Geelong vs Westcoast - Skilled Stadium - Round 22
Geelong - 2nd - 16-5 - 147.25%
Westcoast - 16th - 4-17 - 77.93%
Skilled Stadium will play host to a game on Saturday afternoon where the only questions will be, how far Geelong? and will everyone get through unscathed?
The Eagles are at the finish line on a painful season, one in which they will take out the wooden spoon for the first time in the club's history.
For Geelong last week was another solid an impressive win over a side that has given them much trouble in the past couple of years and they will enter this game with close to a full list available.
Bomber Thompson indicated that Geelong would not be holding back at the selection table this week as they look to fine tune for a September assault they hope will net a third flag in four years.
Max Rooke is probably done and dusted now for season 2010, he did not play VFL last week which means he has not played at any level for over four months and as good as he is, you couldn't see them bringing him in blind for a september campaign given the depth they possess.
Ling, Lonergan, Ottens and Mackie should all return this week which creates dilemmas for the coaching staff as they determine just who should miss out.
Podsiadly and Hunt are the obvious ones given they copped suspensions, and maybe young Menzel could be stiff and get squeezed out along with Taylor Hunt.
Given the fact Podsiadly is out, you would expect Hawkins too get pushed forward, with Blake holding on to ruck duties with Brad Ottens.
Paul Chapman, Gary Ablett and Jimmy Bartel appear to have been a bit sore over the last five to six weeks but all of them continue to contribute and they will use this game as another chance to run some conditioning into their legs for finals.
In terms of the contest, their isn't much to analyse from a Geelong point of you, they have a clear edge in every single area and will canter to an easy win, it's all about that first final against the Saints.
For the Eagles, the last three weeks haven't been terrible, but they have come away without anything to show.
Two last minute defeats at the hands of the Lions and the Power confirmed they would win the spoon, and then last week they led the Kangaroos by a couple of goals early in the last term only to be overrun.
Sadly for them that is the classic sign of an ordinary side, the inability to run games out, and the tendency to get overtaken late in matches.
Mark LeCras is struggling for his best touch, he has four goals from his last three matches and will face a difficult assignment this week.
Callum Wilson came in and kicked four last week and he is the latest in what has been a revolving door through that Eagles forward line all season.
Ben McKinley must surely be playing elsewhere next year, most likely in Victoria I would suspect and Quinten Lynch is at the crossroads on a career that at times has promised much.
Natanui and Cox were ok last week and in all respects remain one of the more dangerous duos in the competition, but they just need a bit more inside presence in the middle of the ground.
Priddis, Embley etc provide a bit of experience, but the likes of Masten, Ebert, Scott Selwood and co need to mature and collectively the group has to sharpen up.
They are the worst team in the competition by foot and they simply slaughter the football far too much in non pressure situations.
John Worsfold could potentially coach his last game this weekend as the scrutiny continues to build on the favourite son.
This game represents one last chance for some pride in season 2010, but sadly the task is monumentally tough.
Geelong often do just what they have to do in these games and cruise around and win by around eight goals, but I suspect this saturday they will be searching for a kill.
Much has been said about the Pies form over the past two months, and their opponents for week one of the finals St.Kilda are gathering a bit of steam as well so I think Geelong will be keen to deliver another savage message to the competition.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, everywhere you look, they are powerless to stop it.
Geelong by 77 points.
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