Geelong hands GWS a hiding to climb back into the top eight

GEELONG didn’t need Gary Ablett as the Cats bounced back in style with a thumping win over Greater Western Sydney in a performance that will surely sound alarm bells for Leon Cameron, while the Cats are set to get even stronger.

Giant Lachie Keeffe grapples with Geelong’s Rhys Stanley. Picture: Michael Klein

NO wonder Geelong decided to give Gary Ablett another week to rest his tender hamstrings.

The Cats barely got out of second gear but still managed to hand a depleted GWS a 61-point belting at GMHBA Stadium as they bounced back in style.

Losing one game on their home turf is a rarity for Geelong and after letting one slip against Sydney last week, they weren’t going make it two in a row.

IN STRIFE: TOM HAWKINS SAYS UMPIRE PUSH WAS ‘ACCIDENTAL’

NEW CLUB: CRAMERI FINALLY REACHES MILESTONE IN CATS DEBUT

It was not a game for the ages, but Cats coach Chris Scott would take a percentage-boosting win minus Ablett and a host of his other stars any day.

In a week where “State of the Game” discussion dominated the airwaves, the marquee Friday night match of Round 8 did little to pour cold water on the fire.

Lifeless for much of the match, the Giants managed just two goals to three-quarter time to post their lowest ever score at the final change — 2.7 (19).

Esava Ratugolea goes on the attack. Picture: Michael Klein

The rolling maul we have been accustomed to was in full swing with 32 players inside the centre square for one second quarter ball-up while turnovers were ever present from both sides in a game where highlights were few and far between.

AFL great Wayne Carey has said GWS “can’t win the premiership” this year and while September is some way off, its performance sounded some more warning bells.

The Giants were flat, butchered the footy, had no structure forward and could not hit a target inside-50.

In fact, GWS recorded just two marks inside their attacking arc from 44 entries.

Talk about horrendous.

Yes, injuries have hit hard — a struggling Jonathan Patton the only one of the Giants’ top eight goalkickers from last year to play — but there was still plenty of talent on the park to produce a better performance than what they did.

While Geelong fans might not be grinning like a Cheshire cat just yet, they would have to be satisfied with the first seven weeks under similarly trying circumstances.

The Cats now sit 4-3 despite being decimated with injuries.

Tom Hawkins arrives late before collecting Nick Haynes. Picture: Getty Images

The Cats were arguably without as many as eight players from their best 22 — Ablett (hamstring), Harry Taylor (foot), Daniel Menzel (groin) and Lachie Henderson (knee) among them.

Then there was ruckman Zac Smith (back), who was set to return before being a late withdrawal, replaced by Rhys Stanley.

However, the injury curse has not all been bad news, with the Cats continuing to get games into their youth while still getting some wins on the board.

Tim Kelly shone brightly again, Jack Henry is growing by the week, Jordan Cunico is finding plenty of the footy and Esava Ratugolea could be anything in a few years’ time.

But it was the senior players that earnt coach Chris Scott’s praise for turning the team’s fortunes around in what he described as a “complete” performance.

“I think the part from our coaching group that we were most pleased with was our senior players were disappointed in their performance and some of the fundamentals last week and were determined to turn it around,” Scott said.

“So they were instrumental in the planning and the preparation for this week. They are in our system generally, but it was taken to an extra level this week. I came to the ground with great confidence because when our senior players have that attitude, they generally deliver.”

Tim Kelly breaks through two Giants opponents. Picture: Michael Klein

Scott said while the senior players performed as he had expected, the side’s less experienced players had also stood up.

“I shouldn’t individualise, but I will. Tim Kelly was just outstanding again tonight. Tom Stewart and Jack Henry, our whole backline basically,” Scott said.

“Zach Tuohy is only his second year at the club, but well and truly the most experienced. (Mark) Blicavs is in a new role. We continue to play a lot of inexperienced players and I think that’s the best measure of youth and experience — it’s games played and we have a number of guys who are still five or six years into their careers that look pretty stable under pressure. That’s nice from a coaching perspective.”

Scott said he was prepared to declare Ablett would return from a hamstring next Sunday against Collingwood while Taylor is also in the mix to come straight back in after being sidelined since Round 1 with a foot injury.

GEELONG 4.1 7.2 12.3 14.9 (93)

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY 1.0 2.5 2.7 4.8 (32)

GOALS

Cats: Hawkins 4, Ratugolea 2, Dangerfield 2, Crameri 2, Murdoch, Gregson, Thurlow, Stewart

Giants: Finlayson 2, Ward, Lloyd

BEST

Cats: Kelly, Hawkins, Duncan, Stewart, Dangerfield, Blicavs, Henry

Giants: Shiel, Haynes, Taranto, Coniglio, Finlayson

INJURIES

Cats: Bews (shoulder)

Giants: TBC

Reports: Nil

Umpires: Margetts, Schmitt, Hay

Official crowd: 25,079 at the GMHBA Stadium

LIVE stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Get your free 2-week Foxtel Now trial & start watching in minutes. SIGN UP NOW