3 JIMMY BARTEL starred for the Cats with 24 disposals and eight marks. Starting most centre bounces at half-back, Bartel was everywhere, plugging holes in defence and pushing up the ground to add forward pressure. Fremantle’s defensive game style suited Bartel, who thrived in the physical contest. He snapped the Cat’s second goal of the match and his ability to compete aerially against bigger opponents prevented the Dockers from clearing their defensive 50 easily.
DT: 105
SC: 108
4 ANDREW MACKIE performed strongly as part of Geelong’s effective defensive unit, gathering 27 disposals. Fremantle clogged up their opponents forward line, leaving one on one contests in their attacking half. Mackie was cool under pressure when the Dockers rebounded, taking seven marks, and his long kicking sent Geelong into attack before Fremantle could push numbers back.
DT: 94
SC: 115
7 HARRY TAYLOR was one of Geelong’s best, taking 10 marks across half-back. Fremantle played with an open forward line but their forays into attack were regular cut off by Taylor, his elite aerial ability on full display. Taylor collected 28 possessions, exposing Fremantle’s lack of a forward marking target. Playing 97% of game time, he tallied five rebound 50s and sent the Cats inside attacking 50 on four occasions.
DT: 113
SC: 131
8 JOSH HUNT gathered 16 disposals before he was substituted for Jordan Murdoch 20 minutes into the third term. For much of the game he took Fremantle’s leading goal kicker Chris Mayne, who managed his only goal after Hunt had left the field. The Geelong defenders worked the ball to Hunt for rapid rebound and he did not disappoint, disposing with 87.5% efficiency. His reason for wearing the red vest was not form or injury but an upset stomach that made it difficult to keep down his dinner but but wont keep him from playing next week.
DT: 56
SC: 74
9 JAMES KELLY had 16 contested possessions from a total of 27, revelling in the hard-fought and physical contest. While his disposal was sloppy at times, his stoppage work and physical pressure was first rate, winning four clearances and making seven tackles. Kelly executed a clumsy bump early in the first term but managed to avoid heavy contact with the head so should escape sanction.
DT: 100
SC: 107
11 JOEL COREY played an excellent match on Saturday night, tallying 22 disposals and kicking 2 goals. He utilised his wealth of experience and mature body to great effect, winning 7 clearances and laying a game high 10 tackles. Corey finished the match with 14 contested possessions, well suited to the slower paced, contested style of game.
DT: 104
SC: 110
13 TOM LONERGAN was solid in defence, taking Fremantle big men Jack Hannath, Zac Clarke and Michael Johnson when they rotated forward. The three Docker talls were kept goalless and took just nine marks between them while Lonergan won five contested possessions from a total of seven.
DT: 22
SC: 40
14 JOEL SELWOOD battled under close attention from Ryan Crowley, who held the Geelong skipper to just 13 possessions, well below his season average of 23. Following a week of controversy over the pinching of Brent Harvey, Crowley relentlessly hassled Selwood and was booed every time he got his hands on the ball. Selwood lifted in the third term, which was dominated by the Cats, and finished the match with four clearances and three inside 50s.
DT: 38
SC: 54
16 DAWSON SIMPSON played his second game for the season, winning a game high 34 hit-outs. He was able to have an impact for four quarters, collecting 13 disposals, after struggling to run out the game against the Lions. Simpson took six marks and followed up his good ruck work to win two centre clearances. The recipient of a long handball from Hawkins late in the match, Simpson ran into open goal to kick the first major score of his career.
DT: 96
SC: 105
19 TAYLOR HUNT started the match on a wing and was an effective ball winner. After quarter time he was moved to shut down the influence of Danyle Pearce who lead the Dockers for disposals early in the match. In the second half Hunt rotated between Pearce and fellow Fremantle speedster Stephen Hill, minimising their impact on the game while collecting 15 disposals and kicking one goal himself.
DT: 61
SC: 54
21 JORDAN MURDOCH had an immediate impact when he was substituted into the game for Josh Hunt late in the third term. Playing in the forward line, Murdoch made four tackles and sent the ball inside attacking 50 twice. He was lively close to goal and utilised his fresh legs and foot speed to gather 6 disposals and snap the Cat’s second goal of the final term.
DT: 43
SC: 29
22 MITCH DUNCAN tallied 29 disposals in another fine performance for the Cats. He played long periods of the game on a wing and ran hard when Geelong were in possessions to provide a target, taking four marks. On several occasions when the Cats switched the play to the open side of the ground, Duncan worked off his opponent to receive the ball and maintain a fluid transition. He sent the ball inside attacking 50 four time and his defensive effort was strong, making four tackles.
DT: 98
SC: 111
23 JOSH CADDY played his first senior game since Round 8, earning selection through strong performance in the VFL. He carried his good form into the top four clash on Saturday night, gathering 16 disposals playing predominantly at half-forward. Caddy’s stoppage work was impressive, winning four clearances around the ground, and his defensive pressure was first rate, making eight tackles.
DT: 80
SC: 72
26 TOM HAWKINS rarely had the opportunity to compete one on one as Fremantle kept players back to clog up their defensive 50. Hawkins competed well, taking two marks inside 50 and kicking two goals. He was rarely out marked despite being outnumbered and able to bring the ball to ground for Geelong’s crumbing forwards. He was also able to regularly break his arms free from a tackle to feed the ball out to a team mate and continue Geelong’s forward momentum.
DT: 55
SC: 76
27 MATHEW STOKES played another good game in the Geelong midfield. He collected 17 kicks and 10 handballs for a total of 27 disposals, his average this season. Halfway through the first quarter he was coat-hangered by Docker Zac Dawson but played on undeterred, finishing the match with five inside 50s and five clearances.
DT: 95
SC: 88
28 ALLEN CHRISTENSEN was a stand out performer for the Cats, winning a game high 36 disposals. He applied the physical intensity required to overcome Fremantle’s defensive game style, making six tackles and winning seven clearances. Christensen had four of those clearances in the third quarter, a term the Cats won 20 points to zero. In addition to winning contested situations, Christensen was dangerous in attack, taking three of his six marks inside 50 and sending the ball into Geelong’s forward 50 six times.
DT: 135
SC: 125
29 CAMERON GUTHRIE played strong game in defence, building a case for regular selection. He tallied 15 disposals across half back and took five marks. Guthrie pushed up the ground, sending the ball inside 50 three times and helping lock the ball in Geelong’s attacking half to build forward pressure. Guthrie is growing in confidence and is performing well as part of a Cat defence that was very difficult to break down on Saturday night.
DT: 63
SC: 72
31 JAMES PODSIADLY amassed nine kicks and six handballs against the Dockers. He played predominately as a high marking forward but spent brief periods in defence, as he did last week, adding another string to his bow. Podsiadly had three inside 50s and kicked a goal but his defensive efforts were most impressive, laying seven tackles, the most in his career.
DT: 81
SC: 95
32 STEPHEN MOTLOP drifted in and out of the contest but made the most of his 17 possession, disposing with 94% efficiency. He gave away a few undisciplined free kicks but was dangerous in attack, sending the ball inside 50 on four occasions and kicking two goals. His second goal came just 30 seconds into the final quarter, extending Geelong’s lead and providing good reward for a dominant third term.
DT: 54
SC: 75
41 JESSE STRINGER played his second full game for the season after starting as the substitute last week against the Lions. He had his best game yet for the Cats, collecting 18 disposals as a half-forward. Stringer was rotated into the midfield for brief periods during the match where he managed to win two clearances. His defensive pressure was most impressive, making 5 tackles, and he displayed a willingness to chase and hassle the opposition from the outset.
DT: 74
SC: 67
44 COREY ENRIGHT gathered 26 disposals in a dominant performance across half back. He took seven marks, cutting off Fremantle’s attacking efforts and locking the ball in the Cat’s forward half of the ground. The Geelong defence was untroubled by the Docker’s forward marking targets, freeing Enright to attack on the rebound and provide five forward 50 entries and one goal assist.
DT: 92
SC: 83
46 MARK BLICAVS played long periods of the game on a wing or at half forward, as he did last week against Brisbane, and won just 6 hit-outs. He competed in ruck contests around the ground, often as third man up, but rarely took the centre bounce duties. Blicavs collected 10 disposals and took four marks despite fumbling the ball regularly. Finishing the match with five tackles, his willingness to follow up his ruck efforts or misuse of possession cannot to be faulted,
DT: 58
SC: 51
