Every rucking week
“How can you fit three key defenders in the one backline?”
That was the question asked of Chris Scott time and time again last year, and if the first week of this new season is anything to go by, we’ve got our next one.
It’s a small sample size with which to draw upon when assessing just how the outlawing of third-man up will affect the game and Geelong’s Mark Blicavs, but the immediate result is to put the Cats’ ruck structure right under the microscope.
Against Aaron Sandilands and without Zac Smith last week, Blicavs worked with Rhys Stanley to neutralise the big Docker’s impact as much as humanly possible – and it worked.
The Cats were comprehensively beaten in hit-outs 18-63 and lost the clearances 33-49, but with a contest from Blicavs and Stanley and the pressure of Geelong’s midfielders on the ground, the only statistical measure that mattered was the final score
Chris Scott’s hand was forced thanks to Smith’s late withdrawal in Perth, but if the ruckman is available for round two then a decision must be made. Without third-man up, can you fit Smith, Stanley and Blicavs in the one side?
Until the answer is clear, debate will surround the use of Stanley, Smith and Blicavs in the one team. (AFL Photos)
Just on the ruck again
Irrespective of the names in there from the Cats’ perspective, the ruck battle this week against North Melbourne is as intriguing as ever.
Todd Goldstein is mobile, creative and now aided by the brute that is Braydon Preuss. The two Roos bullied West Coast in round one, winning the hit-outs 51-29 and booting four goals between them.
In a game Geelong is expected to win, the ruck is one area North can dictate terms and the Cats’ big men will need to ensure that does not happen.
Oh and by the way, next week it’s Melbourne and Max Gawn…
Though the Cats have the upper-hand elsewhere, Todd Goldstein looms large in the ruck this week. (AFL Photos)
Wary without Waite
Jarrad Waite threatened to win the game off his own boot for the Roos last week, kicking a head-scratching 1.7. A shoulder injury means he won’t take his place as the focal point of the North Melbourne forward line and that begs the question, who kicks their goals?
Small forward Lindsay Thomas is the obvious x-factor and key forward Ben Brown will now see more attention from the experienced Tom Lonergan or Lachie Henderson, but the Cats will need to be wary of just how unpredictable the Roos will be without their go-to-guy.
The Roos' forward-line will have to manufacture goals from somewhere, and Lindsay Thomas is as creative as they come. (AFL Photos)
Those round two blues
The home and away season’s second week has been anything but a happy hunting ground for the Cats in recent times.
In 2015, Geelong were whacked by Fremantle in Perth to the tune of 44 points, while a stirring win over Hawthorn in the Easter Monday blockbuster last year was followed by a disappointing 13-point loss to the Giants in Canberra.
The latter game saw the Cats down by more than six goals in the third term, looking sluggish and as if they’d climbed Everest the week prior. After such a commanding performance over Fremantle to open their account this time around, the challenge is to buck the trend of the past two seasons and win a game they’re expected to against North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
After two consecutive round one losses, the Cats will be out to buck the trend on Sunday. (AFL Photos)
