Cats to focus on their own strengths

GEELONG will look to limit the effect of Melbourne’s best midfielders on Friday night but coach Chris Scott says his side will need to ensure it doesn’t overcompensate and lose focus on its own strengths.

At their best the Cats have a star-studded midfield, including Patrick Dangerfield, Cam Guthrie, Mitch Duncan and captain Joel Selwood, who has admittedly been quiet in the first two weeks of finals.

But the Demons have just as much firepower in their engine room, with players such as Clayton Oliver, Jack Viney, Christian Petracca and Angus Brayshaw all capable of hurting the opposition.

Oliver in particular has been a thorn in Geelong’s side but Scott said it would be important to find the right balance with regards to how the midfield battle unfolds.

“You can (limit Oliver’s influence) but it is a question for both sides,” Scott said.

“So how much are you prepared to give to try to stop the best opposition midfielders? There is a really clear line there for us where trying to stop them becomes an overall negative for the way that our team wants to play.

“I suspect there will be a little bit of both teams trying to get the game on their terms and be proactive with their midfielders with a couple of contingencies if that is not working.

“But I think it is folly to go in thinking that Petracca and Viney and Oliver and those guys need to have really low possession games for us to win. I don’t agree with that notion.”

Scott said Geelong was backing Selwood in after recording 17 and 14 disposals against Port Adelaide and GWS respectively in the qualifying and semi-finals.

He also looks set to continue with key forward Esava Ratugolea, who did not play when the two sides met in Round 23. “I think it is likely (that Geelong commits to Ratugolea),” Scott said.