CATS v GIANTS
Second semi-final, tonight, Perth Stadium, 7.50pm
THE KEY
The blowtorch has deservedly been on Gary Rohan, Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Henderson and even Cam Guthrie and Joel Selwood after last week’s disappointing loss to Port Adelaide. The focus must be on a fiercer attack on the football. Winning the contested ball against Greater Western Sydney is a must, because it is the key to unlocking the rest of the Giants’ game. If not, the Cats face a shock straight-sets finals exit. They are 16-2 when they win the contested battle but an alarming zip-five when they don’t. Geelong cannot afford for Nick Haynes and Sam Taylor to mark the Sherrin like Port’s Aliir Aliir.
THE THEME
Claiming the territory battle shouldn’t be a problem against GWS, but that’s irrelevant if the Cats haven’t heeded the lessons from their round 21 clash. Geelong’s inefficiency and lack of forward pressure was apparent against the Power, and memories are strong of Giants Lachie Whitfield and Isaac Cumming amassing 68 disposals and 1710m gained between them last time. They’re beautiful kicks and if they’re getting the ball that often it makes it easy for GWS to rebound from defensive 50 to inside 50.
THE CHALLENGE
Ball security and composure. Those terms are generally trademarks of Geelong’s play, particularly out of defensive 50, but last week it was nonexistent. As a consequence, the Cats were unable to get the Port Adelaide match on their terms. We saw Dangerfield switching from the boundary
to the open side with an uncharacteristic long, high kick to Lachie Henderson. That play ended up conceding a goal, when Henderson dropped a straightforward mark. They couldn’t get their uncontested mark game going (a season-low minus-26 differential) and it’s almost impossible to defend a turnover down back. The Cats gave up the third-most defensive-half turnovers for the year and the 20 points conceded from those were
the fifth-most.
X-FACTOR
Jeremy Cameron. This will be Cameron’s first game against his former teammates, with the chance to justify why Geelong invested so much in him. He’s at his best marking the ball on the lead or floating across a pack. If his desire and work rate are there, he’s capable of a big bag of goals.
Zach Tuohy (hamstring) test, Mark O’Connor (hamstring) 2-3 weeks, Tom Stewart (foot) TBC
THE KEY
Dominate the midfield. This is the Giants’ strength and why they’re a good team and playing finals. There’s no doubt they will expect a hardnosed Geelong response after what the Cats dished up a week ago. Jacob Hopper, Tim Taranto, Callan Ward, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio will need to bring their own physicality and ballwinning ability to take it up to their experienced midfield rivals. GWS is plusthree in first possession preclearance and plus15 in post-clearance, which highlights just how good Leon Cameron’s side is on the hunt. That’s where the Giants may be able to expose Geelong, especially veterans Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, who can be “walkers” transitioning out of stoppages.
THE THEME
There are two components here: efficiency when going into attack – a strong suit of theirs – which morphs into a strong forward-half game. Port Adelaide’s high pressure was critical in beating Geelong last week and that’s the template for GWS. In fact, the Power’s pressure factor was the third-highest against the Cats this season. Matching that will not only help create repeat scoring chances for the Giants but also restrict Geelong’s ball movement, which is just as proficient when in full flight.
THE CHALLENGE
Bring the heat. The Cats are ranked 17th between round 20 and the first week of finals for turning defensive 50s into inside 50s, doing so only 15.4 per cent of the time. It’s vital that GWS doesn’t afford Geelong much time with the ball so it continues those struggles. The Giants’ tackle efficiency is the third-best in the AFL, but they rank 13th for forward-half pressure, so they need to lift that rating. If not, the Cats will control the game from their back half. Cameron needs buy-in from his talls and smalls to make this work.
X-FACTOR
Nick Haynes, Sam Taylor and Jake Stein will take care of Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron, and Connor Idun will have a lockdown role, too. That means Nick Haynes can be freed up and play on a smaller forward – as Aliir was able to last week – to play as the interceptor.
Isaac Cumming (ankle) test, Brent Daniels (hamstring) TBC, Tom Green (arm) season, Toby Greene (suspension) 3 weeks, Adam Kennedy (hamstring) test, Braydon Preuss (back) TBC, Sam Reid (hamstring) test