Saturday’s AFL 2018 Round 21 match is between Hawthorn Hawks and Geelong Cats. The opening kick is set to commence at 13:45 local time with the game to be played at MCG. The home team Hawthorn Hawks are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Hawthorn Hawks and Geelong Cats.
When: 13:45 | Saturday 11/08/2018
Where: MCG
Preview:
This should be the match of the round.
Both of these teams were involved in close matches last week but hard to say if we’ll see another thriller here.
Geelong played a more attacking brand last week and it’ll be interesting to see if they try this again.
Hawks and Cats have star-studded midfields but I think Geelong have more depth through the midfield which should give them the advantage.
KEY BATTLE: Scott Selwood v Tom Mitchell
Plenty of good matchups to look forward to but this one will be decisive.
Unibet Odds:
Hawthorn Hawks at $2.20
Geelong Cats at $1.68
Odds:
Tip: Hawthorn Hawks at $2.25
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Jarryd Roughead at $13
More Info:
Teams:
Hawthorn Hawks: 
B: Schoenmakers, Frawley, Stratton
HB: Gunston, Brand, Hardwick
C: Morrison, Mitchell, Worpel
HF: Impey, Burton, Smith
F: Breust, Roughead, Puopolo
FOLL: Ceglar, Burgoyne, O’Meara
I/C: Miles, Shiels, Henderson, Nash
EMG: Pittonet, Duryea, Mirra, O’Rourke
IN: Nash
OUT: Whitecross
Geelong Cats: 
B: Stewart, Henderson, Kolodjashnij
HB: Guthrie, Blicavs, Tuohy
C: S.Selwood, J.Selwood, Duncan
HF: Menegola, Parsons, Narkle
F: Menzel, Hawkins, Parfitt
FOLL: Stanley, Dangerfield, Ablett
I/C: Fogarty, Henry, Kelly, O’Connor
EMG: Abbott, Jones, Murdoch, Thurlow
IN: Stewart, Parsons, Narkle, Stanley, O’Connor
OUT: Thurlow, Jones, Cunico, Abbott, Bews
AFL News:
Hawthorn have dealt arch-rivals Essendon a heavy blow, beating them by four points in a pulsating AFL clash at the MCG.
The 16.11 (107) to 16.7 (103) win keeps the Hawks in touch with the top four and means the Bombers will need a miracle to make the top eight.
Essendon started round 20 a game plus percentage outside the eight and their last three opponents are Richmond, St Kilda and Port Adelaide away.
Hawthorn have won nine of their past 11 against Essendon.
When Jack Gunston kicked his fifth goal midway through the last quarter, the Hawks looked home.
But Essendon rallied with the next three goals to trail by four points with less than two minutes left.
James Worpel then put Hawthorn 10 points up.
A long bomb from Travis Colyer with 13 seconds left kept the game alive, before Hawthorn were able to close out the win.
Hawthorn’s Brownlow Medal favourite Tom Mitchell surely scored more votes with his 43-possession game and Ben Stratton again starred in defence.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti was high among Essendon’s best and Zach Merrett had 42 disposals.
Leading by eight points early in the last quarter, the Hawks took full toll of a basic error from Brendon Goddard.
The Bombers veteran stopped over the line as he was kicking out from a behind.
That meant a ball up at the top of the Hawthorn goalsquare and Gunston soccered through his fourth at the stoppage.
Essendon opened the scoring in each of the first three quarters and led by 20 points early in the second.
But the Hawks were able to keep them in check, taking the lead for the first time midway through the second.
Hawthorn led by 11 points at the main break and a goal at three-quarter time.
Mitchell was on pace to break his own AFL record for the most disposals in a game when he racked up 29 in the first half.
The Hawks star set the mark of 54 in round one.
But David Myers went to Mitchell in the second half and had an immediate impact, restricting him to six in the third quarter.
Essendon star Jake Stringer limped off in the third term with an ankle injury, but returned and played out the game.
Essendon made two late changes, losing Matt Dea to a concussion he suffered last week and Matt Guelfi because of illness.
