Cats coach Chris Scott says Joel Selwood, Jack Steven both in line for possible returns against Kangaroos
Skipper Joel Selwood looms as a crucial inclusion for Geelong against North Melbourne as it looks to put Saturday night’s disappointing loss to West Coast behind it. But another star Cat could also make his return.
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Geelong coach Chris Scott says the Cats proved they can match the competition’s best on Saturday night and will head to Queensland feeling they are in better form than their 1-2 record in the Perth hub suggests.
The Cats had West Coast under control in the first half of a thriller at Optus Stadium, building a 22-point lead with relentless pressure before the Eagles rattled home on the back of star ruckman Nic Naitanui to win by nine points.
Scott said there were no excuses for the loss, but he was optimistic about the form his team was building as they welcome back key players, including captain Joel Selwood, and prepare to tackle North Melbourne at the Gabba in four days.
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“It’s always bitterly disappointing when you lose a game like that, but I think in the fullness of time we’ll come away more positive than negative around our performance,” Scott said.
“We had control of the game for large periods. They’ve got some weapons that are clear for everyone to see. When they had the game on their terms, they were very hard to stop.
“But I think tonight gave us a little bit of confidence that we’re not out of touch with the best teams in the comp, and I think West Coast here is in that conversation.”
Geelong leave Perth with a win against Fremantle and losses against Collingwood and West Coast, sliding out of the top four during a period that has seen injuries to key players hamper their progress.
Still, Scott said the Perth leg of the 2020 season had been “better than the scoreboard suggests”.
“I think it’s been a more successful three weeks than that. It feels like we’re building something,” he said.
“It’s still hard to get a read on the competition. It’s very much a case of not who you play, it’s when you play them.
“Until you work through who’s played who, I still think the ladder might be a little deceptive.”
Naitanui was unstoppable at stoppages on Saturday night, controlling Geelong pair Esava Ratugolea and Mark Blicavs and finishing with 34 hit-outs and six score involvements.
Scott said it was “hard not to be mesmerised with some of the stuff he can do”.
The Cats will now take a day to assess their stocks ahead of the Kangaroos clash, with Selwood available to return from a hamstring injury and midfielder Jack Steven in the mix.
“I think we’ve got half a dozen to eight players who can come in and do a job for us,” he said.
“Some of those are really good players coming back, from injury, but we’ll take the next day or two to work through that and see where everyone is at.
“We’ve got a bit of confidence in the depth of our squad.
“He (Steven) is pretty close. If it’s not this week I’d say we’d play him next week.”
CATS ON RECEIVING END OF KELLY’S OLD TRICKS
Geelong looked like it had found the secret to unpicking West Coast but fell victim to a powerful second half fightback from the premiership favourites, who won a Saturday night thriller at Optus Stadium by nine points.
The Cats built a 22-point lead halfway through the second quarter, taking away the Eagles’ marking game with a high-pressure assault that had them poised for a memorable win.
But the Eagles proved they are on another level, kicking four of the last five goals to win 11.7 (73) to 10.4 (64) in a classic clash that was sealed by champion forward Josh Kennedy in the last two minutes.
The 2018 premiers moved equal on points with fourth-placed St Kilda, winning their fifth straight match as they build fearsome form during an extended run at home.
Ruckman Nic Naitanui was sublime at stoppages, setting up midfielders Luke Shuey and former Cat Tim Kelly with his vast array of artistic taps.
Kelly and the Cats
The reason West Coast chased Tim Kelly so hard was encapsulated at the opening bounce in the star midfielder’s first game against his former club.
Nic Naitanui won the tap down to captain Luke Shuey, who handballed to Kelly on the burst, with the 26-year-old sending the ball deep to Josh Kennedy for the opening goal.
It was the new Eagles’ midfield at its best, and it all happened in 12 seconds.
The Cats know as well as anyone how dangerous Kelly can be, and there was clearly still great respect between the clearance specialist and his former teammates.
Kelly played a crucial role in ending West Coast’s 2019 season as one of the Cats’ stars, kicking two goals in last year’s semi-final victory.
He was among West Coast’s best on Saturday night with 23 possessions and five clearances, with his clean handling in traffic a clear sign he is on top of his game right now.
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Was that the blueprint to strangle slick Eagles?
The Cats showed they knew how to beat the Eagles. They just didn’t maintain the pressure for long enough.
West Coast averaged an AFL-high 84 marks before Saturday night’s clash, but there is a massive contrast in their ability to get into space and mark in wins and losses.
During a three-match losing streak their marking totals were restricted to 56 (Gold Coast), 47 (Brisbane) and 71 (Port Adelaide), and Geelong had taken notice.
The Cats took away the Eagles’ ability to control play and share the ball with their relentless pressure in the first half.
At the main break, the Eagles had taken just 27 marks, with Geelong controlling uncontested ball 100-76 and making West Coast scratch for every forward entry.
The biggest loser? Josh Kennedy. Where the Eagles spearhead had received silver service against Collingwood and booted, he was now leaping from four deep in packs as the Cats ensured nothing came easy.
When the Cats’ pressure subsided, Kennedy came into the game and was a matchwinner with four goals.
Cats interceptor shows his value
Geelong defender tom Stewart was back to his best on Saturday night in his second game back after recovering from a collarbone injury.
The All Australian was superb across half-back with a game-high 11 intercepts to go with his 22 disposals.
Geelong was severely undermanned as its stay in Perth came to an end, with the absence of captain Joel Selwood felt in the midfield and champion Gary Ablett missing across half-forward.
But Stewart showed how valuable a good interceptor is, with the Cats hoping their key ingredients can come together as they relocate to Brisbane.
SCOREBOARD
WEST COAST 3.0 4.2 7.6 11.7 (73)
GEELONG 4.0 7.0 9.2 10.4 (64)
Goals
West Coast: Kennedy 4, Sheed 2, Darling 2, Cripps, Ryan, Ah Chee
Geelong: Hawkins 2, Tuohy 2, Duncan, Dangerfield, Menegola, Parfitt, Miers, Simpson
Best
West Coast: Naitanui, Kelly, Shuey, Sheed, Kennedy, Yeo, Ryan
Geelong: Stewart, Duncan, Guthrie, Tuohy, Dangerfield, Miers, Menegola
Injuries
West Coast: Edwards (concussion)
Geelong: Nil
Nathan Schmook’s votes
3. N Naitnui (West Coast)
2. T Kelly (West Coast)
1. T Stewart (Geel)
Originally published as Cats coach Chris Scott says Joel Selwood, Jack Steven both in line for possible returns against Kangaroos
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