Dawn to Dark: All the likes and dislikes from round three

It was an innocent mistake, but handing a phone to a player is off limits during a match. Meanwhile, a fringe Cat proved he deserves a senior spot. All the likes and dislikes from the Cattery.

Oliver Henry and Jeremy Cameron celebrate a goal. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong made it three wins on the trot against Hawthorn and there is plenty going right at the Cattery.

Their forward half are kicking scores, lesser lights have been impressing and there is plenty of competition for spots.

We look at the likes and dislikes out of Geelong from round three.

LIKES

1. PARFITT PRESSURE

A failed fitness test from Tom Atkins in the warm-up gave Brandan Parfitt the chance to prove himself and the fringe midfielder has played like his life depended on it over the past fortnight. The 25-year-old laid 10 tackles for the second consecutive week, leading his side in that stat as well as tackle attempts (12) and forward half pressure points (39). He had the fourth most pressure points of any Cat against the Hawks and also managed to win 21 disposals, 10 contested possessions and four marks in just 62 per cent gametime. Coming off an impressive pre-season that had captain Patrick Dangerfield declaring he is ready to explode, this patch of form proves he is too good to be playing in the reserves. Parfitt is eligible as a free agent at the end of the year and rival clubs will be tracking his progress closely – especially if he ends up back in the VFL.

2. FORWARD LINE FIRES

Hawthorn’s undermanned defence is the obvious caveat, but Geelong’s potent forward line delivered again – and their efficiency stood out. Geelong’s pinpoint goalkicking accuracy of 17.4 in the wet against Hawthorn was a far cry from their errant 10.16 in round one, yielding 29-points above their expected score of 77. For context, Hawthorn’s expected score was 71 compared to their actual total of 70. Geelong had nine less inside 50s than the Hawks yet generated the same number of shots, recording a shot on goal from 40 per cent of their entries. While opposition definitely was a factor, it is a positive sign – especially when milestone men at both ends of the age spectrum, Tom Hawkins and Ollie Henry, both bagged four.

Tom Hawkins kicked four goals in his 350th game. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

3. TEAM GAME

Who was in the Cats’ best six players on Monday? You could throw a blanket over 10 of them. Ollie Henry, Mitch Duncan, Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn and Tyson Stengle all received coaches votes with James Worpel (nine votes) the only Hawk to receive votes. Geelong’s well rounded game is perhaps best illustrated by their ranking points over the weekend. Remarkably, 22 of Geelong’s players scored between 56 and 99 ranking points – the exception being Jack Bowes as the substitute. That is compared to Hawthorn who had 15 in that bracket. Ten Cats had more than 17-plus possessions, with Tanner Bruhn (27) and Duncan (26 and a goal) leading the way.

Tanner Bruhn led the disposal count for the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein

4. CONWAY CALL

Conway passed the eye test with flying colours on Monday but his ruck craft was also impressive up against a much more physically developed ruckman in Lloyd Meek. Conway won eight hit-outs to 26 in direct ruck contests with Meek, but half of those taps were to advantage – including his first hitout of the day into the waiting arms of Bruhn. The clearance count was slightly more lopsided with the Hawks winning 18 clearances to the Cats’ 11 in the ruck duel, but the pair each generated 14 points apiece from clearances while matched up against each other. Conway also did his bit around the ground with 11 disposals, five marks – two of those contested – and three tackles. Tim English is a different equation altogether, but Conway has the tools to compete with the All-Australian ruck if the Cats opt to stick with him – as he showed in an encouraging debut against the Western Bulldogs in round 24 last year.

DISLIKES

1. HAWKINS PHONE DRAMA

They were extraordinary circumstances in the rooms during the lightning delay – Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron even had a tea and coffee to warm up. It is far from a hanging offence, but handing a phone to a player during a match is off limits regardless of the circumstance. The club’s 10 authorised device users have to know better. The incident was trivial with the AFL confirming Hawkins was just checking the weather radar, but integrity is paramount in sport with match and spot fixing threatening competitions across the world. The innocent mistake was given an official warning and rightly so.

Mabior Chol celebrates a goal for the Hawks. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

2. CAT NAP

After a blistering first quarter where they piled on seven goals, Hawthorn cut a 36-point quarter-time deficit to just four points at the start of the third. Alarm bells would have been going off in the Geelong coaching box as the Cats were -22 in contested possessions, -10 for inside 50s, -6 for clearances and conceded a goal from 29 per cent of Hawthorn’s entries. The Cats can’t afford lapses of this magnitude against a quality side – and they face the Western Bulldogs, Brisbane, Carlton and Melbourne in the next month.

Originally published as Dawn to Dark: All the likes and dislikes from round three