GEELONG 3.4 5.7 7.16 11.19 (85)
FREMANTLE 0.2 4.2 4.2 7.2 (44)
GOALS
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Motlop 2, Corey 2, Bartel, T.Hunt, Podsiadly, Murdoch, Simpson
Fremantle: Walters 3, Mzungu, Sheridan, Taberner, Mayne
BEST
Geelong: Taylor, Bartel, Christensen, Hunt, Mackie, Duncan
Fremantle: Crowley, Fyfe, D.Pearce, Mzungu
INJURIES
Geelong: Josh Hunt (ill)
Fremantle: Lee Spurr (ill) replaced in selected side by Viv Michie. Paul Duffield (calf)
SUBSTITUTES
Geelong: Jordan Murdoch replaced Josh Hunt in the third quarter
Fremantle: Viv Michie replaced Paul Duffield in the second quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Stewart, Nicholls, Meredith
Official crowd: 26,743 at Simonds Stadium
GEELONG rebounded from a loss to the Brisbane Lions and regained a spot in the top two by scoring a 41-point victory over Fremantle at Simonds Stadium.
The Cats were only 10 points up at the long break, but held Freo to just three goals in the second half while piling on 6.12, and ran out 11.19 (85) to 7.2 (44) winners.
Chris Scott's men had 35 inside-50s to seven after half-time, and the margin would have been far greater if not for their inaccuracy in front of goal.
THE PREVIOUS FIVE MEETINGS
EF, 2012: Fremantle 14.12 (96) d Geelong 11.14 (80) at the MCG
R1, 2012: Fremantle 16.9 (105) d Geelong 15.11 (101) at Patersons Stadium
R2, 2011: Geelong 13.11 (89) d Fremantle 10.18 (78) at Patersons Stadium
SF, 2010: Geelong 20.15 (135) d Fremantle 10.6 (66) at the MCG
R3, 2010: Fremantle 18.17 (125) d Geelong 17.16 (118) at Patersons Stadium
Social Media
Twitter - Make sure you follow our match day account @FreoFC_MatchDay for comprehensive pre-game info, match scores, highlights, stats and analysis, and post-game recaps. Don't forget to follow the club's official account @Fremantle_FC for updates throughout the week.
And make sure you follow the hash tags #AFLCatsFreo and #freofinalsfever
Facebook - Get score updates and chat with other Freo fans during the game with our official Facebook account.
Instagram – For a behind-the-scenes look at game day follow FremantleDockers on Instagram.
The selection table
Fremantle – There will be changes aplenty this week after Fremantle had 12 players out in round 23. Luke McPharlin should return, while the club ishoping to regain Michael Walters, Nick Suban and Stephen Hill as well. The rested stars will also be back, but Clancee Pearce’s season is over.
Garrick Ibbotson will struggle to get up for selection because he has not played since round 18.
Geelong – Apart from ruckmen Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh, Geelong are very close to full strength. Cam Guthrie and Nathan Vardy could be named.
Possible line-ups - Freo mentioned first in bold
| F: | C Mayne | M Pavlich | M Walters |
| B: | J Corey | T Lonergan | A Mackie |
| HF: | M de Boer | Z Clarke | H Ballantyne |
| HB: | C Enright | H Taylor | J Bartel |
| C: | S Hill | D Mundy | N Fyfe |
| C: | T Hunt | S Johnson | M Duncan |
| HB: | M Johnson | Z Dawson | N Suban |
| HF: | M Stokes | J Podsiadly | A Christensen |
| B: | L Spurr | L McPharlin | P Duffield |
| F: | S Motlop | T Hawkins | P Chapman |
| Ruck: | A Sandilands | M Barlow | R Crowley |
| Ruck: | N Vardy | J Kelly | J Selwood |
| INT from: | D Pearce, T Mzungu, L Neale, A Silvagni, T Sheridan | ||
| INT from: | M Blicavs, C Guthrie, J Caddy, T Varcoe, T West, J Rivers |
X Factors
Fremantle – Matthew Pavlich: The Fremantle captain kicked a match-winning six goals against the Cats in last year’s elimination final. He didn’t play in the round 14 loss this season and could be the point of difference Fremantle need to overturn that result.
Geelong – Steve Johnson: The mercurial midfielder/forward has probably forgotten what it’s like to play against Fremantle after suspension has seen him sit out the past two matches, including the 2012 final. On his day, there is arguably no player who can influence a contest more than Johnson can with his sublime skill and footy smarts.
Key Match-ups
Ryan Crowley v Joel Selwood: Crowley has often played on Steve Johnson in the past, but Ross Lyon won’t be able to ignore the job his tagger performed on Geelong captain Joel Selwood in round 14, when he held him to just 13 disposals.
Luke McPharlin v Tom Hawkins: Hawkins has been struggling with a back injury, which the Cats say won’t get worse by playing or improve if he rests. McPharlin hasn’t played since round 16, but the Freo defender is a natural athlete, so don’t expect him to be too far away from peak condition.
Andrew Mackie v Michael Walters: Mackie is Chris Scott’s best rebounding backman. It’s crucial that whomever gets picked up by Mackie doesn’t allow the Geelong defender to launch the Cats into attack. If it’s Walters, as was the case in round 14, he’ll look to make Mackie accountable inside Freo’s attacking 50.
Lee Spurr v Steven Motlop: Spurr was a late withdrawal from the round 14 game. He has been given the tough jobs on the dangerous small forwards this season, and there’s not many more damaging than Motlop in the AFL this season.
Stephen Hill v Taylor Hunt: Hunt won the battle against Hill in round 14, holding the exciting Freo midfielder to just 13 touches. The Cats may give him the task again because Hill can be a match-winner if given too much freedom.
