HUNGRY CATS DOWN PIES
GAZ AMONG BEST IN SOLID WIN:
IT could be the day Gary Ablett’s footy career changed forever.
The little master returned to Geelong late last year with every intention of continuing to weave his magic in the midfield.
But perhaps those golden days are over.
The dual Brownlow Medallist played largely forward in his comeback from a second hamstring injury as Geelong consolidated a topfour spot with a 21-point win over Collingwood yesterday at the MCG.
By half-time, Ablett had attended only one centre bounce and had spent less than three measly minutes in the middle as Geelong’s reshaped young backline kept Collingwood to its lowest halftime score (1.6.12) since 1912.
Local Geelong product Tom Stewart was best on ground across half-back and predictably, Ablett was still very influential in the front half of the ground, racking up 32 possessions and one goal.
And to be fair, the 33-yearold did venture further up the ground in the second half, once captain courageous Joel Selwood copped a heavily corked leg in the third term.
He’ll be a sore man today, Selwood, and he faces a light week on the track if he’s any chance to play Essendon on Saturday at the MCG.
Without superstar captain Scott Pendlebury, the Magpies were sparked by Adam Treloar with 13 touches in the third term, but after losing Darcy Moore to another hamstring injury and then wingman Tom Phillips (concussion) they were treading water.
The performance of Collingwood defender Matthew Scharenberg was a silver lining, after an injurymarred start to his career. Chris Mayne played probably his best game for the Magpies.
But the big problem yesterday was Collingwood’s awful ball use and goal kicking.
The Pies booted 1.8 from their last nine forward entries.
Collingwood great Mick McGuane was blunt.
“Terrible first half by Collingwood,” McGuane said.
Peter Daicos went even harder on Twitter.
“What a shocking game. Are they coaching?” Daicos said.
A desperate defensive effort from Paddy Dangerfield to intercept Daniel Wells set up back-to-back goals from Sam Menegola in the third term, quickly halting Collingwood’s brief comeback.
Like Tim Kelly, Menegola is an important member of the Cats’ support cast and young key forward Esava Ratugolea continues to exceed expectations, taking a big screamer over his mate Dangerfield in the third term.
The hardworking big man’s laser-straight set shot from 40m on the boundary was almost just as good.
But there was another quirk. Geelong went without a ruckman at times yesterday but still shaded the Pies in the clearances.
The forward line move might not be Ablett’s personal preference, but the continued brilliant emergence of matureage midfield gun Kelly means it is clearly a luxury they can afford.
There’s a chance Kelly could be leading the Cats’ best and fairest, or at least figure in the top-three, and his electric turn out of a stoppage and perfect pass to James Parsons in the first term was one of his best passages of play for the year.
Geelong coach Chris Scott might say the Ablett move was only because leading goalkickers Daniel Menzel and Tom Hawkins were both out yesterday.
But the big question mark over the Cats this year was whether they can create more avenues to goal. In another plus, Stewart Crameri also grew in confidence in his second match with the Cats.
But surely the Geelong midfield is good enough without Ablett. AFL champion Wayne Carey yesterday said on radio Ablett was clearly more dangerous as a forward.
“You see him more as a forward,” the former North Melbourne star said.
“They have got other midfield options and Ablett can be a 30 or 40-a-year goalkicker.”