Geelong needs more pace and excitement in 2019. Quinton Narkle might just be one of the young guns who can help deliver it. Photo: GETTY IMAGES
GEELONG 2018 record: 13 wins, 10 losses (8th).
THE INS
Luke Dahlhaus (Western Bulldogs), Nathan Kreuger (South Adelaide), Gary Rohan (Sydney), Jordan Clark (Claremont), Ben Jarvis (Norwood), Jacob Kennerly (Norwood), Darcy Fort (Central District), Jake Tarca (South Adelaide), Oscar Brownless (Geelong Falcons), Tom Atkins (Geelong VFL), Stefan Okunbor (Kerry – GAA), Blake Schlensog (Geelong Falcons)
THE OUTS
Jordan Murdoch (delisted – Gold Coast), Daniel Menzel (delisted – Sydney), Lincoln McCarthy (Brisbane), George Horlin-Smith (Gold Coast), Jackson Thurlow (Sydney), Aaron Black (delisted), Cory Gregson (delisted), Ryan Gardner (delisted), Timm House (delisted), Stewart Crameri (delisted), Matthew Hayball (delisted)
THE STRENGTHS
Look at the Cats’ list on paper, particularly the “Holy Trinity” of Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett, not to mention a huge debut season from Tim Kelly and the reliability these days of Mitch Duncan and Sam Menegola, and the biggest strength should be midfield. That wasn’t necessarily the case in 2018, however. It was defence which proved Geelong’s strongest suit, despite concerns about who would fill the breech left by the retirements of Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan. Mark Blicavs made a stunning transition to the role of key defender, so well he ended up winning the best and fairest. Tom Stewart was so good off half-back he won All-Australian selection, and debutant Jack Henry was also a huge plus to the backline. Geelong’s massive advantage at GMHBA Stadium continues to prop the Cats up as well, eight wins from nine the return this year, including two 100-point beltings and an average winning margin of 56.5 points. And there’s a consistent competitiveness about the Cats, also. While they might have lost 10 games in 2018, only two of those defeats were by any more than 18 points.
THE WEAKNESSES
There’s some mounting evidence that the big advantage at home of which we spoke above is also becoming a double-edged sword for the Cats. While the tale at GMHBA Stadium might have been eight wins from nine, that also means Geelong could win only five of 14 games away from their home turf. And that included a second “home” at the MCG, on which the Cats could win only two of eight in 2018, the defeats including a poor elimination final performance against Melbourne. Do they still lack enough pace? A fit Nakia Cockatoo would certainly help in 2019, as should at least the recruitment of former Swan Gary Rohan. More generally, as close as the Cats still regularly pushed the best, they often enough still came up short, too, the record 5-7 against top eight teams, and three of those victories by 12 points or less. Geelong finished fourth for points scored last season, but that ranking may have been inflated a little by some “soft kills”. The Cats could certainly do with more forward pressure via some ground-level terriers, and to that end, former Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus might offer something.
ONE TO WATCH
One of the great shames of season 2018 was the broken ankle suffered by big man Esava Ratugolea in round 10. The big, strong and athletic forward/ruckman made a huge impression in his eight games and had already become a fan favourite. Having recovered and been part of the VFL side’s finals campaign, however, there’s no reason he can’t pick up where he left off, and with Rhys Stanley having made the No.1 ruck berth his, there’s more scope in 2019 for that to be as a second key forward to Tom Hawkins, a spot which has been problematic for some time for the Cats. Mobile, a good grab and a thumping kick, Ratugolea could be just the chop-out “Tomahawk” needs.
UNDER THE PUMP
Zac Smith went from chocolates to boiled lollies in 2018, starting the year as Geelong’s No.1 ruckman and having finished top 10 in a best and fairest, ending it having played just three senior games, overtaken in that slot not only by Stanley, but by debutant Ryan Abbott, with yet another ruckman in Darcy Fort having come on to the list through the draft. It’s clearly make or break for the former Sun in 2019 after eight years of AFL football, 112 games, but still major doubts over his consistency. And after chopping and changing ruckmen for several seasons now, it’s one spot coach Chris Scott surely will be looking to settle down. If it’s not now for Smith, it may well be never.
BEST 22
B: Jake Kolodjashnij, Mark Blicavs, Jack Henry
HB: Zach Tuohy, Lachie Henderson, Tom Stewart
C: Gary Rohan, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan
HF: Sam Menegola, Esava Ratugolea, Luke Dahlhaus
F: Brandan Parfitt, Tom Hawkins, Gary Ablett
R: Rhys Stanley, Joel Selwood, Tim Kelly
Inter: Cameron Guthrie, Nakia Cockatoo, Scott Selwood, Lachie Fogarty, Jed Bews
Emerg: Harry Taylor, Scott Selwood, Quinton Narkle, James Parsons
Neither Dahlhaus nor Rohan have come to the Cattery just to play back-up, and both can have important impact structurally, Rohan’s tremendous pace offering some free-wheeling off a wing, Dahlhaus adding some small forward pressure. There’s some changing of the guard, too, with even a great like Harry Taylor, along with Scott Selwood, squeezed out of this best 22. Cockatoo and young Quinton Narkle can both add the greater excitement factor the Cats badly need, also, and will play more weeks than not.
Hi RohCo,
Love your work mate.
I am very interested about what you know of the new Geelong draftees, Jacob Kennerly, Ben Jarvis, Jake Tarca and Nathan “Freddie” Kreuger.
Both Jarvis and Kennerly come from the Port Lincoln area and were going to the same boarding school, while both playing with Norwood, and also the same can be said about Kreuger and Tarca who are both from the Victor harbour region and were both playing for South Adelaide.
Do you know whether the Cats deliberately have chosen friends in last years’ draft?
I am not a paranoid schizophrenic, but the question is and has been on my mind since the boys were drafted. Thanks for your time mate and again love your work.
Ernie
Rohan writes “Cockatoo and young Quinton Narkle can both add the greater excitement factor the Cats badly need”
What is excitement factor? How does it help a team win? What does this sentence mean? Unless this is properly defined it is meaningless.
Don’t underestimate the rookie signing of Tom Atkins. Another mature age player the Cats have scooped up from their VFL side. Played 20 games last year and recorded 10 or more tackles in half of them. In 2017 he tied the VFL record with 26 tackles in a game. He is a pressure machine, exactly what the Cats need.
Geelong did what they needed to this off-season in finally saying goodbye to a number of chronically injured players. The thing the Cats need up forward more than anything is consistent player availability. As good as Menzel was when he was on the ground, he just too often had to be managed/missed. Sadly I don’t think he’ll ever be a 22 game player again.
I don’t care what ruckman stands up but someone needs to grab the spot and hold it. Hopefully the coaches have adjusted the set-up around them too. Even with a below average ruck Geelong should not be getting killed in the centre as much as they did with 3 of the best clearance players in the game.
Last year is interesting in that you can say the Cats were lucky to finish where they did because they won a few close ones (notables twice against Melbourne during H&A) but you can make the exact opposite argument that they lost a number of close ones (hawthorn 1pt, bulldogs 3pts, Richmond 3 points) that could have seen them finish top 2 had they won.
As much as it saddens me I think Geelong was a better side before Taylor was given his spot back. He’s just too slow. The defence was better without him last year.