AFL Round 11
Geelong Cats v Western Bulldogs
Thursday 22 May | 7:30pm AEST
GMHBA Stadium, Geelong • Wadawurrung
Broadcast: Channel 7, Kayo/Foxtel
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LAST MEETING
Round 19, 2024
Geelong Cats 7.6 (48) def. by 13.17 (95)
The Western Bulldogs showed dominance in a commanding 47-point win at GMHBA Stadium, controlling the contest across all four quarters. Adam Treloar starred with 31 disposals, 19 kicks and three goals, while Ed Richards was damaging with 29 disposals (21 kicks) and two goals.
Tim English impressed in the ruck with 41 hit-outs, 17 disposals and four tackles, consistently applying pressure around the ground. Rory Lobb was strong too with 27 disposals and eight clearances.
THE LINE-UP
WHO TO WATCH
Tom Liberatore will bring up another milestone moment on Thursday night, continuing a proud family legacy that’s deeply woven into AFL (and Bulldogs) history.
The father-son duo of Tom and Tony Liberatore currently sit equal-ninth on the all-time list for most combined VFL/AFL games by a father and son - matching Essendon’s Tim and Jobe Watson with 527 appearances.
Tony, a relentless midfielder in the ‘80s and ’90s, played 283 games in a decorated career in the red, white and blue. Tom, since debuting in 2010, has added 244 of his own – averaging 29 disposals and 5.4 tackles this season alone. Thursday’s clash with Geelong offers another opportunity for Tom to lead by example, especially after a strong showing against the Cats last year (23 disposals, 12 kicks and seven tackles).
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY
- Martin Pegan, afl.com.au
Geelong (6-4) has stayed in touch with the pacesetters without quite doing enough to prove its top-four credentials during a rollercoaster five-match stretch that has seen it alternate between wins and losses. The Cats can now make a huge statement with a victory over the in-form Dogs though their long-running streak of beating them on home turf is fading following defeats in their past two meetings at the venue.
The Western Bulldogs (6-4) are closing in on claiming a top-four spot for the first time this season after four commanding victories in their past five matches. The Dogs might be two wins short of top spot but loom as a genuine premiership contender as their free-flowing style leaves them as the highest-scoring team in the competition while they set up many of their attacks in defence.
