Geelong Cats v Essendon Bombers; AFL 2022 round 1 match preview and team lists

Geelong Cats v Essendon Bombers, AFL 2022 round 1 match preview and team lists
Ben Jensen GEELONG start their season against Essendon in a home fixture at the MCG dubbed the ‘Powercor Country Festival’. Prior to selection night regulars Mitch Duncan, Sam Menegola, Mark O’Connor and Gryan Miers were all considered in serious doubt to play while Jack Henry, Jed Bews and Sam Menegola were better chances to play and Gary Rohan no chance. In the event of the six only Henry was named. Only one new Cat was named, Tyson Stengle recruited from Adelaide in the off season, the ex-Crow and ex-Tiger impressing in practice matches. Sam De Koning will play his second ever AFL game named at full-back, the 204cm key position player.

AFL 2022 ROUND ONE
GEELONG CATS V ESSENDON BOMBERS
SATURDAY 19 MARCH 2022, 14:10 AEST
MCG

PREDICTIONS
Ben – Cats 52 points
Oscar – Cats 7 points
Cassie – Cats 28 points

GEELONG CATS – SELECTED SIDE
B: J Kolodjashnij, S De Koning, J Henry
HB: Z Tuohy, T Stewart, M Blicavs
C: M Holmes, C Guthrie, I Smith
HF: T Stengle, E Ratugolea, B Parfitt
F: J Cameron, T Hawkins, S Higgins
FOLL: R Stanley, P Dangerfield, J Selwood
INT: Z Guthrie, L Dahlhaus, B Close, T Atkins
EMER: C Stephens, F Evans, Q Narkle, C Whyte

ESSENDON BOMBERS – SELECTED SIDE
B: J Stewart, J Laverde, J Kelly
HB: N Hind, J Rdiley, D Heppell
C: A McGrathm Z Merrett, N Cox
HF: A Perkins, K Baldwin, D Shiel
F: B Ham, P Wright, D Smith
FOLL: S Draper, D Parish, K Langford
INT: J Caldwell, M Guelfi, N Martin, M Redman
EMER: T Cutler, A Phillips, B Hobbs, A Francis

UMPIRES
FIELD Simon Meredith, Cameron Dore, Andrew Heffernan EMER: John Howorth
BOUNDARY Shane Thiele, Adam Coote, Sean Moylan, Tim Lougoon
GOAL Mark Ensbey, Steven Piperno EMER: Michael Craig