Geelong follows blueprint to beat Adelaide yet again

TOM Hawkins let the cat out of the bag when the he said Geelong had a blueprint to beat Adelaide. After another emphatic victory, this is what the secret document likely contains.

Daniel Menzel (No.10) celebrates a last quarter goal with Patrick Dangerfield and Nakia Cockatoo. Picture: Michael Klein

NEAR the end of Tom Hawkins’ press conference to celebrate his 200th game during the week, the Cats full-forward let something out of the bag.

“We feel like we’ve got a blueprint that when we’re playing at our best we can beat them.”

The word “blueprint” sent off alarm bells and a day later Geelong coach Chris Scott tried his best to hose it down.

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A look at the recent record suggests the Tomahawk was certainly the one who was to be believed given Geelong had won its past four encounters with the Crows.

So what points are on this secret Geelong blueprint?

1. We don’t just have one Selwood, but two

Captain Joel was, well, captain Joel. Inspirational, fearless, crazy tough and brilliant.

He suffered a badly cut head late in the first quarter when he flew back into a pack and copped an elbow from Andy Otten.

After pushing away a trainer before reluctantly going into the rooms to stop the blood, the Cats skipper was straight back out to start the second quarter.

That was the only thing that looked like stopping him as he collected 35 possessions and three Brownlow Medal votes.

Joel Selwood came off second best in this collision with Andy Otten. Picture: Getty Images

Selwood with a big cut on his head. Picture: Michael Klein

But the inclusion of younger brother Scott was just as significant. It’s no coincidence that the Cats return to form over the past three weeks has come with his return to the side.

The former West Coast Eagle adds toughness, class and a love of tackling to the midfield.

2. Tag Rory Sloane

Nothing groundbreaking here given in the Crows only two losses of the season against North Melbourne and Melbourne the key midfielder had someone in his pocket.

Scott Selwood did him over with the Cat collecting 26 touches compared to the Sloane’s 22.

3. Play a gatekeeper in defence

Adelaide loves nothing more than goals over the back. Eddie Betts, Tom Lynch and Josh Jenkins have made a living out of it so Geelong ensured they played a loose man back who never got sucked up the ground. Tom Lonergan, Lachie Henderson, Andrew Mackie and impressive youngster Tom Stewart had a field day in picking off the Crows forward ventures.

The highest scoring team in the competition kicked just 10 goals — three of them coming in junk time late.

Tom Stewart spoils Rory Sloane. Picture: Getty Images

4. Don’t worry about the bookies price, Adelaide is overrated

After being exposed by North Melbourne in Tasmania and then Melbourne on their home deck, the Crows beat up on two ordinary sides in Brisbane and Fremantle and were suddenly declared back in town. As Donald Trump would say: “Fake news”.

5. The Crows midfield isn’t elite

This was the suspicion coming into the season. But there had been enough signs from the likes of the Crouch brothers, Richard Douglas, Wayne Milera, Rory Atkins and Charlie Cameron that this may have been incorrect.

Matched against a serious A plus midfield, they were invisible. For example Milera and Atkins had 14 disposals each with Cameron just eight.

6. We’re got Nakia Cockatoo

He runs around like a headless chook for much of the evening but what Cockatoo does do is hurt people when he tackles.

In the opening quarter he rattled a couple of Crows including important playmaker Rory Laird who was forced from the ground to collect his thoughts.

After famously laying just 14 tackles in a half against Essendon, the Cats have been inspired in that department since. Cockatoo thrives on it and had seven tackles last night — Scott Selwood had 10.

Nakia Cockatoo shrugs off Charlie Cameron. Picture: Michael Klein

7. We have a fortress again

After having to wait until Round 9 to play their first game at the new Simonds Stadium, the Cats are back to their old ways of being ridiculously hard to play against on the home deck. Three wins in as many weeks has them up to second spot on the ladder and remaining in the premiership conversation.

8. We stole Patrick Dangerfield from them

It’s pretty obvious that the Brownlow Medallist has no intention of letting his former club win a premiership before he does. More Brownlow votes thanks to 31 possessions and three goals.

Patrick Dangerfield was brilliant again. Picture: Michael Klein

8. Get it in their head by “accidentally” letting the fact we have a blueprint out in the media

T.Hawkins. Tick.

GEELONG 3.6 9.10 12.13 13.18 (96)

ADELAIDE 2.3 5.5 7.9 10.14 (74)

GOALS

Cats: Dangerfield 3, Menzel 3, Hawkins 2, Taylor 2, Selwood, Motlop, Parsons

Crows: Walker 3, Lynch 2, Jenkins 2, Cameron, Betts, Otten

BEST

Cats: J.Selwood, S.Selwood, Dangerfield, Tuohy, Mackie, Z.Smith

Crows: Lever, Lynch, M.Crouch, B.Crouch, Kelly

INJURIES

Cats: J.Selwood (cut head)

Crows: Lever (ankle)

Reports: Nil

Official crowd: 30,468 at Simonds Stadium