Patrick Dangerfield can fill the forward line void left by Tom Hawkins for Geelong, writes Dermott Brereton
Geelong will toy with playing Esava Ratugolea one-out up forward on Friday or recalling Gary Rohan after Tom Hawkins was suspended. But Patrick Dangerfield is the man to lead the Cats’ attack, writes Dermott Brereton.
Geelong
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In the wake of Tom Hawkins’ suspension, the Cats have some decisions to make.
But the uncertainty of their situation could play in their favour.
Because Richmond will be pondering the “what ifs” at their own selection table.
Do the Cats go into the game with just one key forward — 21-year-old Esava Ratugolea?
Do they bring back Gary Rohan as a hybrid forward and hope he can return a double-figure possession count and apply elite pressure?
Or do they bite the bullet and use the explosive Patrick Dangerfield as a stay-at-home forward?
Moving Dangerfield forward would be the answer, but most match committees are reluctant to play a winner out of position.
If the Cats believe they can win clearances and contested footy through Tim Kelly, Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett and Quinton Narkle, they might be able to do without Dangerfield in the middle for 75 per cent of the game.
But if the Cats decide that Ratugolea is capable of going it alone as the one key
forward in the biggest game of his 27-game career, then he will need to be the most
important performer on the field if the Cats are to win.
He doesn’t need to be best on the ground, but he needs to perform the specifics of his
duties to the absolute letter.
If the Cats use Ratugolea as the only target forward, he will have up to five ground-level players at his feet looking for crumbs.
So he must bring the ball to ground.
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Of course, marking the ball would be ideal, but as good as the young man can be at
launching at the footy, the Richmond defenders will make it extremely difficult.
Against the Magpies two weeks ago Ratugolea charged up to the members wing and took
an awesome pack mark.
But that type of grab usually only happens when the forward has been able to run at speed to the drop of the ball.
This means the mobile forward can break or lose the defensive zone.
But when the Cats played slowly and methodically in that same game, Ratugolea was outmarked.
He was bodychecked by one defender while another flew for the ball.
Magpie defender Jeremy Howe took 13 marks against Geelong, and in the last quarter Darcy Moore dominated in the air.
SO WHAT OF THE TIGERS?
Even without Alex Rance, Richmond’s defence has been brilliant at intercepting the ball, especially in the second half of the season.
If Nick Vlaustin, Dylan Grimes or David Astbury look as if they can settle under the football in readiness to mark, a teammate will disguise a block on Ratugolea.
Should the Cats play slow and safe to the narrow side when entering their forward half, Richmond will get an early sighter on who to block.
The Cats played with a little more freedom last week, but it wasn’t extravagant.
The problem is that if you play at express pace into the forward line against Richmond and your foot skills are not precise, the Tigers rebound at great pace and score with relative ease.
This is when you would like the ball in Gary Ablett’s hands.
Teams need to be careful with the way they move the ball into their scoring area against the Tigers.
The Cats slaughtered Richmond in June, but the Tigers were without Jack Riewoldt up forward and Astbury down back.
And, of course, this time the Cats are without Hawkins.
This game is to be played by two teams that place an enormous focus on how they stop the opposition moving the football downfield.
But that strategy comes with its own drawbacks.
It means that you are not always allowed to be in an advantageous position to strike if things go right.
It literally means that your forwards need to be better players than the opposition defenders.
Because that is virtually your point of difference.
So as we look at it now, in a game within a game, it is Ratugolea and small forwards v Riewoldt/Lynch and their small forwards.
A part of me wants to see Dangerfield play as a key forward.
And a part of me wants to see Ratugolea take on the professional Tigers defensive unit and give them hell.
But the Cats will want “Danger” in the middle.
So their dilemma is whether young, inexperienced Ratugolea can navigate his way through all the professional tactics that Grimes, Vlaustin and Co will throw his way.
Originally published as Patrick Dangerfield can fill the forward line void left by Tom Hawkins for Geelong, writes Dermott Brereton