Geelong is facing major issues with its rucks and midfield following its loss to Sydney

GEELONG’S last-quarter wipe-out against Sydney has been blamed on a ruck crisis and a midfield lacking defensive traits. But are these problems fixable? JON RALPH looks at the Cats’ issues.

Do the Cats have a midfield problem? Picture: Getty Images

GEELONG’S last-quarter wipe-out against Sydney has been blamed on a ruck crisis and a midfield lacking defensive traits.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel said on Sunday the Cats were stuck between playing quality tap ruckman Zac Smith and more athletic tall Rhys Stanley.

But premiership coach Paul Roos said the Cats desperately needed Scott Selwood back as its midfield had too many players without defensive qualities.

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The Cats lost the last 12 centre clearances against Sydney on Saturday, including nine in the final quarter as the Swans poured on 7.3.

Geelong has the worst clearance differential in the competition and concedes the most points from stoppages.

But it also scores the most from stoppages in the AFL, meaning it plays a high-risk game that depends heavily on its fortunes at stoppages.

Callum Sinclair had the better of Rhys Stanley on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

Remarkably, Joel Selwood was in the centre square for eight of the nine final-quarter bounces, Patrick Dangerfield seven, Tim Kelly five and Mitch Duncan four.

They watched on as Swans Josh Kennedy and Callum Sinclair teamed up to destroy the Cats. Sydney also won the clearances 16-5 in the final quarter.

Ruckman Sinclair was in the centre square for all nine last-term bounces, Kennedy eight, Isaac Heeney six and Luke Parker four.

Smith played 21 games last year but was dropped after Round 1 for Stanley, who averages a goal a game but has the sixth-worst hitout to advantage rate of all rucks this year.

“Sinclair was dominant in that last quarter. He was excellent,” Bartel told 3AW. “Do they go with the traditional ruckman and fix that problem in the centre bounce? Zac Smith is the best centre-bounce ruckman at the Cats.

“The way they want to play their ruckmen Rhys Stanley and (Esava) Ratugolea, they like their athleticism around the ground and were hoping they are good enough in the centre bounce to make it up if we lose a hitout.

“(Stanley) had a 15-minute patch where he kicked a goal and was effective, but in the last quarter Sinclair was great.”

Roos told Triple M that without Scott Selwood, who is likely to be back next week after concussion, the Cats were boom or bust in the midfield.

Disappointed Geelong players leave the ground on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s part of the problem with (Joel) Selwood, Duncan, all the offensive-type players. It doesn’t allow you to put a player on ‘Joey’ Kennedy,’’ he said.

“In that instance, who is going to beat you? Kennedy. It’s hard to take away the opposition strengths when you have Dangerfield and Selwood in there.

“It’s a great problem to have, but when the momentum shifts, it’s hard to shift their mindset, as opposed to Scott Selwood’s mindset.”

Geelong takes on Greater Western Sydney Giants on Friday night. Gary Ablett is keen to play. He completed a solid running session on Saturday after spending the past few weeks strengthening his hamstring, but is far from a certainty.

Brandan Parfitt was a late out with a sore foot. Daniel Menzel will be considered after missing the clash with groin soreness.

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Originally published as Geelong is facing major issues with its rucks and midfield following its loss to Sydney