Ten Things, or, how to mail it in

As we arrive at the business end of the season, the past three weeks have given us a good indication of where Geelong is at. Playing against a rampant Collingwood, a top-four Western Bulldog team and Carlton, who had beaten Geelong the past two times out, has been an excellent preparation for finals and excellent way to ‘fine-tune’ right up until the very last moment. So, here’s 10 things we’ve learned.

1) James Podsiadly is definitely in Geelong’s best 22.
His hands have always been good and his kicking for goal always pretty reliable, but now it seems his second efforts and his ability to run the game out have improved. He always provides a contest when deep in the forward line, bringing the ball to ground if he cannot mark it himself. And, importantly, his willingness to push up the ground and provide an option through the middle and coming out of defense has been really impressive. That ‘link’ man is vital and when he gets it he usually moves the ball quickly into attack, even if it is without the accuracy or finesse of some of his teammates.

2) Tom Lonergan is not.
The coaching staff gave him a good run at it, and he has been okay at times, but too often errors, seemingly due to a lack of confidence, have lead to opposition goals. And it seems to happen more often against quality opposition, which is a liability come September. Plus, the Geelong defense has seemed top-heavy and slow with him, Scarlett, Taylor, Mackie and Milburn; not too many teams have two good tall forwards, let alone three, and the aforementioned players seem capable enough to match-up with anyone. The past two weeks the side has seem much more balanced, with more run from the back half, which is important. Also, when Jeremy Laidler came into the senior team he seemed just as capable as Lonergan, if not more so. I’ll be surprised if he plays again, barring injury.

3) Josh Hunt is almost Geelong’s most reliable defender.
I still trust Scarlett more, but Josh is now entrusted with the most dangerous small forward every week and has rarely been beaten. Mrs. Watson and I used to joke that every week the opposition’s game plan was simply to isolate Josh Hunt and his man in the goal square. And for a while the Bulldogs used to do just that, usually with Brad Johnson. If that were to happen today (although the 40-foot fork sticking out Johnson’s back would probably prevent him from getting into the ground) I would not only be comfortable with it, I’d be confident that Josh would beat whomever he was on. Also, his decision making, his tackling and his willingness to help teammates has improved. And he’s still a terrific kick, which helps.

4) Hawkins vs. Blake: Nil-all draw.
I’ve still undecided on this. The equation is simple enough; tap-work versus around the ground performance. Which means Hawkins’ work around the ground has to be significantly better than Blake’s because his tap-work is non-existent. Against the Dogs, a game in which you would struggle to find a bad Geelong player, Hawkins hardly got a possession until the last quarter, 20 minutes after the Bulldogs had fallen apart worse than the plot in Mission Impossible 2. Against Carlton he seemed to be slightly better, pushing forward to take a few grabs and kick a few goals but faded as the game went on. Blake gave away too many free kicks in ruck contests (granted, always a crap-shoot) but also tapped a few straight down the throat of the Cats midfield. Plus, he didn’t look too bad everywhere else. So the question remains, as each has yet to make a compelling case. My gut feel is that they’ll go with Hawkins for two main reasons; he can go forward and take a grab and the improving health of Brad Ottens.

5) Injuries and fitness are coming good at the right time.
Bomber Thompson and his staff have been through this a few times now and they obviously have an approach that they think gives the team the best chance at a premiership – a proven approach. The aforementioned Ottens is pulling his usual ‘6 games a year routine’, Scarlett looks to have shaken off some rust, Harry Taylor has come back after a couple of weeks out, Joel Corey is back in the team (looking in need of match practice, it must be said) and Jimmy Bartel is finally playing in short sleeves and looking himself again. There a still a few missing, most notably Max Rooke, who is apparently playing VFL this week, but they should all be available for finals. I’d expect Chapman, with the shoulder knock he took, not to mention his history of wafer thin hamstrings, to get a rest this week to freshen up.

6) The depth is looking okay.
Earlier in the year Mitch Duncan came into the team and impressed as a running, goal-kicking flanker, and in the past few weeks Taylor Hunt has gotten a few games, Laidler played one and Daniel Menzel made his debut. (How much does Menzel look and move like Andrew Mackie?) All of these players have not looked out of their depth at all, and all provide something different and to different parts of the ground; Laidler can play as that half-tall/half-small Milburn or Harley type role; Taylor Hunt is a quick running back flanker or winger; and Menzel seems a clever, natural footballer who gets in a lot of the right spots and takes his chances.

7) Geelong’s assumed best 22.
B: Josh Hunt, Scarlett, Enright
HB: Mackie, Taylor, Milburn
C: Bartel, Selwood, Corey
HF: Steve Johnson, Mooney, Chapman
F: Stokes, Podsiadly, Byrnes
Foll: Ablett, Ling, Ottens
Int: Kelly, Wojcinski, Hawkins, Varcoe.

In the game against Carlton, missing from this line-up were Ling, Ottens and Mackie, replaced with Blake, Taylor Hunt and Daniel ‘Mackie’ Menzel. Ottens obviously walks in for, most likely, Blake, but possibly Hawkins; Mackie and Menzel are probably interchangeable in more ways than one; which means Taylor Hunt would make way for Ling. However, the balance of the team may be upset by these ‘obvious’ changes. Depending on your choice of second ruckman, you are robbing the forward line of an option. Likewise, Mackie plays off half-back, Menzel half-forward. And, although it may be harsh, and perhaps premature, if Ling can no longer perform a shutdown role, then the team may be better served sticking with the run and carry of Taylor Hunt. It’s unlikely, but worth a minute’s thought.

8) Geelong needs to improve its clearance work.
I’m convinced that clearances are the key to winning. When the ball is to be bounced (or thrown up) ball possession is completely neutral and teams are therefore unsure or unwilling (theoretically speaking) to ‘set-up’ one way or the other. By winning the clearance the opposition is at its most exposed, as it does not have time to push help behind the ball (unless you’re Ross Lyon) and your forwards have an even chance to win the ball.

There were some interesting, and largely incorrect, reactions from the Collingwood loss, about what went wrong and what it all meant. The backline held up pretty well considering the weight of ball that was getting down there. And, conversely, considering how little it got down there, the forward line functioned quite well. So, as boring as it sounds, it all comes down to the midfield, and specifically, clearances, and Collingwood dominated the clearances against Geelong.

So why did Geelong struggle so much in the clearances that day? This is more difficult to answer, but the following were contributing factors; Jimmy Bartel was well below his best, presumably carrying injury; an injured Cameron Ling struggled on Pendlebury; and the below par performance of Geelong’s ruck division. Against both the Dogs and Blues the clearances were better, but still can be improved upon by rectifying the previously listed issues.

9) Win the first final, win the flag.
(Okay, not exactly, but it has a ring to it, ya know? And technically speaking we didn’t learn this in the past month, but it’s worth mentioning so I’ll push on, okay?)

As odd as it sounds, Geelong needs to win for their confidence. If they can get over that first week, they’ll feel back to their best and back in familiar surrounds; late September. Also, the week off has a number of fitness advantages and could prevent them from potentially meeting Hawthorn in an elimination final. It seems fairly certain that it will be Geelong v St. Kilda so it will be no pushover but it’s also a chance to gain an edge over a premiership rival.

10) Roll on September.
(By the way, that “8.9 on the mailing it in scale” comment cracked me up. And as always, thanks for reading.)