Geelong’s refused to take a risk on Steve Johnson’s foot injury and has left the triple-premiership star out of its side for tonight’s knockout AFL semi-final against North Melbourne.
Ruckman Hamish McIntosh is also out following knee surgery and the Cats have recalled Mitch Brown and Lincoln McCarthy.
North Melbourne regains five-time club champion Brent Harvey from suspension for the MCG clash.
Port Adelaide’s named an unchanged side for Saturday’s cut-throat semi-final against Fremantle in Perth, despite Matthew White’s cracked jaw.
The Dockers have included Nick Suban for Hayden Ballantyne who has a broken jaw.
FRIDAY
Geelong v North Melbourne at MCG 7.20pm
Head to Head: Cats 95 Kangaroos 60 drawn 1
Head to head in finals: Cats 2 Kangaroos 4
Last clash: Round 19 2014 – Cats 16.15 (111) bt Kangaroos 10.19 (79) at Etihad Stadium
Last final: Qualifying Final 2007 – Cats 23.18 (156) bt 8.2 (50) at MCG
Tab Sportsbet: Cats $1.65 Kangaroos $2.25
Sportingbet: Cats $1.67 Kangaroos $2.20
The Scott twins clash as coaches for the first time in a final and the stakes are high. The winners advance to an away preliminary final against Sydney and the losers depart. North will be riding the euphoria of their come-from-behind win over Essendon, but the Cats’ confidence will be dented after coming up short against Hawthorn. Brent Harvey returns from suspension for the Kangaroos, while the Cats left out injured duo Steve Johnson and Hamish McIntosh. Geelong have struggled to finish games with a wet sail this season. By contrast, the Bombers weren’t the first opposition that North have beaten with a strong finish. Still, Geelong have beaten North twice this season.
Key: Joel Selwood and Daniel Wells. Both superstars can expect hard tags on Friday night given the way they performed in week one of the finals. They both got plenty of the ball, but it was the quality of their touch that created goals. Who can drag their side over the line here? Who can scrag Selwood and Wells so they don’t deliver?
Tip: Cats by 14 points
SATURDAY
Fremantle v Port Adelaide at Patersons Stadium 7.15pm
Head to Head: Dockers 13 Power 15 drawn 0
Head to head in finals: N/A
Last clash: Round 23 2014 – Dockers 16.9 (105) bt Power 14.13 (97) at Patersons Stadium
Last final: N/A
Tab Sportsbet: Dockers $1.58 Power $2.40
Sportingbet: Dockers $1.58 Power $2.40
Fourth place was up for grabs when the two sides met in the final round of the regular season. Ross Lyon’s Dockers won by eight points in an entertaining tussle. Can Port, who were so explosive early in last week’s win over Richmond, and Fremantle, who have their own spectacular playmakers including Nat Fyfe, create another perfect storm and stage one of footy’s great battles? Fyfe missed the round-23 meeting and could prove decisive in midfield. The hosts will miss Michael Johnson, who had the job on Justin Westhoff last time. Fremantle must find a way to replace their leading goalkicker Hayden Ballantyne who’s out with a broken jaw. The Dockers were far from embarrassed in losing to Sydney at ANZ Stadium in week one of the finals and will relish playing at home, something Port certainly made the most of last weekend as they slayed the Tigers.
Key: Alex Silvagni did well to hold Lance Franklin to three goals and Kurt Tippett was restricted to one goal in Sydney. Port’s forward line is relatively short of star power, but as last Sunday’s game showed they are just as capable of busting a game open with quick goals. Will the Dockers’ patched-up defence hold up?
Tip: Dockers by 11 points
