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Cats firm as favourites as Dockers claim nothing to lose

By Mr Dandalooa

Geelong are clear favourites to win against Fremantle on Friday with the Dockers paying $6 against defending premiers the Cats paying $1.11.

Fuming after a controversial loss to St Kilda last week, Geelong believe they are primed to win particularly after Aaron Sandilands missed training this week with a suspected knee injury.

Sandilands had scans on Sunday after the game, but was cleared of serious damage to his knee, which saw him miss a series of games towards the end of the season.

However, there are lingering doubts over his fitness ahead of Friday night’s semi-final clash with Geelong.

The two-time All-Australian clashed knees with Hawthorn ruckman Wayde Skipper late in the first quarter on Saturday and was forced to play out the game as a forward.

It was his second match back after missing three games with a foot injury.

Coach Mark Harvey remains confident Sandilands would be available for Friday night’s cut-throat final, adding Freo has nothing to lose.

“They’re expected to play in a prelim final, if not a grand final,’’ Harvey said this week
“So all the pressure’s in their backyard and we’ll see what they’ve got and how far they go.

“He’ll be the fifth goalpost, he’ll be playing,” Harvey told Perth radio station 6PR.

“(It was a) direct blow to his kneecap, he’s got a bit of fluid on his knee.

“At this stage all indications are there will be no problems playing.”

Injured full-back Chris Tarrant is not expected to suit up, while retiring midfielder Paul Hasleby and Rhys Palmer are pushing hard to get their name on the playing list, with Jesse Crichton in doubt after a poor performance against Hawthorn.

Tarrant hasn’t played since round 18 and has been plagued by a knee injury, although he remains in talks with the club to play on next season.

Fremantle has a six-day break ahead of the semi-final clash with the Cats, but it will be the first time the Dockers have played at the MCG since late last season, with its last win at the venue coming in round four, 2007.

About six players in the squad have never played at the ground.

Scattered showers are forecast for Melbourne on Friday and Harvey said he might make a late change to his team if rain eventuated.

“We’ll bring a squad of 25 and based on a little bit about weather, if we need to make a change or two that’s what we’ll do,” Harvey said.

“But the first priority is to pick a team that we know first-up in dry conditions (will do well) and we’ll see what happens from there.”