Where and when: MCG, Friday September 13, 7.50pm AEST
TV, radio and online: Click here for broadcast guide
What it means for West Coast: Winning the chance to get another crack at Richmond. The Eagles will still be smarting over the six-point loss to the Tigers in round 22 and beating the Cats will earn them a re-match in a preliminary final. Once holding fears at the MCG, the Eagles have now won five of their past six at the venue.
What it means for Geelong: Avoiding the dreaded 'straight sets' exit. After yet another poor first quarter last week against Collingwood, the Cats managed their lowest score (51) of the season. Finding more avenues to goal is the only way they can keep their season alive against and outfit that has.
The stat: 124. The amount of contested possessions the Eagles collected against the Cats in their 58-point loss in round six – their heaviest of the season. It was the Eagles' third lowest contested-possession count of 2019.
The match-up: Gary Ablett v Brad Sheppard
Ablett torched the Eagles with 28 disposals and two goals to be best on ground in their previous meeting. The No.5 ranked midfielder/forward in the Official AFL Player Ratings won't be afforded the same space on Friday night, with the Eagles expected to send their best defensive stopper to the Little Master. Sheppard will be studying the job Brayden Maynard did on Ablett last week, limiting him to his least effective output of the season.
Big call: Jack Darling to hold a crucial mark in the dying stages to sink the Cats.
Prediction: Eagles by three points
