A devoted sport science practitioner, Geelong coach Chris Scott has actively managed the playing time of his list more so than any other coach in the league.
Given the luxury to rest pivotal players throughout the season, the day looms when Scott’s strategy will cause heartbreak.
It was a breezy Wednesday evening, September 26, 2007 to be exact. A buzz echoed through the hallway. Breath gasped and nerves tingling he answered the door.
There stood the bearer of bad news as a sombre disdain quickly enveloped his soul.
Each creak of the floorboard pulsated through his eardrums as they sat down expecting the worst.
There sat momentary dream-crushers Mark Thompson and Neil Balme. Before a word spoken, before a polite greeting, a young boy’s world plummeted to the bowels of Hades.
By now you may have figured Mark Blake is the subject of this nightmare.
Shattered by the news he would be dropped for Steven King on the eve of the 2007 Grand Final, Blake admirably hid his disappointment after playing the majority of the year as Geelong eased their way to a 119 point Grand Final win.
Two years later, a bigger, stronger and more aggressive Blake gained retribution when the Cats defeated St Kilda in the 2009 Grand Final and personally as important, Blake defeated King to earn himself a premiership medal.
Each year big men fall victim to the dreaded rule of 22 when coaches must pick the side best capable of winning a game. Loyalty and respect aside, the game is no longer about fun, only winning.
Blake aside, recent victims include Simon Prestigiacomo and Simon Taylor.
The only team without a player to have played in every game this year, Geelong looks the freshest of the finals contenders.
A Collingwood vs. Geelong Grand Final looks more likely week by week. All things predictable, it will happen.
Resting key players has enabled Scott to get games into youngsters, however the culture at Geelong has made these kids so hungry that their performances have made many undroppable and injury looks the only way to enter the 22.
With their goal kicking led by Kent Kingsley for four years between 2002-2005, Geelong had long been looking for a big man to take marks and consistently kick goals.
Six years on, Geelong has rotated Brad Ottens (31), Trent West (23), Nathan Vardy (19), James Podsiadly (29), Tom Hawkins (22) and Cameron Mooney (31) through the ruck and forward line, all to success.
It is unlikely all six will hold their positions during the finals series. Scott must be careful not to alter the playing mix too much during the finals, alas this means at least three of the season contributors may miss out.
Barring injury, Ottens and Podsiadly will be the first two names selected.
In the era of the substitute, all teams are looking for a second ruckman capable of moving around the ground and kick a few goals.
Unfortunately for Geelong’s selection committee, all of the remaining four have done that this season.
As a ruckman, West has proven the best of the quartet averaging 20 hit outs per game compared to Vardy, 12 and Hawkins, 5.
As forwards, goal averages are slightly skewed due to thrashings against Melbourne and the Gold Coast.
As targets, Hawkins leads the way averaging 4.7 marks per game (1.8 contested) followed by Mooney 4.1 (0.5 contested) West 3.2 (0.2 contested) and Vardy 2.0 (0.6 contested).
From these figures, Hawkins is surely the second tall but his marking flatters his output with only 18 goals from 13 appearances.
Mobility has been crucial to ruckmen holding their places in teams this year. A ruckman/forward who can tackle is pivotal. West dominates this aspect of the game averaging 6.0 ahead of Hawkins, 2.2, Vardy, 2.2 and Mooney, 1.9.
The home and away season end draws nearer and Chris Scott will be looking to build some stability in the team come finals.
As the youngest and least physically mature of the quartet, few could blame Scott if Vardy does not make another senior appearance this year.
A project player of the future, Vardy’s time will come in future years when Ottens, Podsiadly and Mooney’s playing days end.
Having played four weeks in the VFL to ensure his body was absolutely right before returning to the senior team, Mooney has flourished in the previous weeks.
Playing the same selfless football which has made him a fan favourite, the big hairy cat remains the biggest injury risk.
With the degenerative knee condition Mooney is carrying and only three games remaining (Geelong has a bye in round 23); a relapse may leave Scott reluctant to alter his forward line during the finals without match fitness.
Unfortunately for Scott and his selection committee, all of Geelong’s big men are in excellent form which is undoubtedly causing headaches. Ultimately, this highlights the hunger these men are exerting to retain their spots.
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