Coaching great Mick Malthouse takes a close look at Geelong’s push for the 2021 premiership

Covid restrictions are set to play a major role in how the rest of the season plays out. But one club could actually benefit, writes Mick Malthouse.

Is this Geelong’s best chance to win a flag in 10 years? Picture: Getty Images

The Covid pandemic is still causing headaches for the AFL, but it could do one club a huge favour.

As lockdowns and border closures play a significant role in where games can be played, the draw, and crowd numbers, there is added incentive for Geelong to finish top two and maybe convince the league that a final or two should be played at the Cattery.

The Cats lost the grand final on neutral territory last year, after bowing out in a preliminary final at the MCG in 2019.

Crowd size was the reason behind not awarding Geelong a home final then, but if crowd numbers remain capped, could that excuse be redundant?

GMHBA Stadium provides the most distinctive home ground advantage in the competition.

Crowds are great to have on your side, and the Perth ground is intimidating because of the home supporter noise. But it doesn’t necessarily win or lose you games.

But the dimensions of a ground can have an immense impact on the outcome.

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Geelong has gone all in to try and win a flag. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong players at home know automatically where the wind is going, which angles work, and the narrow ground makes it easier for them to defend. The ball is kicked out on the full more times at Geelong than any other ground in the country. It is so narrow, opposing teams struggle to move the ball as laterally as they have trained for or played for on wider grounds. They get trapped.

The Cats keep their back six intact which sets it up unbelievably well for players like Tom Stewart, Jack Henry and Lachie Henderson to become impassable in the air, while Tom Atkins, Jed Bews and Jake Kolodjashnij are brilliant on the ground.

Aided by a ruckman playing behind the ball, Geelong’s defence at home is virtually impenetrable.

Geelong is 5-0 at GMHBA Stadium this year with wins against the Brisbane Lions, North Melbourne, West Coast, Gold Coast and the Western Bulldogs. The Cats have conceded a miserly average of just 60.2 points per match in those games.

But the grand final, should the Cats make it, will not be played at Kardinia Park, and the bigger, wider MCG stretches them to their limits.

This is a make-or-break year for Geelong to win a premiership.

Thursday night’s 44-point loss to the Brisbane Lions was unusual, unexpected and not the end of the world. But small cracks are already appearing at the top end.

And small cracks are already appearing at the top end.

Shaun Higgins’ fluency with the ball has deserted the 33-year-old. Josh Jenkins at 32 has had no impact. Rhys Stanley, 30, has been overlooked in favour of Esava Ratugolea. Mitch Duncan, 30, as wonderful as he has been, is now out injured for the next few months.

And Isaac Smith, 32, has been good, but also had his lesser moments, particularly against Bulldog Lachie Hunter.

And then there are the positives. A lot of them.

Mark Blicavs is running around as well as any 30-year-old. Patrick Dangerfield, 31, has lost his pace and isn’t as dynamic. He has been knocked around a bit in the past two or three seasons and it does take a toll. But you can never underestimate a player with his power because he will bob up at the most dangerous moment.

No one is knocked around more than Joel Selwood, and he still delivers. Maybe because he was never blessed with blistering speed, just pure grunt, which has never deserted him.

Joel Selwood has been a warrior for the Cats. Picture: Getty Images

Jeremy Cameron has been exceptional. His intensity is far greater than when he played at Greater Western Sydney, maybe due to the increased expectations. It has taken the pressure off Tom Hawkins who is playing freer and better than ever and Gary Rohan.

Luke Dahlhaus, Cameron Guthrie, and Sam Menegola are three of the Cats’ best. At 29, or close to it, they’re not kids, adding to a very age top-heavy list. Geelong has the oldest list in the competition by some margin. Which isn’t a bad thing in this current year. But you can see where I’m heading.

After last year’s grand final heartache, the Cats recruited for a flag.

Geelong historically has been excellent at bringing in talent through recruitment, free agency, trading and the draft. It offers the quieter life for those who don’t want the intensity and scrutiny of a Melbourne club, though I think that’s a bluff — a one-team town puts them under the microscope every day.

But it has worked. The number of players who go to the Cats as a second or third club is remarkable. Eight players from other clubs played for Geelong against the Lions and they have all been significant contributers.

Since 2004 the Cats have been in the finals 15 times, only missing twice. They continue to perform. One grand final and three preliminary finals in the past five years makes them a remarkable modern-day football club.

Chris Scott is in his 12th season at the top Cat. Picture: Getty Images

So, while I call this Geelong’s greatest chance at a premiership in recent times, the resilience of the Cats through recruitment has proven many of us wrong, because they bottom out in the top eight and then build again.

Chris Scott is into his 12th season and has the best win-loss record — 69.2 per cent — of any coach in the history of the game with 150 games or more.

He has come to the defence of his skipper Selwood this week because of two infringements in last week’s game. And so he should defend him. As coach you defend all your players.

Selwood’s leadership has dragged Geelong over the line multiple times. He always plays on the edge. Captain since 2012, he took over from the Cats’ last premiership captain, Cameron Ling, and while he hasn’t won a club best and fairest award in the past six years (after winning three) he has arguably been their most important player.

Selwood is an inspiration to his teammates. A younger captain entering similar territory is Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli. Max Gawn, another inspirational player, has never let Melbourne down. Trent Cotchin has been through the dark times and the glossy times at Richmond and is in his ninth season as skipper.

The value of a captain who can stand his ground and be relied upon to deliver when the chips are down cannot be understated.

At 33, Selwood will be keener than most to get his hands on this year’s cup.

One thing that comes with age is experience, and experience tells us that Geelong will always be dangerous. Add in the genuine prospect of home finals, and look out.

Originally published as Coaching great Mick Malthouse takes a close look at Geelong’s push for the 2021 premiership