Round One
Geelong v Adelaide
Thursday, March 20 at 6.40pm (SA time) Simonds Stadium
Head to head
Geelong 18
Adelaide 17
Out of action (estimates only)
George Burbury (jaw) – 3 weeks
Allen Christensen (back) – 7-9 weeks
Shane Kersten (knee) – TBA
Daniel Menzel (knee) – indefinite
Steven Motlop (knee) – 3-5 weeks
Nathan Vardy (knee) – season
Joel Selwood (hamstring) – test
Billie Smedts (bone bruising) – 3 weeks
Geelong’s last five
2013 Preliminary Final, Hawthorn 14.18 (102) d Geelong 15.7 (97), MCG
2013 Semi Final, Geelong 13.18 (96) d Port Adelaide 12.8 (80), MCG
2013 Qualifying Final, Geelong 9.18 (72) d by Fremantle 12.15 (87), Simonds Stadium
2013 Round 23, Geelong 15.22 (112), d Brisbane 17.9 (111), Simonds Stadium
2013 Round 22, Geelong 13.14 (92), d Sydney 7.6 (48), Simonds Stadium
Recent form against Adelaide
2013, Round 17, Adelaide 14.10 (94) d Geelong 14.8 (92), AAMI Stadium
2012, Round 18, Geelong 15.12 (102) d Adelaide 11.9 (75), Simonds Stadium
2012, Round Seven, Adelaide 19.8 (122) d Geelong 10.12 (72), AAMI Stadium
2011, Round 21, Adelaide 12.13 (85) def by Geelong 14.12 (96), AAMI Stadium
2011, Round 14, Geelong 19.11 (125) d Adelaide 10.13 (73), Simonds Stadium
Brownlow Medal votes from last meeting
3. Ricky Henderson (Adelaide)
2. Joel Selwood (Geelong)
1. Richard Douglas (Adelaide)
Team
B: Andrew Mackie, Tom Lonergan, Taylor Hunt
HB: Enright, Jared Rivers, Cam Guthrie
C: Jimmy Bartel, Josh Caddy, Mitch Duncan
HF: Jordan Murdoch, Harry Taylor, Joel Selwood
F: Mitch Brown, Tom Hawkins, Lincoln McCarthy
Foll: Hamish McIntosh, Steve Johnson, Mathew Stokes
Interchange: George Horlin-Smith, James Kelly, Mark Blicavs, Travis Varcoe
News bites
Smedts sidelined
Young Cat Billie Smedts will miss Thursday’s Round One clash with Adelaide after suffering a bone bruising injury in his leg during Geelong’s practice match loss to North Melbourne on March 7.
Blicavs upgraded
Mark Blicavs will lead the Cats in the ruck against Adelaide on Thursday night with the former steeple-chaser earning promotion to Geelong’s senior list.
Cats downed by Roos at home – AFL.com.au
North Melbourne has upset Geelong by nine points at Simonds Stadium in both clubs’ final hit outs before Round One.
