Should the Cats worry as the Lions flex their midfield muscle?

Geelong coach Chris Scott had reasons to consider the way they lost to the Brisbane Lions in Patrick Dangerfield’s milestone match an outlier.

A full bottle of whiteout would not have hidden their many mistakes as they kicked poorly, missed shots at goal and were sloppy by hand. A full bottle of wine was a better option to help put such an uncharacteristic performance into perspective.

Will Ashcroft wasn’t the only Lions midfielder flexing his muscle.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

But the Cats must be concerned at the record of the Lions, the reigning premier who have now beaten Geelong three times at three different venues in their past 16 games.

This was the most comprehensive victory both in terms of the margin and the manner as the Lions deep midfield exposed Geelong’s high quality but still relatively threadbare – in comparison – set of midfielders.

The Lions won the first four centre clearances and led the inside-50 count 15-3 and kicked four goals before Geelong kicked a major.

In that time Lachie Neale, Cam Rayner, Hugh McCluggage, Will Ashcroft and Josh Dunkley took their turn at the centre bounce with Darcy Fort and Sam Day rucking. The Cats’ dynamic duo Bailey Smith and Max Holmes were joined by Tom Atkins, Mark O’Connor and Mark Blicavs with Rhys Stanley and Shannon Neale rucking.

It was no contest; they were thrashed, forcing Scott to push the half-forwards up to the contest making Geelong vulnerable when the ball spat out into space. He tried Patrick Dangerfield too, but that was a short-term solution to what shapes as a long-term problem.

“If they are not the best, and they probably are, then they are the deepest. Their first-, second- and third-year guys are guns, and it is not as if they are relying on them to be their first, second or third midfielders,” Scott said. “They are behind a Brownlow Medallist and another guy who might win it, just in their midfield, so they are going to be well served for a while yet, I reckon.”

He didn’t need to mention Levi Ashcroft had started on the bench and Jaspa Fletcher on a flank. If the Cats have the Bash Brothers in Holmes and Smith then the Lions can raise them with the Ashcroft Brothers, Will and Levi.

Throw in Zac Bailey galloping through the middle and Darcy Wilmot and the veteran Dayne Zorko and the depth extends to all areas of the ground.

Geelong champ Patrick Dangerfield was on the losing team after a week spent recognising his brilliant career.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

Lions coach Chris Fagan was most impressed with Rayner, the No.1 pick who is delivering. After years of nearly being there, Rayner is now a great player, his strength and confidence growing. He had five clearances and kicked three goals, two of them coming at the start of the third and fourth quarter to extinguish any hope the crowd might find voice.

“We have come to understand him and his strengths. It has taken us a little bit of time and how it all fits in with our system but in the last couple of years we have discovered that,” Fagan said.

He led the way along with Will Ashcroft and Dunkley as Neale, a dual Brownlow medallist, was kept quiet by a gallant Tom Atkins, who tried to lift his team.

The question now is what Scott can plot to overcome the weight of numbers that is turning the tide the Lions way.

The Cats remain in good shape and they are a strong chance to meet the Lions again in September.

Geelong can point to poor kicking and an off-night and be right. But the biggest cat in the AFL jungle flexed their muscle on Friday night to take the Lions back into the top two.

Fagan even admitted they have been at their best when facing the biggest of challenges this season. This was the last hoodoo of his reign. Beating Geelong at Geelong was something the Lions had not managed since 2003.

The signs are good with more than half the season over.

“When we got to the bye last year we were 13th. When we get to the bye this year we’re second,” Fagan said.

“I’m pretty pleased with where we are at, but it’s a hard competition so you have to keep going, don’t you.”

It’s going to take a mighty effort for any team to knock them off when it matters now.

Geelong are back in the chasing pack.

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