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GEELONG SET TO BOUNCE BACK IN FRIDAY NIGHT CLASH AT
THE DOME WELL it’s a Friday night fixture, and while Geelong has rarely had the opportunity to participate on the big stage, in comparison to the regularity of Collingwood, they know a win against the Pies’ will pretty much dash any hopes they have of playing in September. “I think it is a big occasion Friday night footy, we don’t get to play it much, and we hope to be able to play more of it in the future,” Thompson said at Geelong training today, at the Altona Westgate & Sports Leisure Centre. “You know if we demand more, we actually got to rise to the occasion, and play to the standard, and there is no doubt that Friday night games are of good quality” he said. While this will be the Cats’ first and only appearance on Friday night this season, in contrast Collingwood have been drawn to play eight games. The Pies having some success already on Friday night, winning 2 out of their 3 outings. After failing to overcome a 2-year losing streak interstate, following a 2-point defeat at the hands of West Coast at the weekend, the Cats still remain on track for a place in the top six, albeit without the services of promising midfielder James Kelly. The 20-year-old, will miss the remainder of the season, after breaking his leg during the opening stages of the game, against the Eagles. “His (Kelly) spirits are good, he is coming home tomorrow, and look he has got a broken leg, he is looking forward to pre season training, so he is on the mend, he is very little pain and just wishes us all the best” Thompson said. The Geelong Coach is mindful that more AFL clubs this year, are likely to win the following week, on the back of a trip across the Nullarbor, compared to past seasons. “I think a few more teams have won this year, obviously a few more teams have beaten the interstate sides over (Subiaco) there to, a six-day recovery, you have just got to be very careful.” Thompson believes playing on a hard surface like the Telstra Dome should not present a problem, after coming off the wet and slippery conditions in the west. “The players generally pulled up pretty from that, so that might be a bit of an advantage, Telstra Dome is not as hard, as it used to be either.” Despite losing it’s past two encounters against last year’s Grand finalists, Geelong’s recent record against the Pies’ suggests that Friday’s night clash at the Telstra Dome should be played under a near capacity crowd. The Cats’ have won 6 out of their last 9 games against Collingwood. |
ROUND 15: JUNE 28: LATEST NEWSLETTER - MID SEASON REVIEW
CHARLIE GARDINER RETURNS THIS FRIDAY NIGHT |
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