MOTLOP ON TOP FOR CATS
THE enigma that is Steven Motlop took another unexpected twist in Geelong’s gritty, against-the-odds win over Richmond at Simonds Stadium.
Out of contract at season’s end and returning to an undermanned Cats’ side out of necessity, this much-hyped clash between the Cats and the Tigers was always going to be an important one for the inconsistent 26-year-old.
Given his name was raised at the trade table last October without any willing takers, the Territorian would hardly have been unaware of what lay ahead of him later this year if things didn’t change, and fast.
He knows he has had a disappointing season in a career that has had some occasional highs too often followed by long periods of inconsistency.
The Cats are close to locking in a host of new deals for many of its other players but have so far refrained from starting any discussion on the silky-skilled but so often frus- trating midfielder-forward.
If he needed any reminders, Geelong chief executive Brian Cook made it clear when he told ABC Radio pre-game: “It’s not like we would say no to people if they wanted to talk to us.”
Perhaps it was the spell the club gave him over the past fortnight to refresh him up and have a training block before the finals. Perhaps it was the pressure to prove he still deserves his spot. Perhaps it was a statement to other AFL clubs that he is maybe worth the risk after all.
Whatever the case, Motlop took advantage of the absence of Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan in the midfield and turned in his best performance for some time.
It wasn’t his best game by any stretch, but it might yet prove one of his most important. He had 19 disposals, seven inside 50s and kicked arguably the game-sealing goal in the Cats’ 14-point victory.
He wasn’t best afield, that belonged to Harry Taylor, who kicked four goals, outpointing the best defender in the game in Alex Rance.
However, Motlop’s performance wasn’t far behind.
After the Tigers kicked the first two goals of the game — which silenced the Simonds Stadium crowd — the muchmaligned Cat made an impact.
His most important moment came at the 11-minutemark of the last quarter.
The Cats had kicked eight behinds since their previous goal in the second term, and needed a circuit breaker. Motlop provided it, on the end of a chain of handballs, and snapped a banana goal off the outside of his boot to put the home side 14 points in front.