House stands tall in loss
Key defender shows form to press for AFL debut
GEELONG VFL coach Shane O’Bree says key defender Timm House could be the Cats’ answer at AFL level if he can string together a strong month of good form.
Injuries to Harry Taylor and Lachie Henderson have left the senior team thin on defensive stocks, but House impressed enough in yesterday’s VFL loss to Sandringham to suggest he will be in the selection mix for Port Adelaide on Saturday.
The 22-year-old had eight marks and 26 possessions — 12 of them contested — in the 9.10 (64) to 9.8 (62) loss.
But O’Bree said the centre halfback, as well as fellow tall defender Ryan Gardner, needed to string together a solid block of form.
“I thought he was pretty solid, Timm. He got back to marking the ball and I’m not sure how many marks he took but I reckon it was close to 10,” he said.
“That’s what we drafted him for and I reckon he showed that today.
“You’ve got to work for your spot as well and the draw probably hasn’t helped ‘Housey’ and ‘Gards’ out too much as tall defenders, with one (week) on, one off.
“For us, it’s about them putting a good month together and being really confident in their game and knock the door down, basically, to get a game as a key back.”
The Cats were on the wrong end of the one-kick result after opening their season with a four-point victory over Werribee.
They led by as much as 14 points nine minutes into the final term, but conceded four straight goals to fall short by two points.
However, O’Bree said it was the second term, in which his side’s lead was cut from 22 points to nine, that the Cats would lament.
“That second quarter, wasn’t us,” he said.
“I thought we shied away from the contest. Our intensity to defend the contest, the transition, I thought Sandy really showed us up there. I hadn’t seen that for a while so I that think we’ll look through it.
“It’s pretty evident when we don’t get set at the stoppages we can’t win the contest or spread.”
George Horlin-Smith led with 31 touches, 19 contested, and six tackles, while Jackson Thurlow had 23 kicks, six handballs and nine marks.