FORTY JINX
Geelong will have to defy history to win this year’s premiership with no team since WWII winning a flag using more than 39 players
GEELONG will need to defy history if it is to claim a 10th VFL/AFL premiership this year.
The Cats have used 40 players so far this season and there remains a chance they could add to that number this weekend.
No club since World War II has used more than 39 players in a premiership winning season, with Richmond doing it in 1969 and more recently the Western Bulldogs in 2016.
The Bulldogs created history two years ago by coming from seventh on the ladder to storm to a droughtbreaking flag, ending the monopoly of teams from within the top four collecting the premiership.
Depending on the result in the Melbourne and GWS clash on Sunday, Geelong — provided it overcomes 17thplaced Gold Coast at GMHBA Stadium this weekend — will finish in seventh or eighth and will also need to win four consecutive finals to secure its first flag since 2011.
So far this season only St Kilda, with 41, has used more players than Geelong, while Collingwood, with 38, has used the next most out of the teams still in the flag race.
West Coast (33) has used the least number of players, while Richmond, Sydney, Hawthorn, GWS and Mel- bourne have used between 34 and 37.
The Cats have used every player on their list in 2018 except for Matthew Hayball, Charlie Constable, Ryan Gardner, Timm House and Gryan Miers.
Having blooded seven debutants, they will consider adding to that number this Saturday when they take on the Suns, with Miers and Constable in the mix after impressing at VFL level in recent weeks.
Constable had another 30 disposal game against Coburg last Saturday to go with his seven marks, two tackles and a goal, while Miers had a season-high 27 possessions, complementing his six marks, five tackles, five clearances, two inside-50s and a goal.
Quinton Narkle could also come straight back into the Geelong team after racking up 34 disposals last week in the VFL, while Stewart Crameri (13 disposals and four goals), Lachie Fogarty (16 possessions and 10 tackles) and Jordan Cunico, who was held over as an emergency, will also feature heavily in selection talks.
Jed Bews is likely to be available after missing the past two matches with a shoulder injury but Geelong will weigh up the merits of playing the small defender against Gold Coast against resting him to make sure he is absolutely right to go for finals.