Gun midfielder Mitch Duncan says Geelong will draw on last year’s experience as they seek to claw their way back from a qualifying final loss to another AFL grand final.
The Cats suffered a 43-point hammering from Port Adelaide on Friday night – their eighth defeat in nine matches in the opening week of the finals over the last decade.
It was a similar story last season, when a loss to the Power in Adelaide left Chris Scott’s men facing a tough road to the flag.
Sudden-death wins over Collingwood and Brisbane got the Cats through to the 2020 decider, where they ultimately fell short against Richmond.
This year, Sydney or GWS will present the hurdle in a knockout semi-final to be played on neutral turf at Perth’s Optus Stadium next week.
(Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
“We’re in exactly the same position we were last year so we look forward with great optimism,” Duncan told AAP.
“We’ve just got to win three more games of footy and then we get what we want.
“We start next week and work hard, then who knows what can happen.
“I’ve got great confidence in the group to be able to play our best footy and when we do that we’re a very hard team to beat.”
Wrapped up in the Cats’ unflattering recent finals record is the fact they’ve now produced their lowest score of the season in a final five times in the last six years.
Duncan lamented Geelong’s inability to circumvent Power defender Aliir Aliir, who took three contested marks and gathered five intercept possessions in the first quarter alone.
The All Australian backman was an influential figure for Port as they resisted the Cats’ early challenge at Adelaide Oval.
“We couldn’t really stop Aliir – that’s probably the main reason (for the result),” Duncan said.
“He was really important for them and they got their attacking game going off the back of him a lot of the time.
“We competed really well around the footy but we just couldn’t generate much from that and we couldn’t really keep the ball in our (forward) half.”
Duncan made his comeback against Port after ten weeks on the sidelines with a knee injury and had 33 disposals – ten more than any other Geelong player – in a strong return.
“It was a disappointing result for the footy club and we’re disappointed that we couldn’t do it for big Tom (Hawkins) in his 300th game, but it was good to be back out there,” Duncan said.
“I got through quite well and was a little bit fatigued late, but I felt pretty good.”
Windrince
Roar Rookie
Bring in tuohy, holmes, and constable for higgins, simpson, O'Connor. Rategolea not good enough
Chanon
Roar Rookie
That’s the spirit!
Boo
Guest
Duncan is on the money win next week and yr one game from a gf.Close is the only small forward who can hold his head high .Drop Dalhause , Higgins and Simpson .Sub Miers with Rowan on a wing .Bring in Tuohy - for O ' Connor , Ratagolea ,Holmes and Constable .
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
I agree it is possible for the Cats to bounce back, but they will need to play at a much higher intensity. They certainly have the skilled players to win. This is the finals with players of all clubs lifting their level with just a few weeks to go. I have long liked Melbourne as the team to beat, but there is no team this year that stands out.
The Sports Lover
Roar Rookie
Duncan can hold his head high. He battled gamely all night. The Cats seemed to lack speed and spark. Cameron is a fine player but only seems to play well when the game is on his terms. I’m not writing off the Cats yet, but if they lose badly in the next game, they need to conduct a five year plan of renewal with an emphasis on youth.