Where and when: GMHBA Stadium, Saturday, August 24, 1:45pm (11:45am WST)
TV: Live on 7 in WA, Fox Sports and streaming on Kayo
Last time we met: Geelong 21.10 (136) defeated West Coast 13.11 (89) at Adelaide Oval, round five, 2023.
It has been 16 months since the Eagles and Geelong clashed in Adelaide during Gather Round, with the Cats emerging with a 47-point triumph. A disastrous second quarter proved costly for West Coast as Geelong piled on nine goals to one – including a run of 12 unanswered from the first term – to blow the game open. To their credit, the Eagles dug in and kicked 10 goals to seven after half-time, with Jake Waterman and Oscar Allen slotting four majors apiece.
What it means for the Eagles: Geelong hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Eagles, with eight-straight defeats to the Cats at GMHBA Stadium since an unforgettable come-from-behind triumph in 2006. The Eagles will have a young team for the season-finale and responding to a disappointing loss to Carlton last round, plus finishing 2024 on a more positive note and taking momentum into the off-season will be important. Interim coach Jarrad Schofield would love nothing more than conjuring a major upset and spoiling retiring champions Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy’s farewells to the Geelong locals, too.
The stat: The Eagles have just one win and a draw (in 2003) from 15 trips to the Cattery this century, including a loss to Sydney at the venue during Covid in 2021.
The match-up: Patrick Dangerfield v Harley Reid
Fresh from selection the 22Under22 team, Reid will travel to play against one of the competition’s greats. Whether the pair actually spend much time directly opposed remains to be seen, but it will be another terrific learning opportunity for the up-and-coming Eagles star to see the Brownlow medallist up close and personal in a game that could decide the Cats' top-four fate.
It’s a big week for: Rhett Bazzo
It will be an uplifting sight when Bazzo takes to the field for his only AFL game this season following lingering groin issues that have severely hampered his third year at the club. Bazzo will partner Harry Edwards in the key defensive posts and the duo will have their work cut out on Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron and Shannon Neale. It will be Bazzo’s 21st senior game and first since round 20 last year.
Big call: Brady Hough will hold All-Australian fancy Tyson Stengle goalless to cap an outstanding third season which could see him in the mix for a top-five finish in the John Worsfold Medal.
