- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Gold Coast<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Essendon<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n1:05pm AEDT (12:05pm local)
People First Stadium<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent form<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Gold Coast gave a good showing midweek against Hawthorn, but is ultimately still searching for its first win of 2024. Essendon meanwhile is on a good run of form, and will be looking for a third win in a row this afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Last time they met<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These two have only met once previously, back in the final round of last season. That particular day, Gold Coast emerged 14 point victors after coming from behind to pull away in the second term and never look back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Key stat areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Gold Coast has been doing much better than Essendon in the hit outs, but Essendon has the much better clearance figures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, when you break down the clearance numbers by type, Gold Coast is the better centre clearance side of the pair but Essendon is much better at the stoppage clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, Essendon has the higher disposals number and the higher tackles number out of the two sides, although both sides will probably want to lift their tackle numbers today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Key match up\/s<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Essendon gets a massive boost today with the return of co captain Bonnie Toogood<\/a> from injury, and so the Essendon forwardline that is starting to hum along nicely at the moment, just got that much more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gold Coast however also get a boost today with the return of prize recruit Katie Lynch<\/a>, who may just be the one that gets the job on Toogood.<\/p>\n
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\n\n- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Sydney<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Geelong<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n3:05pm AEDT
Henson Park <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent form<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Both of these sides are currently on a two-match losing streak, and will be keen to snap that this afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last time they met<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These two have only met twice in the history of the competition, with the head to head looking more favourable for the Cats. First time around they were victorious by 75 points, and in Round 2 last season they beat the Swans by 27 points, which was an improvement for the Swans but still a loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key stat areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sydney tends to handball the ball more than it kicks it, whereas for Geelong it is the other way around. Neither side has been particularly efficient inside 50 yet this season, so will want to rectify that today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One area that Sydney can really exploit today is uncontested possessions, with the Swans having a plus-128 advantage in that area over Geelong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key match up\/s<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Laura Gardiner<\/a> is particularly important normally, but now that Chloe Molloy<\/strong> is out for the rest of the year, her role becomes even more important if Sydney wants any kind of midfield dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, her job will not be easy today as she will have to contend with Georgie Prespakis<\/a> as a likely one-on-one opponent.<\/p>\n
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\n\n- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Fremantle<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Hawthorn<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n5:05pm AEDT (2:05pm local)
Fremantle Oval<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recent form<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These two have been some of the most in form of the competition to date, with both sides only recording one loss to-date, Fremantle will be gunning for a fifth win in a row today while Hawthorn are chasing a fourth in a row.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last time they met<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
These two have only met twice in the history of the competition, with the head to head looking more favourable for the Dockers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However those wins have not come with very big margins \u2013 combined it comes out to only three goals \u2013 and with Hawthorn\u2019s rise in form this season it may not be smart to read too much into the head to head ledger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key stat areas<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Of the two sides, Fremantle has the better inside 50s figure but Hawthorn has been significantly more efficient inside 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fremantle has also been the better stoppage clearance side of the pair, but Hawthorn has been better than Fremantle when it comes to centre clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Interestingly, Hawthorn has the higher disposals number and the higher tackles number out of the two sides, so Fremantle will want to lift their tackle numbers today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key match up\/s<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Aisling McCarthy<\/a> and Jasmine Fleming<\/a> may be two very different types of players physically, but they play similar roles that are super important to the success of their respective sides. Both create a lot of run and drive through the middle, and both will need to be kept quiet in order for their opponent to succeed.<\/p>\n
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Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>
- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>