CATS’ XMAS MIRACLE

Honest review sparks outright victory

COACH Tim Ludeman says an honest review of last week’s substandard effort against Kingston Hawthorn on day one inspired an outright win that has breathed life into Geelong’s season.

With the Hawks in the box seat to cause a boilover starting Saturday on 3-64 chasing the 189 target, Ludeman revealed he delivered a few home truths to his charges during the week to ignite a response.

And the Cats delivered at Walter Galt Reserve on Saturday, taking 7-80 to claim firstinnings points before setting Kingston Hawthorn a target and routing them a second time to secure maximum points.

“We’re very happy with the way the day panned out,” Ludeman said.

“I didn’t think we put our best performance on the park last week — we were all disappointed with the effort that we put in — so we asked for a response and we got that. Credit to the boys.”

The Hawks were seemingly in control at 3-64 in chase of Geelong’s first-innings total of 188, but it all unravelled early on day two, all out for 144.

Wicketless after four overs last week, spearhead Dom McGlinchey removed the dangerous Ramneet Dhindsa for 14 from 70 balls to give the Cats a spark.

“Early wickets was the key and luckily Dom got the breakthrough early and he (Dhindsa) was one of their better players and that set up the day,” Ludeman said.

“The boys turned up to play. The feeling was good and the tone the boys set in the first half an hour of the day was excellent.”

McGlinchey and left-arm orthodox Hayden Butterworth teamed up to run through the middle order of the Hawks.

After grabbing 5-36 in the first innings, Butterworth finished with career-best figures of 11-99 for the game, snaring 6-63 in the second innings.

“Butters bowled quite nicely throughout the day,” Ludeman said.

“When you look at the scorecard, Butters got the rewards and he did bowl beautifully, but everyone chipped in and when their time came with the ball they certainly produced the goods.”

With a lead of 44 runs on first innings, Geelong set out for outright points.

Openers Mitch Reid ( 69 from 59) and Tyler Larkin (35 from 47) gave the Cats the perfect platform, crunching a 105run stand from just 106 balls, as Geelong made 5 (dec)-182 to set Kingston 226 to win from 43 overs. Kingston Hawthorn could only get to 158 in reply.

“We executed well with the bat and then went out with the ball and got 10 wickets. Credit to them, they had a crack, they tried to chase the runs down,” Ludeman said.

Ludeman lauded the spirit of his players, who responded in the wake of hard and forthright conversations.

“We had a pretty honest chat about things after the day’s play last week,” Ludeman said.

“I told them that what they had dished up was unacceptable. We had some chats with a few different guys during the week, just about their game, and to their credit they turned up to play.”