Geelong v North Melbourne: Cats hold Roos to lowest score in club history

Joel Selwood called the Cats “boring” and if they were hoping to change that stigma against North Melbourne, the putrid Roos had other ideas, their go-slow effort setting a dubious mark in the club’s history.

Scott Gullan

@gullanHeraldSun

4 min read

August 10, 2019 - 11:22PM

Patrick Dangerfield had a huge game for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

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For those searching for answers about Geelong, don’t bother about this game.

It wasn’t all the Cats fault, in fact North Melbourne were terrible and seemed more than happy to make it as dull and boring as possible for much of the evening.

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Those who came seeking information about where Geelong’s premiership stocks sat after an ordinary month left GMHBA wondering why they bothered coming out on such a cold night.

If the Cats had kicked straight — Tom Hawkins’ tally for the night was 2.4 goals — the final margin of 55-points could easily have been doubled.

North’s final score of 1.8 (14) was the lowest in the club’s history.

This putrid effort surpassed the previous low of 2.7 (19), which was also against the Cats back in Round 1, 1930, at Corio Oval.

Patrick Dangerfield had a huge game for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong midfield star Mitch Duncan admitted to being surprised to learn the Cats had kept North to their lowest score in history.

“It didn’t feel like that out there . . . to hold them to one goal is pretty impressive,” Duncan said.

The clear positive for the Cats was the best-on-ground performance by Quinton Narkle in his first game of the year while Gryan Miers returned to form with three goals.

There was obviously more steel about the defensive set-up compared to the previous week against Fremantle while Brandan Parfitt again showed why he is such a crucial part of the Geelong set-up.

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After a disappointing month, coach Chris Scott said his team had got some of its “mojo” back in the 55-point flogging of the Kangaroos.

“Mojo is important going into the end of the season although I don’t think one week gives it to you,” Scott said.

“We did need to play better. We weren’t running away from the fact that we weren’t playing as well as we would have liked but we weren’t in a big hole as some thought.”

In the end there were two main questions to come out of the forgettable contest.

What happened to the attractive, attacking team Rhyce Shaw had created as a caretaker coach?

And can Geelong win the premiership with fullback Mark Blicavs as its No.1 ruckman?

Could Mark Blicavs be the No.1 ruckman for the Cats in their finals run? Picture: Getty Images

RUCK TWIST

The answer to the second question, if you ask Scott, could well be yes.

The coach hasn’t ruled out using full-back Blicavs as the No.1 ruckman in his team’s finals push.

The Cats made the late decision to leave out Zac Smith because of the expected wet conditions and went with the more mobile option in Blicavs.

Rhys Stanley had been the Cats main ruck option for the first half of the season but played his second consecutive game in the VFL yesterday.

“Blicavs we know that is an option for us,” Scott said.

“I wouldn’t read into tonight as necessarily being the way forward in the ruck but it could be.”

Geelong won the clearances 46-26, despite North Melbourne ruckman Todd Goldstein dominating the hit-outs 42-21.

After contesting the bounces, Blicavs would slide back to the last line and play on Roos full-forward Ben Brown in combination with Harry Taylor.

At this point Lachie Henderson, who came in for Smith, seemed to follow North ruckman Todd Goldstein around the ground but didn’t contest any ball ups.

It was all a bit odd but it paid dividends.

Young gun Quinton Narkle played a blinder for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

MUCH NEEDED SPARKLE

The Cats have been desperate for something different after a month where they’ve looked slow and lacking creativity.

Quinton Narkle has been slowly building in the VFL after a far from ideal pre-season where he didn’t return in peak condition.

As a result he’s been made to wait but the 21-year-old made up for lost time with an impressive opening half.

Narkle’s class and X-factor shone out in what was an ordinary affair and he finished with 21 possessions, four tackles, five clearances and two goals.

He also provided the goal of the night in the third quarter with some clean hands followed by a beautiful fake and clever 40 metre snap over the shoulder.

Despondent North players leave the field after their dismal effort. Picture: AAP

NO MORE SPIKE

The new coach spike didn’t last as long as the caretaker spike.

After winning their first official game under Rhyce Shaw’s leadership last week against Hawthorn, second-up syndrome struck big time.

The Kangaroos were horrible early and didn’t get their first goal until four minutes into the second quarter courtesy of a free-kick to Goldstein.

Remarkably, they didn’t get another one and went scoreless in the final quarter.

One Roo who could hold his head high was retiring defender Scott Thompson although he ended the game early after copping a heavy knock in the third term.