Zach Tuohy believes Geelong’s round 21 loss to GWS was more about the Cats’ bad performance than a good one from the Giants, ahead of this weekend’s semi-final clash between the sides.
Tuohy, who will this week return from a three-week injury lay-off, said the danger the Giants pose is fresh in the Cats’ minds, and that they knew what needed to be done to avoid a repeat of that loss this week.
Zach Tuohy celebrates a goal during the round 21 match between Geelong and the Greater Western Sydney Giants.Credit: Getty Images
“That was a particularly poor performance on our end,” Tuohy said of the loss, where GWS were quite undermanned. “They’re a quality side who, when they’re given it on their terms, they are impossible to stop, we allowed them to move it [the ball] far too quickly on that occasion.
“That night was probably as much down to our poor performance as it was their great one.”
The Irish defender said Toby Greene was obviously a big loss for GWS, but added the Giants are “a highly competent side without him”. Greene was suspended for three weeks for bumping an umpire in the Giants’ elimination final win over Sydney.
“They’ve been a particularly dangerous side for a long time … when they get going they’re very hard to stop. [They’re] a little bit Richmond-esque in terms of how they play,” Tuohy said.
Geelong have come under fire this week for losing yet another first week final. That has been compounded by what some see as a list that is too mature, added to by the expensive off-season recruitment of Jeremy Cameron from GWS.
Despite that, the Cats are in good spirits as they try to avoid a straight-sets finals exit.
“It’s good [the mood],” Tuohy said. “Obviously we are disappointed in the performance [against Port Adelaide], you always are in a loss, but I think we have gathered ourselves pretty well and we won’t need much more motivation for a game than it being knockout.”
Tuohy’s return from injury was boosted by the news that a hand injury to star Patrick Dangerfield would not keep him out of this weekend’s semi-final.
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