DT: 134
SC: 156
4 ANDREW MACKIE was forced to play a key defensive role because Harry Taylor spent most of the game in attack. He was still able to accumulate 21 disposals while closely guarding the tall Brisbane forwards. Mackie made the most of his opportunities when in possession, disposing with 90.5% efficiency, and displayed his strong aerial skill with seven marks.
DT: 80
SC: 87
5 TRAVIS VARCOE is still finding his touch and struggled to stay involved in the play through four quarters. He did is best work in the attacking half of the ground, sending the Cats inside 50 five times with his 15 possessions. Varcoe pounced on a loose ball to kick a goal during the first quarter and added his second with a classy snap in the third term.
DT: 62
SC: 65
7 HARRY TAYLOR started the match in familiar territory before moving forward in the second term. He collected 13 disposals and took six marks, four contested and two inside forward 50. Used as a swing man through the season, Taylor was kept forward to determine whether or not the Geelong defence will hold up without him and the ploy can be used effectively during the finals. Against the Lions the move worked well with Taylor kicking one goal and providing two goal assists.
DT: 69
SC: 89
9 JAMES KELLY tallied 21 possessions playing through the midfield. He was erratic at times with his disposal, but, with a team best eight tackles, Kelly maintained his usual high standard of physical intensity. He won four clearances and kicked the opening goal of the second quarter.
DT: 85
SC: 82
11 JOEL COREY was the starting substitute and wore the green vest until he was brought on for Steven Motlop during the third term. Corey gathered 11 disposals playing just 29% of the game, no doubt an endeavour to keep the Geelong veteran fresh for his 21st finals appearance. He went straight into the middle when he was substituted into the game, forcing two stoppages and winning two clearances.
DT: 44
SC: 35
12 TRENT WEST was given one last chance to win a spot in the Cats’ best 22 with Nathan Vardy rested for the final game of the home and away season. He won 25 hit outs and two centre clearances, but struggled to have an impact beyond the ruck contests. A premiership ruckman, West gathered just seven disposals and will find it difficult to remain in the team for the qualifying final against the Dockers.
DT: 46
SC: 57
13 TOM LONERGAN was the primary key defender for Geelong with partner in crime Harry Taylor used as a forward for much of the game. The ever reliable Lonergan was not effected by the added responsibility, taking four marks in the last line of defence. He was equally influential when in possession, finding a team mate with 10 of his 11 disposals.
DT: 37
SC: 51
14 JOEL SELWOOD was one of Geelong’s best, gathering 25 disposals. His clearance work was influential, leading all players on the ground to win five centre clearances and two more in general play. He made six tackles and kicked a much needed captain’s goal late in the final term to hold off the fast finishing Lions.
DT: 97
SC: 127
19 TAYLOR HUNT was a late inclusion for Cameron Guthrie and mounted a strong case for selection in the upcoming finals series. The Lions were regularly able to seize momentum and string long chains of possession together, but Hunt remained one of the most defensively accountable Cats on the ground. In addition to 14 disposals, he made six tackles and performed an important shut-down role on Brisbane’s Pearce Hanley.
DT: 62
SC: 52
20 STEVE JOHNSON was the recipient of a hard tag and still managed to gather 25 posessions and win six clearances. The Cats kicked two goals and six points in the second quarter and Johnson was one of a number of players who were wasteful in front of goal, scoring one goal from four shots. Johnson regularly produces the unexpected but even he didn’t expect contact from umpire Chris Kalomins during the second quarter. Both men were floored by the collision, which was entirely accidental, and while Johnson picked himself up and went on with the game, Kamolins had to watch the rest of the match from the sideline.
DT: 84
SC: 101
22 MITCH DUNCAN never reached top gear but made a valuable contribution on Saturday afternoon. He played most of the game on a wing and through the centre, finishing with 23 disposals and a goal. Duncan was responsible for a couple of costly turn overs but his hard running was rewarded with seven marks.
DT: 84
SC: 82
23 JOSH CADDY was one of the best performing Cats and made sure he remained right in contention to make his finals debut against Fremantle. He played with an intensity over four quarters that was lacking in much of the team, collecting 18 disposals and kicking two goals. Caddy sent Geelong inside 50 nine times, a game high, and could have scored more if he’d kicked truly. Most impressive was his work around stoppages, an aspect of the game that Caddy as improved dramatically over the season and reflected in his total of four clearances.
DT: 79
SC: 82
25 JARED RIVERS was acquired by the Cats to bolster the defence following the retirement of Matthew Scarlet. With Harry Taylor playing most of the game forward his key defensive capabilities were tested against the Lions and the former Demon passed with flying colours. He amassed 13 disposals and took three marks, appearing increasingly settled in the Geelong back line. Although he hasn’t played many finals, Rivers has over 150 games experience and his composure under pressure will be valuable during September.
DT: 43
SC: 57
26 TOM HAWKINS was hassled relentlessly by Brisbane defender Matt Maguire, who frustrated the big Cat with close checking and physical pressure. Hawkins’ mobility is still impaired by a persistent back injury and he was forced to win five of his seven disposals in a contest. He kicked just one goal but demanded the attention of not just one but regularly two opponents. Hawkins made an impact by consistently bringing the ball to ground to the advantage of the small Geelong forwards.
DT: 37
SC: 38
27 MATHEW STOKES capped off the best season of his career with a best on ground performance against the Lions. Enhancing his endurance over the pre-season, Stokes has played in the centre for most of the year and won 35 disposals in that position on Saturday. The smallest Cat on the ground, he took six marks and sent Geelong inside 50 seven times for two goal assists.
DT: 105
SC: 106
28 ALLEN CHRISTENSEN drifted in and out of the contest, collecting 18 disposals in the midfield. He sent the Cats inside 50 three times and finished off one of the better team plays with a classy snap goal in the third quarter. It was around the stoppages that Christensen had the most impact, winning four clearances and making six tackles.
DT: 88
SC: 105
31 JAMES PODSIADLY played higher up the ground with the addition of Harry Taylor to the forward line and collected 13 possessions. He kicked a goal in the first quarter and took seven marks, equalling two other Cats as the best for Geelong. Like most of the team, Podsiadly was down on his usual intensity but has reached his best form at the business end of the season and looks ready to assault the finals.
DT: 61
SC: 53
32 STEVEN MOTLOP had spring in his step at the start of the game and endeavoured to take another mark of the year contender, soaring high from four players deep early in the first quarter. He couldn’t bring the ball to ground and found it difficult to get his hands on the Sherrin throughout the first half. He gathered just four disposals before he was substituted out of the game for Joel Corey 15 minutes into the third term.
DT: 16
SC: 16
35 PAUL CHAPMAN accumulated 26 disposals and put any question over his capacity to make a contribution in the upcoming finals series to rest. After a sensational effort as the substitute against Sydney, he started on the field and played 85% of game time without any signs of deconditioning or fatigue. Chapman won six clearances, sent Geelong inside 50 on five occasions and kicked two goals.
DT: 95
SC: 113
44 COREY ENRIGHT was placed under enormous pressure by the Brisbane forwards and struggled to have the offensive impact he has managed for much of the season. He tallied 16 disposals across half back, rebounding out of defensive 50 on four occasions. Twice during the game Enright was able to push forward and gain possession inside attacking 50, a rare occurrence for the champion defender. His one shot was indeed that of a defender, well wide of the goals and sneaking through for a point.
DT: 48
SC: 61
46 MARK BLICAVS competed well to collect nine disposals and 20 hit outs against Matthew Leuenberger, one the the league’s best ruckman. This time last year the idea that Blicavs would be in the Cats’ best 22 was a laughable proposition but he has missed just three games since playing his first senior game in round one. Blicavs won four clearances and made four tackles, following up his tap work to make an impact around the stoppages. Concussion sustained from a heavy landing late in the game may be the only thing that standing in the way of the young Cat and a finals debut against Fremantle on Saturday.
DT: 52
SC: 53
