All the news as Geelong begins preparations for a preliminary final
An out-of-contract defender is set to lock away his future as Geelong signs up the last of its priority young talent.
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Breakout Cat Zach Guthrie’s stark improvement is set to carry on, with the improving defender poised to sign a fresh two-year deal.
A standout in Geelong’s qualifying final classic win over Collingwood, Guthrie held the Cats defence together and locked in his spot for the remainder of the finals.
His impressive and cool intercept game capped off a season-long rise for the backman, who has played 19 of his 52 career games this season.
The springy defender will have some tough jobs on his plate against the Brisbane Lions in Friday’s preliminary final, with Guthrie likely to spend time on the likes of Zac Bailey, Lincoln McCarthy and even Charlie Cameron.
Guthrie is out of contract at the end of this season and a two-year extension would take him through to free agency.
When contacted by the Geelong Addy, Guthrie’s manager father Andrew Guthrie declined to comment.
Guthrie, 24, is the only member of Geelong’s first-choice side under the age of 30 who is out of contract at the end of the season.
He has said multiple times this year he was keen to stay at the club alongside his midfield star brother Cam, and last month Zach said he was happy to leave contract talks to others.
“I have been focusing on footy each week as it comes at the moment,” Guthrie said in August.
“The relevant people might be dealing with that in the background for me.”
Geelong is set to deal with its other out-of-contract players once its season ends, with Tom Hawkins, Zach Tuohy and Isaac Smith keen to play on and likely to secure new deals.
Skipper Joel Selwood is also out of contract beyond this season.
The Cats are working through the futures of luckless midfielder Sam Simpson and fringe player Quinton Narkle, while veterans Luke Dahlhaus and Shaun Higgins have been out of favour this year and could hang up the boots.
Small forward Francis Evans is also without a deal and has drawn interest from across the league, with Port Adelaide set to pursue the goalkicker, who’s VFL season has been highly rated at Geelong.
‘Doesn’t bother me’: How Gary Rohan answered the critics
Qualifying final hero Gary Rohan has denied he set out to silence his critics with his matchwinning effort against Collingwood, declaring the media can “write what they want to write”.
The Geelong speedster was put under the microscope in the lead up to Saturday’s first week of finals, with his modest September numbers questioned.
After Cats coach Chris Scott defended Rohan, the forward paid back the faith by booting three goals and setting up Max Holmes’ game-winner, receiving a game-high nine coaches votes for his efforts.
Rohan has had a testy relationship with the media in recent years and declined to speak in the rooms post-match, preferring to let his performance on field do the talking.
“People can write what they want to write, it doesn’t bother me,” Rohan said at a Red Energy football clinic.
“I don’t get involved in it or listen to it, it doesn’t bother me.
“It is their job to write stuff and I don’t get involved in it, it’s fine.”
A back injury picked up over pre-season kept Rohan out of the action until round 10 this year but he was always set to feature in Geelong’s finals side if fit, given how highly his ability to compete in the air and pressure defenders is rated internally.
A two-goal effort when Geelong topped reigning premier Melbourne in round 17 solidified his worth to the Cats brains trust, when he kept the forward line afloat in the biggest game of the year so far.
Injury prone throughout his career, Rohan said his body was “cherry ripe” and he had “no excuse” but to perform next week in a preliminary final.
His towering pack mark and subsequent booming set shot in the pulsating final term of the Magpie win has already gone down in footy folklore, and Rohan said he was always confident he would convert the clutch goal.
“I just put myself in the right spot at the right time, I think Zach Tuohy kicked it (inside-50) and it dropped a bit short,” he said.
“I think I reacted a bit quicker than some others, everyone around was like ‘you’ve got to make sure you settle’.
“It was a good feeling. I just backed my goalkicking system and backed what I could do. It felt good, it was flush when it came off (my boot), I don’t think I could have kicked it any better.”
Minutes later, Rohan got out the back of the Collingwood defence and spilt a simple chest mark before handballing to Holmes in the goalsquare to put the Cats in front and seal the game.
“I was happy Maxy was in the goalsquare because I had no feeling in the legs when I was running after it, I was stumbling all over and it was good to see him in there so I could give the handball to him,” he said.
Cats to consider ruck switch up
Geelong big man Rhys Stanley’s grip on the No.1 ruck spot “is definitely up for discussions” with the Cats to weigh up bringing Jonathon Ceglar in for a preliminary final.
Stanley returned from an adductor injury for Geelong’s qualifying final win over Collingwood and was quiet in the classic clash, with Mark Blicavs rucking most of the final 10 minutes of the match.
The veteran has enjoyed his most consistent year as a Cat but has had to push through multiple injuries in his 18 games this year.
Ceglar, too, has found it tough getting on the field, after foot surgery wrecked the first half of his campaign, and he has played just two AFL games for Geelong in 2022, the last coming in round 23.
While the pair has said they would be able to work together in the same team, Geelong has not played with both Ceglar and Stanley this year.
Head coach Chris Scott had lengthy chats on field with both Stanley and Ceglar as the Cats worked through some light match play at training on Wednesday.
Stanley appeared to play as the preferred ruck during a full-ground drill.
Assistant coach Shaun Grigg said the ruck was one of several positions up for debate before selection for next Friday’s preliminary final, with the Cats open to changing up their side despite winning the past 14 matches.
Defender Jake Kolodjashnij could be a forced change after he injured his knee in the qualifying final, but he was at training and will be a test next weekend.
“We will have discussions about a number of ways we set up not just that position (ruck) but all over the ground,” Grigg said.
“That is the beauty of the position we find ourselves in with our depth, we had a number of good players who unfortunately didn’t play on the weekend so as a coaching group we will all go to work on the opposition and what our best footy looks like as well.
“Rhys has had a great year and Jon has performed as well when he has come in also, it is definitely up for discussions but for all positions really, we have a deep squad.”
Blicavs has closed out several tight games in the ruck and Grigg said handing him the job in centre bounces was not unusual, even if it sidelined Stanley on Saturday.
“It wasn’t just this game, we have done it all year,” Grigg said.
“Guys have played different roles at different times, Mark has played a lot of different positions. He has played a lot of ruck, Rhys has played a lot of ruck, it is just sharing the load.”
Cats answer the Dangerfield bench question
Patrick Dangerfield may have to get used to sitting on the pine as Geelong assistant coach Shaun Grigg says the Brownlow medallist will continue to “play his role within our midfield”.
Both Dangerfield and skipper Joel Selwood began the first three quarters of Saturday’s blockbuster against Collingwood on the bench, before Selwood started on in the final term.
In those first three quarters, Geelong kicked off with a centre-square trio of Mark Blicavs, Tom Atkins and Cam Guthrie at the feet of ruck Rhys Stanley.
While Dangerfield joked after the match that he would have a word with Grigg – who largely looks after Geelong’s midfield – about starting on the pine, the coach said he was happy with how the plan worked out.
“If you look at the impact of those guys when they came on, Joel’s second-half, he was nearly best on ground for mine,” Grigg said.
“Pat had some great contests and moments.
“It also gave opportunity for other mids to get it going for us.
“It speaks to the depth we have that we don’t ask one or two players to do all the heavy lifting, so we try and share that load.”
In years gone by, Geelong looked to Dangerfield and Selwood to dominate every game for the Cats to win, but Grigg said Dangerfield was now a role player in the Cats system.
“I think (Dangerfield) is just there to play his role within our midfield,” Grigg said.
“For him to keep strength and power on the ball at all times, the game is now so hard we saw Collingwood’s pressure was fantastic and it is really tough to ask one player to share the load.
“We will continue to use a number of players throughout that midfield and use players to their strengths.”
Cats locked in for Friday night prelim as Bilcavs tests out leg
Geelong’s push for a Friday night preliminary final has paid off with the Cats to enjoy an extra day of break if they win through to the grand final.
Geelong was asked by the AFL for its preference in hosting the preliminary final at the MCG, which will come against the winner of the Melbourne and Brisbane Lions semi-final.
The game will kick off at 7.50pm on September 16.
Cats footy boss Simon Lloyd confirmed Geelong preferred an extra day break heading into a grand final, if it managed to win next week.
Sydney and the SCG will host the other preliminary final at 4.45pm next Saturday, against the winner of Fremantle and Collingwood.
The twilight fixture allows either Collingwood or Fremantle to get home on Saturday night and begin a full preparation for the next week should they upset the Swans.
Tickets for both preliminary finals will go on sale early next week.
“We were asked our preference and we decided the Friday night game worked better in our opinion,” Lloyd said.
“It’s a good result for local football in Geelong as well, with the GFL grand final on the next day.”
While it has now been confirmed he has one less day of preparation, key utility Mark Blicavs is set to play in the preliminary final despite dealing with a sore shin.
The All-Australian was kicked in the shin in the second quarter of Saturday’s stunning qualifying final win over Collingwood, and played through the second half with some soreness.
Blicavs was a lone figure at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday morning, working through some run-throughs and light sprints to test out his leg, and appeared to be moving without discomfort.
“I checked on him at halftime and the medical team said he was absolutely fine and he was able to play out the game without problems, so it’s just general soreness,” Lloyd said.
Defender Jake Kolodjashnij is Geelong’s only other injury concern.
The lockdown Cat will be tested before the preliminary final, after scans revealed he picked up a tibiofibular joint injury to his knee in the first half of the qualifying final.
Kolodjashnij gets good news on knee scan
Defender Jake Kolodjashnij is a live chance of playing in Geelong’s preliminary final after scans showed “positive news” on his knee injury.
The lockdown Cat was subbed out of Saturday’s qualifying final win over Collingwood, after he tried to play through pain picked up from an incident in the first quarter.
Kolodjashnij underwent a scan on Sunday and will be a test for the preliminary final next week, which will likely be played on Friday night.
“We have had positive news, with subsequent scans showing a tibiofibular joint injury,” Cats medical boss Harry Taylor said.
“Jake’s availability for the preliminary final will be determined closer to the game.”
Kolodjashnij played 20 of Geelong’s 22 home-and-away games this year, missing one clash due to Covid protocols, while he was concussed twice during the season.
Geelong is flush with options to replace Kolodjashnij if he doesn’t come up for the preliminary final.
Fellow defender Mark O’Connor was subbed on for Kolodjashnij and would be close to a like-for-like replacement, while midfielders Brandan Parfitt and Sam Menegola both went unselected for the qualifying final.
Ruck Jonathon Ceglar was also in Geelong’s squad for the Collingwood clash and will be eyeing Rhys Stanley’s hold on the No.1 ruck position.
The Cats players had Monday off and would return to the club on Tuesday, before holding a main training session on Friday.
Stagnant Cats have to improve, says Isaac Smith
Veteran Cat Isaac Smith has conceded Geelong will “probably have to play better” than it did when sinking Collingwood in the qualifying final to continue on to a premiership and the Cats “need to move the ball a little bit better”.
Geelong ran over the top of Collingwood in Saturday’s classic encounter but appeared rattled early in the game as the Magpies kicked the first three goals of the contest.
Instead of the shrewd, attacking style Geelong has displayed throughout this season, the Cats fell into the trap of stagnant ball use and kicking long down the line often in that first term.
As the game wore on, the Cats were able to introduce more short kicks to get the ball moving, as Smith put some of the long bombs down to players adjusting to the frenzied atmosphere brought on by the 91,575 fans at the game.
“We probably just need to move the ball a little better,” he said.
“Collingwood were really good and were able to put pressure on us and we just weren’t able to execute as well going forward as we could have.
“No one has played in front of 90,000 fans for a few years so I am sure there were a few nervous boys out there that didn’t necessarily want to pull kicks and having that experience will hold us in good stead for the next three or four weeks ahead.”
Smith knows all about the fickle nature of preliminary finals.
In his first four AFL seasons, playing then with Hawthorn, the left-footer played in four preliminary finals decided by less than a goal, with the Hawks winning three of them.
Geelong will host either Melbourne or the Brisbane Lions at the MCG in a preliminary final after having this weekend off, with a spot in the grand final on the line.
“Once we play someone in a prelim, the best four teams are there,” he said.
“We have got to go out and execute like we know we can and we probably have to play better than we did (against Collingwood).
“It’s why we play, it’s exciting. Hopefully we perform really well prelim final day and give ourselves a chance at it (the premiership).”
Pies win echoes Holmes’ ‘great belief’ in flag Cats
Geelong’s stunning qualifying final win over Collingwood has confirmed young Cat Max Holmes’ “great belief we can go all the way”.
Already flag favourites leading into September, Geelong booked a home preliminary final with a six-point victory in an instant classic qualifying final.
Holmes kicked the matchwinning goal with about 90 seconds to play as Geelong erased a seven-point three quarter-time deficit to overrun the Magpies.
The win put the Cats just two games away from the premiership and Holmes said he had been willing to dream of winning the flag, as confidence within the Geelong camp continues to build.
“I think we have such great belief we can go all the way,” he said.
“Everyone dreams as a kid about playing in a grand final but we have such a strong attitude in the club that we just focus week to week. There is no point worrying about two week’s time if we don’t show up (in the preliminary final), but I would be lying if I said it (a premiership) didn’t come into my mind.”
Collingwood’s ability to win from any situation has been a hallmark of this AFL season and Geelong has matched the Magpies in finding a way from tough spots.
Holmes said there was always belief within the playing group the Cats could drag themselves over the line on Saturday, even after a slow start.
“We knew the pressure, obviously they (Collingwood) are a great team,” he said.
“They took it to us all day but one of the main things we were saying, we were down by six goals last time we played them and we have belief we could (win). We know throughout the year we have come home strong.
“We go out to try and play well all game but we know when it comes to the last quarter we still have legs in us and we can still kick goals so we knew we could do it and I’m sure if we are in that situation in two week’s time we could do it again.”
Geelong will watch on with interest when Melbourne hosts the Brisbane Lions on Friday night, with the Cats to play the winner the week after in a preliminary final at the MCG.
Holmes said Geelong would be wary of either opponent, having played in tight wins against both teams at GMHBA Stadium earlier in the season.
Cats to sweat on Kolodjashnij injury report
Geelong defender Jake Kolodjashnij will “give himself every possibility” of playing in a preliminary final as the Cats sweat on scan results on a knee injury.
The lockdown backman hobbled to the bench in the first quarter of Geelong’s thrilling qualifying final win over Collingwood and was in pain as physios tested out his right knee.
He returned to the field with heavy strapping and looked hampered, before he put his hand up to be subbed out in the second quarter for Mark O’Connor.
Geelong football boss Simon Lloyd said on Sunday Kolodjashnij would have scans on the knee and the club was unsure what damage he had done.
“He was able to come back on but you could just see he as inhibited with his function,” Lloyd said.
“He will give himself every possibility (to play) and work with our medical team. We will see how he pulls up in coming days.”
Lloyd said Kolodjashnij’s unselfish call to pull the pin instead of pushing forward while hobbled was “a real credit to Jake”.
The underrated defender is an important part of Geelong’s back six for his ability to lock down on medium-sized players, like Magpie Jamie Elliott on Saturday.
The Cats will face dangerous forwards like Bayley Fritsch or Charlie Cameron in a preliminary final depending on whether Melbourne or the Brisbane Lions win through.
Geelong’s injury list is virtually clear however, with the likes of O’Connor, Sam Menegola and Brandan Parfitt available to replace Kolodjashnij if he is sidelined.
The reserve Cats got through a scratch match against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday morning without any further injuries, with several fringe players pushing their case for a recall.
With another week off looming before a likely Friday night preliminary final, Geelong will take it easy this week before powering through a big session this coming Friday to stay sharp for the penultimate weekend of the season.
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Originally published as All the news as Geelong begins preparations for a preliminary final
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