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AFL ROUND 2 2007: GEELONG V CARLTON; HAWKINS, VARCOE
TO DEBUT; MATCH PREVIEW AND FINAL TEAM LIST
PLUS TV / RADIO BROADCAST DETAILS; VFL TEAM LISTS By Ben Jensen TOM HAWKINS and Travis Varcoe will make their AFL debuts against Carlton this Saturday night at Telstra Dome. Also an inclusion this week is Shannon Byrnes, while injured Captain Tom Harley will miss, along with the omitted Josh Hunt and Kane Tenace. GEELONG desperately need a win to get the 2007 campaign back on track this Saturday night at Telstra Dome. The match will be broadcast live on Foxtel's Fox Sports 1, in all states. IN: Varcoe, Byrnes, Hawkins
Captain Tom Harley will miss at least six weeks after suffering a ruptured finger tendon - the Captain's Curse strikes again! Harley was almost expected to miss half a dozen games this season but not through an injury like this. Still, it could've been worse - last season new Essendon Captain Matthew Lloyd suffered a similiar injury and only played in round one, missing the remainder of the season.
THE NEW BOY(S) The big story this week is Tom 'Tomahawk' Hawkins, who is all but certain to take his place wearing father 'Jumping' Jack's number 26 in the forward line. Hawkins was injured in the pre season but appears to have shrugged this off and is bursting at the seams to make it in the big time. Now overshadowed by Hawkins' debut is Travis Varcoe. Varcoe was drafted with pick 15 in the 2005 National Draft. 179cm tall, 19 year old Varcoe will wear the number five jumper for the first time since Gary Ablett Senior wore it with distinction. Ablett's last AFL match was in a losing final in 1996. Both are named on the bench but should play at least half the game each.
Geelong is desperate to kick start the season and know they can't afford another loss, particularly to Carlton. Fortunately they play the day after a crucifixion so the omens are there for a resurrection. The new players might not have much of a directly influence on the result but will certainly lift the spirits of the fans and hence the players as they take the field on Saturday night. Brad Ottens should have deservedly received figuratively if not physically a boot up the behind during the week following his ordinary opening round against the Bulldogs. Likewise Matthew Scarlett down back. The Ablett brothers were in good form and should step up another notch this week, hopefully bringing the likes of Paul Chapman, Joel Corey and David Wojcinski with them.
WHY WE WON'T WIN (THE SKEPTIC'S VIEW) CARRRLTON have hit their straps just like Dick Pratt did when he arrived in Australia in 1938 to escape the Nazi regime. New President Pratt, chairman and owner of Visy Industries, has galvanised the club since taking over in early February. They followed their NAB Cup win with a stirring victory over the Tigers last weekend; however Richmond are a rabble so it aint much to write home about! Their young guns are probably better than ours - in particular Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Jarad Waite. The loss of new Captain Tom Harley, eerily similiar to Bomber Captain Matthew Lloyd's shocking 2006, will hurt not only the spirit of the Cats but their backline. On the other hand, pardon the pun, they've been used to not having Harley around for the past two seasons - albeit they weren't so successful.
TIP? GEELONG BY FIVE POINTS - Wouldn't bet the house on it, though!
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AFL ROUND TWO 2007 GEELONG V CARLTON SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2007 19:10 AEST TELSTRA DOME
SEASON OPENER - VFL ROUND ONE 2007 SANDRINGHAM V GEELONG SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2007 13:00 AEST
TV: Melbourne FOX SPORTS 1 (LIVE) * Fox Sports is available on Foxtel, Optus and Austar RADIO: Melbourne MMM, K-Rock, 3AW
THE ROAD TO VICTORY - 2006 / 2007 A LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AND PREMIERS - MELBOURNE VICTORY - ONLY $29.95
KATH 7 KIM SERIES 1, 2, 3!
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IN: Varcoe, Byrnes, Hawkins B:
Mackie Scarlett Enright
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CARLTON IN: NO CHANGE B: Houlihan O'hAilpin Thornton
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LAST TIME ROUND 14 2006, TELSTRA DOME, CATS
HIT THEIR STRAPS; TOO GOOD FOR BLUES GEELONG were far too good for a lacklustre Carlton side in front of 32,096 punters at Telstra Dome this afternoon, the side thrashed by Adelaide to the tune of 92 points inflicting a similiar scoreline over the blues, winning by 77 points. Matthew McCarthy had just about the best come-back possible, booting five goals while Gary Ablett kicked four. Although he nearly missed the game after running out of petrol on the drive to Melbourne from Geelong, star small forward / midfielder Gary Ablett Junior certainly wasn't short of energy in the first quarter, kicking three goals to give his side control of what was initially keenly fought contest. His second goal was the best, gathering the ball on the half back flank / wing area, he drew and opposition player before handpassing to Matthew Stokes, who in turn drew the attention of two players. Stokes then dished off to a waiting Ablett, who was able to sprint clear and slot the goal through with a kick from well outside fifty. Thankyou to whoever it was that gave little Gazza a lift to the nearest service station, enabling him to refuel his Mercedes and eventually make his way to the Dome.
GEELONG: 5.0, 11.1, 17.2, 23.4 (142) DEFEATED
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2006 / 2007 A LEAGUE CHAMPIONS AND PREMIERS - MELBOURNE VICTORY - just $34.95
Price:
$34.95 AUD * non-AUD values are estimated at current market rates, however the exact non-aud price will depend on the conversion rate applied by your financial institution at the time of purchase.
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SEASON OPENER - VFL ROUND ONE 2007 SANDRINGHAM V GEELONG SATURDAY 7 APRIL 2007 13:00 AEST TREVOR BARKER BEACH OVAL TELECAST ON ABC TV
GEELONG B Bedford S. Hunt J. Hunt
LAST TIME VFL GRAND FINAL - SUNDAY 24 SEPTEMBER
14:10
SANDRINGHAM 4.3 (27) 6.4
(40) 11.9 (75) 13.13 (91) DEFEATED GOALS
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SANDRINGHAM B Holland Ferguson Bizzell
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