Jimmy Bartel ordains ‘complete’ Geelong for tilt at AFL flag
The first frenzy of football is at an end and the Cats have firmed in the premiership race after strong form in Perth and Queensland.
Geelong’s clinical dismantling of top-placed Port Adelaide on Friday has fuelled belief that the Cats have found a solution to their September shortcomings of recent seasons.
For much of 2020, the Cats have been considered when holding possession of the football, holding up play after marking before finding a free teammate to pass to.
It has been successful, but Geelong demonstrated its versatility in the 10-goal defeat of the Power by accelerating regularly after marking in a clear adjustment of tempo.
While a seven-goal final quarter added a flourish to their performance, the Cats controlled a leading premiership rival throughout.
Brownlow medallist Jimmy Bartel, a three-time premiership Cat, believes Geelong is the best-balanced side among the flag favourites this year.
Bartel was a champion with Geelong but is a board member of the Giants, whose finals hopes are in peril given their recent form.
“If you look across the ground, they are complete,” Bartel said.
“With other sides in the top eight, you can go, maybe if they get to a big final, there might be a forward missing, or a defender, maybe some outside run (lacking), whereas I think maybe the Cats are the most complete.”
The Cats have shortened from a price of $15 a fortnight ago to second favourites for the premiership at $6 with the TAB behind West Coast ($4.50) at the completion of the first fast-tracked frenzy of football.
They have handled the compressed phase of the fixture well and are sitting in the top two in several statistical categories related to disposals and scoring after 12 rounds.
Geelong sits seventh in terms of their inside 50 metre entries, but this is testament to both the efficiency of their forward line and also the clinical quality of their disposal when entering attack.
The Cats’ defence is also the most miserly to date this season.
After conceding 105 points against the Giants prior to the shutdown in March, they have conceded more than 60 points only twice since.
They lost both outings, including the upset against the Blues in Geelong in round three and to West Coast in arguably the match of the season in round nine.
“You look at their back six. It is well organised, it is experienced, they have played a lot of footy together,” Bartel told RSN 927.
“Their midfield group has got depth and the young players they have added are not really that young in a football sense.
“You look forward of the ball and they are going to add a guy who has played a little bit of footy, you might have seen some of his work, in Gary Ablett Jnr. He is not a bad player to add to a forward line.”
The key for the Cats will be to replicate their form in the finals, which has proven an issue for various reasons since their last success in 2011, but they are well-positioned.
Should the current top four sides hold their form and fitness through the next month, it will be a challenge for rivals including reigning premier Richmond to dislodge them.
The Tigers have a harder draw than the top four in the last six rounds, which includes another compressed phase of matches.
But clashes against West Coast and Geelong mean their double-chance hopes are in their hands.
They will welcome back several premiership stars in coming weeks, according to coach Damien Hardwick.
So superb against Richmond in Round 11, the top-placed Power was well beaten by Geelong. Brisbane Lions’ inaccuracy continues to be a concern and almost cost the second-placed side against North Melbourne on Saturday in what would have been a disastrous loss.
West Coast has been superb over the past seven weeks, but suffered another injury blow with versatile star Elliot Yeo sidelined for at least four matches. The Eagles will be hopeful their difficult hub experience earlier this year has them better-prepared for their next road trip.
Injury-stricken Collingwood, which once held premiership favouritism, is now listed at $15 along with the struggling Giants.
Hawthorn’s hopes were extinguished when it fell to West Coast by 32 points on Sunday night. The Hawks, who have lost six of their seven outings since leaving Victoria, suffered a major blow with confirmation versatile star James Sicily had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.
More Coverage
LISTEN |
— RSN Breakfast Club (@RSNBreakfast) August 16, 2020
The Monday Footy Review with Jimmy Bartel, who were the big winners and losers from the weekend of footy?https://t.co/P41ks27meX
Building brands: How AFL stars are capitalising on fame
Whether it’s a podcast, cooking up a storm or slinging drinks, these AFL stars are making a splash off the field. It’s the new generation – and it’s only the beginning.
Track watch: Port gives glimpse into Lukosius plans
Port Adelaide recruit Jack Lukosius has long been adamant he is best used as a forward – but, as we learnt on Friday, Ken Hinkley might have other ideas. Get all the latest match sim intel.