Geelong’s performance to this point of 2018 is the embarrassment of the AFL season.
It’s simply not possible for a midfield containing Patrick Dangerfield, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan, Tim Kelly, Sam Menegola and Scott Selwood to be in a side that is so mediocre.
Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart and Jake Kolodjashnij are having career best years in defence. Zach Tuohy is good player. Jack Henry has been a revelation in his first year, and should be a podium finish in the Rising Star.
In the forward-line, Tom Hawkins is right in the thick of All-Australian discussion. Dan Menzel has missed half a year, but is averaging career high goals per game.
Elsewhere, Rhys Stanley had been in excellent form before going down with injury. Brandan Parfitt oozes quality, and is going to be a very good midfielder that can’t quite find room in there ahead of more experienced players.
Geelong’s best football this year has been as good as any team. And so it should be with all of the aforementioned players. But it has been seen sporadically, and often when it has been too late.
Joel Selwood of the Cats (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Three times in the last four rounds, the Cats have dazzled in last quarters when they have been a long way behind.
29 points down against Melbourne, they were able to peel off four goals in five minutes and eventually win with a Tuohy kick after the siren.
Three times against Richmond they were five goals down, but were able to make quick inroads, especially in the last quarter when all hope was lost.
Another five goal deficit was seen on Saturday against Hawthorn, leading to three goals, two behinds and an out of bounds on the full without the Hawks scoring as they made a late charge.
Chris Scott is a fascinating personality.
On Foxtel’s AFL360 on Monday nights he is as measured as a person can be, almost robot-like. HIs real personality is on display in the coaches box during close wins, where we see a primal joy, and in press conferences after close losses, where we see an arrogant fury.
No coach speaks as technically as Scott, particularly when making excuses after a loss. There’s talk of pulling levers, making adjustments that can’t be shared, opening things up, closing them down. Tweaks and tactics. No wonder the players can’t play four quarters of consistent footy.
The question has to be asked whether the coach is too caught up in strategy, game style and manoeuvres.
All coaches are controlling, but he seems to be in the upper echelon.
Does this controlling aspect breed nerves and over-thinking? Geelong certainly play that way too often, safe with the ball, conservative with decision making, afraid to make a mistake. Too much thought, not enough instinct.
Only when there is nothing else left to lose and the deficit is too great does the instinctive attacking football flow, usually with great results.
Geelong finished second on the ladder last year, and made a preliminary final.
They thought they were adding one gun midfielder (Ablett) in order to take the next step in 2018, but have instead added two (Ablett and Kelly). Yet they sit in ninth, which could easily be as low as 11th or even 12th.
[latest_videos_strip category=”afl” name=”AFL”]
If you sit and think about it, it’s an unfathomable disgrace, yet Chris Scott has avoided any sort of media heat, let alone considered scrutiny.
It’s not as if all the other teams below the Cats have got better relative to last year either – Adelaide and Essendon have clearly fallen away. Sydney are worse. Port are about the same. Richmond and GWS are at a similar level.
We can say only West Coast has gone past Geelong completely on merit compared to 2017. Collingwood, Melbourne and Hawthorn have improved, but soft draws have flattered them.
In the late 80s and early 90s under Malcolm Blight, the Cats were the most attacking team in the competition, running up cricket scores the like of which were rarely seen before and never since.
I wonder what would happen if Chris Scott allowed them to go ‘full Malcolm’ for the rest of this season? Because right now, he’s driven them from the top to the middle of the road, and they’re going nowhere.
Damien hennessy
Guest
Your comments here ring so true tonight after another poor finals performance. There is no exuberance it seems and yes Geelong do seem more balanced team, more stars but somehow have gone backwards!
Gordon
Guest
Well said. I abhor Chris Scott, he’s a smug and as you stated arrogant robot, with no regard or respect for opposing sides. Gross.
Goalsonly
Guest
Just on Gazza and Jimmy I played centre of defense in basketball for twenty years. First 15 years I took hundreds of drives in set position but kept my feet because I'm agile. I go maybe two fouls called. So when I felt contact I fell to ground and then I got the call every time. Call it what you will.
Goalsonly
Guest
Just sticking up for Guthrie and Menegola.
Goalsonly
Guest
Spot on... The close ones have been telling.. One point on this. And you can ask Ross Lyon this one. When you play defensive football goals become precious and that puts a lot of pressure on forwards. A more attacking style may not be logically week when you reason it this way. Also.... The telling sign that Chris Scott is a strong leader is the emergence of so many other leaders at Geelong, almost too numerous to mention.
Don Freo
Guest
As I thought. One of those people dedicated to undermining. Fancy living a life thirsting for your team to succeed while that team constantly experiences success. Ungracious, blind, obstructive. What a supporter!
Alphingtonian
Roar Pro
Oh sorry Don I forgot every player and team plays just to make finals. Who cares about winning any? Everybody always remembers all those teams that made finals - just look at the VFL/AFL history books. Plonk.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
Ablett name is beloved in Geelong. Record membership figures this year. Almost 13,000 up on 2016 record figures. Big game player. Any opposition to Ablett's return to the Cattery is ridiculous quite frankly. Guthrie, Stanley and Murdoch are the reason why were are not number 1. Also Harry falling over and Smith unable to find form. Inaccurate kicking and incongrous rule interpretation by umpires are other reasons. Anything we get out of little Gaz is a bonus.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
Please do not include Guthrie and Menegola in that list. Scott Selwood and Duncan are infinitely better.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
And Duncan can't? Remember Duncan was the one who spotted up Touhy v Melbourne.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
Injury and fatigue management has been The Geelong Way sonce 2007.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
I disagree. We have Duncan and others as link men. Geelong lack a decent ruckman.
Deep Thinker
Guest
That's definitely a factor, but only because they've been playing so many youngsters - who aren't really in their best 22.
Deep Thinker
Guest
Add to that 2 games against North - the Cats have EASILY had the toughest draw among the top 10. I agree with Cam that Chris Scott hasn't got the best out of the team this year. There is no doubt on paper this is the best midfield in the comp - Dangerfield, J. Selwood, Ablett, Duncan, Kelly, Menegola, S. Selwood, Guthrie - but they haven't really gelled as a unit. It's also worth pointing out that Geelong have blooded a lot of young players - while there has been a lot of hype about this, I don't think the youngsters have set the world on fire - and based on the team that took the field against Freo, few of them will take part in finals. They have ridden their luck this year - both good and bad. Close wins, close losses, injuries, etc. I think if they beat Gold Coast and make it in the finals (almost a certainty) they can do serious damage if they bring their A game. If they do this, I'd back them to take down Richmond - but the problem is they have been too up and down. I'd go easy on Chris Scott - he probably has the best coaching record in the game over the last 7 or so years so its hard to be too critical for one season that, while not taking the team to top 4, is hardly a disaster. The team has delivered the 3rd best percentage which indicates their ladder position doesn't quite reflect how they've played.
Don Freo
Guest
...and he has just lifted them into another finals series. I wonder if you'll be gracious enough to acknowledge that. I don't think you will. You hate him and it affects your ability to make clear, fair observations. In short, all the evidence says you're unable to do that kind of thing. Let's see. Maybe you can open your eyes and your mind.
Alphingtonian
Roar Pro
Tall poppy syndrome? I loved Bomber and Blighty, I also love Hardwick and Beveridge, I even like Bucks. This has nothing to do with what you perceive to be tall poppy syndrome I appreciate great achievers in the game too. It's just Scott hasn't achieved anything with Geelong in the last 6 years except a woeful finals winning percentage and pathetic MCG winning percentage. Never in the history of the game has there been a great achiever as a coach with that combination of poor numbers.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You are talking Facebook. I support many achievers in AFL that folk love to put down. I simply can't stand tall poppy syndrome. Driven by strugglers in life who feel empowered by trying to decry someone who has achieved. I am a great fan of both Scotts, I have regularly supported Bucks. Hirdy is a gun. Your kind of comment is typical of that kind of faceless grumbler. It is sport. Celebrate it and, if it makes you sad, walk away.
Alphingtonian
Roar Pro
I'd say by the over 500 likes on Facebook this article received that a touch more than 2 Geelong supporters feel this way. You only have to look at the GFC Facebook page, listen to talk back on K-Rock or any other radio station after Geelong games, to feel the Geelong supporters frustration and fury at Chris Scott building and quickly gathering momentum. As a Freo supporter I don't know why you're so invested in Geelong and Chris Scott?
Don Freo
Guest
Another way of saying that, Alphman, is, "Finally! A second person shares my opinion." That took a while...3 years at least.
Alphingtonian
Roar Pro
I love this article, I love everything about it! It's just so refreshing to see other Geelong supporters finally beginning to understand what I've known for so long.