A winning flourish
GEELONG has finished its VFL season with another thrilling win, this time over Essendon at Simonds Stadium.
The Cats needed a monumental win — about 160 points — to score an unlikely finals berth, but wet wintry conditions were never going to encourage a high-scoring encounter.
The home side was left to play for pride after quarter-time, and walked off the ground with its third straight win under two goals to finish the campaign 8-10 and in 10th place.
“We’ve run out of games in the end to show our true colours,” coach Shane O’Bree said.
“It was a great effort, to be challenged the way we did, in the conditions — it was pretty wet and slippery — and the amount of injuries we had and sore players who fought through the pain barrier and found a way to win contests or help their teammates, it was a great effort.”
Ryan Abbott suffered concussion and Trent McMullan’s day ended early with a shoulder injury, while Ryan Gardner and Aaron Black also pulled up sore, but it would not stop a brave Cats outfit from holding on 10.9 (69) to 9.13 (67).
Jackson Thurlow was a standout, finishing with a teamhigh 24 disposals, four tackles, three clearances and a goal, while Tom Ruggles was again busy with 23 touches and five rebound 50s.
Darcy Lang, Jordan Cunico, Mark O’Connor and Sam Simpson also contributed, but with the VFL season now over, O’Bree said he would focus on keeping those fringe players match-fit in case of a call up.
“I think the three guys who came back — Thurlow, Simpson, (Zach) Guthrie — I think they’re probably hard done by a little bit but their attitude today puts them in good stead for when they’re required at AFL level,” he said.
“We’ll just keep them in a good frame of mind and matchhardened so when the opportunity comes they’re ready to go.
“All year I think our young players have been given the chance to play AFL football and they’ve looked good and impressed, and held their own. It’s just the way it’s fallen with a few of those guys, they’ve been squeezed out of the team, but we’ll just keep working those boys and have them ready to go.”
The Cats started the season 3-3 through their first six games and won their last three, but managed only two wins between Round 7 and Round 16.
“There were a few games early in the year we got beaten by 10goals plus, where if I had my time again I would have coached a bit differently, instead of trying to get back into the game,” O’Bree said.
“They’re tough ones but you look back on them in hindsight.
“The last six to eight weeks, we haven’t won every game but our improvement as a young group has been pleasing and hopefully that puts us in good stead for next year.” Serviceable afternoon for Ruggles, who played mostly across half-back. He amassed 23 disposals of which 19 were kicks, had seven marks and had five inside 50s. Hard to see him return to the AFL fold and he remains out of contract, but his form at VFL level has been top class — would surely find a home somewhere next year if the Cats decide not to continue with him. Another solid 19 disposals from Lang, but did not manage a clearance which has generally been a strength of his at state level. He worked both ways, which would please senior coaching staff, but might need a genuine opening to force his way back into the AFL team. One of his better performances since returning from an ankle injury, playing more of a defensive role in the back half as opposed to his more recent outings on a wing. He had 18 touches, seven marks, six tackles and five rebound 50s, and received special mention from coach Shane O’Bree. Had only one touch in the first half-hour, but 16 in the next three saw him finish with a reasonable afternoon. He again showcased his running ability and good skills, which has seen him get senior opportunities at the top level. His upside is tremendous. GEELONG 3.2 6.3 10.6 10.9 (69) ESSENDON 1.2 5.7 7.10 9.13 (67) GOALS: GEELONG: Black 2, Henry, Gardner, Thurlow, Gow, Atkins, Hayball, Jones, Dobson. Younan 2, Ferry 2, Ottavi, Peters, Draper, Stanton, Hind.
House, Reid, O’Connor, Henry, Capiron, Black. Francis, Bird, Howlett, Dea, O’Brien, Holmes.