We take a look at Friday nights (6/9/2019) AFL 2019 Finals Week 1 match is between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies. The Cats finished on top of the table but controversially they will play their home final at the MCG. The Cats go into the match as favourites but both teams have been backed in early betting.
When: Friday 6th September at 7:50PM
Where: MCG
Bet: Bet On This Match HERE
Preview:
Collingwood clinched a double chance thanks to the Eagles loss to Hawthorn in round 23 and will look to capitalise on that good fortune when they play Geelong on Friday night. The Cats have moaned and groaned about having to play a ‘home’ final at the MCG, but with more than 90,000 fans expected, the ‘G is the only venue fit for this blockbuster.
The minor premiers are $1.78 favourites to beat the Pies who are priced at $2.05. The line favours Geelong by 3.5 points.
In their only meeting in 2019 way back in round 1, the Cats got home by seven points. Matches between these two clubs have been close in recent times, with the margin under five goals in their past five meetings.
Their last finals matchup was the 2011 grand final, which Geelong won by 38 points. The Cats are the most prolific scoring team in the AFL, averaging more than 13 goals per game. This match could be won at the defensive end though, with these sides ranked first and second for points conceded.
The Wolf is going to back the Cats to get across the line in a low scoring game, with a few of Collingwood’s forwards short on match time in recent weeks, namely Jordan De Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson, likely to be rusty.
Odds:
Tip: Geelong Cats at $1.72
Value Tip: First Goal Scorer: Jordan de Goey at $8.50
Teams:
CATS
B: Z.Tuohy, M.Blicavs, H.Taylor
HB: M.O’Connor, J.Henry, T.Stewart
C: M.Duncan, P.Dangerfield, B.Parfitt
HF: G.Ablett, E.Ratugolea, G.Rohan
F: L.Dahlhaus, T.Hawkins, J.Bews
FOLL: R.Stanley, T.Kelly, J.Selwood
I/C: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Atkins, G.Miers, Q.Narkle
EMG: S.Selwood, S.Menegola, J.Parsons, L.Henderson
IN: J.Kolodjashnij, T.Atkins
OUT: L.Henderson (Omitted), C.Guthrie (Injured)
MAGPIES
B: L.Greenwood, J.Roughead, J.Howe
HB: J.Crisp, D.Moore, B.Maynard
C: T.Phillips, S.Pendlebury, C.Mayne
HF: S.Sidebottom, B.Mihocek, W.Hoskin-Elliott
F: J.Elliott, J.De Goey, J.Stephenson
FOLL: B.Grundy, A.Treloar, T.Adams
I/C: J.Noble, C.Brown, J.Thomas, R.Wills
EMG: M.Scharenberg, T.Varcoe, J.Madgen, J.Daicos
IN: S.Sidebottom. J.De Goey, J.Stephenson
OUT: M.Scharenberg (Omitted), T.Varcoe (Omitted), J.Madgen (Omitted)
*Odds correct at time of posting. Subject to change