Cats focus is forward thinking

Scott wants to clean up inside-50s

GEELONG will aim to tidy up its inside-50 ball use and get the 2021 campaign back on track when they take on North Melbourne on Sunday.

After a stunted start to the season, the Cats have tinkered with their attacking style slightly this week ahead of the match in Geelong but haven’t had too many problems getting the ball forward over the first month of the year.

The Cats have won the inside-50 count in three out of the four games they have played and, while they lost that stat by 12 in the loss to Melbourne on Sunday, that was blown out to 50-62 at full time after Geelong trailed 39-41 with a quarter to play.

Although they have fared well each week compared to their opponents, the Cats have played matches with relatively low inside-50 counts, as evidenced by Geelong ranking 14th in total forward entries. Geelong also ranks 13th for marks inside-50. “It is one of a few things we are not quite executing on,” Cats coach Chris Scott, pictured, said.

“Even when we are getting some success with the kick inside-50 it is often wide. (Tom) Hawkins has had some tough shots at goal this year and we would prefer them to be 10 (metres) out, right in front.

“On the weekend (against Melbourne) we were being beaten in just about every facet of the game, but inside-50s were about even.

“We had of got that part of the game right in isolation we probably would have been even on the scoreboard, which probably wouldn’t have been a fair reflection of the game.”

From its starting forward line in Round 1, the Cats have missed Patrick Dangerfield and Gary Rohan (suspension) at times in the first month of the year and are yet to see big men Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) and Esava Ratugolea (leg) in 2021.

Even with the cavalry slowly returning, Scott said improvements could be made in the forward half immediately.

“We are confident that we will get better but we aren’t sitting on our heels thinking time will heal everything,” Scott said.

“There are some things that can be rectified in days, we don’t need to wait weeks.”

Geelong will consider throwing swingman Jack Henry back to defence on Sunday after he booted four goals in two weeks playing predominantly forward.

Josh Jenkins will again come under consideration in the forward line after having kicked eight goals in two VFL practice matches.