Friday only AFL Round 10 match is between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos with the game to be played at SIMONDS STADIUM. The opening bounce is set to commence at 7:50 PM local time with home team Geelong Cats currently holding favouritism. View our AFL live scores, odds and results for the game between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos.
Round: Round 10, May 23, 2014, FRIDAY 7:50 PM
Stadium: SIMONDS STADIUM
Weather: 19° Shower or two
Odds Comparison:
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| Geelong Cats | 1.45 | 1.46 | 1.50 | 1.46 | 1.45 | 1.46 |
| North Melbourne Kangaroos | 2.80 | 2.70 | 2.65 | 2.70 | 2.80 | 2.80 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
Geelong has an outstanding recent record against North Melbourne, having won eight of the 10 matches played between the teams since the Roos scored an upset victory in round five, 2007. But things have begun to change recently, with North taking the points in two of the past three clashes. This time around, the Roos have again struck the Cats at a vulnerable time. Chris Scott’s men are in a bit of a flat spot, having lost to Port Adelaide and Fremantle in recent weeks. But which version of Brad Scott’s side will turn up? The one that beat the Dockers at Patersons Stadium or the one that lost to Gold Coast at home?
LAST FIVE TIMES
R19, 2013, North Melbourne 15.6 (96) d Geelong 13.8 (86) at Etihad Stadium
R2, 2013, Geelong 16.16 (112) d North Melbourne 17.6 (108) at Etihad Stadium
R3, 2012, North Melbourne 20.11 (131) d Geelong 16.18 (114) at Etihad Stadium
R7, 2011, Geelong 19.13 (127) d North Melbourne 9.7 (61) at Simonds Stadium
R14, 2010, Geelong 14.14 (98) d North Melbourne 9.9 (63) at Simonds Stadium
THE SIX POINTS
1. North Melbourne has struggled to get the ball inside 50 this season. The Kangaroos are ranked third-last, with an average of 47.5 inside-50s per game, while Geelong is seventh, with 54.1 per game.
2. No team has had a better record on its home ground in the past decade than Geelong. The Cats have won 45 of their past 47 games at Simonds Stadium.
3. Geelong has won seven of the past eight clashes between these sides at Simonds Stadium, including the past four by 33, 70, 35 and 66 points.
4. The Cats are the third top team for marks inside 50 this year, averaging 13.9 a game. The Kangaroos are equal 14th with 9.2 a game.
5. Neither side has been strong at centre clearances this season. Geelong is ranked 11th and North Melbourne is 17th.
6. When North Melbourne defeated Geelong late last season, Cats dasher Steven Motlop was the best player on the ground according to the Official AFL Player Ratings, brought to you by Gatorade. Motlop scored 26 points, while North’s Daniel Wells was next-best with 21.4.
Teams:
GEELONG
B: Jared Rivers, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Cameron Guthrie
C: Mark Blicavs, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan
HF: Travis Varcoe, Hamish McIntosh, Mathew Stokes
F: Jordan Murdoch, Tom Hawkins, Jimmy Bartel
Fol: Dawson Simpson, James Kelly, George Horlin-Smith
I/C: Jed Bews, Steven Motlop, Jackson Sheringham, Jesse Stringer
Emg: Taylor Hunt, Jarrad Jansen, Josh Walker
In: Mathew Stokes, Jesse Stringer
Out: Taylor Hunt (omitted), Steve Johnson (suspension)
NORTH MELBOURNE
B: L.McDonald, J.Tippett, L.Hansen
HB: N.Dal Santo, S.Thompson, L.Greenwood
C: S.Gibson, A.Swallow, R.Nahas
HF: L.Thomas, A.Black, L.Adams
F: M.Daw, D.Petrie, B.Harvey
FOLL: T.Goldstein, J.Ziebell, B.Cunnington
I/C: R.Bastinac, M.Firrito, S.Atley, S.Wright
EMG: L.Anthony, S.McMahon, M.Wood
IN: M.Firrito
OUT: S.McMahon
News :
How do you quell hulking Tom Hawkins?
North Melbourne’s defensive general Scott Thompson believes it’s a case of many hands make life bearable when it comes to one of the AFL’s genuine power forwards.
Thompson is likely to be Hawkins’ direct opponent when Geelong host the Kangaroos on Friday night.
“He’s one of the strongest players in the AFL. He’s a big body and one of the best forwards in the game,” Thompson told AAP.
“Whoever lines up on him will be pretty nervous.”
The incumbent All-Australian full-back suggested one of North’s strengths this season had been selfless defending.
The 28-year-old revealed team-first defence had been a focus since pre-season training, adding that more of the same would be needed to stop the Cats’ forward line.
“This season we’ve had our direct match-ups, but always been looking to help each other out,” Thompson said.
“As defenders, we rely on each other; we also rely on our midfielders getting back.
“We worked on it pretty hard in the pre-season, and we’ve kept working on it since.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people who have won premierships and they always say you need a good defensive line – not just good individuals.”
Thompson lamented Travis Cloke’s four goals against North in round five and the side’s other two losses this season.
The Kangaroos’ reigning best and fairest has spent little time assessing his own recent form.
“I’ve really been looking more at the team defence, I take a bit of responsibility for it and try to set things up,” he said.
“We’ve been pretty good in most games … we’ve all built up that confidence and trust in each other.”
The way North’s defenders peel off to crash packs and snaffle intercept marks hasn’t been lost on Geelong.
“The ability of their big guys to read the ball coming in is a huge asset,” Hawkins said earlier this week.
The Kangaroos will be without injured defender Nathan Grima for another week, but Hawkins and Thompson both highlighted their defensive depth.