DT: 74
SC: 57
4 ANDREW MACKIE has averaged over 20 disposals this season, but managed just 10 against Melbourne. He made the most of his opportunities with ball in hand, executing with 80% efficiency. He nullified Jack Watts, his opponent for much of the game, and was able to push forward to contribute three forward 50 entires.
DT: 48
SC: 60
5 TRAVIS VARCOE has enjoyed a month of consistent performances and is growing increasingly confident is his new defensive role. His pace and ball use is a real asset on the half back line, particularly on Saturday when he tallied 15 effective disposals from a total of 17. Most importantly, Varcoe has enhanced the defensive aspects of his game, particularly in one on one contents deep in the back line.
DT: 61
SC: 76
7 HARRY TAYLOR was dominant in his 150th game last Sunday and dominated yet again in defence this week. Playing on Demon spearhead Chris Dawes he took nine marks and made seven spoils. Taylor gathered a season-best 23 disposals, equalling the tally of Melbourne’s highest possession winner.
DT: 93
SC: 108
9 JAMES KELLY accumulated the football from half back, collecting 27 disposals. He imposed himself physically when the ball was at ground level and was even more impressive in the air. Kelly took an equal game-high 10 marks, his best output for the season and one short of his career best.
DT: 118
SC: 106
13 TOM LONERGAN regularly takes on the opposition’s biggest and best forward, but played on a variety of opponents throughout the game. He had the size to contain Cam Pederson and ran off Mark Jamar when the ruckman played forward. Lonergan tallied 17 possessions and was 88.2% effective with his disposal.
DT: 71
SC: 67
14 JOEL SELWOOD could have been substituted at quarter time and still been among the votes, collecting 15 disposals with three clearances and three inside 50s all in the opening term. After the first change the Demons cycled through a number of young onballers to play on the Geelong skipper, who finished with a game-high 31 touches.
DT: 121
SC: 144
17 HAMISH McINTOSH played one of his best games for the season, tallying 20 disposals. He won a game-high 26 hit-outs and finished the game level with his captain on seven clearances after leading the stat at half time. McIntosh capped off a complete performance scoring the Cats’ eighth goal of the second quarter, their first eight goal quarter this year.
DT: 118
SC: 144
20 STEVE JOHNSON has enjoyed some astoundingly high possession tallies against the Demons in recent seasons and continued the trend with 27 disposals on Saturday. He did his best work inside the forward half, scoring two goals and providing two goal assists. Johnson also took eight marks and kicked the Cats inside 50 eight times.
DT: 130
SC: 135
21 JORDAN MURDOCH played further up the ground than is often the case for the small forward. He had a goal scoring opportunity in the first term but kicked one Geelong’s six successive behinds in the quarter. Murdoch was able to make an impact beyond the scoreboard, collecting 14 touches and taking four marks.
DT: 61
SC: 56
22 MITCH DUNCAN was relatively quiet compared to the high standard he has established for himself this season. Running through the midfield he collected 14 disposals, took four marks, and kicked inside attacking 50 four times. A 50m penalty put him within scoring range during the second term and he scored a goal with the set shot.
DT: 65
SC: 53
23 JOSH CADDY played a strong, contested brand of football in his 50th AFL game, making a game-high and career-best 12 tackles. He is a powerful athlete and adds greater physical presence and clearance ability to the Geelong midfield. Still with room for improvement after an interrupted season, Caddy collected 14 disposal in his best performance since returning from injury.
DT: 78
SC: 90
25 JARED RIVERS is now entrenched as a regular and reliable member of Geelong’s back six, who dominated the Demons on Saturday afternoon. Rivers took eight marks and made nine spoils and gathered 14 disposals, executing with 92.9% efficiency despite the intermittent rain. Rivers was playing for Melbourne when they last beat the Cats in 2006 and was no doubt happy to be on the winning team with such a one-sided recent history.
DT: 69
SC: 71
26 TOM HAWKINS opened his account in the opening minutes of the game, taking a contested mark against James Frawley and converting from the set shot. It proved to be a winning strategy with Geelong regularly kicking long and fast to the advantage of Hawkins and the big Cat taking care of the rest. Of his six marks, five were contested and five taken inside 50, resulting in a final output of three goals and one behind.
DT: 71
SC: 91
28 ALLEN CHRISTENSEN collected 19 possessions, his average tally in the four games he has played this year. Christensen missed the first 12 games of the season through injury and been impressive upon return without reaching his best. He was excellent at stoppages, winning six clearances, and kicked a goal as the final link in a fantastic end-to-end play during the first quarter.
DT: 82
SC: 82
29 CAMERON GUTHRIE collected nine disposals in just over a half of football. For the first two terms he successfully played a defensive midfield role on Melbourne captain Nathan Jones. Guthrie kicked a goal from a free kick after he executed a brilliant one handed pick up at full pace and was tripped running towards goal. Midway through the third quarter Guthrie was substituted for George Horlin-Smith and given a slight reprieve in a gruelling season.
DT: 54
SC: 66
32 STEVEN MOTLOP is rapidly reaching the career-best form he displayed last season. He has averaged 26 disposals per game over the past five weeks, which was also his possessions tally against the Demons. His ability to accelerate away from stoppages broke the game open and he was 80.8% efficient with his disposals, providing great service for the Geelong forwards. After repeat forward 50 stoppages early in the second quarter, Motlop seized the ball, cleared the congestion with two steps and snapped a goal.
DT: 107
SC: 147
33 GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH started the game as the substitute and replaced fellow onballer Cameron Guthrie halfway through the third term. Geelong were 10 goals ahead at that stage and there was little Horlin-Smith could do to influence the outcome. He was productive once activated, collecting 11 disposals and making five tackles.
DT: 58
SC: 32
36 BRAD HARTMAN was impressive in his 3rd AFL game, earning a full game after starting as the substitute against the Bulldogs last week. He gathered 11 disposal playing a midfield/half forward role and attacked the contest with real intent. His physical pressure was excellent and he displayed an ability to win the ball cleanly in heavy traffic. Most impressive was Hartman foot skills, disposing with 81.8% efficiency and kicking the first goal of his career.
DT: 46
SC: 71
39 SHANE KERSTEN developed a strong reputation in the VFL without the consistency of fitness to break into the senior side. Over his four AFL games he has exceeded expectations, kicking two more goals on Saturday to take his tally to nine. He leads strongly at the ball carrier and on several occasions showed an ability to mark the ball with one clean clunk whilst running at full pace. He took six marks in total and also provided a goal assist with one of his nine disposals.
DT: 63
SC: 55
44 COREY ENRIGHT delivered a vintage performance, floating across half back to intercept the ball seemingly at will. He tallied 25 possessions in total and took a game-high 10 marks, all uncontested. Enright rebounded defensive 50 eight times and was 80% effective with his disposal, driving Geelong’s attack from the back half.
DT: 97
SC: 117
46 MARK BLICAVS worked well in tandem with Hamish McIntosh, helping Geelong dominate the ruck contests for the entire match. Blicavs won 14 hit-outs and two clearances, along with 12 disposals. He has always had an elite running capacity, but on Saturday he read the play and ran to dangerous areas, showing a growing understanding of the game.
DT: 83
SC: 88
