By Justin Flynn
Inspirational Geelong skipper Joel Selwood will play his 250th AFL game when he runs out in Sunday’s season opener against Melbourne.
The champion 29-year-old midfielder is a six-time All Australian (three as captain) and a triple premiership player with the Cats.
Selwood’s career has spanned 11 seasons.
It may only be round one but it’s already looming as an important clash.
Geelong holds a commanding recent record against its round one opponent, Melbourne.
The Cats have won 12 of their past 13 encounters against the Demons with seven of those victories by 50 points or more.
The only blemish was in round 12 in 2015 when Melbourne caused a major upset at Kardinia Park winning by 24 points.
Most pundits are predicting that Melbourne will break its finals drought this season. The Dees missed the eight last season by percentage, but with high-profile recruit Jake Lever in the red and blue, they are expected to take the next step.
The expectations around Geelong are even greater.
With the acquisition of favourite son Gary Ablett, the Cats are one of the premiership favourites after a topsy turvy 2017 finals campaign.
The Cats were the victims of a second-half qualifying final rampage to eventual premiers Richmond, impressively disposed of Sydney in a semi-final and then felt the full wrath of Adelaide in a preliminary final.
It’s a big season looming for Melbourne key forward Jesse Hogan.
Hogan suffered several injury woes, before losing his father to cancer last year and then being diagnosed with testicular cancer himself.
Hogan’s JLT form has been good and the Demons will be pinning their hopes on him being a 50-plus goalkicker this season.
Gun ruckman Max Gawn looks to be back to his 2016 career best season while young stars Clayton Oliver and Christian Petracca will be looking to pick up from where they left off in 2017.
While the preseason talk has been all about ‘Dangerwoodlett’ down at GMHBA Stadium, Mitch Duncan has quietly slipped under the radar.
The prolific ball magnet is up there with the best midfielders in the competition and he looks to have taken his game to a new level with 38 possessions against Essendon in round two of the JLT.
The question mark surrounding Geelong’s chances is who will step up to partner Tom Hawkins in the forward line.
Rhys Stanley injured his calf during preseason and youngsters Wylie Buzza and Esava Ratugolea didn’t really grasp their opportunities in the JLT.
Recruit Stewart Crameri will play VFL tonight while Aaron Black has only had one hit out this preseason.
This looks to be one of the games of the round.
Melbourne will be hungry but Geelong’s recent record should stand it in good stead.
Cats by 11 points.
