This is such a huge game for both these teams, one of those eight-point matches we talk about now and again.
If Sydney win it puts a bit of space between them and the chasers. If Geelong win they stay in touch with the top four, but if they lose then they are back in the crowded pack around eighth, ninth or tenth.
Sydney are playing some great footy at the moment. You always know what you are going to get, hard and disciplined footy. And that has been the basis of their success for a long time and they are doing it exceptionally well at the moment.
But what I, and all the teams in the comp, are taking notice of at the moment is the damage they are now also doing on the outside.
The last few years they never really had the ability to blow games open with the speed of their ball movement.
But now with players like Lewis Jetta flying and Jarrad McVeigh really starring and the return this week of Adam Goodes that has changed. They now have the ability to really take advantage of that hard-won footy in the middle. Now, once they get it out into that space they are moving it really well.
It is something John Longmire has been working on for a couple of season. He has developed players with speed and outside ball-winning ability that complement the hard edge they have always had through the middle, and it is a great balance to have the exact balance you need.
So everyone will know that Sydney are tough in the middle and Geelong will have to match and better them on Friday night.
I know we always say these games are won and lost in the middle, but this one there is nothing else to say, it will be won in the hard, middle of the ground.
Those tough Geelong mids, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey know exactly what is needed of them and they need to dig in. If you do not win the hard ball against Sydney it can turn into a very long night.
Geelong are having a strange season though. They are still winning games but they have definitely not been at their best. These guys above, we know they can maintain intensity for the whole game but it is some of the other guys that need to step up.
The Allen Christensens, Taylor Hunts, Mitch Duncans of the team need to come in and play for four quarters as well.
These kind of guys have been playing for two or three quarters but need to start maintaining that for the entire game. If they do that then Geelong will start winning a few more of those contested possession stats they pride themselves on.
Goodesy’s return is a huge boost for Sydney and I will be really interested to see how they play him and what Geelong do to stop him.
Will they run him through the middle from the start, or will they rest him up forward somewhere for a while? Geelong will have to get that right because we all know how dangerous he is.
Shane Mumford in the ruck will have a big impact on the game as well. He will be better with the run under his belt last game.
Geelong’s Trent West has only played 30-odd AFL games and he is trying to hold up the ruck stocks at the moment for Geelong. So he has a big job on his hands trying to limit Mummy’s influence.
It is only natural Mummy will want to play well against his old mates as well. He is such a competitor and will have a crack every week but there will be a bit extra there this week I think.
If Mumford dominates the ruck then the Cats will have a tough time of it.
I just think the hard battle in the middle will be so good to watch as well.
Selwood, Bartel, Kelly v Bolton, Kennedy, Jack. What a clash.
Kennedy has been great all year for the Swans, he has been getting a lot of the footy and really kick starts Sydney’s attack. Throw Jude Bolton in there and they just provide so much for Sydney. Geelong definitely need to limit the influence of those two.
Looking at all this it is shaping as a ripper.
Geelong are really desperate to get their season going, they know how important this is and they have those strong competitive people who lift for these games.
So although there is a slight bit of bias still creeping in I am going to tip Geelong, by less than a kick.
Cameron Ling is a Channel 7 AFL commentator.
Telecast times:
Friday Night Football
Sydney v Geelong
Melbourne 7.30pm LIVE on Channel 7
Adelaide 7pm LIVE on Channel 7
Perth 7pm on Channel 7
Sydney 7.30pm LIVE on 7mate
Brisbane 7.30pm LIVE on 7mate
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