GEELONG and Adelaide open their season in a game that has been cheekily named the 'James Podsiadly Cup'. This will be Podsiadly's first official match for the Crows and his first outing against his former club. Both sides head into the clash with plenty of injury concerns. The Cats will be missing emerging stars Billie Smedts, Allen Christensen, Steven Motlop and Nathan Vardy, while Adelaide will be without a host of first-choice players, including Taylor Walker, Nathan Van Berlo, Richard Douglas and Tom Lynch.
 
WHERE AND WHEN: Simonds Stadium, Thursday March 20, 7.10pm
 
 
LAST FIVE TIMES
R17, 2013, Adelaide 14.10 (94) d Geelong 14.8 (92) at AAMI Stadium
R18, 2012, Geelong 15.12 (102) d Adelaide 11.9 (75) at Simonds Stadium
R7, 2012, Adelaide 19.8 (122) d Geelong 10.12 (72) at AAMI Stadium
R21, 2011, Geelong 14.12 (96) d Adelaide 12.13 (85) at AAMI Stadium
R14, 2011, Geelong 19.11 (125) d Adelaide 10.13 (73) at Simonds Stadium
 
THE SIX POINTS
1. The Crows are one of the few teams to have matched it with the Cats in recent seasons. It's three wins each since 2010.

2. Last year Geelong won seven of eight games at Simonds Stadium, and the Cats have won 20 of their past 22 games at the venue. Adelaide hasn’t beaten the Cats at Geelong since 2003.

3. Only Hawthorn averaged more goals per game in 2013 than Geelong. The Cats kicked an average of 16 goals per game, while Adelaide was ninth with an average of 14 per game.
 
4. Clearances were one area in which Geelong struggled last year. The Cats were ranked 15th with 34 per game; Adelaide was 11th with 37 per game.

5. Last season the Cats received a total of 486 free kicks. Club captain Joel Selwood was awarded 15 per cent of those. In fact, Selwood received the most frees of any player in the competition, 27 more than the next player.

6. Selwood will start the season at No.3 in the Official AFL Player Ratings. Adelaide dynamo Patrick Dangerfield is No.2.
 
Prediction: Geelong by 32 points