AND CRITICS
DEFT, DOMINANT DANGER DELIVERS
IT HAD to be Patrick Dangerfield, didn’t it?
After the week from hell for Geelong and its supporters, Dangerfield was always going to be the man that took last night’s semi-final against Sydney by the scruff of the neck.
But it wasn’t in the middle of the ground. It was actually far away from there.
Dangerfield ripped the Swans to shreds out of the goal square with one of the best first half performances you will see in a final.
It was coaching genius by Cats coach Chris Scott, who was forced to tear up his plans before the match after Tom Lonergan was a late withdrawal due to food poisoning.
Many had seen playing Dangerfield forward as a “break in case of emergency“tactic.
Last night wasn’t an emergency, even with so much on the line. But the move certainly rattled the Swans to the core, unsettled their defence and set the tone for the game.
Dangerfield had eight shots on goal in the first half. He kicked four goals three, and had another go out on the full, as dominant a performance as you will see in a half of footy.
And the Swans had few answers, despite Scott letting counterpart John Longmire in on his plan before the first bounce.
The job was left to poor Dane Rampe. Clearly one of the competition’s best defenders, standing one out with Dangerfield in the goal square at the MCG is about as intimidating as it gets. He scragged and scrapped to keep Dangerfield from getting to the contest. But he didn’t have any answers.
And neither did the Swans, who did very little to help Rampe further up the ground. Their midfield was smashed and Geelong was given time to push the ball forward with purpose. Rampe didn’t stand a chance.
And when Dangerfield finally went to the bench for the first time, 15 minutes into the third term, there was just muted applause. It was like they were expecting Dangerfield to produce something special.
Sending Dangerfield forward was just the first part of a coaching masterclass put on by Scott.
There would have been few hurting more than the Cats coach this week. He was called out in the media for the decision to leave Daniel Menzel out of last week’s lost to Richmond.
His coaching record in finals, which before last ight read two wins and seven losses, was mentioned everywhere he went.
The Cats said during the week that they’d bounce back. They’d learn from the loss to Richmond and be significantly better.
Pessimistic Cats fans were doubtful. How do you rebound from such a big loss to beat a team many rate as the second best in the competition on form? And while Dangerfield led from the front up forward, it was Geelong’s attitude that really stood out.
They were up for the contest from the start. They tackled, applied pressure, worked for each other.
Harry Taylor, back in his familiar role in defence, looked like an old man comfortable in his surrounds.
The type of fella who sits back on his favourite recliner, cognac in hand, slippers on … that kind of comfortable. And with the help of Lachie Henderson, who continually created the extra number at the contest, Taylor was able to shut Franklin out of the game.
Mark Blicavs dominated in his shutdown role on Josh Kennedy too.
It almost seems unfair Dangerfield will take most of the spotlight for tonight’s 59-point win.
But the fact the spotlight will shine on Geelong in such a positive way will be what pleases Scott most.