Friday’s AFL 2018 Finals Week 1 match is between Melbourne Demons and Geelong Cats. The opening kick is set to commence at 19:50 local time with the game to be played at Optus Stadium. The away team Geelong Cats are the favourites for the match.
View our preview and teams for the game between Melbourne Demons and Geelong Cats.
When: 19:50 | Friday 07/09/2018
Where: Optus Stadium
Preview:
The Demons being back in the finals for the first time since 2006 is one of the good stories of the year and I think this is the most anticipated game of the first week of the finals.
The loser will be eliminated and their season will be one of underachievement.
Melbourne are a terrific stoppage team, led by Max Gawn in the ruck and gun clearance player Clayton Oliver.
Geelong also has a star-studded midfield and this is where the game will be won.
They have the best offensive midfield in the game and Dangerfield is in sparkling form.
Chris Scott’s challenge will be to get the midfield mix right as he’ll need his players to be accountable on Melbourne’s gun on-ballers as well.
KEY BATTLE: Tom Hawkins v Sam Frost
Advantage Hawkins and if the big fella continues his amazing run of form, he’s capable of stretching an undersized Melbourne defence.
Hawkins could let loose with six goals plus.
The Verdict
I’ve liked Melbourne all year but just this week I’m starting to learn towards the Cats.
If their midfield and Hawkins fire, look out.
Geelong leads Melbourne 9-1 since 2010 and Hawkins has been the first goal-scorer in two of Geelong’s last seven matches against Melbourne.
Unibet Odds:
Melbourne at $1.79
Geelong at $2.05
Odds:
Tip: Geelong Cats at $2.10
Value Bet: First Goal Scorer: Daniel Menzel at $11.00
More Info:
Teams:
Melbourne Demons: 
B: Jetta, O.McDonald, Lewis
HB: Salem, Frost, Hibberd
C: Tyson, Oliver, Harmes
HF: Melksham, T.McDonald, Brayshaw
F: Fritsch, Weideman, Neal-Bullen
FOLL: Gawn, Jones, Viney
I/C: Petracca, Spargo, Hannan, Vandenberg
EMG: Kennedy-Harris, Hunt, T.Smith, J.Smith
IN: Viney, Hannan
OUT: Kennedy-Harris, Kent
Geelong Cats: 
B: J Kolodjashnij, L Henderson, T Stewart
HB: J Bews, H Taylor, Z Tuohy
C: M Blicavs, J Selwood, C Guthrie
HF: S Menegola, G Ablett, T Kelly
F: D Menzel, T Hawkins, J Murdoch
FOLL: R Abbott, P Dangerfield, M Duncan
I/C: J Henry, M O’Connor, B Parfitt, S Selwood
EMG: L Fogarty, Q Narkle, Z Smith, J Thurlow
Unchanged
AFL News:
Geelong coach Chris Scott says the Cats have no excuses for failure as they attempt to win an AFL premiership from eighth spot on the ladder.
Scott, who guided Geelong to the 2011 premiership in his first year in charge, is bullish about his side’s flag chances, declaring his midfield is performing as well as it ever has during his tenure.
The Cats didn’t lock down a finals berth until the last round of a stop-start home-and-away season in which they never really managed to get up a full head of steam.
They snagged eighth spot with 13 wins ahead of a chasing pack of four clubs with 12 wins, but Scott feels his team is well placed for a flag assault.
“If we don’t play well it won’t be because we’re not in good form or we haven’t got good availability or we’ve got guys who are hobbling back from injury,” Scott said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360 on Monday night.
“We’re going in with a healthy list … if we lose we’ll just get beaten by a better team on the day. It won’t be because we’re wrong about how well we’re going at the moment.”
The Cats will play fifth-placed Melbourne in an elimination final at the MCG on Friday week.
The Demons finished the regular season as the No.1 team in contested possession, hitouts and tackles, with spirited wins over fellow finalists West Coast and GWS.
On the other hand, Geelong spanked strugglers Fremantle and Gold Coast by more than 100 points in their past two games at their home fortress at GMHBA Stadium.
“We just needed to find our best footy and I think we’ve done that,” Scott said.
“Whether that manifested itself in a 35-point win against a good team or a 100-point win against a team that has challenges … I’m not sure it matters.
“We’ll have a good crack at (Melbourne) … I think our midfield is going as well as it has since 2011, in my time. We’ve got good depth in there and the guys are in good form.
“They’re a really high-quality team and the game will be dictated by how well the midfields go.”
