High five after tough start to a long season
ROUND 6: GEELONG V WEST COAST
G. Rohan 4, T. Hawkins 3, G. Ablett 2, G. Miers 2, C. Constable, E. Ratugolea, R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield.
J. Kennedy 2, C. Masten, E. Yeo, J. Petruccelle, O. Allen, T. Hickey.
G. Ablett, T. Hawkins, G. Rohan, M. O’Connor, L. Dahlhaus, P. Dangerfield, J. Selwood.
E. Yeo, A. Gaff, S. Hurn, T. Hickey. 28,085 at GMHBA Stadium. ASK those in the outer at GMHBA Stadium where Geelong would be sitting after six rounds and the answers would have been varied.
The Cats faced a challenging start with matches against Collingwood, Melbourne, Adelaide, GWS, Hawthorn and West Coast.
That is the 2018 premier, grand finalist, preliminary finalist, two semi-finalists and a road trip to Adelaide on the back of a five-day break, all in the first six weeks.
With a new-look forward line, a number of crucial rule changes and a 2018 where they were knocked out in the first week of finals, any winloss combination was possible.
To many, a 3-3 start to the season would have been a success.
Even 0-6 was possible, so was 1-5 and 2-4.
Geelong’s 58-point domination of West Coast at GMHBA Stadium last night kept the Cats at the top of the AFL ladder, sealing a 5-1 start to the year.
It is not perfect, but it is pretty damn close in a season that is incredibly tight.
The win was set up with an irresistible first quarter where the Cats piled on seven goals to the Eagles’ two, taking a 30-point lead at the first break.
It came on the back of some lethal finishing from the forward line, dominance through midfield and a steadfast defence.
The Cats have simply nailed their forward mix so far. It has a little bit of everything.
Brute strength comes from Tom Hawkins, marking power from Esava Ratugolea and Gary Rohan, pressure from Tom Atkins, forward craft from Luke Dahlhaus and Gryan Miers and, well, the class of Gary Ablett speaks for himself.
It was on full display during the first quarter.
On a night where Geelong celebrated its 2009 premiership glory, Ablett turned the clock back 10 years with his performance.
The 34-year-old’s first quarter was simply stunning, winning 10 possessions.
He also had four goal assists, meaning he had a hand in more than half of the Cats’ seven opening-quarter goals.
Rohan was brilliant, too, with three first-term goals, while Hawkins chipped in with two.
Although the Cats were kept on their toes early in the second term, they were able to ride out the Eagles’ challenge and extend the margin out to 33 points at halftime.
Joel Selwood, who had only 11 touches to halftime, lifted in the second half, finishing the match with 25 as the Cats took the gap out to 50 points at the final change.
Mitch Duncan (28 touches), Patrick Dangerfield (30) and Gary Ablett (28) all had plenty of the footy.
Rohan bagged four goals, Hawkins three and Ablett and Miers two each.
Mark Blicavs kept Josh Kennedy to only two majors, while Jake Kolodjashnij continued his strong start to the season, keeping Jack Darling scoreless.
Zach Tuohy made his return successfully and had the ball 18 times, while Tom Stewart finished with 25.
But the real talking point comes in the grand scheme of things.
The cynics who question Geelong’s premiership credentials will point to the fact it has played only two sides inside the top eight after six rounds, winning one of them.
But who would have picked Melbourne, West Coast, Adelaide and Hawthorn to start the season so sluggishly?
It would be foolish to suggest that trend will continue this season.
All four of those sides will come good sooner rather than later.
It makes those points banked against them crucial as they all are likely to steal points off other top-eight contenders later in the season.