Geelong Cats: News, updates and stories from round 17 win over North Melbourne

Off the back of one of Geelong’s strongest wins of the season, coach Chris Scott says the group is firmly focused on winning a second straight premiership.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Callum Coleman-Jones of the Kangaroos tackles Jack Henry of the Cats during the round 17 AFL match between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium, on July 09, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Geelong’s dominant win over North Melbourne will send warning signs around the competition about its premiership credentials despite still fighting for a spot in the top eight.

The 62-point win might have come against a struggling North Melbourne outfit that has won just two games this season, including none in the past 13 outings, but the Cats looked every bit the premiership contenders everyone expected in the pre-season.

Geelong coach Chris Scott has always focused on his players’ ability to follow the system and ensure they’re doing as much right as possible, whether it is a win or a loss.

But there was a clear change of focus for the clash, with Scott declaring Geelong will be “dangerous” in the finals.

“We are very confident that if we play our best footy, we’re the danger,” he said.

“It’s not disrespectful to the rest of the competition... we just look around and think, like a lot of teams would at the moment, our best is good enough.”

Geelong’s opening quarter of 59 points was its best first term score since round 19, 2012 and equal seventh all time in the club’s history.

While the Cats struggled to score in the second term as North Melbourne opted to flood back, Geelong’s defensive structure shone through.

There were questions asked about how Esava Ratugolea, Jack Henry and Sam De Koning can operate in the defensive half together, and while the defensive structure looked much better than the draw against Sydney, Ratugolea had a second quiet week in terms of disposal count and impact, with the newly-turned defender still learning how best to line up alongside a tall Cats defence.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 09: Sam De Koning of the Cats kicks the ball during the round 17 AFL match between Geelong Cats and North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium, on July 09, 2023, in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

North Melbourne did not offer much threat in the forward half, with the Kangaroos having just 14 inside 50s in the first half, and after booting two of the first three goals, conceding the next 11 goals of the game.

On the flip side, Geelong kicked 11 goals from 40 inside 50s in the first half, and looked threatening when moving the ball through the middle of GMHBA Stadium.

Half of the Cats’ first 10 goals came from counter attacks, often starting off the half back flank and propelling forward through the use of playing on from marking contests and forward handballs that caught the Roos out constantly.

The work inside the forward 50 was arguably the most impressive for the season, with Geelong’s traditionally unselfish football leading to accurate shots at goal.

Tyson Stengle had three goals in the opening term and finished on five majors, while Ollie Henry kicked four.

Tom Hawkins and Brad Close also booted three majors each.

Geelong also dominated in the centre square, winning the centre clearance count comfortably (20-4) with Rhys Stanley and Mark Blicavs rotating against Tristan Xerri.

The Cats opted to sub Mark Blicavs out of the contest in the third quarter, choosing to rest the All Australian utility when the heat was out of the contest.

Originally published as Geelong Cats: News, updates and stories from round 17 win over North Melbourne