AFL 2021 Dogs prove Mick Malthouse wrong against ‘three-headed monster’ Geelong
All year Luke Beveridge has bristled at suggestions an undersized defence is his side’s Achilles heel. Those concerns have been put to rest ... for at least a week.
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All year, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has bristled at any suggestion that an undersized defence is his side’s Achilles heel.
Coaching legend Mick Malthouse again put it on the agenda earlier this month when he wrote in the Sunday Herald Sun that, “Nothing has been done since last season to address the Dogs’ backline issues, which is where they encounter most of their strife”.
But those outside concerns have been put to rest for at least a week after the Bulldogs held the “three-headed monster” that is Geelong to only 12 goals at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night.
The visitors might have been denied victory by a clutch Gary Rohan goal after the siren, but they didn’t lose any admirers in the way they went about it – particularly in the back half.
The Cats won the inside-50 count on Friday night with 53 entries.
For the Bulldogs – who had ranked No.1 in the competition for denying opposition inside-50s and were conceding an average of just 44 a game – that was an unusually high number.
However, Tom Hawkins, Jeremy Cameron and Rohan were held to just five goals between them.
If you were in the Bulldogs’ coaching box before the game, you would have been more than happy to take that.
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Even more telling of the Bulldogs’ work defensively was that Hawkins was kept to just one mark for the match and Cameron took only three.
For most of the contest, Alex Keath had the job on Hawkins, while Ryan Gardner manned Cameron and Zaine Cordy stood Rohan.
“I think they’re working well together,” Beveridge said of his defence.
“They’re helping each other where necessary and learning on the run.
“They (Geelong) got a couple of easy ones, but by and large the support in the air and at ground level was pretty good.”
The “easy” goals Beveridge refers to came from Bulldogs turnovers – the source of nine Geelong goals – which even the best back-six set ups struggle to stop in the modern game.
Gardner’s return from a shoulder injury has come at a good time.
The 24-year-old was back in action against Fremantle in Round 12 and did not lose a one-on-one contest.
In his second game back against the Cats, he lost just one of four one-on-ones in arguably the biggest challenge of his 17-game AFL career against Cameron.
“He’s a developing player. He’s still played under 20 games,” Beveridge said of Gardner.
“We think he’s got a really bright future.
“(Friday night) was a really important game for him to come back and play like that. We’ve just got to have faith in the young guys that are progressing and have a lot of development left in them and Gardy’s one of those. He still hasn’t played a lot of AFL footy, but he was very good.”
There is little time for pats on the back for the Bulldogs’ defenders, though.
They have another huge challenge against West Coast’s own version of a three-headed monster next week, which comes in the form of Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Oscar Allen.
The Bulldogs scored a seven-point win when the two sides last met in Round 2, despite Kennedy, Darling and Allen kicking nine goals between them.
Can the Bulldogs put their defensive improvement on show again and reduce that number?
Time will tell.
SIZZLING STEWART
THE Western Bulldogs started with Plan A to limit the influence of Geelong defender Tom Stewart and coach Beveridge admitted at halftime that he was moving to “Plan B”.
But neither plan seemed to quell the influence of the damaging interceptor, who is charging towards his third All-Australian jacket in four years this season.
At the main break, Stewart already had 17 disposals, nine marks, seven intercept possessions and six intercept marks to his name.
He finished with 10 intercept marks – the equal-most of any player in the past 20 years – on a stats sheet that also read 27 disposals, 13 marks, 15 intercept possessions, nine rebound 50s and six score involvements.
Whatever “Plan B” was from the Bulldogs was hard to see – unless it was simply trying not to kick the ball straight to him, which they did only marginally better in the second half.
Stewart largely did as he pleased and didn’t receive any particularly close attention from the Bulldogs’ forward.
He had nine different opponents for the match
Cats coach Chris Scott didn’t mince his words when talking about Stewart post-game.
“It’s one of the best games I’ve seen a half-back flanker play – and I’ve seen a few,” Scott said.
“He’s building a pretty good resume now, but I thought he was just peerless, really. I know the midfielders get a lot of plaudits, but how he wasn’t the best player on the ground by a mile, I don’t know.”
Judging by those comments, Stewart looks poised to rocket up the leader board in AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year Award on Monday afternoon.
It will be the fourth time in as many matches the backman has polled coaches’ votes and the eighth time this season overall.
Scott says the 28-year-old could have easily won the Cats’ best and fairest last year and by almost every key statistical measure Stewart is having a superior and career-best campaign in 2021.
It’s easy to forget that Stewart – a mature-age draftee who debuted in 2017 – still hasn’t played 100 AFL games.
That milestone will finally come against Brisbane next Thursday night – something worth celebrating for a player from the suburbs who has taken to the big league like a duck to water.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO JJ?
It was the big Bulldogs switch of the summer.
Forward Bailey Dale was redeployed into defence and decorated defender Jason Johannisen was asked to play a new role in the forward line.
On one hand it has worked, with Dale and his weapon of a right boot providing plenty of rebound out of the back half for the Bulldogs this year.
On the other hand, Johannisen looks low on confidence and isn’t influencing games the way he once did with his run and carry off the half-back flank.
Johannisen was a premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner in 2016 as a running half-back.
On the back of that, he signed a bumper five-year deal until the end of 2022.
But does the 28-year-old perhaps need a fresh start away from Whitten Oval next year?
Or will the Bulldogs soon change tack and find him a new role that will better suit his unquestionable talents?
Aside from a nice second-quarter snap goal on Friday night, Johannisen was largely a non-event.
He had only six disposals – the least of any player on the ground if you exclude Aaron Naughton and Mitch Duncan who were subbed out of the contest after suffering injuries in the first half.
It wasn’t a one-off, either.
Johannisen had just eight disposals in his previous two games and has now been unable to reach nine disposals in five of his past seven matches – none of which he has been medical substitute for.
Against Geelong on Friday night, Johannisen had seven different opponents according to Champion Data.
Collectively, those opponents gathered 10 disposals while opposed to Johannisen, as opposed to the Bulldogs forward’s six.
Of course, the game is about more than just disposals and the small forward role is difficult to play.
However, Johannisen also rates only average for forward 50 pressure, below average for forward 50 marks and below average for tackles.
While he does have solid score assist numbers – averaging 1.6 a game – he has kicked only six goals from 11 games where he has got on the field this season.
All this in a team that ranks No.1 for inside-50s this season.
Johannisen wouldn’t be in the side if he wasn’t doing as coach Luke Beveridge had asked, but is the small forward role really the best fit for him?
VIDEO: ROHAN’S AFTER SIREN MIRACLE IN HEART-STOPPING EPIC
Geelong has celebrated a memorable win over the Western Bulldogs with a Gary Rohan goal after the siren in a match soured for both teams by injuries to key players.
The Cats trailed by a solitary point in the dying seconds of the clash at GMHBA Stadium, before a forward half intercept with just 34 seconds to go ended in a Rohan mark inside 50 with 28 seconds remaining on the clock.
Rohan went back and took his opportunity from 45m out on a tight angle to seal a five-point win.
“It was pretty good,” Rohan said.
“I just backed my routine. That’s all I can do. I had full confidence in my routine and that’s all I did and it went through.
“I just went back and calmed my nerves, went through my routine and the result was finished.”
The Rohan goal ended a hard-fought tussle which was goal-for-goal for much of the night.
The biggest margin of the match was to the Bulldogs when they held an 11-point lead at the 12-minute-mark of the second quarter.
ONE POINT DOWN
— AFL (@AFL) June 18, 2021
SHOT AFTER THE SIREN
GARY ROHAN WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!#FootyOhWhatAFeeling | #AFLCatsDogspic.twitter.com/Ag4joSBbkh
“We knew it would be a hard contested ball game so we just had to stick with them,” Rohan said.
“We were lucky at the end.”
Both sides were forced to use their medical substitutes in the opening half, with injuries that could have major effects going forward.
Star Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan fell awkwardly in a marking contest early in the opening quarter and hurt his right knee.
Duncan was subbed out of the game midway through the first quarter, replaced by Shaun Higgins.
Duncan, 30, had missed Round 11 with a concussion and sat out the first two rounds of the season following pre-season calf issues.
However, he had been one of Geelong’s most consistent performers in the first part of the season and had averaged 26.1 disposals and 7.9 score involvements this year.
The Cats also lost Lachie Henderson (hip) to injury before the match, the key defender a late out for Quinton Narkle.
There are no spare seats around Gary Rohan's locker 🚫 #GeelongStrongpic.twitter.com/Mf6rXgUbXy
— Geelong Cats (@GeelongCats) June 18, 2021
The Bulldogs were also left hurting, with their loss compounded by a rib injury to key forward Aaron Naughton.
Naughton was subbed out at halftime after a heavy collision with Geelong’s Jed Bews in the dying seconds of the second term.
Naughton had been one of the leading key forwards in the competition this season, ranking first in the competition for marks inside-50 entering the contest.
Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about Chris Scott after Gary Rohan kicked the match-winner tonight #AFLCatsDogshttps://t.co/kZB60i0UbY
— Tonile Wortley (@tonilereads) June 18, 2021
STEWART EQUALS THE RECORD
Tom Stewart recovered from a very uncharacteristic turnover in the opening minutes, which directly led to the first goal of the game via Tom Liberatore, to play a sensational game in defence. He took 10 intercept marks, equalling the record, and also registered 27 disposals, 13 total marks and 15 total intercepts. His amazing effort midway through the third quarter to dive on the loose ball on the goal line before Bailey Smith was able to get a foot to it was ultimately also crucial.
INJURY CARNAGE CRUELS STARS
Both sides were forced to use their medical substitutes in the opening half, with injuries that could have major effects going forward.
Star Geelong midfielder Mitch Duncan fell awkwardly in a marking contest early in the opening quarter and hurt his right knee.
Duncan was subbed out of the game midway through the first quarter, replaced by Shaun Higgins.
Duncan, 30, had missed Round 11 with a concussion and sat out the first two rounds of the season following pre-season calf issues.
However, he had been one of Geelong’s most consistent performers in the first part of the season and had averaged 26.1 disposals and 7.9 score involvements this year.
The Cats also lost Lachie Henderson (hip) to injury before the match, the key defender a late out for Quinton Narkle.
The Bulldogs were also left hurting, with their loss compounded by a rib injury to key forward Aaron Naughton.
Naughton was subbed out at halftime after a heavy collision with Geelong’s Jed Bews in the dying seconds of the second term.
Naughton had been one of the leading key forwards in the competition this season, ranking first in the competition for marks inside-50 entering the contest.
BULLDOGS BRAVE, BUT FALL SHORT
Tom Liberatore (31), Marcus Bontempelli (30) and Jack Macrae (35) were immense for the Bulldogs, combining for 96 disposals, but their efforts were all ultimately in vain. Liberatore had a game-high 11 clearances and 20 contested possessions as well. The Cats finished with more disposals (404-354), marks (79-65) and contested possessions (156-141).
BRUCE’S OWN PERSONAL HIGHLIGHT REEL
In what was a largely scrappy, tight affair, Josh Bruce produced a couple of sensational highlights. At the 20-minute mark of the second quarter, he converted a magnificent set snap shot from 40m out on the boundary line after out-marking both Jake Kolodjashnij and Jack Henry. And then five minutes after half-time, he outdid himself as he made the most of Tom Stewart falling over before pouncing on the loose ball, running to 48m out on the boundary line and floating it home which was an effort Lance Franklin would’ve been proud of.
50 out on the run on the wrong side for a left footer?
— AFL (@AFL) June 18, 2021
Nah that is absolutely outrageous Josh Bruce 😳#ColesGoals | #AFLCatsDogspic.twitter.com/wIZ1i1TdEI
SMITH BACK TO HIS ROOTS
The game had a country footy feel late in the second term when Isaac Smith was forced to jump into the stands to retrieve the ball as it was in an unattended part of the ground. After collecting the pill, he raised it proudly to the crowd in the adjoining Reg Hickey stand who duly acknowledged him.
SCOREBOARD
CATS 1.4 6.6 9.10 12.11 (83)
BULLDOGS 1.4 5.5 9.8 11.12 (78)
LERNER’S BEST
Cats: Stewart, Menegola, Selwood, Smith, Henry, Tuohy, Guthrie.
Bulldogs: Liberatore, Bontempelli, Macrae, Gardner, Keath, Bruce, Daniel.
GOALS
Cats: Cameron 2, Menegola 2, Rohan 2, Close, Hawkins, Dahlhaus, Parfitt, Ratugolea, Selwood.
Bulldogs: Bruce 3, Scott 2, Liberatore, Weightman, Johannisen, Bontempelli, Daniel, McLean.
INJURIES
Cats: Duncan (right knee). Bulldogs: Naughton (ribs).
LATE CHANGES Lachie Henderson (hip) replaced in Geelong’s selected side by Quinton Narkle, Stefan Martin (shoulder) replaced in the Bulldogs’ selected side by Toby McLean.
UMPIRES Stephens, Gavine, Williamson
VENUE Kardinia Park
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LERNER’S VOTES
3 T.Stewart (Geel)
2 T.Liberatore (WB)
1 M.Bontempelli (WB)
Fringe Cat looking elsewhere as trio close in on deals
Jon Ralph
Geelong’s trio of free agents Joel Selwood, Cam Guthrie and Lachie Henderson are on track to sign new deals with the ageing premiership contender for 2022.
But Geelong first-round pick Jordan Clark is destined to explore a trade request that would likely see him end up at Fremantle next year if the Cats granted his wish.
West Australian Clark would be perfect fit at the Dockers given his speed and talent, especially if fellow first-round pick Adam Cerra decides to return to Melbourne from Fremantle.
Cerra is still debating his future after strong interest from Richmond and Carlton, with his teammates believing he is likely to return to Melbourne.
The Cats played 10 players 30 and over in their team against Port Adelaide as the club goes all-out for an elusive flag.
Captain Selwood is out of contract but both parties are in dialogue about his future with a deal expected to be sorted out in coming months.
Guthrie is an unrestricted free agent and in the hottest form of his career after winning last year’s best-and-fairest and being awarded an All Australian jumper.
He is managed by his father in a departure from usual convention but talks are progressing on a new multi-year for Guthrie, who turns 29 in August.
Guthrie’s brother Zach has played eight games so far this year and 28 across his five-season career with the Cats.
Henderson is not yet in contract talks but the Cats are open to him playing on again given his excellent form as a marking defender.
The future of Clark, the club’s No. 15 draft pick in the 2018 national draft, is much murkier.
It is expected he will attempt to move elsewhere but he is contracted at the Cats, with football boss Simon Lloyd telling the Herald Sun recently the club saw him as a long-term prospect.
He remained at Geelong despite trade interest last year, with captain Selwood mentoring him as he worked at his craft.
Clark was aware he would need to work hard for his opportunities given the Cats’ welter of elite midfielders.
But both Clark and Quinton Narkle have been shut-out of the senior side, with Narkle dropped for the clash against the Bulldogs.
He has 34 possessions against Gold Coast, 24 against Collingwood and was then the unused medical sub against Port Adelaide.
Fremantle are building an enviable list of young talent, but if Adam Cerra left the Dockers they would be desperate to secure ready-made players like Clark in return.
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