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Where: Melbourne Cricket Ground
When: Friday September 12 – 10.50am (BST)
Watch live: Click here to watch online with AFL Global Pass!
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The MCG plays host to the first semi-final on Friday as Geelong hosts North Melbourne for a spot in in the preliminary final against the Swans.
The clash pits the Scott brothers against each other, and the family rivalry will go up a notch as their sides line-up for the do-or-die clash.
Last week, the Cats couldn’t match it with the Hawks in the second quarter and were blown away by Alastair Clarkson’s side, while the Kangaroos put in an excellent comeback performance to defeat Essendon at the MCG last Saturday night.
If North Melbourne want to beat the Cats, they must put in a four-quarter performance – something they’ve found difficult to do for the majority of the season.
Just how well Scott Thompson matches up on big Geelong forward Tom Hawkins will be intriguing and will go along way in deciding the contest.
Last time these two teams met, Hawkins had a big influence on proceedings and Thompson will be key if the Kangaroos are to go through to take on the Swans next week.
This will be a close one without doubt. Tune in!
Match facts:
1. North Melbourne holds a 4-2 edge in finals against Geelong. However, the Cats won the most recent clash – a 107-point thumping in a 2007 qualifying final at the MCG.
2. Geelong has a big advantage in finals experience with a combined 263 games and 169 goals compared to North Melbourne’s 102 games and 53 goals.
3. Chris and Brad Scott will coach against each other for the seventh time and Chris holds the advantage winning four games to two. They will be only the second set of brothers to coach against each other in finals after Len and Norm Smith for Fitzroy and Melbourne in 1960.
4. Geelong is second for marks inside 50 this season, while the Roos are 11th. Tom Hawkins is the top-ranked player, averaging 3.9 a game.
5. The Cats have won six of their past eight matches against North. But there has been some close finishes, with three of the past five decided by fewer than three goals.
6. Geelong is the AFL’s fourth-highest tackling team with 70.3 a game. The Kangaroos are 12th and average 64 a game.
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