1. Menzel stands tall
After 1450 days and four knee reconstructions, Geelong's Daniel Menzel played just the 22nd senior game of his career on Friday night, and he was brilliant. It didn't take long for Menzel to show his class, kicking a behind at the five-minute mark after taking a leaping mark. When he kicked a goal at the 12-minute mark of the opening quarter, he was mobbed by his ecstatic teammates, and coach Chris Scott celebrated in the box. The moment was a triumph for player and club after such a long and arduous road. Better was to come; in the final quarter, Menzel took a contender for mark of the year by plucking a screamer on top of Tom Langdon. His long kicking off one step and ability to tease the football in traffic is still a delight to watch. Menzel finished with a career-best 20 disposals and four goals to be the Cats' best. On a dark night for Geelong, few of his teammates followed his inspirational lead.
2. No Cloke, no worries
Collingwood spearhead Travis Cloke suffered hamstring tightness in the warm-up and was a late withdrawal, replaced by Jesse White. But what many thought would be negative for Collingwood turned into a positive, as the Magpies banged on seven goals to one in the first quarter to match their tally for the entire game a week earlier against Richmond. They appeared less predictable and had nine individual goalkickers in the first half, dominating in the air with 72 uncontested marks to 36, and using the ball much better than Geelong. Suddenly, within a half, Nathan Buckley's statement that the Magpies were better placed now than at the same time last season was much easier to defend. By the end of the game, Collingwood had kicked straight, defended well and had 11 individual goalkickers.
3. Cats out of lives
Geelong has spluttered for most of the season after losing three of its first four games, but the final nail went into the Cats' coffin in the first half against Collingwood, and they will miss the finals for the first time since 2006. Missing Mitch Duncan and Josh Caddy was always going to be a problem, but their midfield was obliterated in the first half, with the Magpies recording 28 inside 50s to 16 and winning the centre clearances eight to three. Champion veterans James Kelly and Corey Enright had ordinary nights, but they were hardly alone. But Friday night's meek surrender means any lingering doubts that the Cats needed to move into the next era with a new list were dispelled once and for all.
4. Stepping back, stepping up
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury was criticised after last Saturday's loss to Richmond, when he admitted it was strange to play without a finals spot on the line for the first time in his career. Regardless, Pies coach Nathan Buckley recognised an opportunity to give his captain a challenge on Friday night and started him off half-back, where he controlled the game in the first quarter and set the Magpies on their winning path. In that quarter, Pendlebury had 11 disposals, but 10 of them were uncontested, and he found a teammate with all 10 of them. He ended the game with 33 disposals at 90 per cent efficiency.
5. Top Cats fall flat
There has been a lot of focus on the performances of the Cats' crew of 30-somethings this season, but the reality is that, for a variety of reasons, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor and Tom Hawkins have had their least consistent seasons for a long time. On Friday night, Selwood was battered from pillar to post by Levi Greenwood, again without much protection from the umpires off the ball. He has been dragged down, and needs midfield support next season. Taylor has not played the general role down back, seeming lost at times and struggling to take his normal quota of marks. Hawkins has had a tough year, but played nowhere near his best and failed to fire often enough for the Cats to challenge. The class and character of the trio is unquestioned, and they will be expected to bounce back hard in 2016.
