A single tall just isn’t all for Cats
CHRIS Scott has had his finger hovering over the trigger for most of this season.
Now is the time for the Geelong coach to pull it and run with two recognised ruckmen against GWS Giants.
The Cats were battered in the ruck yesterday, especially highlighted in the last quarter, as Sydney came from 22 points behind at three-quarter time to win by 17 points at GMHBA stadium.
Swan Callum Sinclair dominated Rhys Stanley, finishing with 39 hit outs and 18 disposals. Stanley had 10 touches and 33 hit outs, but his presence was felt more when he was up against 185cm six-gamer Robbie Fox.
Alarmingly, Sinclair had five touches and eight hit outs in that last quarter as Sydney booted seven of the game’s last eight goals. Four of those hit outs came in the middle of the ground, giving the Swans all the momentum going forward.
That’s not to lump the blame totally at the feet of Stanley for Saturday’s defeat. Far from it.
But you’d be expecting more from a bloke whose spot in the team is balancing on a knife’s edge.
Geelong struggled on the inside as well, with Sydney having an extra 11 clearances in the last quarter and an extra 18 over the course of the game.
Josh Kennedy had six clearances and 13 touches alone in the last quarter as he dragged Sydney across the line.
But it does go to show how important a firing ruckman is for any team.
“Sinclair did a good job. He played well, he played better than we should have let him,” Scott said post-match.
“The most important number besides the scoreboard was the centre clearances and they weren’t good for us all day which was obviously a huge disappointment.
“I think it was 16-5 in the last quarter when they were able to scrounge a few goals early, get momentum, a bit of breeze behind their back.
“The centre bounces were obviously going to be crucial and we just got dominated in there and dominated inside.”
Zac Smith is the man that is on Scott’s mind. The 206cm giant isn’t as agile around the ground as Stanley, but he is more than