Round 6, MCG, Saturday 4th May

Geelong Cats  defeated  Richmond Tigers
 20 - 11 - 131                    13 - 9 - 87

2 Billie Smedts has played every game this season and is growing in confidence weekly. Smedts was able to regularly find space against Richmond despite the immense defensive pressure applied by the Tigers in the first half of the match. With 11 out of his 13 disposals effective, the young Geelong forward was influential with ball in hand. Smedts added 2 important goals to round out a strong performance for the Cats.
SC:48
DT: 46

3 Jimmy Bartel started the game forward, a stark contrast to the defensive utility role he has played for most of the season. The strategy paid off with Bartel kicking 2 goals in the first quarter. When the Tigers kicked ahead in the 2nd quarter the Geelong vice-captain was moved into the midfield where he had an instant influence. Bartel played 98% of game time and, with 27 disposals and 10 marks, was one of the Cats best players.
SC: 131
DT: 138

4 Andrew Mackie played a key defensive role against Richmond, who had three tall forwards for most of the night. Mackie is often an offensive weapon from half back, running off his opponent and using his elite kicking skills. He was just as impressive on Saturday night opposing big marking targets. Mackie accumulated 16 disposals while Tigers McGuane and Vickery were limited to just 1 goal between them.
SC: 49
DT: 56

7 Harry Taylor returned to familiar territory at centre half back after his 5 goal haul against the Western Bulldogs last week. Taylor worked in tandem with Andrew Mackie to cover Luke McGuane and Ty Vickery with the Cats clearly getting the better of the two Richmond forwards. In addition to his defensive efforts, Taylor took a game high 11 marks and had 18 possessions. Taylor was damaging with ball in hand with a disposal efficiency of 94.4% and played an important role in securing victory and an undefeated start to the 2013 season.
SC: 100
DT: 84

9 James Kelly played his best game for the year on Saturday night collecting 21 disposals. Kelly’s work in congestion was outstanding, winning 5 centre clearances and 4 more around the ground. Physically dominating the young Richmond midfield, Kelly had 13 contested possessions and laid 12 tackles, twice as many as his next best team mate. This physical pressure was relentless, best exhibited in a bone crunching tackle on Tiger Steven Morris midway through the final quarter when Geelong had already put the result beyond doubt.  
SC: 90
DT: 107

11 Joel Corey played with the confidence of a veteran defender, gathering 23 possessions in his new role as part of Geelong’s back 6. When the Tigers gained ascendancy early in the match Corey worked to be third man into marking contests and made crucial spoils. He continued this hard work throughout the game, jumping in to support Geelong’s ruckmen and sprinting from the bench late in the game just to congratulate Corey Enright on his sensational goal.
SC: 68
DT: 72

12 Trent West won 31 hit-outs, more than anyone else on the ground, and helped give Geelong the ascendancy in clearances. Willing to run back and support the Geelong defence, West’s efforts were important as Richmond fielded 3 tall forwards for most of the match. West was just as influential in possession of the ball, collecting 13 touches, including 2 centre clearances, 4 inside 50s and a goal.  
SC: 112
DT: 84

13 Tom Lonergan spent the game paying close attention to 2012 Coleman medallist Jack Reiwoldt. The Richmond forward kicked 3 goals but his impact beyond the scoreboard was minimal, largely due to Lonergan’s unrelenting pressure. Composure on the last line was important for Geelong when the Tigers gained momentum and Lonergan, with 12 effective disposals from his 13 touches, led by example.
SC: 66
DT: 45

14 Joel Selwood received constant physical harassment from the Tigers, as is now the norm for the Geelong champion. At times during the match Selwood went head to head with Richmond captain Trent Cotchin, winning the battle with 6 clearances and 11 contested possession from a total of 23. Selwood kicked the first goal of the 3rd quarter with a shot on the run from 50m out to extend Geelong’s half time lead and set them on the path to victory.
SC: 105
DT: 98

19 Taylor Hunt was given the role of shutting down Richmond gun Brett Deledio, having done an excellent job tagging Carlton captain Marc Murphy earlier in the season. Normally an elite ball user, Deledio had 5 clangers and only 60% disposal efficiency as a result of Hunt’s unwavering pressure. Hunt amassed 14 disposals himself and put the Cats inside 50 on 5 occasions.
SC: 53
DT: 57

20 Steve Johnson was outstanding against Richmond, collecting a game high 31 disposals in his 200th game. Stevie J work tirelessly at both ends of the ground with 4 rebounds out of defensive 50 and 6 inside 50s, more than any Cat on the night. Johnson was dynamic through the midfield but also punished the Tigers on the scoreboard with 2 goals. Geelong fans stayed after the match to cheer the 2007 Norm Smith medalist as he was chaired off the ground alongside team mate Corey Enright. Cats supporters celebrated 200 game career of Steve Johnson, one of the most inventive, unpredictable and mercurial footballers to ever step onto the field.
SC: 121
DT: 136

21 Jordan Murdoch returned to the Geelong line up for his third senior game of 2013. Playing in the forward line, Murdoch kicked 1 goal and used his pace to break open the Richmond defence. Before being subbed out of the game for George Horlin-Smith just before 3 quarter time Murdoch gathered 5 possessions, all of which were effective.
SC: 45
DT: 30

22 Mitch Duncan was one of the best performers against Richmond on Saturday night. Duncan had 27 disposals playing through the centre of the ground as part of a formidable Geelong midfield unit. Willing to push hard into space when the Cats were in possession, the young midfielder had an equal game high 11 marks. 5 times Duncan sent Geelong inside 50 and he provided one of the highlights of the match kicking a miraculous running goal from the boundary line 50m out.
SC: 97
DT: 122

26 Tom Hawkins was quiet for most of the match, competing against two opponents for much of the night. The big forward was kept to 6 touches and 4 marks but imposed himself on the game in the last quarter. Having passed the ball to an unmanned Steve Johnson closer to goal earlier in the match, Hawkins kicked the first 2 goals of the final term to give the Cats an unassailable lead.
SC: 52
DT: 40

27 Mathew Stokes was among the Cats best yet again with 28 possessions and 1 goal playing largely through the midfield. It was in the more familiar role of small forward, however, that he was most effective. Stokes chased and hassled Richmond defenders and was rewarded with a goal after intercepting a Cotchin handball. In a moment of individual brilliance minutes later, he beat 3 opponents to get the ball over to West who ran into an open goal. Stokes’ efforts set the Cats alight, kick starting a run of 3 unanswered goals that put Geelong ahead at half time.
SC: 85
DT: 88

28 Allen Christensen was unstoppable against the Tigers and a stand out performer for Geelong with 28 touches. Richmond were unable to curtail the influence of Christensen, who had 18 contested possessions and 6 clearances despite the Tigers enormous tackling pressure early in the match. On top of winning the ball in heavy traffic Christensen was damaging in attack, leading the Cats with 2 goal assists and 3 goals.
SC: 177
DT: 128

29 Cameron Guthrie played well in his second game of the season, finishing the match with 12 disposals. The young defender took 5 marks, 3 of them contested, against a tall Richmond attack. Guthrie was composed in defence and performed admirably one on one against Richmond stars Martin and Cotchin when they were rotated forward.
SC: 66
DT: 56

31 James Podsiadly had 16 disposals and 9 marks, becoming more influential as the game went on. Richmond pushed numbers back in the first half, congesting Geelong’s forward 50 to restrict the impact of Podsiadly and fellow tall target Tom Hawkins. The J Pod created space and opportunities through hard running and sacrificed a set shot 15m out to give Steve Johnson a goal in his 200 milestone match.
SC: 54
DT: 72

32 Steven Motlop was relatively quiet compared to the lofty standards he has set this season. Richmond coach Damien Hardwick had defenders Brandon Ellis and Steven Morris both pay close attention to the young Cat, aware of the influence he has had on games this year. Motlop was still able to work off his opponents and find space on the wide MCG to collect 11 disposals.
SC: 35
DT: 40

33 George Horlin-Smith started the match as the substitute and was brought into the game late in the 3rd quarter. Horlin-Smith proved an effective injection of fresh legs, winning 5 possessions at 100% efficiency in his short time on the ground. Able to play through the midfield and be effective in the centre clearances, Horlin-Smith provided an extra rotation and much needed relief for the Geelong on-ballers.
SC: 13
DT: 48

44 Corey Enright celebrated his 250th AFL game in style, gathering 28 possessions and dominating the half back line. The 4 time All-Australian affectionally known as “Boris” displayed the extent of his talent and experience, floating across packs to take 11 marks and leading the Cats with 5 rebound 50s. The highlight of the match came from a set shot from Enright tight up against the boundary line. Enright’s kick sailed straight through the goals and he was quickly swamped by hugs and high 5s of 18 team mates, including Joel Corey who sprinted from the bench to join in the celebrations. Every time Enright got the ball in the last quarter he was cheered by Cats fans who clearly share Chris Scott’s view that Enright is the best small defender of his generation.
SC: 113
DT: 123

46 Mark Blicavs thrived on the expansive MCG, utilising his elite endurance with damaging effect against the Tigers. Richmond subbed back-up ruckman Ty Vickery out of the game after a head clash with Steve Johnson only minutes after Ivan Maric rolled his ankle in the third quarter. Blicavs exploited Richmond’s depleted ruck stocks with hard running and had a big influence late in the game. The young Cat won 12 hit-outs with outstanding aerial skill, but it was his ability at ground level that was most impressive, winning 3 clearances and crumbing the ball in the goal square to kick his first major in the AFL.
SC: 76
DT: 65