Geelong need to get back on track

OUT-OF-SORTS ladder leaders Geelong will need to lift on the road in the run to the AFL finals, starting in Sydney today, as the chasing pack draws closer.

Surging Richmond moved to within four points after Friday night’s win over Collingwood, while Brisbane and the West Coast Eagles drew level with Geelong yesterday, though the Cats have a significantly higher percentage than both.

The Cats have won two of three interstate games this season, but three of their next four matches are outside Victoria.

In their three losses over the past five rounds, Geelong have been held to eight goals or less.

Cats coach Chris Scott candidly admitted his side was boring to watch last week.

“I don’t think we’ll be allout attack this week, but hopefully the viewership will have a better time watching the hoops,” Scott said.

He pointed out the SCG was short and wide, while their own home ground was long and narrow, though the Cats did win on the Swans’ turf last year.

“It’s naive to think you just go and play exactly the same way irrespective of the dimensions,” Scott said.

Sydney also have a scoring issue, dropping from nine to eight to seven goals in their losses over the past three rounds and are averaging just 75 points a game.

Geelong concede a league lowest average of 67 a game and Sydney will be without spearhead Lance Franklin for at least two more games, though the Swans hope to have him back before the end of the season.

“(Geelong) have got a lot of really good players who you pay a lot of respect to out there, but for us, it’s not shying down from the contest,” said Swans midfielder Oliver Florent, who will play his 50th game.

“We’ve got on the weekend a young team and a lot of the players aren’t afraid of a big game at the SCG against the top team.

“They (Geelong) are obviously going to try and do their best to lift again.

“We’re all really excited to go out there and just leave it all on the field on Sunday.”

Key forward Tom Hawkins will play his 250th game for Geelong, who have included midfielder Scott Selwood for the first time this season.

Defender Jack Henry was recalled, along with ruckman Zac Smith, whose only previous match this year was in the 22-point Round 11 home win over Sydney.