Swans’ victory
competitive in the middle.
Scott has hinted plenty of times already this year that the idea of playing both Smith and Stanley has been toyed with. But the Cats have been seemingly unwilling to roll it out.
There’s always that balance between finding the right amount of height in the team and the Cats may feel like they are sacrificing pace for an extra ruck.
But if you’re surrendering the ball from the middle of the ground easily in big moments of matches, then your extra tall would want to be playing fairly well.
Smith did enough in the VFL on Saturday night before his night ended early after copping a knock to his left shoulder.
“There were a few boys in the tracksuit at the end. It was more just a few of the boys on the fringe, in our emergencies, that might be a chance over the coming weeks, and with a short turnaround, you never know what injuries you might get during the week,” VFL coach Shane O’Bree said.
“Smithy was one of those and there were a couple of others we iced a bit early on.
“I thought he dominated in the ruck. Again in the air, around the ground, he looked dominant and his follow-up work is getting back to what we know Zac can do.”
This ruck woe isn’t a new problem. In fact, the Cats have struggled to find a recognised ruckman since Brad Ottens retired at the end of 2011.
Plenty have been brought in to fill the gap left by The Big O, yet none have been able to make that spot their own. Hamish McIntosh switched from North Melbourne and flopped. Partly due to his body, partly due to his form.
Trent West and Dawson Simpson never had the sustained impact Geelong hoped.
Mature-aged Orren Stephenson — The Big O 2.0 — was only a back-up.
Geelong parted with modest picks 49 and 53 to get Smith across from the Gold Coast Suns, while it traded a heftier pick 21 for Stanley.
One — if not both — need to start repaying the faith Geelong has shown in them by bringing them to the club.
Maybe they can’t deliver individually, but used in tandem could give the Cats some extra potency.