Match day guide and preview for the 2022 AFL Preliminary Final between the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions.
Match details
- Who: Geelong Cats vs Brisbane Lions
- When: Friday 16 September, 7.50pm
- Where: MCG
- Weather: min 10, max 17. 80% chance of rain, 2 to 4 mm
- Head-to-head record since 1997: Played 39. Cats 23 wins. Lions 16 wins.
Teams
Cats
IN:
OUT: Mark O’Connor (medi-sub)
Geelong have named the same 22 that beat Collingwood in their first final.
Lions
IN: Joe Daniher, Oscar McInerney
OUT: Darcy Fort (omitted), Rhys Mathieson (medi-sub), Tom Fullarton (omitted)
Brisbane are the only side to make changes this week, with Daniher and McInerney coming straight back in. Fort and Fullarton are the unlucky duo dropped from last week’s upset win over Melbourne.
Click here for complete team line-ups.
Finals summary
Geelong
The Cats came into this finals series as the red-hot premiership favourites and got the fright of their lives against Collingwood in the Qualifying Final.
Geelong found themselves trailing by two goals during the last quarter but as good sides do, they dug deep and found a way to get the job done.
Gary Rohan came into the game under pressure for previous poor performances in finals, but took a big mark and kicked a long bomb from 50m to get Geelong back into the game. Jeremy Cameron was also influential as always, while Tom Atkins was enormous in the last quarter.
On paper, the Cats are the clear favourites to punch their ticket to a Grand Final, but they’ll still need to be at their best to beat this quality Brisbane team.
Brisbane
Plenty of people thought the Lions were making up the numbers coming into this finals series, but they’ve now had two upset wins and find themselves in the final four.
After a thrilling win over the Tigers in week one of the finals, Brisbane travelled to the MCG, a venue they hadn’t won at since 2014, and sent the reigning premiers packing in straight sets with a comeback 14.8 (92) to 11.13 (79) victory.
They looked all but gone trailing by 22 points at half-time, but a lift in pressure around the footy brought them back into the game and they ran over the top of Melbourne in the fourth quarter.
Brisbane’s midfield really lifted after the break with Lachie Neale working his way into the game, while Jarrod Berry was superb after he was moved onto Clayton Oliver. Eric Hipwood stood tall in the absence of Joe Daniher, while Daniel Rich was also busy.
They’ll come into this final as the raging underdogs once again but it might just suit this Brisbane side full of confidence.
Who to watch for
Geelong – Jeremy Cameron
Cameron has been one of the best players in the AFL this season and was fantastic in the Cats’ first final.
The 29-year-old finished the match with 17 disposals, 3 goals and 12 score involvements, 5 more than the next best on the field.
He’s such a difficult matchup given his pace and agility for a guy that’s 196cm tall and that responsibility will likely land on Harris Andrews who kept him to one goal earlier this season.
While Cameron is clearly Geelong’s most dangerous forward, the Lions back six will also have their hands full defending Tom Hawkins, Tyson Stengle and an in form Gary Rohan.
Brisbane – Eric Hipwood
Coming back from an ACL injury, Hipwood hasn’t had his greatest season for the Lions but he’s really stepped up in the finals.
He managed three or more goals just once in 14 home and away matches, but has done it in both finals with bags of 3 and 4.
With Joe Daniher a late out against the Dees, Hipwood was the number one man up forward for Brisbane and he delivered in spades.
Going up against quality defenders in Steven May and Harrison Petty, Hipwood had a huge influence on the game and kicked three goals in the third quarter when Brisbane made their charge.
Coming up against Geelong’s outstanding defensive unit, the Lions are going to need a couple of their star forwards to step up and Hipwood is the man in form.
Last 5 meetings and MCG history
- 2022 round 4: Cats 11.14 (80) defeat Lions 11.4 (70) at GMHBA Stadium
- 2021 round 15: Lions 13.16 (94) defeat Cats 7.8 (50) at Gabba
- 2021 round 2: Cats 12.9 (81) defeat Lions 11.14 (80) at GMHBA Stadium
- 2020 Preliminary Final: Lions 6.6 (42) lost to Cats 11.16 (82) at Gabba
- 2020 round 6: Cats 11.7 (73) defeat Lions 6.10 (46) at SCG
Geelong have a terrific recent record over the Lions, winning four of the last five contests, including a 10-point victory at the Cattery earlier this year.
In fact, their strong record over the Lions goes back quite some time now, with Geelong winning 22 of the last 26 matchups dating back to 2005.
These sides have only met at the MCG once, when Brisbane were forced to host a Prelim at the ground in 2004 that they won 12.12 (84) to 10.15 (75). They’ve played one other final, a 2020 Prelim that Geelong won comfortably at the Gabba.
Pre match predictions
Nice Gary: Gary Rohan to back up his good form in the first final with another three goals. Geelong by 25.
Sleepy Joe: New father Joe Daniher to have a quiet night after struggling to sleep this week with a newborn in the home, under 10 possessions and just one goal.
