Reports of Geelong’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, after the Cats delivered their third premiership in the five years, seeing ogg Collingwood to win by 38 points in a pulsating, goal-for-goal encounter.
The Midfield
In my preview I wrote that the game would be won in midfield and the Cats midfielders played blinders. Led by Joel Selwood (brilliant in and under), Norm Smith Medallist Jimmy Bartel (3 goals) and James Kelly (14 tackles), the Cats simply had more contributors.
Not to mention skipper Cameron Ling shut down Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan all day.
This is not to say Collingwood didn’t have any contributors.
Scott Pendlebury had a great game and was best on ground for Collingwood, finishing with 33 touches, 10 clearances and seven tackles. Dale Thomas played well and ended up with 31 touches, including a great third quarter with 11 disposals and six clearances.
The Cats had more contributors on the day and outclassed a beaten Magpies outfit.
The Ruck
Here is a lesson for all involved on Saturday: DON’T. PLAY. INJURED. PLAYERS.
Especially ruckmen. Playing a clearly struggling Jolly against the September specialist Ottens was always going to be a big call and backfired on the Pies.
Jolly barely looked 50 percent right and I’m guessing if he had his time again, he would have done what Dayne Beams did and withdraw from the side. Ottens knew Jolly wouldn’t be right and tested him all game, and beat him hands down.
In the battle of the back-ups, Trent West broke even with Leigh Brown. Big bad ‘Leighroy’ Brown has looked retired for the past three weeks and played like it on Saturday, although I thought Brown did well roughing up Scarlett when he went forward.
West was an able back-up and was solid across four quarters.
The Defence
Collingwood’s defence relies on the back six working as a unit together and turning defence into attack quickly.
Harry O’Brien and Heath Shaw played well early, and Nick Maxwell was brave after breaking a knuckle, but Leon Davis again unfortuanantely struggled in a Grand Final.
Travis Varcoe made him accountable in the first quarter and Varcoe beat him booting two early goals. Leon was unsighted for the rest of the day.
Ben Reid, another under a cloud, struggled and was thrown around a like a rag doll by Tom Hawkins later in the game (more on him later).
Geelong’s defence looked under siege at times, but their experienced guys like Scarlett, Taylor, Enright, Mackie and Hunt and the younger bloke Lonergan stood tall to guide their team when needed.
Taylor was monstered by Cloke early, but Lonergan took over and shaded Cloke for the rest of the afternoon.
Collingwood tried to keep Scarlett accountable by using Didak and Leigh Brown on him, but the veteran full-back brushed off Didak to pull off some spoils and wasn’t phased by Brown’s attention either.
The forwards
A turning point in the game was when Podsiadly went off with an ugly shoulder injury. You would have thought it was turning Collingwood’s way with all momentum their way, but it wasn’t the case.
Enter the ‘Tomahawk’. The young monster forward had looked more confident and aggressive leading into the decider and he announced himself as a genuine player with three huge goals.
‘Stevie J’ looked every bit the x-factor he is with his four goals and didn’t seem to be troubled by last week’s most talked about knee.
Travis Varcoe got his side off to a flyer with two quick goals, Allen Christensen took a brilliant mark on two Collingwood players, Matty Stokes kicked two goals.
Every Cat forward contributed in one way or another, a major factor in their win.
Collingwood’s forwards started really well. Travis Cloke loomed large over the game with two massive early goals and marks over Harry Taylor. But Lonergan then took over and Cloke wasn’t seen for most of the day from then on.
Andrew Krakouer looked set for a big game with three goals to his name by midway through the second half, but dissapeared later.
Alan Didak’s output was minimal, Jarryd Blair was very quiet with only three touches and three tackles and Alex Fasolo never got into it in the last quarter.
What decided this game was the fact that Geelong had more contributors when it mattered. They won the moments that define the game and fully deserved to run out 38 point winners.
A great team that has worked to this moment all year, here’s to the Premiers.
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