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Top four chances shot? It’s more serious than that for Geelong

GEELONG was a straight kick away from pushing into the top four. ELIZA SEWELL writes now the Cats face the prospect of being out of the eight — and their season is in danger. Vote: Where will the Cats finish?

Things are getting dire for Chris Scott and the Cats. Pic: AAP
Things are getting dire for Chris Scott and the Cats. Pic: AAP

COME Sunday, Geelong could be out of the eight.

It’s Round 15. This isn’t good for the Cats.

All of a sudden, for a side many believe are a genuine challenger in 2018, maybe a more realistic question is, will they even make the eight?

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The concern after last night focused on the Cats’ top four chances, which now look shot, but it’s more serious than that.

Two recent bad losses, one against a supposedly poor side (the Bulldogs, who were awesome last night) one against the best (Richmond, who ARE awesome), have hurt.

It’s not going to get any easier for the Cats who face Adelaide in Adelaide next week.
It’s not going to get any easier for the Cats who face Adelaide in Adelaide next week.

The Cats are now seventh — if they had won they would have jumped to fourth, at least for half a day — and as it stands, if North Melbourne beat Essendon on Sunday afternoon, Geelong is out of the eight.

If the Kangaroos can topple the Bombers at Etihad they jump a game ahead of the Cats and whoever wins out of GWS and Hawks also leapfrogs them.

It’s not what anyone expected.

Geelong will have to regroup ahead of a tough run home.
Geelong will have to regroup ahead of a tough run home.

And if you’re out, you’ve got to get back in and it’s a tough run home.

They play Sydney and Adelaide away, then it’s Melbourne at home, perhaps some respite against Brisbane, then Richmond and Hawthorn, both at the ‘G.

They finish with Fremantle and Gold Coast at the Cattery.

Coach Chris Scott knows the competition is tight and he’s right, the Bulldogs didn’t play like a bottom six side last night. And the Cats were just a straight kick away from the win and a brighter ladder outlook.

But the fact is the Cats are now back with the pack and fighting for a finals spot.

Geelong is certainly off, the question is, are they gone?

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/top-four-chances-shot-its-more-serious-than-that-for-geelong/news-story/727e667d31d2fb4b7cc23b1476511713