On May 6, 2007, a new era of dominance in the AFL officially began.
Mark Thompson’s Geelong Cats were coming off a bitterly disappointing 2006 campaign that saw them unfathomably miss finals. Coming into Round 6, 2007, they had just lost their second match in a row to fall to 2-3 and were in desperate need of a steadier.
They got more than they could have possibly imagined – a scarcely believable 157-point demolition of Richmond catapulted them to new heights. They’d go on to win 15 matches in a row before claiming a drought-breaking flag.
That match was also the start of a 13-game winning run the Cats would enjoy over the Tigers.
When did that streak end? The qualifying final of 2017. That match, a 51-point Tiger triumph, saw Richmond begin their era of dominance that they hope will culminate in a third premiership in four seasons on Saturday night.
Including that 2017 match, Damien Hardwick’s side are 5-1 against Chris Scott’s since the long streak ended and the latter will need to arrest that streak if he wants to add another flag to Kardinia Park’s rafters.
So, how do the Tigers keep catching the Cats and what can Geelong do about it?
Looking at the pair’s last six games makes for largely predictable reading.
As has so often been the case for the Tigers of late, they’ve lost the clearance and contested possession counts pretty handily, but out-hunted their opponents, won the tackle count, forced plenty of turnovers and been far more efficient inside 50.
Counts are presented from Geelong’s perspective
Match | Disp. | Clr. | CP | I50s | Tkl. | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
QF, 2017 | Even | +3 | -19 | -19 | +2 | 51-point loss |
R13, 2018 | -2 | +10 | +3 | +9 | -17 | 18-point loss |
R20, 2018 | +67 | +7 | +30 | -22 | -19 | 3-point loss |
R12, 2019 | +93 | +6 | +34 | -3 | -28 | 67-point win |
PF, 2019 | +44 | +4 | +20 | -5 | -9 | 19-point loss |
R17, 2020 | +32 | +16 | +13 | -2 | -6 | 26-point loss |
It’s what we’ve always known about Richmond, they’ll almost always give you a head start at the coalface, but you’ll cough it up and they’ll cash your turnovers in every time.
But one thing the stat sheet does show us is a dramatic turnaround in the way Geelong tries to play against Richmond that began in 2019.
Match | Marks | Diff. | Result |
---|---|---|---|
QF, 2017 | 66 | -20 | 51-point loss |
R13, 2018 | 53 | -26 | 18-point loss |
R20, 2018 | 58 | -8 | 3-point loss |
R12, 2019 | 112 | +33 | 67-point win |
PF, 2019 | 93 | +11 | 19-point loss |
R17, 2020 | 111 | +38 | 26-point loss |
That’s a massive difference. Instead of trying to bullock their way past the Tigers, Geelong have recently brought in a significantly more patient gameplan that involves playing keepings-off. Rack up the uncontested marks, force the defenders out of position and strike.
It clearly worked a treat in Round 12, 2019’s breakout win, but why did it fail in the prelim and earlier this season?
Three reasons: turnovers, efficiency inside 50 and defending Richmond’s talls. In Geelong’s win, they ticked all of those boxes. In their two most recent losses, they did not.
Turnovers
Match | Turnovers | Diff. to avg. | Result |
---|---|---|---|
QF, 2017 | 84 | +18 | 51-point loss |
R13, 2018 | 84 | +14 | 18-point loss |
R20, 2018 | 96 | +26 | 3-point loss |
R12, 2019 | 74 | +6 | 67-point win |
PF, 2019 | 69 | +1 | 19-point loss |
R17, 2020 | 67 | +14 | 26-point loss |
You’re always going to have a hard time moving the ball against the best team in the business, so it’s no surprise to see the Cats commit more turnovers than their average in all of their recent meetings. But what’s striking is how significantly they cut them down from the ‘pre-mark’ era in 2017-18 and from 2019 onwards.
Geelong have been in the top four for fewest turnovers committed during this stretch, so getting the game back on their terms has been crucial.
I’ve got one more table to show you.
Marks inside 50
Match | GEE Mi50 | RCH Mi50 | Result |
---|---|---|---|
QF, 2017 | 5 | 18 | 51-point loss |
R13, 2018 | 8 | 7 | 18-point loss |
R20, 2018 | 9 | 8 | 3-point loss |
R12, 2019 | 11 | 8 | 67-point win |
PF, 2019 | 7 | 18 | 19-point loss |
R17, 2020 | 7 | 14 | 26-point loss |
This is where things get really interesting. Where Brisbane (traditionally) and Port Adelaide (last weekend) really fell down against the Tigers was an inability to reliably hit the scoreboard. Eric Hipwood just isn’t in the same class yet as other contenders’ key forwards, while Charlie Dixon had less room to work with than a contortionist in the preliminary final.
Both sides were punished for relying too heavily on one key target – and that’s exactly what’s happened to Geelong in this time too. Over the six games examined, Tom Hawkins was held to one goal in three of them (all losses) and didn’t play in the preliminary final (a loss). The one really good game he had was – you guessed it – Round 12, 2019’s win, when he clunked four marks inside 50 and kicked four goals.
In both their win and their closest loss, Geelong had a second key tall inside 50 alongside Hawkins; Esava Ratugolea last year and Ryan Abbott in 2018’s three-point loss – both players kicked two goals.
Geelong fans will laugh at me for suggesting they airdrop Ratugolea or Josh Jenkins in for the decider, but it’s pretty clear their strategy has been incredibly Hawkins’ centric – he’s taken 33 per cent of their marks inside 50 this year, Gary Rohan is next with nine per cent.
If that strategy doesn’t work without a sidekick, why wouldn’t you bring one in?
At the other end of the ground, the Cats have had an uncharacteristically tough time dealing with Richmond’s all timber. In five of the six games examined, Geelong’s back six has allowed one Richmond forward to take at least four marks inside 50.
It was Josh Caddy, surprisingly in 2017, but Jack Riewoldt and Tom Lynch have achieved the feat twice each since then. Last year’s prelim was particularly egregious, with Lynch racking up six to go alongside his five goals.
Again, this is an area Geelong normally excel at, so it’s surprising to see the Tigers have undone them time and again.
So, as a brief summary, Geelong need to do four things to lift the trophy on Saturday night.
Play their patient marking game, limit the turnovers, find a way to get it to Hawkins or work out another avenue to goal, and contain Richmond’s key forwards. As the tables above show, they’ll win if they get all four right, but they won’t if they don’t.
Their most recent wins, against Collingwood and Brisbane, have seen them tick all four boxes emphatically. They’re up 109 in marks over the last fortnight, down 24 in turnovers and have racked up 31 marks inside 50 while conceding just nine.
But keeping that up against the Tigers will be difficult, especially if they persist with just one key forward. Maybe Hawkins will have a blinder, maybe they’ll throw Patrick Dangerfield down forward all day.
Whatever they do, the stats tell me being more unpredictable is the key to them winning so I hope, for Geelong’s sake, Chris Scott’s got something planned.
sven
Roar Rookie
bugger that neil, after last weeks heartstopper im happy if we win by 10 goals, stuff aesthetics, theres a flag at stake here !
sven
Roar Rookie
reckon u would play the big tomahawk on 1 leg before ratagulea
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Who cares. Ask the question if it becomes an issue. Not before.
RT
Roar Rookie
Good analysis Brazilian. My fear is that our strangulation style does not always leave us with a big margin. Could be 4 goals up after 3 quarters and it only takes 10 minutes for that to be wiped.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Purely just asking the question here, please don’t take offence cats fans. But if Hawkins is indeed currently crook, I suspect he may be required to be tested for COVID? Regardless of the test result, if he isn’t 100% fit, does Scott take the risk and play him and or does Ratugolea come in?
Dave
Roar Rookie
Hopefully you’re right, lol.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I agree with spruce (for the absolute first time), this is discussion but nbd. This is not exclusive to Mr Martin either or a preponderance for the Tigers. The tap, slipping through the hands to your team mate is accepted this season. And they are taking full advantage. And once again I disagree with spruce, Danger, has one throwing the ball all season. Not his fault, he tried.
RT
Roar Rookie
I'm not going in that direction at all. I just want to know what the claim is based on. Gut feel? You can't really be sure without a replay so I am wondering if you or Yatts (who can constantly make this claim) watch Richmond matches in slow motion.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Now i think you said that in the game mid last year. And in the words of the grand master Fonz, you were wwwr.
DustyisDAtruth
Roar Rookie
Rohan n ablett will do nothing this weekend lol u watch
DustyisDAtruth
Roar Rookie
Disnick knows nothing lol bad track record thank god this all ends at 10 oclock Saturday
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I was confident of beating Brisbane, too. Particularly with Lynch back. Still pretty confident of beating Geelong though. Their forwards don't do it for me. Hawkins is fantastic but he won't get too many of those one-on-ones he loves. Rohan and Dalhaus are one-in-ten game players. Danger's the wildcard I suppose. Their backs lack pace in my opinion, if Geelong don't have the game on their terms they may struggle. Mid field battle will be interesting. Always thought Duncan and Guthrie were defensive half mids. Parfitt has improved but no A grader. Seems we are now the clearance kings, too. Yeah I'm pretty confident. Having said that . . . should be a hard fought contest. Lynch or Jack to kick a bag. Castagna to kick straight. Dusty b.o.g.
Nick
Roar Guru
Calm down, Richie. He throws the ball from time to time. Gets away with it a lot. Lucky him. He's not being put on death row. Put the sword back in the scabbard. It's not a persecution of Martin here, so no need to start escalating it in that direction.
2dogz
Roar Rookie
Well he needs to try harder then. Dusty’s 4 throws a game are worth 1 goal. Danger needs 2 throws at least. Imo
RT
Roar Rookie
This Martin throwing claim sounds like rubbish to me. The broadcasters love to show a replay of a throw, but the last Martin one I remember seeing was the QF last year.
RT
Roar Rookie
Hardwick always says we learn more from our losses than wins. I was confident we would beat Brisbane if we met them again for the GF. Not so sure about Geelong.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Agreed.
Cat
Roar Guru
You’re right i typed the first line backwards. The point is it isn’t as simple as saying ‘look Richmond beat Geelong In round 17’. That type of forecasting has proven to be 100% inaccurate this finals series so far. Does that mean it will continue? No but it also means the previous result from round 17 means nothing,
Gavan Iacono
Roar Rookie
Good to know other folk rate Cotchin highly. He is the bellwether. Best RFC captain since Captain Blood. Hodge the very best skipper I've seen, Voss and Sell close 2nd. So an excellent call on the skippers while most others focus on the guns.
Nick
Roar Guru
That's demonstrably not true, Yat. Martin throws 3-4 a game, Danger would be at least one a game. Take the comment with the humour with which is it intended.