COACH Chris Scott described the statistics from Geelong’s 44-point loss to Brisbane as ‘really interesting’.
In this week’s edition of ‘By The Numbers’ geelongcats.com.au takes at look why, presented Deakin’s Centre for Sport Research.
Team Statistics 'Really Interesting'
If you hadn’t seen the result and headed straight to the statistics to compare the opposing sides you would have predicted a far closer game.
Geelong got their hands on the footy first, leading the Lions in hit-outs (38 to 36), clearances (39 to 36), contested possessions (135 to 124) and disposals (347 to 295), all of which have been key metrics for the Cats this season. Whilst the inside 50 count (55 to 50) was close with the Lions holding a slight advantage.
What the statistics don’t necessarily show was how much more effective and clean the Lions were with their disposal, which was something coach Chris Scott addressed in his post-match press conference.
“The stats don’t always tell the whole picture and that’s you need to drill down a little bit further and work out – we were winning the ball in the contests, and I thought they pressured so well that we were just under pressure all the time,” Scott said.
“We used the ball poorly and gave them some looks the other way, and they hardly gave us any, we didn’t score much off turnover at all until late in the game. So, the contest part was alright, but I thought our ball use was poor and we gave them some easy goals.”
Midfield Pressure Laid Foundation For Lions
Brisbane’s pressure gauge around the ball was red-hot and the individual player statistics back that up.
Five of the top six players for pressure acts were Brisbane players, with four of them midfielders.
Dayne Zorko (30), Lachie Neale (28), Deven Robertson (20) and Hugh McCluggage (19) led the charge around the ball, with Brandan Parfitt Geelong’s best with 19 pressure acts.
Brisbane’s pressure around the contest forced the Cats into making some uncharacteristic errors when they had the football, and the Lions made them pay on the counter.
“I can’t remember too many times early in the game when we thought ‘that’s going to be hard for them to stop’, the Brisbane defence were really good, but I think it was more the pressure that was happening upfield that gave them a better than 50/50 chance, and you need to do better than that with Harris Andrews, (Marcus) Adams is a good player and (Jack) Payne came in for them and did well.
“So, if you look at the numbers through the midfield – it was going forward about the same, contested ball we were way on top, but the quality of their ball was way higher than ours.”
Danger Takes Positive Step Forward
In his third game back from a syndesmosis injury, Patrick Dangerfield showed that he is on a positive trajectory towards finding his best form after an improved performance on Thursday night.
The three-time Carji Greeves medallist finished with 23 disposals, eight inside 50s and a goal.
There were moments within the game when he would have liked to have been more efficient (52%) with his ball use, but overall, he showed some exciting glimpses we’ve all been accustomed to watching in seasons past.
VFL Cats Post Big Numbers
The selection committee will have some tough calls to make when they come together to pick their side to play Essendon in Round 16 following the Bendigo Bank Cats’ 118-point against the Lions on Friday.
Charlie Constable was outstanding in the middle for the Cats with 43 disposals, 17 score involvements and 10 clearances.
Oscar Brownless (30 disposals) and Quinton Narkle (25 disposals, 1 goal) were others who found plenty of the ball.
In attack Francis Evans (four goals), Shannon Neale (four goals) and Ben Jarvis (three goals) were dangerous throughout, whilst Gryan Miers (18 disposals, two goals) put in an improved performance in his second game back from a fractured fibula.
At the opposite end of the ground Sam De Koning and Zach Guthrie had some nice moments down back.
