West Coast vs Geelong

Geelong spearhead Tom Hawkins kicked his 700th AFL goal as his side braved a spirited West Coast Eagles outfit at Optus Stadium on Saturday.

“The bye round gives teams a chance to reset… For the first time in 10 weeks, West Coast went into half time without a deficit. That’s the second or third time today.” Tim Kelly was a late out for the Eagles with illness. Normally go around 25-26 per cent. “They are looking on and try to break the layers of defence that Geelong have.” “That is criminal. “Whether it’s on the lead, on the ground, he just seems on song and in form,” Buckley added. It was “easy as you like” for Stengle in the opening minutes at Optus Stadium, as he got out the back and found teammate Brad Close for the first goal of the match. Commentator Jason Dunstall said Stengle was the small forward Geelong were “desperate to unearth” and a “fantastic recruit”. Time by that point had become a factor, however, and the risks taken by the Eagles in a bid to close the gap led to a turnover, which ended with Tom Hawkins slotting his third goal of the day and ending any hopes of a fairytale Eagles comeback. Goals to Tyson Stengle and Jeremy Cameron in the opening stages of the second quarter threatened to blow the game open, but it was matched by a gritty fightback from the Eagles.

Optus Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 14 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and Geelong Cats. The game kicks off at 4:35 pm with Geelong Cats ...

Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the West Coast Eagles vs. Geelong Cats game and give you our free tips and bets. West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats Teams West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats Preview West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats Odds We're tipping Geelong Cats to win at $1.10 odds. Geelong are out to $1.10 with Ladbrokes after opening at $1.04. West Coast have shortened into $7.25 after touching $11.50 during the week. Optus Stadium will play host to Saturday's Round 14 AFL game between West Coast Eagles and Geelong Cats. The game kicks off at 4:35 pm with Geelong Cats heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers.

West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats Predictions, Preview & Betting Tips. Team news, injuries, head to head stats, AFL Round 14 tips and live stream.

- West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats FAQs - West Coast Eagles vs Geelong Cats Predictions Min deposit $5. Bet Credits available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Up to $100 in Bet Credits for new customers at bet365. Geelong have won their last three matches and will be making it four in a row with a wide-margin victory. I'm backing them at the line of -39.5.

But it was star Geelong forward Tom Hawkins who settled the result, however, when he held his nerve to cap off a day in which he kicked his 700th career goal, ...

West Coast: Greg Clark (replaced McGovern in the second quarter) From their youngest player in debutant Rhett Bazzo, however, to their oldest in champion forward Josh Kennedy, the Eagles fought and scrapped all day to make the match a contest. As much the Eagles had arguably their best team on paper for the season, they lost their best performer pre-game to illness in Tim Kelly, and Jeremy McGovern suffered a rib injury that ended his day before half-time. It was a game that felt like it had two winners, with the Cats extending their winning run to four games as they prepare to make an assault on the premiership, and the Eagles proving they will be a different proposition in the second-half of the season. The Cats also had a significant advantage in the ruck, with Mark Blicavs and Rhys Stanley combining to give them a 44-26 advantage in hit-outs and 38-29 in clearances. In the week that the Eagles celebrated the 30th anniversary of their inaugural premiership, the team lifted to the occasion, but Geelong steadied late to win 12.9 (81) to 9.9 (63).

Tom Hawkins kicked his 700th AFL goal as Geelong scored an 18-point win over West Coast who had defender Jeremy McGovern taken to hospital.

A goal after the siren from Hawkins in his only touch of the term gave the Cats a 13-point edge at quarter time, and the storyline was going to script when Geelong skipped out to a 25-point lead early in the second quarter. West Coast spent the week celebrating the 30-year anniversary of their grand final triumph over Geelong in 1992. But buoyed by the return of premiership stars Elliot Yeo, Willie Rioli and Dom Sheed, West Coast hit the lead early in the third quarter.

The West Coast Eagles looked like a reborn team against the Cats, pushing them almost all the way to the line at Optus Stadium.

A behind to put them in front early in the third quarter was greeted with cheers. It wasn’t their most convincing win of the season, but they’ll take the four points happily, as they consolidate their hold on yet another top four finish. It wasn’t enough to get them over the line, Tom Hawkins sealing the match for the Cats with his third goal. “He’s had plenty of knocks over his time and he’s pretty brave. Another goal to Cameron had the Cats out by 25, and looking ominous. Ahead of the match against Geelong, the team they vanquished on 26 September 1992, 15 Eagles heroes from that day were in attendance, plus former coach Mick Malthouse.

GWS and the Western Bulldogs have played some of the best and most spirited games of the modern era, and shapes as another hot one. Follow our live AFL ...

The seventh-placed Swans raced to a 19-2 advantage in the first quarter with their three big guns - Franklin, Heeney and Mills - all scoring goals. A goal after the siren from Hawkins in his only touch of the term gave the Cats a 13-point edge at quarter time, and the storyline was going to script when Geelong skipped out to a 25-point lead early in the second quarter. Port duo Zak Butters (knee) and first-gamer Brynn Teakle (collarbone) were both hurt in a 10-minute span in the second quarter. Jack Petruccelle's behind early in the third quarter gave the home side a one-point edge, but Geelong did enough from that point on to secure their ninth win of the season and replace Carlton in fourth spot. The margin was just 11 points in favour of the Cats with seven minutes remaining in the match, but Hawkins' third goal of the game sealed the 12.9 (81) to 9.9 (63) victory in front of 32,526 fans. Hawkins kicked goal number 700 in the second quarter when he won a lucky free kick, with the 33-year-old becoming just the 26th player to achieve the feat in VFL/AFL history.

Tom Barrass also had a strong performance in defence, largely opposed to Tom Hawkins, while the forwards – led by Jamie Cripps, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling ...

Greg Clark was substituted into the game when vice-captain Jeremy McGovern was forced from the ground in the second quarter with a painful hit to the ribs and he was taken to hospital for further examination. They held sway for much of the second half, but it was an arm wrestle and it was their edge in class and experience that was the difference. The Cats were simply more damaging in the key moments and responded with a game-breaking mini surge in the third quarter. But the Eagles were up to the challenge, pegged them back and squared it up by the long break. When Geelong kicked away to a four-goal advantage by the middle stages of the second quarter it seemed they had stamped their authority on the game and would waltz to victory. The Eagles were up for the challenge, stayed with the Cats who are a top four fancy, but just could not sustain the effort for long enough, going down 9.9 (63) to 12.9 (81).