Dawn to Dark: All the likes and dislikes from the Cattery after Round 16

Max Holmes is the classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. But the numbers show where he is having the biggest influence. Plus, Ollie Dempsey’s stunning month and all the likes and dislikes.

Geelong is just two points outside the top-four after knocking off Essendon on Saturday night and things look to be on the up.

The Cats are just two points outside the top-four and dazzling small forward Tyson Stengle is locked away.

But a tough three-week stretch awaits with Hawthorn, Collignwood and Western Bulldogs set to test their finals credentials further.

See all the likes and dislikes from Round 16.

Ollie Dempsey celebrates a goal. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

LIKES

1. BOG DEMPSEY’S STOCKS RISING

A month ago we raised Ollie Dempsey as a genuine shot to win the Rising Star. After a month of stellar form, he is closing in on favourite George Wardlaw, who will miss another week with a concussion. Dempsey was awarded the Tom Willis Award as the best player on the ground in the wet against Essendon, finishing with 25 disposals, nine coaches votes, seven score involvements and two goals, one of those a miraculous soccer off the outside of his boot. Remarkably, Champion Data stats reveal he is one of just three players to average more than 22 disposals, 1.5 goals and two score assists since round 12. The other two are Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos and dynamic Hawthorn forward Dylan Moore, both of which are firmly in All-Australian calculations. Those numbers have come while splitting his time between a wing and the forward line, two positions that often go unheralded.

2. ROBBING PETER TO PAY PAUL

It is the predicament that has faced many coaches before with a multifaceted player: are we robbing Peter to pay Paul? Max Holmes’ move into the midfield was a classic example. It made perfect sense to move Holmes on-ball to add some pizzazz to a depleted and struggling on-ball brigade. But the speedster was a key part of Geelong’s early success with his rebound off halfback, helping them to a 7-0 start – albeit against lesser opposition. He was pushed back into defence again on Saturday night with Tom Stewart playing as an inside midfielder and Holmes starred with 23 disposals and a goal and the Cats notched another victory. Geelong is 7-2 when Holmes plays 60 per cent or more in defence, and 3-4 when he spends +35 per cent in the midfield. According to Champion Data, the Cats have won a clearance 36 per cent of the time he has attended a centre bounce – the second worst return of any of Geelong’s top-10 midfielders. His versatility is extremely valuable, and it is a good problem to have, but the evidence suggests the Cats are losing more taking him out of defence than out of the midfield.

Max Holmes was back off halfback and was thriving. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

3. STENGLE SIGNING

Going into the year, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie had his hands full locking in Geelong’s raft of unsigned players. But the club has managed to convince their two biggest out-of-contract players to stay in Max Holmes and Tyson Stengle. He is currently Geelong’s leading goalkicker with 31 goals, ranked equal eighth across the competition and equal first among all general forwards. The Wirangu and Ngarrindjeri man’s goalkicking has been deadly in more ways than one this season, boasting the seventh best shot at goal accuracy in the competition. Cats fans have plenty to look forward to over the next five and a half seasons.

DISLIKES

1. UMPIRES DEFINING THE GAME

Some may think that umpiring decisions cost Essendon the game on Saturday night. Yes, it definitely had a say in a few Geelong goals – particularly in the third quarter – but the Cats still would have won comfortably if those calls went the other way. Geelong was firing on all cylinders in the second half, winning the ball at the source, putting the Bombers under immense pressure and taking the ball from end to end with ease from their back half. During that period the Cats scored a goal from 32 per cent of their inside 50 entries, were +11 in contested possessions and had a pressure rating of 199 – all rated elite. While the game was close when those dubious calls were made, the Cats would have blown them away their feet regardless.

2. TOO GOOD FOR VFL

It was clear for all to see that Shaun Mannagh was a class above the VFL last year, leading to him being taken as a second-round pick by the Cats. But the mature-ager has found himself in the state leagues since being dropped ahead of round three. He banged the door off its hinges with a performance that rivalled his spectacular VFL grand final display. In that game 27 disposals, 10 score involvements, kicked 6.2 and scored 144 SuperCoach points. On the weekend against Sandringham he had 21 disposals, 11 score involvements, 10 tackles, 6.1 and 179 SuperCoach points. But who would make way in the Cats forward line? Mannagh, who turns 27 in August, may be the stiffest man alive and remain in the twos, where he rates elite for forward 50 ground balls, goals and score involvements.

Toby Conway is under an injury cloud. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

3. CONWAY FEARS

As of Monday afternoon, Toby Conway is being assessed for an injury – something that has become far too common in the promising young ruck’s career to date. The Cats are unsure of the extent of the blow at this stage, but Chris Scott has spoken ad nauseam about being cautious with him even when he was fit and firing, so you would expect this continue in the back-end of the year. Let’s hope it is only minor. If he is sidelined for longer, the Cats may have to persist with the Sam De Koning ruck experiment longer than first thought. De Koning’s hitout numbers are well below the AFL average in his two games in the role, but he impressed around the ground, averaging 20.5 disposals and 13 contested possessions. The other option is Rhys Stanley, but he was beaten in hit-outs and at ground level comfortably in most matches this year and has now played two consecutive VFL games in the reserves.

Originally published as Dawn to Dark: All the likes and dislikes from the Cattery after Round 16