<p>It’s down to four.</p> <p>It’s Preliminary Final weekend. So often called the best weekend of the year and the hardest games to win.</p> <p>Geelong and the Brisbane Lions will face off once again in a Preliminary Final at the MCG. This is just the second time this finals series that the footy will grace the hallowed turf.</p> <p>Fresh off their stunning comeback last week, the Lions roadshow extends to a third week and are hoping to keep their fairytale alive by making the Grand Final for the second year in a row. The Cats, well rested after disposing of Port Adelaide in week one, are hoping for a repeat of 2022 where they got over the Lions to qualify for the biggest day of the year.</p> <p>Catch Sportsbet’s in-depth Geelong vs Brisbane Lions prediction and preview for their big clash at the MCG below.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs Brisbane Lions Preview</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Just the one meeting for these sides this year. It came back in April up at the Gabba when the Cats were on their seven-game winning run to start the season and while the Lions were yet to get going.</p> <p>But as mentioned above, this will be the third time in the past five years that these clubs have met in a Preliminary Final. The Cats have saluted on both occasions to make it through to the big dance the following week.</p> <p>The Cats have a couple of selection queries on their hands. They will need to find room for Tom Stewart who was a late withdrawal against the Power and there will be a discussion as to whether or not they recall Tom Hawkins off a long injury layoff. Sam De Koning will also be in the frame to re-earn his spot in the lineup.</p> <p>Barring any training mishaps, the Lions look set to go into the game unchanged.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Players to Watch</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Patrick Dangerfield</h3> <p>As he prepares for his eighth preliminary final, Danger served up the perfect reminder as to just how bloody good he has been for so long against the Power.</p> <p>The Cats skipper produced a vintage performance in the demolition of Port Adelaide, leading the way for his young midfielders around him to grow in confidence and put their stamp on the game.</p> <p>Which now leaves Lions coach Chris Fagan with another head-scratching problem. While he was always going to need to put time into the Cats champion, I don’t think he saw that level of performance coming and potentially that level of performance he’ll need to deal with.</p> <p>Deep in the twilight of his career, Dangerfield is hunting more premierships and will pull out all the stops to ensure he has another chance to get one.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Will Ashcroft</h3> <p>It’s quite ridiculous what Will Ashcroft did in the second half last Saturday night.</p> <p>Remember it was only his 29th game of senior footy and just his 11th this season after returning from an ACL injury? Then you remember that he’s still only 20 years old and he’s just played one of the better halves of football ever to play an instrumental part in dragging his team into the most unlikely of preliminary finals.</p> <p>The exploits of Nick Daicos and Harley Reid have made the view of first- and second-year players being tagged no longer viewed as such a frowned-upon move from opposition coaches. So, how heavily does Chris Scott invest in curtailing Ashcroft’s impact in the middle ahead of a Zorko who sets the play up? Or Neale, the power from stoppage?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Lachie Neale</h3> <p>The Giants opted to deploy Toby Bedford on Neale with the run-with role on Saturday night. It was, for the most part, an effective role with Neale restricted to only 19 disposals on the night as other players stood up in the Lions' win.</p> <p>Neale, the skipper, is also the Lions barometer.</p> <p>Since the start of 22’, the Lions have a staggering 25-1 record in games that Neale has amassed at least 32 disposals. When he has 25 or fewer, their record is 13-12-1. When he had 15 contested possessions, the Lions are 25-6. When he has fewer, they are 14-10.</p> <p>When he’s on, the Lions usually win.</p> <p>So, do the Cats opt to play a run-with on Neale on Saturday evening to curtail his influence? The numbers say absolutely someone will get the job. It’s just a matter of who.</p> <p>Tom Atkins seems most likely to get the job, but Chris Scott loves a surprise.</p> <p>The other element to all of this is Neale has spent the majority of this week in a moon boot and has done limited training. But we all still expect him to play.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Geelong vs Brisbane Lions Prediction</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>How many petrol tickets to the Lions have left?</p> <p>The travel and coming from 44 points down to win an epic is sure to take a heap out of you energy-wise, but it could also be just the tonic to rejuvenate you.</p> <p>As always with the Lions, A big portion of the game will be decided by their accuracy. To their credit, they took their moments and made it count last week, and Joe Daniher has rightly gotten his flowers this week for his clutch kicks.</p> <p>But he will remember his last performance at the MCG and the chances he had to ice the game against the Pies that went awry. Lions’ fans will be hoping there’s another big Joe performance in him.</p> <p>The Cats have many selection queries ahead of the game. Tom Stewart will be a certain inclusion while veteran Tom Hawkins is pushing hard to return after a long injury layoff for his last hurrah. Youngster Sam De Koning has also put himself in the frame for a return but might not get back in.</p> <p>While aggrieved to not be playing down in Geelong, the Cats need to use the expanses of the MCG to their advantage. The Cats love to lock the ball in their forward half and excel at turning territory into scores.</p> <p>If they can create room for Max Holmes to get on his bike through the midfield and create space for their half-forwards Tyson Stengle, Shaun Mannagh, and Gryan Miers – who combined for 10 goals against the Power, it creates too much dangerous space for the likes of Harris Andrews to cover and intercept.</p> <p>The Lions are the number 1 team this year for uncontested marks and points on turnover differential. Their control and attacks are built from the back. If they can punish the Cats here and stay on top in the midfield and territory battle, it will be a big part of why they win the game.</p> <p>It should be a free-flowing and enthralling contest. The Lion’s best is good enough to beat anyone, but do they have enough energy in the tank to go again against the well-rested Cats?</p> <p><strong>Prediction: </strong>Geelong by 9 points.</p> <p><strong>Betting tip: </strong>Total game points – Over 171.5.</p>