Cats promise surprises for Freo
Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan says the Cats have some surprises up their sleeve for tonight's clash with Fremantle at Simonds Stadium after admitting the Dockers have had the wood on them in recent years.
Fremantle have beaten Geelong in four of their past five games, including two finals in Victoria, one of which was at tonight's venue last year.
Duncan said Fremantle's tactics suited the ground because it allowed the Dockers to lock the ball in their preferred positions.
But he said Geelong had studied Fremantle closely and would adopt a different approach.
'We've got a few tricks up our sleeve that we might show on Saturday night," Duncan said.
"They've had the wood on us the last couple of times, Freo. We'll need to go out there and give it our best shot. They're a good side, they're coached really well.
"I think they set up really well against us - the match-ups and everything like that.
"With Fyfe and Mundy firing through the midfield, they are pretty hard to stop. That'll be one of our main focus areas - to stop their drive through the midfield and stop them kicking goals.
"They don't kick many, but we have to find more avenues to kick goals to beat them."
The Cats made only one change to the team that beat North Melbourne last Saturday night, dumping ruckman Dawson Simpson for Hamish McIntosh.
Fremantle lost injured duo Garrick Ibbotson (back) and Tendai Mzungu (hamstring), selected forward Max Duffy to make his debut and recalled Hayden Crozier.
Geelong looked set to be without Steve Johnson after he was cited by the match review panel for kneeing Kangaroos defender Scott Thompson.
But Johnson fought the charge at the tribunal and won.
Johnson was suspended following the last clash with Fremantle when he was found guilty of headbutting tagger Ryan Crowley.
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon said this week Crowley would tag Johnson and Duncan said the Cats were ready to support him.
"We have to be within the rules because obviously the match review panel will be looking pretty closely," Duncan said.
"It's got to be within the rules, show good discipline and hopefully get Dogga on the end of a few cheapies and he kicks a few goals for us. Crowley is a great tagger. Who knows? Ross could be playing silly buggers and he might not even end up going to him.
"But we'll prepare for what we think will happen. Even if it doesn't happen, there's always plan B and plan C. We've got to look after whoever is getting chased by Crowley."
"We've got a few tricks up our sleeve … They've had the wood on us the last couple of times …" " *Mitch Duncan *
