Telstra Dome - 7:10PM, Saturday, 22 May

Geelong

GEELONG'S ACE FULLBACK/CENTRE HALF BACK DUO MATTHEW SCARLETT AND TOM HARLEY EACH PLAY THEIR 100TH AFL GAME THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

Essendon

MATTHEW LLOYD, MATTHEW SCARLETT'S NEXT 'VICTIM'

GEELONG SQUAD

IN: Haynes, Rooke
OUT: Sanderson (knee), D Johnson

B: Wojcinski, Scarlett, Rooke
HB: Hunt, Harley, Milburn
C: Kelly, Ling, Tenace
HF: Gardiner, Graham, Chapman
F: Riccardi, Playfair, Kingsley
FOLL: Mooney, Corey, Ablett
I/C: Moloney, King, Mackie, Haynes
EMG: Enright, Loats, D Johnson

ESSENDON SQUAD

IN: Haynes
OUT: JAMES HIRD

B: Welsh, Fletcher, Wellman
HB: Ramanauskas, Lucas, McVeigh
C: Solomon, J.Johnson, Murphy
HF: Rioli, Bolton, McPhee
F: Cupido, Lloyd, Hille
FOLL: Allan, M.Johnson, Peverill
I/C: Misiti, Bullen, Lovett-Murray, Haynes
EMG: Alvey, Bradley, Dyson

LAST TIME

Round 12, 2003

ESSENDON: 8.3, 13.5, 16.6, 20.9 (129)
GEELONG: 4.0, 8.1, 12.2, 15.3 (93)

GOALS: Essendon: Cupido 5, Lucas 3, Bolton, Hille, Misiti 2, M Johnson, Ramanauskas, McVeigh, J Johnson, Lloyd, Barnard.
Geelong:S Johnson 3, Spriggs, Kingsley, Riccardi 2, Clarke, Corey, McCarthy, Ablett, Ling, Bartel.

Relive last year's match: Match Report

Geelong's first Saturday game in a while, and a 'home game' to boot. Yours truly has been to four games this season, all three home games as well as the away against the Hawks. We've won each time; I hope the boys can do it without us this Saturday night!

Essendon lose Brownlow favorite James Hird due to an eye injury, but are otherwise nearly at full strength. The Bombers pantsed Adelaide at AAMI Stadium last Friday night, and sit second on the ladder, after dropping the first two games of the season, winning the last six straight.

Geelong has won four out of the last five, although mostly against 'ordinary' teams in Richmond, Adelaide, Hawthorn, while Melbourne were a good scalp. They've lost to St Kilda, had a SHOCKER against Carlton, and went down reasonably narrowly to Sydney and Fremantle on their home turf.

Missing for the Cats this week is Brenton Sanderson, who suffered a knee injury on Sunday in the win over the Demons. David Johnson, who's been named as emergency but actually played the last two rounds, goes back to the VFL. Defender Jarad Rooke replaces Sanderson while forward David Haynes returns after being a late withdrawl last Sunday.

Tip? Bombers by 12 points