GEELONG IS READY TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE
GEELONG says it will be ready to handle the heat when Sydney Swans turn up their trademark withering defensive pressure in the AFL grand final.
The Cats are clear favourite to win their fourth premiership in 16 years with the oldest team ever played in an AFL/VFL Grand Final.
The Swans’ pace and ravenous defensive pressure looms as the biggest threat to Geelong whose four losses this year have all come when the opposition’s defensive pressure tops the competition average rating (180) according to Champion Data.
Since Round 17, the Swans have an average pressure rating of 196 and it soars to an average of 202 in the first term when the Cats will be braced for a tackling onslaught from Sydney led by hard nuts James Rowbottom, Callum Mills and Luke Parker.
Geelong coach Chris Scott said the Cats would be ready to absorb the Sydney Swans barrage with Geelong’s 10 30-year-olds set to help provide a significant edge in experience.
“Both teams will have confidence in their system,” Scott said.
“We don’t want to pull ourselves apart just to try to combat all of their strengths, because we will forget about what we are good at.
“Their pressure is good but the top-four or six teams this year have been pretty good at that as well and I don’t think that (pressure) is their only defensive weapon.
“They’re well-rounded. Any grand final I have been a part of I haven’t looked at the opposition and thought there are massive holes we can exploit.
“This feels eerily similar.”
Geelong has played finals in 11 of the 12 campaigns under Scott and has made it to the preliminary final in eight of those years as part of a remarkably successful run.
The club was criticised for its ageing list profile and trade strategy which has seen the club take only one top-10 draft pick (Nakia Cockatoo in 2014) since inspirational captain Joel Selwood in 2006.
Scott overhauled the team’s game plan this year to increase direct ball movement and scoring power in the front half.
Scott said the Cats were primed to deliver on the big stage after a carefully crafted fitness plan helped deliver Patrick Dangerfield and Jeremy Cameron in top shape for September.
“If you forced me to take a step back and have a look at the past decade or so I think our supporters should be proud of the consistency of our players,” he said. “We do have an experienced group and they deserve any successes that come their way.
“They have been a privilege to coach. This year we go in great form, we have got good availability, and I think our game is in really good shape.
“As much as anytime I can remember I feel like we have given ourselves every chance.”