“Not a disaster – but not an outrageous success”: Cats blow top four chance
Geelong have grabbed the win they needed to keep pace with the pack of AFL clubs chasing a top-four berth, but the Cats haven’t gained the percentage boost they craved against last-placed Essendon.
Geelong's Lachie Henderson has had surgery on his knee. Photo: Julian Smith / AAP
It’s hard to pick fault with an 11-goal win, but the Bombers lost skipper Brendon Goddard in the first 15 minutes at Etihad Stadium yesterday, and Geelong failed to take full advantage in a largely lacklustre affair.
“We didn’t play that well,” coach Chris Scott said of the 15.10 (100) to 4.10 (34) win in front of 29,254 fans.
“Both sides were pretty inaccurate in front of goal and it was one of those days where the missing in front almost seemed contagious.
“We worked pretty hard to generate some chances and didn’t take them.
“Every shot you miss it’s obviously a chance (to build percentage) gone begging.
“With the margin being really important to us that was a disappointing part. It wasn’t a disaster but it wasn’t an outrageous success, either.”
Geelong slips back to fifth on the ladder, with the same amount of wins as Sydney in second, third-placed Adelaide and Greater Western Sydney in fourth, with the Swans and Crows both registering percentage-boosting thrashings in round 20.
The Bombers recorded their second goalless first half of the season, but at least kept working and broke through for three goals in the third quarter to trail by 54 points at the last change.
Patrick Dangerfield, Cameron Guthrie and Corey Enright were prominent with 29 possessions each, with Dangerfield also managing seven clearances.
Tom Hawkins led the way in attack for the Cats with three goals, but spurned the opportunity to help himself to a larger haul with inaccurate kicking resulting in four behinds.
Geelong also suffered an injury blow, with forward Daniel Menzel sitting out most of the second half with a groin problem.
“We were very cautious with him but he’s got no issue with his knee or anything that he’s had problems with in the past,” Scott said.
“He was a bit tight in the groin and it seemed prudent to bin him early.”
James Kelly impressed for Essendon against his old side with 26 touches, with another former Cat in Mitch Brown finishing with 25 disposals and 18 marks.
“I was really proud of the way they stepped up to cover (Goddard’s) loss,” coach John Worsfold said.
“I thought they stayed positive and backed themselves in. They weren’t good enough but they threw everything at Geelong.”
-AAP
