essendon Bombers. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50 PM local time with the game to be played at Etihad Stadium. The home team the Geelong Cats are the favourites for the match in which one of this years unbeaten teams will suffer their first loss. View our preview and teams for the game between Geelong Cats and Essendon Bombers.

Round: Round 7 7:50 PM May 10, 2013
Stadium: Etihad Stadium
Weather: 23° Sunny.

Featured Bookmakers:

Geelong Cats $1.64 vs Essendon Bombers $2.25 at Sportsbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Geelong Cats $1.62 vs Essendon Bombers $2.30 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Geelong Cats	1.64	1.60	1.62	1.60	1.64	1.65
Essendon Bombers	2.25	2.35	2.30	2.35	2.25	1.27

Preview:

This clash will set the tone for what should be a fantastic round of matches.

Both sides come into this encounter undefeated with Essendon defying the off-field drama that has surrounded the club and Geelong, who have accounted for the likes of Sydney, Hawthorn and Collingwood in their six wins thus far.

It wasn’t until the second half of their clash against Richmond last week, that Geelong were able to get their better of their opponents but once they did, they ran away with it with a five goals to two last quarter and registering a 44 point win.

The Cats have been slow out of the block in each of their matches this year and will have to be mindful of this fact against the Bombers who tend to start well however, as Geelong have also displayed in each match, they are a champion side that are never beaten and more often than not, find a win to win.

The Bombers validated their form by accounting for Collingwood on Anzac Day and did what they had to do against GWS last week winning 120 – 81.

The Bombers are ranked 4^th in the competition in tackles and up against the leading Handball team in the comp, will need to tackle and tackle some more this weekend.

It will be an enthralling clash but in games like this, you need to know the team carrying the cash will be finishing hard and be able to handle the pressure of the final quarter.

The likely return of Paul Chapman is also a bonus.

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

Bombers leave out Ryder, Stanton

Essendon have surprisingly opted not to bring back ruck-forward Paddy Ryder but still made a raft of changes for their top-of-the-ladder AFL clash with Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

Coach James Hird says Ryder, available after a three-week suspension, misses out with forward Scott Gumbleton preferred after his quality recent form.

“Scott’s been in excellent form and we didn’t think it was right to play another tall,” Hird told the club website on Thursday night.

“Unfortunately when you go out of the team for three weeks, it’s hard to get back in.”

Midfielder Brent Stanton has also missed out with a groin injury sustained last weekend.

But Dustin Fletcher, Dyson Heppell, Jake Carlisle, Michael Hurley and Jason Winderlich all return from injury and soreness, with utility Nathan Lovett-Murray also added to the 22 for the clash of the competition’s two remaining unbeaten teams.

Hird believes making six changes is feasible, despite the importance of the match.

“I think it’s the quality of the individuals and how many weeks they’ve missed,” Hird said at a media conference earlier on Thursday.

“A lot of the guys we could potentially bring in have played a lot of football with each other.

“They’re very senior players, they’re very good players.”

Geelong have had the wood on the Bombers in recent encounters – their most recent a 67-point thumping late last season at Etihad Stadium.

But both teams go into the match unbeaten in their opening six games, with Essendon setting aside off-field issues to play some of their best football in Hird’s three seasons in charge.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to play against the best team in the competition for the last six or seven years … Geelong’s one of the great teams of all time,” Hird said.

“They beat us quite convincingly last year – beat us up around the ball.

“That’s a big challenge for our players … if we do have a good game, play the way we expect to play, maybe then it means we have matured as a team to a certain extent.”