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September 11, 2007
Catempire's Critique
Brilliant Backline
The loss of Egan did not put so much as a scratch on the shiny chassis of the Geelong defensive machine.
Geelong’s defence has worked so well this season because it has aerial superiority combined with aggressive run. The game versus the Kangaroos showed this to the fullest extent.
The Kangaroos had 38 inside 50s for just 10 scoring shots, a conversion rate of just over a quarter. Geelong on the other hand, scored 41 times from 65 entries, a whopping 61% conversion rate.
The Roos were far too stagnant and predictable moving the ball into their forward line. When bringing the ball out of Geelong’s backline, they struggled to find a loose man. On many occasions the ball was kicked to a contest on the wing which Geelong often won. When they did manage to get it past the centre, rarely was it through a fluent passage of play. The ball would make its way to half forward and be kicked in long and high. In theory, the loss of Egan was to leave Geelong susceptible to height. In reality, Scarlett, Harley and Milburn are three of the best in the game at reading this play and taking marks. Petrie, Hale and Edwards were no match, with North taking just five marks inside 50 for the match.
And on the rare occasion when a dangerous spill occurred, Enright, Mackie, Wojcinski and Hunt were waiting to whisk the ball away. Scarlett was sensational in running off his man (Hale) at every opportunity, collecting 23 possessions.
Geelong’s Preliminary Final opponent will need to spend ample time at the planning table thinking about how to crack the Geelong defence. For certain, long and high is not the answer.
Ominous on-ballers
Led the way by Brownlow favourite Gary Ablett, Geelong set up the game with its midfield dominance. Ablett collected 32 possessions and kicked two goals after, surprisingly, he wasn’t tagged by Brady Rawlings.
Bartel looked more like a peaking thoroughbred than a man who had an appendectomy two weeks prior. He collected 20 possessions by half time with the Kangaroos refusing to pay him the attention he clearly demands. But perhaps this is one of the key dilemmas when facing the Cats, by tagging one player – the Roos chose Corey and did it well – it leaves at least two or three others to run riot. Ablett, Bartel and Selwood exemplified this, collecting 83 possessions between them. With such prolific supply to a strong forward line, it’s always going to get ugly for the opposition.
Cameron Ling added another notch to his belt, this time through a complete smothering of Brent Harvey. In my match preview, I noted:
The Kangaroos most dangerous player, and Brownlow rival to Ablett and Bartel, is Brent Harvey. It's hard to see North winning the game without Harvey collecting 25 possessions and kicking a couple of goals. For this reason alone, Ling should get the job.
which turned out to be right on the money. The Roos rely heavily on Boomer as a source of dangerous possessions. But with the infinitesimal latitude Ling gave him, he never looked a danger.
Special mention to Brad Ottens who, after missing out on the All-Australian squad, easily accounted for McIntosh who was included in the first cut. Ottens gave superb first use to the midfield with 26 hitouts and went forward to kick two goals. He showed once again how important he is to this team.
Fearsome forwards
Cameron Mooney became the first Geelong player to kick more than 60 goals in a season since the great Gary Ablett. Mooney’s five goals were indicative of a solid performance and of midfield dominance rather than personal brilliance.
Paul Chapman produced possibly his best game for the season with 18 possessions and five goals playing across half forward. Chapman was ruthless in destroying Glenn Archer who, according to Mark Thompson, had a lot of preparation and planning done on him.
Nathan Ablett recovered from a poor start in dropping a chest mark resulting in a Kangaroos goal and being too casual in playing on from close range and wasting a certain goal chance. He finished with three goals in a nice foil role to Mooney.
Then it was cameo but hard working appearances from Steve Johnson, Stokes and Byrnes that topped off a great match from the Geelong forwards. The most notable highlight was the aggression and relentless pressure placed on North players when in possession in Geelong’s half.
What lies ahead
Geelong plays the winner of West Coast and Collingwood who face off on Friday night in Perth.
The Pies have their tails up after dealing with Sydney comfortably. While West Coast’s horror run with injury showed no signs of easing up in their demise against Port.
But any talk of “who would Geelong rather play” is now surely superfluous. If there is one thing Geelong have proved this season it’s that they are the team to beat and it will take one hell of a performance by another side to do it. With the week off and with everything else on their side, the Preliminary final can’t come quickly enough for the Cats.
Posted by catempire at September 11, 2007 10:54 AM
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