Punters desert injury-hit Cats as Kennedy eyes third Coleman

GEELONG’s admission that captain Joel Selwood will miss the remainder of the AFL home and away season has seen the one-time premiership favourite drift to double figures for the first time since round three.

The Cats – who lost heavily to the Swans on Friday night – will be without Selwood until the first week of the finals after the club declared the three-time premiership star will require ankle surgery.

The Cats currently sit on the fifth line of betting (+1000) at CrownBet.com.au.

Cats coach Chris Scott and Joel Selwood both were “confident” that the brave on-baller would be able to play through the injury, but in a statement released on Sunday the club confirmed the injury news.

“Selwood will not be available for the remaining three home and away games but is expected to be able to return for the finals series,” the Cats said in a statement.

To further the selection woes for the club, Mitch Duncan has been offered a one-match suspension from the MRP ahead of their vital clash with Richmond on Saturday afternoon.

Another blow for Cats – Mitch Duncan can accept a 1 game ban for striking Tom Papley. Adds to Selwood injury. @theagesport @agerealfooty

— JonPierik (@Pierik_AgeSport) August 7, 2017

Richmond will go in as the -158.73 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au to maintain their position inside the top-four.

A win for the Tigers would continue their push in the premiership market after WilliamHill.com.au moved the third placed team onto the third line of betting at ($+600).

If you told anyone 12 months ago Richmond would be 3rd … hats off Dimma, Benny, Cotch & team. Can't wait for the next 8 weeks#gotiges

— Al Paton (@al_superfooty) August 6, 2017

The yellow and black brigade moved to third position on the ladder after a commanding 29-point victory over Hawthorn and look set to take some serious momentum into the finals.

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson was full of praise for the newly-hardened Tigers following Sunday’s defeat.

“They’re as good as any side in the competition at making you pay on the turnover and getting open goals,” the coach said.

“I think of their 13 goals, nearly seven or eight of them were goal square goals and that’s a reflection of just how easily the ball moves from one end of the ground to the other.

@Richmond_FC What a great week!! No selwood, duncan, hawkins>> smashed Hawks>>3rd on the ladder>Dusty tiger4life>we smash cats…love life

— TIGERMAN VinceB 🏈🏆🏆🏆🐯 (@LIBRAMALE) August 7, 2017

“Our goals were so hard to come by. We worked hard through the course of the game, but we just didn’t have that polish and hardness in close that Richmond demonstrated tonight and it probably cost us the game.”

Josh Kennedy the new Coleman Medal favourite following strong senior return

His team’s chances of playing finals may be dwindling each round, but Eagle Josh Kennedy’s efforts cannot be faulted as Sportsbet.com.au shifted him into outright favouritism (-117.65) to win a third Coleman Medal.

Kennedy has kicked 11 goals in the last fortnight of footy to move just two majors behind Coleman leader Joe Daniher, who sits on 56.

https://twitter.com/Anishthetics/status/894067120262098944

The brilliant Bomber is on the second line of betting (+115) at CrownBet.com.au.

Despite his prolific recent period in front of goal, Kennedy lamented the lack of quality delivery that him and his fellow forwards have been getting from the midfield.

“As a forward, obviously you do get a bit frustrated at the lack of supply,” Kennedy said.

“But we have been able to make the most of our opportunities with what we’ve been getting.

“We’ve been trying to work on ways to obviously get a bit more supply because we’ve got guys up forward with Jack, Lecca, Crippa (Jamie Cripps), these guys who can kick some goals.”

While Kennedy is flying, his team has struggled. Sunday afternoon’s loss to the Saints at Etihad Stadium all but rules the Eagles out of finals contention.

Giants, Suns, Dees and now Pies – four absolute bottle jobs from West Coast that will cost it finals. And yet nothing changes #AFLPiesEagles

— Dean Bilton (@Dean_Bilton) July 23, 2017

West Coast is a heavy outsider at Sportsbet.com.au (+200) to make the finals, and pundits have been deriding the Eagles’ chances of winning a match in the post-season, if they pull off the miracle and make it.

The spearhead Kennedy was angered by the claims that his side would be making up the numbers.

“To be honest, that’s absolutely rubbish … to say that we shouldn’t make finals, I don’t even know how to answer that,” Kennedy said.

“I think it’s completely rubbish.”