PATRICK Dangerfield is backing the Cats to prove why they finished atop the table in the club’s do-or-die semi final encounter against the Eagles.
Geelong’s vice-captain says the Cats’ exposed form over the entirety of the home and away season suggests the side has what it takes to deal with West Coast.
“I think we finished on top of the ladder for a reason. We had a poor game on the weekend but I’m confident going into this week,” he says.
“We’ve had disappointing games, we’ve lost games that we would have liked to have won in important games and been able to respond.”
“Overall on the season sample size, we’ve played really well, always responded really well and we need to do that again.
“At this time of the year it’s next soldier up because we’ve got to make sure there is a tomorrow.”
While the Cats felt the sting of missed opportunity after the weekend’s clash, Dangerfield says the players are solely focused on their next challenge.
“It was flat immediately post the game and over the weekend, that’s clear, but there comes a time where you’ve got to get over it,” he says.
“We’ve reviewed the game now, so now it’s about what you can control which is Friday night’s game.”
Stopping a fast start for the Eagles will be a key focus for the Cats, as will cutting out the chains of uncontested marks that Collingwood managed on Friday night.
“That’s an area (uncontested marks), particularly early on in the game that you just can’t allow the opposition to do,” Dangerfield says.
“It means they’re controlling the ball and methodically moving it forward. As soon as you allow the opposition that, you can’t apply pressure.
“We’ve just got to make sure we’ve got a steely resolve with the way that we start the game.
“There’s no point shying away from that (slow starts) because that’s the reality. It’s a different team but the pattern is the same because the starts have been the same.”
“We’ve got to make sure we find a way to play the brand of footy that we know we’re capable of – to play and take risks and play with a bit of flair and not take four goals from the opposition to get you into that mood of now we’ve got to get going. “
