Geelong will be hoping to firm up its answer to the team’s biggest positional question on Tuesday night when it hosts Essendon in the first match of the 2025 AAMI Community Series.
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With experienced premiership player Rhys Stanley named as an emergency, Cats have picked 204cm defender Sam De Koning as the starting ruck for the match, with utility Mark Blicavs to provide support in a similar set-up to the one Geelong used in match simulation against Hawthorn. Skipper Patrick Dangerfield on Monday said De Koning was “raw in terms of his capability (tap ability)”, but stressed he was “brilliant around the ground” and that his ability to win the ball means he’s “almost an extra midfielder”.
Returning for the Bombers after missing their practice match against the Bulldogs are Sam Durham, Ben McKay and Jade Gresham, but Mason Redman has been managed.
This match gets underway at 7.20pm (AEDT) from GMHBA Stadium.
The only place to watch the game live will be on Fox Footy, via Foxtel (Channel 504) and Kayo Sports, from 7pm (AEDT).
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AFL PRE-SEASON TEAMS – AAMI COMMUNITY SERIES
GEELONG CATS
B: L.Humphries, T.Stewart, C.O’Sullivan
HB: Z.Guthrie, J.Henry, M.Blicavs
C: J.Clark, M.Holmes, O.Dempsey
HF: P.Dangerfield, B.Close, T.Stengle
F: G.Miers, S.Neale, J.Cameron
FOLL: S.De Koning, T.Atkins, M.Knevitt
I/C: T.Clohesy, M.Duncan, J.Bews, M.O’Connor, O.Mullin, J.Bowes, J.Kolodjashnij, O.Henry
EMG: R.Stanley, G.Stevens, J.Polkinghorne, O.Wiltshire
ESSENDON
B: J.Ridley, Z.Reid, B.McKay
HB: A.McGrath, L.Hayes, J.Prior
C: X.Duursma, J.Gresham, A.Roberts
HF: K.Langford, A.Perkins, N.Martin
F: S.Durham, N.Caddy, I.Kako
FOLL: S.Draper, Z.Merrett, J.Caldwell
I/C: W.Setterfield, B.Hobbs, P.Wright, E.Tsatas, D.Shiel, H.Jones, N.Bryan, T.Edwards
EMG: A.Clarke, S.El-Hawli, J.Menzie, R.Unwin
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