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2020 Toyota AFL Premiership
Geelong Cats v Essendon
Round 16 • Sunday 6 September 2020 • 5:35 AM (UTC)
108 17.6
Full Time
42 5.12
Cats Won By 66
Gabba,  Brisbane  • Yuggera - Toorabul

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    The ultimate preview: Rd 16

    A comprehensive look at Sunday's Powercor Country Festival clash with Geelong at the Gabba.

    Zach Merrett with Tom Hawkins during a Powercor Country Festival photoshoot earlier this year. (Photo: AFL Photos)

    Take a look at our comprehensive preview of Essendon's Powercor Country Festival clash with Geelong on Sunday.

    GEELONG v ESSENDON

    Sunday, September 6
    3:35pm AEST
    The Gabba
    Live on Channel 7

    THE HISTORY

    Games played - 218
    Won – 115
    Lost – 98
    Drawn - 5

    06:38

    FIVE FACTS

    1. Burgeoning tradition continues

    Essendon and Geelong will unite for the fifth annual Powercor Country Festival clash on Sunday. Aimed at supporting and celebrating regional communities, the festival will look different but have added significance given Victoria's recent bushfire crisis and the effects of COVID-19 on regional producers. You can show your support by shopping at the Virtual Farmers' Market, which includes an amazing variety of Victoria’s finest-sourced local produce that can be delivered straight to your door.

    2. Contrasting fortunes at the Gabba

    Both sides will take to the Gabba for the third time this season. Essendon fell short against St Kilda and West Coast in its two games there, while Geelong easily accounted for North Melbourne and St Kilda. It's proven to be a happy hunting ground for the Cats, whose one-point loss to the Lions last season has been their only blemish in their last six games at the venue.

    3. Cats craving control

    The Cats are the masters at denying their opponents possession. Ranked first for the time in possession differential, they strive for control and know how to keep it when they get it. The Bombers faced a similar challenge last week against the possession-based West Coast, but outnumbered the Eagles for disposals (325-283) and inside 50s (42-31) in encouraging signs.

    4. Cats' drastic change

    Known for their slow, controlled ball movement in recent seasons, there's been an urgency about Geelong's game style in 2020. Ranked last for mark play-on percentage (18 per cent) in their defensive 50 last season, the Cats have made quick ball movement out of defence a focus this season, and have caught their opponents off-guard as a result. The Bombers will need to dial up the pressure in their forward half to deny Geelong its switches and opportunities to play on.

    5. Bombers in search of aerial dominance

    Essendon (18th) and Geelong (17th) sit in the bottom two for contested marks per game, but we've seen the Cats add aerial supremacy to their arsenal recently. They've averaged 12 contested marks in their past four games, ranked third in the competition during that period. The Bombers will be without aerial threat Joe Daniher (five contested marks in two games), and were comprehensively beaten 17-5 in contested marks against the Eagles last week. 

    LAST TIME WE MET

    Round seven, 2019: Geelong 13.8 (86) defeated Essendon 7.12 (54) at the MCG

    It's been 489 days since Essendon last faced Geelong, with the Cats proving too strong in last year's Powercor Country Festival clash.

    Restricted to just 54 points, the Bombers had a tough time cracking the Cats' miserly defence on a flat afternoon at the MCG.

    Despite Essendon having three inside 50s, it could only manage eight marks inside 50s to Geelong's 17, with Cats defender Tom Stewart (nine intercepts) a constant nuisance.

    Jake Stringer made the most of his opportunities, booting three of the Bombers' seven goals.

    Country boys Zach Merrett (29 disposals) and Darcy Parish (25) stepped up for the occasion as the Bombers got on top in the clearances (38-32).

    Darcy Parish was one of the Bombers' best against the Cats last season. (Photo: AFL Photos)

    FORM

    Geelong
    Round 13: Defeated Adelaide 9.11 (65) to 5.7 (37) at Adelaide Oval
    Round 14: Defeated Western Bulldogs 10.12 (72) to 9.7 (61) at Metricon Stadium
    Round 15: Bye

    Launching into the top four on the back of six wins from their past seven games, the Cats are a clear force this season.

    They haven't had it easy recently, however, struggling to put themselves out of reach of the then-winless Crows in round 13.

    They were stunned early against the Dogs last week, trailing by 36 points at quarter-time before clawing their way back to victory.

    A round 15 bye means a freshened-up Geelong enters Sunday's clash off a nine-day break. 

    Essendon
    Round 13: Lost to Richmond 10.1 (61) to 10.13 (73) at TIO Stadium
    Round 14: Defeated Hawthorn 13.9 (87) to 10.11 (71) at Adelaide Oval
    Round 15: Lost to West Coast 6.9 (45) to 9.6 (60) at the Gabba

    Despite having just one win to show, the Bombers have shown clear improvement in their past three games.

    They kept challenging against a high-flying Richmond in Darwin, completely outplayed Hawthorn in a scintillating second half and were within 10 points of premiership fancy West Coast in the dying stages.

    03:10

    Inefficiency inside 50 has been a problem, with All Australians Jake Stringer and Joe Daniher only recently returning to a forward line that has been largely unsettled this season due to player availability.

    The challenge for the Bombers will be how they back up off another short break, with Sunday's match marking their third in 11 days. 

    TEAMS

    GEELONG

    Backs: Jake Kolodjashnij, Lachie Henderson, Harry Taylor
    Half-backs: Jack Henry, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart
    Centre: Mitch Duncan, Patrick Dangerfield, Sam Menegola
    Half-forwards: Luke Dahlhaus, Gary Rohan, Tom Atkins
    Forwards: Brad Close, Tom Hawkins, Gryan Miers
    Followers: Rhys Stanley, Cameron Guthrie, Lachie Fogarty
    Interchange: Jed Bews, Mark O'Connor, Brandan Parfitt, Zach Tuohy
    Emergencies: Cooper Stephens, Josh Jenkins, Jordan Clark, Zach Guthrie

    In: Fogarty

    Out: Steven (injured)

    Milestone: Zach Tuohy - 200 AFL games

    ESSENDON

    Backs: Martin Gleeson, Michael Hurley, Brandon Zerk-Thatcher
    Half-backs: Matt Guelfi, Jordan Ridley, Adam Saad
    Centre: Kyle Langford, Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett
    Half-forwards: Will Snelling, Cale Hooker, Irving Mosquito
    Forwards: Jake Stringer, James Stewart, Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
    Followers: Sam Draper, Dylan Shiel, Darcy Parish
    Interchange: Devon Smith, Mason Redman, Dylan Clarke, Jacob Townsend
    Emergencies: Brayden Ham, Tom Cutler, Andrew Phillips, Josh Begley

    In: Townsend, Redman

    Out: Daniher (managed), McGrath (syndesmosis)

    02:30

    BOMBER TO WATCH

    Kyle Langford

    Kyle Langford enjoyed a coming of age against the Eagles, tallying a career-high 29 disposals to go with eight marks, five clearances and five score involvements.

    It was the exclamation mark on an impressive season for the the sixth-year midfielder, who has shown marked improvement to cement a position in the Bombers' best 22.

    With young gun Andrew McGrath (syndesmosis) sidelined for the rest of the season, expect to see more of Langford in the engine room.

    01:24

    DANGEROUS OPPONENT

    Tom Hawkins

    Geelong has the best offensive one-on-one contest win percentage in the League, and owes a lot of that to Tom Hawkins.

    The big Cat, who is destined for triple All-Australian honours, has been a marking machine in his side's past four games, winning 12 of his 20 contests.

    He's also booted 16 goals in that period to sit atop the Coleman Medal leaderboard on 35 majors, seven ahead of second-placed Josh Kennedy.

    Hawkins loves playing against the Bombers, averaging three goals in the sides' past three encounters.

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    Bombers cop heavy loss to Cats

    Essendon has had a dirty day at the Gabba, falling to Geelong by 66 points.

    The Bombers leave the Gabba after their 66-point loss to the Cats. (Photo: AFL Photos)

    Geelong has flexed its premiership muscles while all but ruling out Essendon's finals chances with a 66-point romp at the Gabba on Sunday afternoon.

    The Cats blew the game apart with five goals in the opening 13 minutes of the match and did not relent, winning 17.6 (108) to 5.12 (42). 

    The victory moves them to second spot and sets up a tantalising Friday night blockbuster against reigning premier Richmond, which will shape the top-four chances of both teams. 

    Essendon can mathematically still make the eight, needing to win its final two games and rely on a heap of losses elsewhere.

    Geelong did as it pleased, leading by 30 points at quarter-time and 59 at the half, moving the ball swiftly and under little pressure to give its potent forward line ample chances.

    Essendon was completely outplayed, beaten badly around the contest and unable to match the Cats when the ball got to the outside.

    Sam Menegola racked up 30 disposals and kicked two goals, one following a lovely build-up that included slick hands from Tom Hawkins and an exquisite squared pass from Patrick Dangerfield early in the second term.

    Hawkins now leads the Coleman Medal by a whopping 10 after kicking four goals, while Gryan Miers kicked three and Tom Stewart (24), Mitch Duncan (19) and Dangerfield (17 and two goals) all had an influence. 

    The Bombers were best served by Zach Merrett (24 disposals), while Sam Draper showed some promise in the ruck. 

    A knee injury to Irving Mosquito further soured their loss, with fears the second forward has ruptured his left ACL.

    Should this unheralded Cat be All Australian?

    Part of Geelong's big improvement in 2020 has been the emergence of its unheralded midfielders. With Joel Selwood missing some footy and Patrick Dangerfield spending more time forward, Cam Guthrie and Sam Menegola have taken huge strides, and the latter was again sensational against the Bombers. Playing on his first Father's Day, Menegola set the tone for his team early, gathering 11 first-quarter disposals to pilot the Cats to a match-winning lead. His 30 touches included two goals and 11 score involvements, continuing a fantastic season that should put him right in the frame for All-Australian selection. 

    Bombers' first-quarter woes continue

    Essendon turned up to the Gabba less than an hour before the opening bounce because of heavy traffic and had were comprehensively outplayed in the first term. It's a theme that has followed them all season. From the moment Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti missed a handpass to Irving Mosquito rather than take the routine 15m set shot in the opening minute, it was all downhill. Essendon trailed by 30 at quarter-time - the eighth straight game it has failed to kick more than one goal early. Incredibly, the Bombers haven't won an opening term since round two against Sydney.

    Who comes out when Gaz returns?

    Chris Scott is going to have a serious selection headache when Gary Ablett returns following another outstanding showing from his small forward brigade. Gryan Miers (15 disposals and three goals) and Luke Dahlhaus (16 and one goal) were exceptional and appear virtual locks for the finals, with Brad Close and Tom Atkins set to battle out the final spot. Friday's match against Richmond is their last audition before Ablett is available to return in round 18 against Sydney. 

    GEELONG       6.2       12.3     14.4     17.6 (108)
    ESSENDON     1.2       2.4       3.8       5.12 (42)

    GOALS

    Geelong: Hawkins 4, Miers 3, Bews 2, Blicavs 2, Dangerfield 2, Menegola 2, Dahlhaus, Rohan

    Essendon: Redman, Shiel, Stewart, Stringer, Townsend

    BEST

    Geelong: Menegola, Hawkins, Stewart, Duncan, Miers, Dangerfield

    Essendon: Merrett, Parish, Draper, Smith

    INJURIES

    Geelong: Tuohy (ribs, replaced in selected side by Z.Guthrie); Stanley (replaced in selected side by Jenkins).

    Essendon: Mosquito (knee).

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