AFL Round 20 North Melbourne v Geelong: All the analysis and news as Cats finish strong in Hobart
On a day when the Rising Star favourite George Wardlaw was involved in an incident that may draw MRO heat, a Geelong young gun took centre stage – and surprised his coach again.
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Young Geelong star Ollie Dempsey would be a worthy winner of the Rising Star Award, his proud coach Chris Scott says, admitting he had been surprised by the 21-year-old’s rapid development.
Dempsey exhibited stellar opportunistic forward craft at Bellerive against North Melbourne on Saturday, stealing the ball out of Aidan Corr’s hands for the Cats’ first goal and then producing a stunning volley in the second term.
Post-match, when asked if Dempsey was a chance of taking home the annual gong, Chris Scott said it would be “appropriate” if he did but there would be strong competition for the award.
However, Scott said Dempsey’s “super” season, which had yielded 18 majors from 20 games, had surpassed his expectations.
“Ollie’s had a great year, he’s maybe developed a little bit quicker than we thought,” Scott said.
“He wasn’t as physically developed as some other young players.
“He came from a long way back, didn’t play footy as a junior. He’s got a real feel for the game, especially for a guy who hasn’t played much junior footy.
“His instincts have been really good, he’s been a real win for us.”
Dempsey’s chances of winning the award might get another boost with fellow Rising Star fancy George Wardlaw in danger of being knocked out of the race following an incident in the second term.
The North Melbourne onballer – who was favourite to win last week – is expected to come under scrutiny from the AFL match review officer after appearing to stick his right leg out and trip Geelong’s Shaun Mannagh during the second quarter in Hobart.
“If it’s more than a fine, it (the award) is Ollie Dempsey’s,” Fox Footy commentator David King said.
Does Wardlaw have anything to worry about for this incident? 🤔
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) July 27, 2024
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Scott also praised three-goal star Tyson Stengle who bagged a crucial brace to stifle a North revival in the third term in the Apple Isle.
“They were really important (goals),” Scott said.
“North were coming at us, Tyson’s a dangerous player.
“I like it when he really steps up when the team’s under a bit of pressure, he’s a handful.”
He also praised the offensive games of Shaun Mannagh and Ollie Henry, who both kicked two each.
Meanwhile, Scott it was an emphatic response from the Cats who were on the back foot in the opening minutes in largely unfamiliar conditions, as North kicked the first three majors.
“We thought it was a really strong performance to arrest that momentum early on and then play well for the final three and a half quarters,” he said.
He said last round’s 47-point loss to the Western Bulldogs was “a little bit out of the box” but he had been mindful not to “overreact” or overcorrect during the week, with strategy or selection.
“It feels like every game you play is hard work,” he said.
“If we were off (today), we would have been beaten, that was clear from early in the game it was a possibility.
“We were really pleased (with our performance), we knew what to expect from them, they’ve been really consistent and dangerous, especially over the last month.
“They know the ground better than we do.”
He confirmed Gary Rohan would miss next round after going through concussion protocols after a head clash with Tom Powell while Sam De Koning would be fine after receiving a knock to his knee.
Match Report: Roos can’t handle Geelong’s magic double act
Geelong’s push for a top-four finish is back on track after accounting for a tenacious North Melbourne in Hobart as a magical Tyson Stengle returned to top form and tip a game in the balance in favour of the Cats.
The Roos haven’t beaten Geelong since 2015 and Saturday’s match largely played to script as the visitors bounced back from a horror showing last round against the Western Bulldogs to win by 40 points.
North had the edge in the midfield, with Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tom Powell, Harry Sheezel and Tristan Xerri putting up big numbers, but couldn’t convert that dominance into enough scoreboard pressure.
Meanwhile, the Cats showed their versatility, with Sam De Koning moved to more familiar terrain down back to man Nick Larkey and Jeremy Cameron shifted further up the ground after a dirty opening half.
While their pressure was high when it counted, the Cats reminded the competition of its potency, dexterity and wealth of options in the forward line with red-hot Rising Star contender Ollie Dempsey provided two majors which defined the meaning of opportunistic forward craft.
The other Ollie in the forward line, Henry, also had sticky fingers, pulling down a number of strong contested grabs and kicking a pair after a barren few months in the hoops.
And then there was Stengle, who had kicked three majors from his past three outings, slotted an important brace after North had trimmed the lead to just 10 points in the third term and appeared to be coming hard.
Tom Stewart was best on though, finishing with 32 touches – including 13 intercepts – in a further sign he’s back to peak form in a remodelled role in the midfield.
Earlier, it was the Kangaroos who got the jump as they moved the ball through fast handball (65-30 for the quarter) off half back to kick the first three goals.
But the Geelong defence was miserly after that hot start, with the likes of Stewart, Jack Henry and Zach Guthrie collecting plenty of intercept marks and the poised Lawson Humphries providing superb drive, especially in the opening half.
Skipper Patrick Dangerfield, who had been quiet for three quarters, retreated backwards into a pack to take a courageous grab just before the final break bell.
His accurate conversion put the Cats up by 28 and North never threatened after that.
“That last minute and a half of the third quarter, we’ll rue that little period,” North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson said post-match.
“They scored three goals in that period of time.
“You’re still a chance to get into the game from that point, but it makes it hard work doesn’t it when you concede goals like that.
“That was disappointing. Those three quick goals put a fizz on things for us.”
Individual brilliance from Tyson Stengle ðŸ‘#AFLNorthCatspic.twitter.com/pS1EXPhV94
— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2024
Oliver Dempsey out of mid-air! 🤩#AFLNorthCatspic.twitter.com/Ig2nQSuADx
— AFL (@AFL) July 27, 2024
Dempsey’s delight
Dempsey is fast becoming the man who makes something out of nothing more often than most.
With the Cats down by three goals early in the game, the former basketballer, who plays the game with a smile on his dial, stole the ball from Aidan Corr’s hands to kick his side’s first.
The 21-year-old then completed a stunning volley in the second term to underline his unique importance to the Cats.
It was very similar to the stunning toe poke in the wet against Essendon in Round 16.
His brilliance was in stark difference to key forward Jeremy Cameron, who’s radar was off, dropping marks and turning the ball over by foot.
Fortunately for the Cats, his second half was much stronger, after roaming further up the ground.
Ollie Henry’s sticky fingers
The former Pie, whose season had lost almost all momentum, reminded Cats fans why he’s a key part of the future down at Kardinia Park.
Henry had kicked two goals since Round 11 coming into the game, with four consecutive goalless matches.
However, in the opening half, the 21-year-old pulled down a number of telling grabs with a fine set shot in the second term to extend Geelong’s lead after an early Roos assault.
Overall, the Cats intercept game was far too good for North.
Ladder implications
The Cats, who came into the game in seventh spot, leapt to third after the win, but who knows where they could finish by the end of Round 20.
It’s been an incredibly even season with eight points separating Carlton in second and Hawthorn in 11th before the ball was bounced on Saturday at Bellerive.
However, for Geelong it was an important confidence booster after last Saturday night’s horror show.
Scoreboard
NORTH MELBOURNE 3.1 4.3 7.4 10.6 (66)
GEELONG 3.4 6.5 11.8 16.10 (106)
BEST
Kangaroos: Xerri, Sheezel, Davies-Uniacke, Simpkin, Larkey, Powell.
Cats: Stewart, Stengle, Dempsey, Holmes, Humphries, J Henry.
GOALS
Kangaroos: Larkey 3, Duursma 2, Simpkin, Zurhaar, Curtis, Sheezel, Teakle.
Cats: Stengle, Dempsey 3, Mannagh, Cameron, Henry 2, Neale, Holmes, Close.
INJURIES Kangaroos: Nil. Cats: Rohan (head knock).
at Blundstone Arena
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BEN CAMERON’S VOTES
3 Tom Stewart
2 Tristan Xerri
1 Harry Sheezel
Originally published as AFL Round 20 North Melbourne v Geelong: All the analysis and news as Cats finish strong in Hobart
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