CAN CATS BYE BREAK CURSE?

Is there more to the Cats’ bye curse than meets the eye? We take a closer look at Geelong’s past eight post-bye games

What is it about playing after a week off that causes things to go awry at Geelong? The return of the AFL bye — thanks to Gold Coast’s introduction to the competition — coincided with Chris Scott’s appointment as coach at the Cats for the 2011 season. Since then Geelong has endured a horror run, but could there be more to these losses than simply having a week off? Geelong Advertiser chief football writer LACHIE YOUNG takes a look at Geelong’s past eight home-and-away games following a break to find out

ROUND 23, 2011 * Geelong 86 v Sydney 99

This was Geelong’s first loss at Kardinia Park since Round 21, 2007, and ended a 29-game winning streak at its home ground, which is the most by any club at any venue in league history. It was one of only three losses the Cats suffered in 2011, but the match had significantly more meaning to Sydney than Geelong. The Cats had sewn up a place in the top four and were guaranteed of playing their first final in Victoria, while the Swans had to win to stay in the eight. Geelong went on to win the flag, so not much damage done.

ROUND 13, 2012 Sydney 80 v Geelong 74

The Cats gave up seven goals to one in the first quarter and then slowly worked their way back into the contest. By the last quarter, they had hit the front, but a last-minute goal to Sydney’s Andrejs Everitt robbed the Cats of a win and ended their hopes of a top-four spot. Clearly the slow start suggests Geelong was sluggish, but it has to be remembered Sydney went on to win the 2012 Grand Final, so it’s not as though the Cats dropped an unlosable match.

“I am pretty strong on the fact that we don’t go back too far (into past results) … but you would be crazy if you didn’t look at things in your preparation that we could shift.” — CHRIS SCOTT (pictured), June 13, 2017

ROUND 9, 2014 * Fremantle 96 v Geelong 64

This was Matthew Pavlich’s 300th game, so Fremantle was up and about early. It led to a goalless first quarter from Geelong, and while the Cats tried desperately to get back into the contest, it was too little, too late. Fremantle finished the season in fourth spot on the ladder, the Cats third, so an interstate loss was probably not a big surprise, but the 30-point quarter-time margin was indicative of Geelong’s inability to start games well fresh from a break.

ROUND 19, 2014 North Melbourne 79 v Geelong 111

This was the second break for Geelong in 10 weeks and came after a split round. The Kangaroos finished inside the eight that season and ultimately knocked the Cats out of the finals, so they weren’t easybeats. The interesting takeout from this clash was that both teams started slowly, but by virtue of the fact the Cats had not been blown out of the water, they were able to kick away after quarter-time and not play catch-up footy.

ROUND 15, 2015 * North Melbourne 120 v Geelong 79

Geelong was always going to find this match tough, given it was coming off an unprecedented break of 20 days. That came about after its clash with Adelaide was cancelled a week earlier following the tragic death of Crows coach Phil Walsh. The Cats started well enough, but North Melbourne — reeling from a shock 55-point loss to Gold Coast — kicked into gear in the second quarter and was never threatened thereafter. This was the only season a Chris Scottcoached team had not played finals and the Kangaroos were just a game away from the Grand Final, so combined with the extraordinary time off, the result was not a huge shock.

ROUND 16, 2016 * Geelong 60 v Sydney 98

Another milestone match, this time for Kieren Jack, who had endured a tough week with the spotlight on his family situation leading into his 200th game. The Swans led at every change and broke a run of nine home wins for the Cats. Sydney was coming off a loss to eventual premier the Western Bulldogs and was on early, while Geelong just could not get anything going. The teams met again later in a preliminary final at the MCG and a poor start once again killed Geelong’s hopes of victory.

ROUND 13, 2017 West Coast 83 v Geelong 70

Chris Scott was buoyant before this clash, suggesting the fixture worked in his team’s favour. “If ever you were going to travel to Perth, you would want to do it after a bye, so we think that there are things in our favour,” Scott said. But another slow start hurt Geelong, which conceded four goals in the first quarter and went into the half-time break 36 points in arrears. The Cats fought back to within two goals late in the match, but they had been hit by injuries throughout the night and had just two fit men on the bench in the last quarter. *Indicates opponent had played the week before.

ROUND 13, 2013 * Brisbane Lions 103 v Geelong 98

The Swans celebrate their 2011 win at Kardinia Park.

Picture: WILL RUSSELL/AFL MEDIA/ GETTY IMAGES SLOW STARTS — Geelong has won two opening quarters after a break. One by a point, the other by 13 points against a lowly Brisbane team. QUALITY OF OPPONENTS — Brisbane is the only team the Cats have faced that did not go on to play finals. VENUE — Four of the eight matches have been played interstate and the two at home have both been against Sydney, which has a strong record at Kardinia Park. MOMENTUM — Clearly Geelong enjoys continuity, but in five of its post-bye games it has faced an opponent that has played the week before, leaving it match-hardened.