Match day guide and preview for the AFL semi-final between the Giants and Cats in Perth.
Match details
Geelong Cats vs GWS Giants
Friday 3 September 2021 at 7.50pm (AEST)
Optus Stadium, Perth WA.
Team selection
Cats – IN: Esava Ratugolea, Max Holmes, Zach Tuohy
OUT: Luke Dahlhaus, Mark O’Connor, Sam Simpson, Shaun Higgins
Giants – IN: Bobby Hill, Connor Stone
OUT: Sam Reid, Toby Greene, Tom Green
Click here to view final teams.
Finals week one and recent form
Geelong Cats
The Cats were the premiership favourites a month ago but have now dropped three of their last four matches and are staring down the barrel of a straight sets exit.
Losses to GWS and Melbourne in the final three rounds of the season meant they had to play the Power in Adelaide where they were smacked by 43 points.
Tom Stewart is a huge out for Geelong, but even he wouldn’t have changed last week’s result as their star-studded midfield and forward groups were below par.
They lost their first final last year before regrouping and making a grand final, so don’t be surprised to see them rebound strongly again this year.
GWS Giants
The Giants are arguably the form team of the competition having won their past four straight matches to make it past week one of the finals.
Wins over Geelong, Richmond and Carlton to finish the regular season got them into an elimination final where they beat the Swans in a one-point thriller.
The Giants kicked six goals in a blistering second quarter to build a 29-point lead but were somewhat fortunate to hang on with the Swans finishing the game with six straight behinds.
They’ll have to do it without their best player Toby Greene, but this Giants side has shown plenty of heart this season and won’t die wondering.
Key players
Geelong – Jeremy Cameron and Joel Selwood
The Cats had plenty of players below their best last week and these two stars were certainly in that boat.
Cameron was incredibly quiet in his first final for the Cats, kicking just one goal from 10 disposals and just couldn’t find a way to impact the game.
The Giants will know as well as anyone how dangerous Cameron can be, so expect plenty of attention and hopefully some banter coming from his former teammates.
Selwood has built a reputation of leading from the front, but he could only muster 17 disposals last week against the Power.
He breaks the Geelong record for games played tonight, so expect him and his teammates to lift for the special milestone game.
GWS – Tim Taranto and Sam Taylor
Last time Greene was out, Taranto was the star with four goals against the Tigers and he may be used up forward again tonight.
He was good last week with 25 possessions and a goal, but he may have to sacrifice some midfield minutes to provide another strong inside 50 target.
Taylor has had a terrific season down back and was the best player on the ground the last time these sides met.
He took eight intercept marks and held All-Australian forward Tom Hawkins to just 1 goal and 10 disposals.
Cameron didn’t play in that game earlier in the season, so it will be interesting to see who Taylor lines up on to start this final, but the Giants should be confident he’ll do the job against either of them.
Last 5 meetings and finals history
- 2021 Round 21 – Cats 8.17 (65) defeated by Giants 13.6 (84) at GMHBA Stadium
- 2020 Round 1 – Giants 17.3 (105) defeat Cats11.7 (73) at Giants Stadium
- 2019 Round 4 – Cats 11.9 (75) defeated by Giants 11.13 (79) at GMHBA Stadium
- 2018 Round 7 – Cats 14.9 (93) defeat Giants4.8 (32) at GMBHA Stadium
- 2017 Round 6 – Cats 15.13 (103) defeat Giants 8.11 (59) at GMHBA Stadium
GWS are the only side in the AFL to currently hold a three-match winning streak over the Cats.
Two of those wins have come down in Geelong so they know they can beat them anywhere.
This is the first final between the sides and their first meeting at Optus Stadium.
All time head-to-head record: Played 11. Cats 7 wins. Giants 4 wins.
Pre match predictions
Selwood celebration: Joel Selwood to celebrate his milestone game with at least 5 free kicks and a goal.
Take two Timmy: Tim Taranto to repeat his round 22 effort with four goals up forward.
