Geelong VFL Round 2: Shaun Mannagh and Rhys Stanley press for recalls as locals impress

Shaun Mannagh won’t be seen in the state leagues for a while if the weekend was anything to go by. Plus, could a ruckman come into the frame after Geelong’s sub call? See the full notes here.

Shaun Mannagh impressed in the VFL. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh is in line to return to the Cats side after a stunning final-quarter in the VFL as veteran ruckman Rhys Stanley also pressed his case for a recall.

Mannagh, 27, had played half of a VFL practice game and three-quarters in round one while working his way back from a foot stress fracture, but starred in a full-game in the Cats’ 30-point VFL win over the Northern Bullants.

Trailing by a point at three-quarter-time, Mannagh kicked two goals and won some critical clearances in the final quarter to lead the Cats’ charge as he finished with 23 disposals, 3.3 nine score involvements, six clearances, six tackles and five inside 50s.

Geelong coach Chris Scott said on Thursday he was likely to face Melbourne in round four.

Cats VFL captain Dan Capiron, who was among the best himself in his 100th VFL game, lauded the performance of Mannagh.

Shaun Mannagh celebrates a goal in last year’s qualifying final. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Shaun does what Shaun does, he stands up in big games,” Capiron said.

“The VFL program at the moment is a stepping stone for you to get back to the AFL, that’s the role we’re willing to play. And we’re going to love having him for the period that we do.

“So anything that helps you get back to the AFL side and be confident in his body and confident in himself, it’s going to be a plus for this whole footy club. So I’m really proud of Shaun to get back and perform well in a tight game for us as he always does.”

Rhys Stanley, 34, was also dominant in a ruck-forward role and put his hand up for selection just hours before newly instated No.1 ruck Sam De Koning was tactically subbed out of Geelong’s loss to Brisbane.

Just six AFL-listed Cats played against the Bullants with three emergencies travelling with the AFL side for their clash with Brisbane on Saturday night and Jack Martin rested again after a minor calf setback.

It allowed plenty of Geelong local talents and VFL-listed players to show their wares.

HOW AFL-LISTED CATS FARED

#1 Rhys Stanley

39 hit-outs (11 to advantage), 16 disposals, 10 contested possessions, nine score involvements, eight clearances, two goals, 149 SuperCoach points

Stanley started the game by tapping the ball to himself to win the first centre clearance, and it was a sign of things to come. The Bullants had an undersized ruck and defensive outfit, but regardless it was a very impressive display from the 34-year-old. Stanley spent extended stints up forward and his overhead marking was a feature throughout the contest, along with his tap-work and follow-up at stoppages. His main highlight was a difficult set shot from 40m close to the boundary in the third term, his second of the day after getting out the back for a goal in the previous quarter. Stanley’s intent was on display when he attempted to chase down a Bullants defender twice and was unlucky to give away two free kicks – one for too high and another for tripping. It has given the Cats selection panel plenty to think about after Sam De Koning was subbed out on Saturday night.

Sam De Koning was subbed out of the game. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

#2 Jay Polkinghorne

Eight disposals, five marks (two contested), five score involvements, one goal, 44 SuperCoach points

Polkinghorne took several impressive grabs, showing off his leap by consistently launching at the footy in the air. One of those came in the final quarter but he missed the set shot from close range, but kicked truly with his next chance to seal the deal for the Cats.

#7 Shaun Mannagh

23 disposals, nine score involvements, six clearances, six tackles, five inside 50s, three goals, three behinds, 107 SuperCoach points

This will be the last time we see Mannagh in the VFL for a while. Chris Scott said on Thursday that both he and Mannagh believed he was ready to return to the AFL side, and his final quarter proved that and then some. Mannagh was injected into the midfield with the game on the line in the fourth term and won several key clearances and kicked two important goals to deliver Geelong the win. One came was after selling candy to a Bullants defender and zipping past, and the other major was a long set shot roost from beyond the arc. The 27-year-old had several other opportunities on goal throughout the game – particularly dangerous on the move at forward 50 stoppages – but many of these were under heavy pressure.

Shaun Mannagh at Geelong Cats training in February. Picture: Alison Wynd

#15 George Stevens

34 disposals, 16 contested possessions, nine clearances, six tackles, six score involvements, 114 SuperCoach points

Stevens used his strong frame to win the footy at the contest and get out of traffic, with a superb clearance win in the first quarter setting up a goal for Marcus Herbert. The big-bodied midfielder was everywhere in the first half with 21 disposals to halftime, even dropping back in defence to take a chest mark. It was another accomplished display from the second-year Cat, but while a lot of his possessions were won in heavy congestion, he will need to tidy up his kicking, going at just 33 per cent by foot.

#27 Patrick Retschko

18 disposals, five score involvements, four tackles, 102 SuperCoach points

Retschko got better as the game went on, and he showed he is much more than just a running machine with a fantastic pack mark with the game still in the balance. The big boys flew up in a big pack but it was the 186cm draftee who brought it down, slotting the set shot from close range to extend the Cats’ lead. He almost had a second when a long bomb from 55m bounced the wrong way close to goal.

#37 Joe Pike

27 hit-outs (seven to advantage), nine disposals, six contested possessions, 88 SuperCoach points

Pike spent more time in the ruck than he did last week and he had some good moments, including a strong intercept mark in defence dropping into the hole. He was able to follow up and win the ball at the contest and had seven hit-outs to advantage.

VFL-LISTED CATS

Nathan Kreuger

15 disposals, nine kicks (89 per cent efficiency), six marks (two intercept marks), five intercepts, 76 SuperCoach points

Kreuger produced another eye-catching half as a key defender before the Cats swung him forward after the main break. The former Magpie pulled down two big contested marks, using his aerial leap and strong hands overhead to reach over the top of packs. Kreuger also had an influence at ground level with his pressure and follow-up work in a sign of his athleticism. He regularly took the kick-ins while stationed in defence and used his raking kick to great effect. Kreuger was a little overambitious up forward as he gave away a couple of holding free kicks but he looked threatening in the air despite failing to hit the scoreboard after halftime.

Cleared for takeoff ✈️ Kreugs with another big fly #WeAreGeelongpic.twitter.com/4LwpOrKqVF

— Geelong VFL (@GeelongVFL) March 29, 2025

Charlie McCartin

17 disposals, 10 intercepts, seven marks (three intercept marks), 66 SuperCoach points

McCartin’s reading of the play is his major strengths and he showed that yet again, his main highlight a strong pack mark on the wing in the third term. It was just his fourth VFL game but the 194cm key defender looks very assured and gives the Cats back six great structure behind the ball. His kicking was generally sound but he had a couple of poor turnovers by foot which he would like to have back. Nonetheless it was another encouraging performance from McCartin as he builds his case for the mid-season draft.

Marcus Herbert

30 disposals, 24 uncontested possessions, eight tackles, five marks (two intercept marks), one goal 122 SuperCoach points

After dominating at the clinches last week, Herbert did his best work on the outside against the Bullants. His day began with a nice snapping goal after receiving a handball from George Stevens at a stoppage. In the third term he displayed his class with a brilliant shimmy and pirouette around a would-be tackler. Herbert also took two intercept marks in the space of a minute behind the ball with the game in the balance nearing three quarter-time.

Patrick Hughes

23 disposals, 12 contested possessions, 10 tackles, seven clearances, seven score involvements, 123 SuperCoach points

You could just about pre-write a scouting report on Hughes because he brings relentless attack on the ball and the man each and every week. But this was another strong performance from the tough Torquay midfielder, who had 15 disposals and seven tackles to halftime. His brute strength was on show as he crunched Bullants players with the ball and shrugged off tacklers with ease. He missed a couple of shots and goal and had some turnovers, but these were often while under pressure.

Dan Capiron

19 disposals, 17 kicks (88 per cent efficiency) 11 marks (three intercept marks), seven intercepts, 95 SuperCoach points

In his 100th game, Capiron stood tall when it counted. The Cats captain took two important intercept marks at the beginning of the fourth term with nothing splitting the two sides – and was denied a third intercept. He said post-match that this was a product of the work up the field, but that is being modest. Capiron was also very precise by foot, hitting the target with 15 of his 17 kicks.

Jay Rantall

22 disposals, 17 uncontested possessions, seven marks, two score assists, one goal, 68 SuperCoach points

It was a promising Geelong VFL debut for the former Collingwood player, who played five games for the Magpies in 2021. Rantall slotted a first quarter goal after receiving a free kick and used his elite running capacity to link up on outside, racking up 14 touches to halftime. He set up a scoring opportunity for Jay Polkinghorne late in the piece after a nice shimmy but his kicking was rusty at times. Rantall will be much better for the run after an interrupted pre-season.

Jay Rantall in action for Collingwood in 2021. Picture: Michael Klein

Osca Riccardi

17 disposals, 10 kicks (90 per cent efficiency), five marks, one goal, 91 SuperCoach points

After being placed in an induced coma last year with a brain infection, Riccardi’s superb running goal from the 50m arc in the opening term would have brought a smile to everyone’s face. The son of Geelong great Peter Riccardi went at 90 per cent by foot and always looked create run from behind. But he sold his teammates into trouble with two handballs running from a kick-in early in the third term.

Fourth quarter brilliance from Jack Sarcevic 🪄 #WeAreGeelongpic.twitter.com/cRKeOnghzZ

— Geelong VFL (@GeelongVFL) March 29, 2025

Jack Sarcevic

13 disposals, six score involvements, two goals, 86 SuperCoach points

Sarcevic doesn’t need a lot of the ball to make an impact, and he kicked two eye-catching goals under heavy pressure. His first goal was a left footer on the run which just snuck through, and he provided an important intervention late when he just got the ball onto his boot running back to goal to register a late major.

Originally published as Geelong VFL Round 2: Shaun Mannagh and Rhys Stanley press for recalls as locals impress