Geelong defeats Melbourne: Unlikely hero Rhys Stanley impresses against Max Gawn and allows Sam De Koning to shine

A Geelong late change and a subsequent injury may be a blessing in disguise for the Cats, as a whipping boy helped play a talented tall into form.

Sam De Koning honed his craft this pre-season in preparation to be Geelong’s No.1 ruck.

Until an hour before Geelong’s win over Melbourne, he was still the Cats’ No.1 ruck.

But an all-too-familiar Geelong late change and a subsequent injury may be a blessing in disguise for the Cats and De Koning.

The defender-turned ruckman had been tactically subbed out Geelong’s disappointing defeat against Brisbane last week, which came after he was monstered by Rowan Marshall the previous week.

And Melbourne ruck star Max Gawn awaited him.

Versatile veteran Mark Blicavs’ late withdrawal with illness forced De Koning into defence with 34-year-old Rhys Stanley coming in at the eleventh hour. Then Jack Henry’s hamstring blow ensured De Koning stayed in the defensive 50 for longer.

Rhys Stanley battled hard against Max Gawn. Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong’s whipping boy, Stanley has been written off countless times – and unfairly so.

But in the first AFL game of his 17th season, Stanley was the Cats’ unlikely hero.

In the first half, Stanley managed to curb the influence of the all-important Gawn — who was restricted to just two effective disposals — kept the clearance count even, and pushed forward to have an impact himself.

Stanley wound back the clock in the second quarter, coming from nowhere to take a big leaping mark back with the flight before slotting the goal.

Gawn got on top around the ground – nothing like his 2021 preliminary final display, though – but Stanley continued to impact around the ground and was Geelong’s third ranked player on the ground with 23 hit-outs, 11 disposals, and 112 SuperCoach points.

In comparison, Gawn finished with 34 hit-outs, 15 disposals, 12 contested possessions and 122 SuperCoach points — still a strong game, but not as dominant as expected considering the seven-time All-Australian’s standing.

Most importantly, Stanley allowed De Koning to get back to his best in the position where he was so dominant in the Cats’ 2022 premiership year.

Fresh off a two-year deal earlier this week, De Koning showed signs of that glittering season, reading the play nicely in defence, taking his marks – which he had been dropping at times – and using the ball with polish.

The 24-year-old also had an impact when moved into the ruck, snapping through a goal in the second term.

Sam De Koning celebrates his goal. Picture: Michael Klein

With the game still in the balance, the pair combined: De Koning took a strong clunk and kicked up the line where Stanley took a big contested mark in front of Gawn.

Henry will likely miss the best part of a month, and while a defence without the interceptor, Blicavs and Jake Kolodjashnij – who hasn’t played this season due to injury – would have sent shivers down any Cats supporter’s spine, they have two other very capable key defenders in De Koning and Connor O’Sullivan.

In his fifth game, O’Sullivan took 13 marks and won plenty of crucial one-on-one contests as the talented 198 centimetre defender grows by the game.

The returning Tom Stewart was limping at one stage in the first half after a knee knock but proved to be pivotal, while Zach Guthrie had a lazy 17 marks and 30 disposals himself.

At the other end, Geelong’s forwards were well held for most of the match but Shannon Neale, the returning Shaun Mannagh, Tyson Stengle and Ollie Henry all had important moments in the second half.

The Cats had gone to sleep after halftime across the first three rounds, going -59 in third terms and scoring just five majors – four of those coming against St Kilda.

This time, the Cats managed to equalise in the premiership quarter.

Geelong faces one of the best attacking sides in the competition next week in Adelaide away from home, and its defence will have to bring their A-game again.

And as Friday night showed, De Koning should play primarily in their back six with stints in the ruck, not the other way around.

Originally published as Geelong defeats Melbourne: Unlikely hero Rhys Stanley impresses against Max Gawn and allows Sam De Koning to shine