Round 15 – Brisbane v Geelong: Cats could learn from the Black Caps

 

 

Inspired by New Zealand’s win against India the night before I was looking forward to see what my Cats could do in Anastascia Land.  The last time they were at the Gabba they were flogged by Richmond in the Grand Final of 2020.  Could this be a turnaround against one of the flag favourites?

 

I am afraid it wasn’t and not at any point during the game did they have control of the match against Brisbane . The locals were on fire and even Joe Daniher was kicking goals although a couple were from dubious free kicks.

 

I had mentioned earlier in the year that I thought Geelong’s recruiting should be queried but have been proven wrong on many occasions this year but on doing some research I have drawn the conclusion that I might be right as they have not all fired in the big games against Melbourne, Brisbane, Colling wood and Sydney. Isaac Smith has been outstanding.

 

‘Old Geelong’  are still with us as the fleetfooted Lions outran them in every department. It was thought that the highly credentialed Geelong forward line would be the key to the game but the Lions backs led by Adams and Andrews.

 

Still puzzled why Rhys Stanley does not get a game. He was the whipping boy at St. Kilda and has become the same at Geelong. Quentin Narkle?  Played good footy last week and was dropped.  He has speed around the wings and like wise Miers. They are young and they can keep going

 

Our kicking?  Particularly with the passing was woeful.  They need to take a leaf out of ‘Chunk’ Rich’s book who’s kicking to position  alone would have given him best on the ground.  To me he is the most accurate kick in the competition.

 

As said at the start cats could take a lesson from the Black Caps.  Three things stood out with the men from the long white cloud – collective purpose, whole hearted and well oiled.  Not my words but the words of cricket journo Ali Mitchell but I heartedly agree.  There was no purpose in our play and at times and as for being well oiled that was on their bodies only. One should never doubt any player who plays AFL that they are not whole hearted but when the Pivots are down other than Sellwood, Danger, Guthrie and Stewart (not this week Tom!) who lifts them?

 

Questions, questions, questions but no answers.  Scott does not like to make any changes unless your name is Clark, Stanley or Narkle  but something is a miss in the back half and I don’t mean Harry Taylor.

 

Blicavs needs to go back there and Stanley back to assist Esra in the ruck.

 

This feline rarely gets worked up but at one stage I thought I was heading for another heart attack but full credit to a very well oiled team with a collective purpose and a whole hearted attack on the game.  The Lions look good for the finals again.

 

As for Geelong? Read my lips.

 

BRISBANE     4.7       8.9       11.13  13.16 (94)
GEELONG       0.1       3.5       5.6       7.8 (50)

 

GOALS  
Brisbane: Daniher 4, Cameron 3, Hipwood 2, McCarthy 2, Coleman, Lyons
Geelong: Smith 2, Tuohy 2, Hawkins, Rohan, Dangerfield

 

BEST  
Brisbane: Cameron, Rich, Zorko, Adams, Daniher, Andrews, Starcevich, McInerney
Geelong: Dangerfield, Guthrie, Tuohy, Smith

 

INJURIES
Brisbane: Birchall (ill) replaced in selected side by Payne; Neale (shoulder)
Geelong: Nil

 

SUBSTITUTES
Brisbane: Rhys Mathieson (unused)
Geelong: Quinton Narkle (unused)

 

Crowd: 29,024 at the Gabba

 

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