Geelong’s depth of talent on full display against Essendon

There was no Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield played on one leg but Geelong proved in its comfortable win over Essendon the team no longer has to rely on the superstars.

Gary Ablett is mobbed by teammates after kicking a last-quarter goal. Picture: Michael Klein

We thought the Cats relied on too few, last year.

Big names but no depth, was the common criticism.

But what Geelong has proved emphatically this season is that Geelong does not rely on inspirational captain Joel Selwood and Paddy Dangerfield to carry this team anymore.

Coach Chris Scott would be rubbing his hands together.

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Selwood was out with soreness and Dangerfield was quiet after twisting his knee, yet gun midfielders Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan and Gary Ablett and silent assassins Sam Menagola and Cam Guthrie led the club to a comfortable 32-point win over Essendon at the MCG.

Depth is no longer a problem for Scott.

They booted 13 goals, dominated down back and still have players to call-on from the VFL including Zach Tuohy, who was a late withdrawal, livewire Quinton Narkle, Lachie Henderson and tough nut Scott Selwood.

With Rhys Stanley continuing to stand up in the ruck and tackle pressure all over the ground, there doesn’t appear to be a weakness in this Geelong team through the first seven rounds.

Defender Tom Stewart had another excellent game sweeping across half back with 25 possessions and nine marks.

This was a limp effort from the Bombers, who aside form a bright start in the first term, never looked threatening in the forward half of the ground.

Darcy Parish made a statement with a strong and precise game in the midfield and Jake Stringer was busy kicking three goals, but it was well down on last week’s effort against Collingwood.

GAZ BOOKED

Gary Ablett was reported for striking Dylan Shiel with a glancing elbow in the first term.

Shiel was paid a free-kick and was not hurt in the incident.

If graded careless conduct, low impact and high contact it will be a $1000 fine.

“It was definitely worth a free kick but not enough force (for a suspension),” Wayne Carey said on Triple M.

“At worst a fine. (It was) Clumsy. He’s a ballplayer, Gary Ablett.”

However, Hawk James Cousins was suspended for one match for a similar hit.

Former coach Rodney Eade said: “I think there would be some concern”.

Gary Ablett was reported for a head-high elbow on Gary Ablett. Picture: AAP

BIG BLITZ

He might be the greatest recruiting success in the game currently.

Mark Blicavs was plucked from relative obscurity when list wizard Stephen Wells found the steeplechaser and took him with pick No. 54 in the 2012 rookie draft.

And as much as we have lauded the Cats revamped midfield and forward line this season, it’s clear now Blicavs is the leader of the best defence in football.

The miserly Cats kept Essendon to only five goals at the last change and Blicavs did another outstanding job shutting down spearhead Joe Daniher.

Daniher was coming in off a red-hot performance on Anzac Day but he had no impact yesterday and had to push up the field late in the game to get involved.

It seemed too many times the Essendon forwards were looking for the easy one out the back or over the top, rather than taking the hit-up lead.

Mark Blicavs wraps up Joe Daniher in a tackle. Picture: AAP

Blicavs, who has won two best and fairests but not a premiership, has the running power and the height to go with any forward in the game.

With Richmond’s Alex Rance out for the season, Blicavs has to be in the mix for All-Australian contention.

Irishman Mark O’Connor also pulled the handbrake on Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti yesterday as the Bombers forwards had a dark day, save for Jake Stringer.

But this Geelong back line is capable of anchoring a genuine premiership tilt.

The Hawks are the only team to kick more than 80 points against them this year.

DANGER MOVE

This might have been the stuff-up of the season.

Dangerfield tried to do the really unselfish thing when he handballed over the top to Jordan Clark in the goalsquare in the second term.

But the handball was a bit off target and Clark slipped over in the goal mouth, meaning the Cats squandered a certain major.

We lauded Tom Hawkins for handing off to Clark for his first goal earlier in the season, but this was a humorous slip-up.

It was a quiet day for Dangerfield who required medical treatment in the rooms after twisting his knee in a Zach Merrett tackle.

Dangerfield played mainly forward with a strapped left knee in the second half, but was well down.

WOLF PACK SWARM

What about the forward line pressure at Geelong.

Midway through the third term, speedster Gary Rohan caused a turnover when he put a desperate tackle on Dyson Heppell.

Tom Atkins and Gryan Miers then went to work at ground level to set up Gary Ablett.

The champion Cat slipped past two Bombers and casually snapped truly from 30m on his right foot.

In a match which didn’t have a massive amount of highlights this was a gem.

GEELONG 4.0 7.3 10.7 13.8 (86)

ESSENDON 3.3 4.5 5.6 7.12 (54)

GOALS

Geelong: Duncan 3, Hawkins 2, Ablett 2, Kelly 2, C.Guthrie, Rohan, Miers, Dahlhaus

Essendon: Stringer 3, Baguley, Bellchambers, Daniher, Parish

BEST

Geelong: Kelly, Ablett, Stewart, Blicavs, Duncan, C Guthrie, Menagola, Atkins

Essendon: Parish, Stringer, Smith, Merrett, Heppell, Hurley

INJURIES

Geelong: Ratugolea (concussion), Dangerfield (knee)

Essendon: Nil

Reports: Gary Ablett (Geelong) reported for striking Dylan Shiel in the first quarter.

Umpires: Nicholls, Chamberlain, Glouftsis

Official crowd: 63,527 at the MCG

JAY CLARK’S VOTES

3. Tim Kelly

2. Gary Ablett

1. Tom Stewart

Originally published as Geelong’s depth of talent on full display against Essendon