Dawn to Dark: All the likes and dislikes from the Cattery after round 15

We are crossing our collective fingers and toes for Tom Hawkins, but he would have dominated discussion regardless of whether he went down. Plus, the Cats’ dramatic defensive drop-off and more.

All the likes and dislikes from the Cattery after round 15. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

After flying high at the start of the season, Geelong has come crashing down with an agonising thud.

Suddenly the Cats’ season is on the line in the next fortnight with challenging match-ups against Essendon and Hawthorn to come.

And there are injuries and potential suspensions to deal with.

Here is all the likes and dislikes from the Cattery after round 15.

Tom Hawkins faces a stint on the sidelines. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

DISLIKES

1.TOMA-HAWK BLOW

Did we just see Tom Hawkins play his last game as a Cat? That was the thought running through even the most optimistic Cats fans’ head on Friday night. Speaking of optimistic, that’s how the storied goalkicker was feeling about the injury and wasn’t thinking about his future. He is not only a champion player but a champion person, and we are all crossing our collective fingers and toes that it isn’t season-ending. It would be devastating. The cruel injury blow came during one of the most significant form slumps in his career. The uncomfortable truth is if he hadn’t finished the game on the pine, his output would have been in the spotlight yet again. Hawkins has unfortunately become Jacob Weitering’s bunny. He was restricted to three touches and one mark in 83 minutes matched up against the impenetrable Blue on Friday, which continued a one-sided trend. In 422 minutes – or a tick over seven hours – in their past four meetings, Hawkins has taken just 14 marks and kicked three goals. That’s a goal every 140 minutes.

2. MIDFIELD HORROR SHOW

Geelong’s midfield has been a constant issue over the past eighteen months and it isn’t getting any better. Even with Patrick Dangerfield back they were shown up bigtime against the vaunted Carlton engine room, conceding a whopping 53 points from clearances (Geelong’s third worst return this season) and were -11 in both contested possessions and clearances. Chris Scott said on Friday night that having two of their best midfielders in the past decade out for most of the season has contributed to their struggles. But Dangerfield is 34 and has suffered two hamstring injuries this season, while the injury-hit Cam Guthrie turns 32 in August. They just can’t be relied upon anymore. And they aren’t the only side with midfield injuries: Adam Cerra and Sam Docherty weren’t out there for the Blues on Friday night either. The Cats may have to make do without Dangerfield, Tanner Bruhn and Cam Guthrie against Essendon if Dangerfield’s suspension is upheld, and they might have to look outside the square. Trade week can’t come soon enough for the Cats, where blue-chip midfielders like Bailey Smith and Clayton Oliver should be targeted.

3. STARS STUFFING THE STATSHEET

Geelong’s inability to get their hands on the ball is compounded by the ease at which the opposition does. Across the season, 20 players have racked up 30+ disposals against the Cats – including Patrick Cripps (41 disposals and 14 clearances), Sam Walsh (33 disposals, nine clearances and a goal) and Matt Kennedy (31 disposals five clearances and a goal) on Friday night. The Blues had as many 30+ disposal players in that game as the Cats have had for the entire season – equal last with West Coast in that metric. Teams across the competition have had success with stoppers in recent weeks, and the Cats have one standing right in front of them in Mark O’Connor. Instead, he is having minimal impact playing in outside roles. The Irishman had just one disposal in the first half on Saturday night. They are missing a trick if they don’t send him to Zach Merrett on Saturday night.

Patrick Cripps was one of the latest opposition stars to dominate against the Cats. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

4. STARK DEFENSIVE DECLINE

The heralded Cats defence is in disarray. Geelong was the hardest team to score against from turnover in the first seven rounds and ranked second for scores per opposition inside 50 conceded. In the past seven weeks they are dead last for scores per inside 50, second last for scores conceded and the third easiest to score against from turnover. This is the profile of a bottom-four side, not a potential finalists. Turnovers were costly for the Cats on Friday night, with Carlton scoring 79 points from Geelong’s mistakes – their second biggest total conceded from that avenue this year. The lockdown jobs on Tom Stewart certainly aren’t helping, and while the vice-captain was able to impact without the footy with seven tackles, he was restricted to 14 disposals, five intercepts and one intercept mark by Alex Cincotta, who kicked two goals himself. Winning the ball out of the middle will help the under-siege Cats defence, but their ability to defend in transition needs to improve, or they will become irrelevant fast.

LIKES

1. OPTIONS IN THE TWOS

Scott said on Friday night that they will look to get creative to fill their gaping holes, and thankfully some options presented themselves in the reserves. Shannon Neale was likely to come in for Hawkins anyway, but now he is a walk-up start after his dominant display against Port Melbourne, where his aerial presence was phenomenal, clunking eight marks. He kicked 3.3, but he could have easily have had a bag of five or six had he kicked straight. The other youngsters who should be firmly in considerations are Mitch Knevitt and Toby Conway. Knevitt has played all of two minutes of AFL footy this season – being the second latest sub activation of all time against Adelaide. The 21-year-old has transformed from a wingman into a tall inside midfielder in the VFL, a role he impressed in at under-18 level, and he racked up 24 disposals, 14 contested possessions, 10 tackles and eight clearances on Sunday. Conway shared ruck time with Rhys Stanley and draftee Mitch Edwards and still managed to dominate with 38 hit-outs (13 to advantage), 20 disposals, 17 contested possessions, eight clearances and 151 SuperCoach ranking points.

Shannon Neale appears set to return to the side. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

2. OPTIONS IN THE TWOS CONT.

Cats fans have been crying out for a Mitch Hardie debut and the 26-year-old was first class, particularly late with the game on the line, while Shaun Mannagh (17 goals in seven games) can give the Cats forward half some spark as both a dangerous forward and a pinch-hitting midfielder. Brandan Parfitt spent more time forward on Sunday, where he kicked a stunning goal, but is averaging the second most clearances of any Cat in this seniors this year – behind injured midfielder Tanner Bruhn – and can help tidy up their shoddy stoppage game. They are 6-2 with him in the side this year.

Oliver Dempsey celebrates his goal. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

3. OLLIE FIRES AGAIN

Ollie Dempsey has been a revelation this season for the Cats and he was one of the few positives to come out the loss to the Blues. The 21-year-old got the Cats back in the game with a ripping goal in the second quarter, that he actually made more difficult for himself by playing on and running towards the boundary. It underline his freakish ability that Cats fans are seeing more of with every game he plays. He is great overhead, has a wicked sidestep and is creative with his ball-use in the forward half. Dempsey finished with 25 disposals, 348 metres gained, seven marks, two score assists and a goal, the second time he has had 25 or more in his past three matches. He is a genuine Rising Star sniff. Not bad for a kid drafted out of school footy and the VAFA.

Originally published as Dawn to Dark: All the likes and dislikes from the Cattery after round 15