By Justin Flynn
How are the fingernails, Cats fans?
A bit worse for wear after two cliff-hangers to open the 2018 AFL season?
It’s certainly been a nervous start to the season.
A last-gasp round two win against Melbourne, followed by a thrilling one-point loss to Hawthorn in round two has tested the nerves of Geelong supporters.
The Cats take on West Coast this Sunday after a six-day break following the huge Easter Monday clash with the Hawks.
The trip to Western Australia is the toughest in AFL footy and it will be in unfamiliar surrounds for the Cats, their first game at the new Perth stadium.
The Eagles were impressive last week, disposing of the Western Bulldogs by 51 points.
Geelong faces a tough month ahead. After the Eagles they meet St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium and then face top four aspirants Port Adelaide, Sydney and Greater Western Sydney.
Cats’ coach Christ Scott said the Hawks deserved to win.
“We would have been lucky to win I think. It’s two weeks in a row, [and] we could easily be sitting here 0-2 and scratching our heads a bit,“ he said.
“I don’t think there’s much point comparing the two weeks, but if we focus on this game we thought we were comprehensively outplayed for big parts of the game and were able to turn it around after half-time.“
Power forward Tom Hawkins hasn’t started the season as well as he’d like, but small forward Daniel Menzel has booted eight goals in two games.
Geelong received encouraging news from its round one VFL win against Werribee. Scott Selwood racked up 27 possessions and will add hardness around the contest when he comes back into the senior line up.
Geelong’s dream team midfield might take a while to gel, but there’s no doubting the absolute class of Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett and Joel Selwood.
The Eagles will look to quell the dominant midfield trio in the ruck contests. Scott Lycett and Nic Naitanui worked well in tandem against the Dogs while skipper Shannon Hurn was best afield and Jack Darling was dangerous with four majors.
Jake Kolodjashnij is likely to be given the job on Darling. The Cats will be glad that star Eagle forward Josh Kennedy is still a week away from returning.
It’s a tough task to beat the Eagles in Perth, but Sydney did it in round pm.
Geelong looks just that little bit classier and should get the job done in what could possibly be another nail biter.
Sunday’s game starts at 4.40pm local time.
Cats by eight points.
