Geelong veteran says the Cats deserved stinging critique from coach Chris Scott

A Geelong veteran says the Cats never lost confidence it could steal the game against Carlton, despite failing to do the little things right for three quarters on Sunday.

Jeremy Cameron booted a goal within 15 seconds of the final term against Carlton. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Geelong veteran Mark Blicavs had no issue with coach Chris Scott’s stinging critique of their performance against Carlton on Sunday, saying the Cats failed to nail the little things that matter.

The 4-3 Cats were monstered in the middle, losing the clearance battle by 16 until three quarter time and the Blues enjoyed 19 more inside 50s for the game.

Post-match, Scott said “critical errors” had cost his side, saying it was one of their worst performances in a long time.

Going at 68 per cent disposal efficiency, the Cats have lost all of their games this year when that number had dropped below 70 per cent.

On Tuesday, Blicavs said his coach’s comments were fair enough but wouldn’t provide any further motivation ahead of their clash with Collingwood on Saturday — their fourth blockbuster in a row.

Chris Scott talks to his charges during a break in play against Carlton. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“That’s fine, we do need to improve, we need to be better than that,” Blicavs said.

“I thought we got opportunities going forward, and then we were running over ground balls or missing the handball ... skill-based stuff we should nail.

“They got us around the ball, the contest, got a lot of inside 50 entries.

“He’s obviously very right in saying that.

“The good thing about the club, led by Pat, led by ‘Scotty’, win, lose or draw, we’re really constant in our approach, we don’t get too over the top thinking we’re doing really well, or too down on ourselves.”

Praising the defensive games of Sam De Koning and Connor O’Sullivan, Blicavs said Scott’s assessment wouldn’t shift the dial when it comes to motivation moving towards their Round 8 date with the Pies.

“I don’t think it changes what we as players do week to week, we still work hard,” he said.

“I don’t think anyone is going to put in any more effort and work harder from what ‘Scotty’ said then.

“It’s just a bit of attention to detail.

“It felt like we turned over the ball in poor parts (of the ground) and Carlton made us pay.”

However, Geelong would produce the anticipated response after three quarter time, trimming a 28-point lead to just 10 after Bailey Smith nailed a beauty from near the paint of 50.

Bailey Smith cut the margin to just 10 points against the Blues. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

“I went to celebrate with Pat and he was so pumped up, I looked in his eyes and he nearly headbutted me,” Blicavs said.

There was also a 49-point turnaround against the Crows in Round 5, and a late charge against St Kilda after trailing by 27 points at three quarter time.

When asked what was behind those types of responses, Blicavs said it was simply a matter of confidence and belief in its forward line, which is being led by Dangerfield (15 goals for the season) and Jeremy Cameron with 10 majors from his past three matches.

Meanwhile, Ollie Dempsey has 11 and continues to be a total menace for opposition defenders near the goalsquare.

“We’re really confident, it doesn’t matter what margin of the game is at, that we can still be in the game,” he said.

Cats defender Tom Stewart was hobbling in the first term. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“We’ve got some good powerful players that can score quickly.

“I was coming in at three quarter time thinking, just a couple of simple changes, little fix ups, attention to detail, we can get the momentum back.

“Scotty doesn’t bombard us with too many messages (in those situations), a couple of simple things where he sees the game can be won and turned.”

He said there was no chance of a “sore” Tom Stewart being subbed out after hobbling with a right knee issue in the first term.

“He’s as tough as they come, ‘Stew’,” he said.

“He’ll work through it, (he’s) the ultimate professional.

“There was no talk of every subbing Stewy out, he was going to play through that.

Blicavs kicked a goal early in the fourth term to help shift momentum. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“He wasn’t moving as well as he could have been because he was sore, but he still positioned himself in great spots to help the team.”

Meanwhile, Blicavs said he fully embraced the challenge of four massive games in a row, with the Gather Round opener followed by two blockbusters at the MCG against Hawthorn and Carlton and now a “flying” Collingwood: “It’s very easy to get motivated for these games.”

Originally published as Geelong veteran says the Cats deserved stinging critique from coach Chris Scott