Round 22
Fremantle v Geelong
A Wildcard Weekend Thriller
Pregame – “Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t what you’ve got till it’s gone.”
(Big Yellow Taxi, Joni Mitchell, 1970, from her album, Ladies of the Canyon)
There are four, possibly even five matches (Essendon v Suns) this round which are true wildcard games by any definition. On Friday night the Swans knocked the Pies out of the finals race, while in the early game on Saturday the Giants put a dent in the Lions top four hopes as they raced up the ladder to second, a result which has really opened the door for the Dockers and the Cats in the twilight match to make a statement a few weeks out from the finals. And finally, the Blues and the Hawks will fight it out for eighth spot on the ladder on Sunday.
You seriously cannot manufacture the importance and excitement surrounding all four (five) of these Round 22 matches – it is organic. The fixturing for Rounds 23 and 24 means there are several matches within matches that will take on a life of their own over last two weeks of the home and away season, once again, it is organic.
To the brains trust at the AFL, please don’t destroy the natural pressure and tension of the final few rounds of the season by devaluing the teams who fight with all their might to make the finals, while rewarding teams which haven’t earned the right to be there. Look at this round already, a near full house at the SCG and the Gabba, a record crowd at Optus Stadium for the Saturday twilight match, and a bumper crowd anticipated for the MCG for the Blues and the Hawks, and we have two full rounds to go before September.
We have Wildcards already, so there is no need to manufacture something which exists already.
The Twilight Wildcard Game Out West
The Round 22 match between the Dockers and the Cats was played with all the intensity of a final, with lows scores, nervous mistakes and an atmosphere of there is no tomorrow. Like any big-time game the match boiled down to a head-to-head battle of the superstars, Patrick Dangerfield versus Caleb Serong in the last quarter.
Dangerfield v Serong
Not to spoil the ending, and not to diminish the magnificent effort of Caleb, but the mighty Danger was the difference between the two teams in a super tight finish. Other players had cameo appearances in the last quarter, but it was Danger and Serong who left everything they had out on the field, and then some. In a postgame interview, Dangerfield was totally spent, and he was puffing like a draught horse after an eight-hour shift. I am sure Serong was the same. It is just what us mere mortals expect from out superstars.
As good as Dangerfield was, taking tough pack marks, busting out of packs, and either kicking a clutch goal, or passing off to others, he had a moment that will most likely make his comedy highlight reel when he does retire. Danger had the chance to ice the game when he attempted to soccer the ball from the middle of the gaol square, about three metres out, but it slewed from the side of his boot for a majestic point.
Good to see we are all human.
How Geelong Won and Nearly Lost the Game
Over the years the Cats have had a habit of kicking early goals when they are on the road. Not only does it take the crowd out of the equation, but opposing teams are on the backfoot for the rest of the match, chasing.
The man of the moment, 250 game veteran Jeremy Cameron, set the early tone for the Cats kicking a great opener from the pocket that put the Dockers defenders on notice. Before Fremantle had a chance to catch their collective breath, the two Ollies, Dempsey and Henry, as well has Rhys Stanley all booted goals to put the Catters four goals up halfway through the first quarter.
As simplistic as it sounds, the Cats won this match in the first 20 minutes as the Dockers spent the next three and a half quarters continually catching up and chasing. Like the Little Train that thought it could, no matter how many times Fremantle got back in the match or slightly in front, Geelong rallied and maintained ascendency – it was always a mountain too far.
Given the dominance of the Cats defence, midfielders and the amount of forward line entries, they should have really won comfortably by four or five, except the Catters suffered from the disease of inaccurate kicking. From four gaols straight in a twenty-minute first quarter blitz, Geelong kicked six goals and thirteen behinds for the rest of the match. At three quarter time it looked like the Geelong had kicked itself out of the match.
In the third quarter the Cats couldn’t hit the side of a barn, as they booted one goal and five behinds for the quarter. Four of those behinds being very gettable chances, and they gave up the lead to the Dockers at the last break as a result. Cameron, Dangerfield, Ollie Henry and Shannon Neale all had chances to finish off the work of their teammates up the field but failed to kick truly.
The only Geelong player not to suffer from the yips in the second half was Shaun Mannagh who slotted two vital pressure goals in the third and last quarters. In a half of football where the Cats only kicked four gaols after halftime, the contribution of the latest incarnate of a typical Geelong small forward was immense.
At three quarter time it did look like the Cats had kicked themselves out of the match and the game was there for the taking. Luke Ryan, Brandon Walker, Brennan Cox, Joshua Draper, Heath Chapman were all having good games in defence. Jordan Clark in his hundredth game, Jeremy Sharp, Hayden Young, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw and Corey Wagner were all getting plenty of the ball around the ground, while Jye Amiss, Michael Frederick and Luke Jackson all looked capable up forward without being dominate.
On the surface, it appeared the Dockers were starting to run over the top of the Cats at the last change, but they stalled, stuttered and finally stopped to a walk in the last quarter as the class of Dangerfield, Max Holmes, Cameron (playing up the field), the defence lead by Tom Stewart and Zach Guthrie ran over the top of a Dockers team that looked impotent and listless as the Cats’ big guns flexed their muscles. To his credit, Caleb Serong’s performance in the last quarter was just as gutsy at his Cats counterpart, Dangerfield, but not for the first time this year, as hard as Serong tried, he had very few mates flying the flag on his side.
After Serong kicked the Dockers only goal in the last quarter in reply to a Dangerfield goal, Geelong’s new and inexperienced players, Shannon Neale and Shaun Mannagh, in what must be a pleasing site for their supporters, had the maturity to kick the sealers.
Game over.
Tanner Bruhn’s Concussion – Is Brayshaw in Trouble?
In plain and simple terms, nothing to see here. Yes, the commentators and Fox News love to create a story, but sometimes common sense must prevail. Bruhn, with his head down, ran into Brayshaw’s stomach at pace and went into consussion protocols. It would be a travesty of justice if Brayshaw were to be suspended for this incident.
The Cat’s Mature Recruit and Youngsters
Mature age recruit Shaun Mannagh, like youngsters Shannon Neale and Lawson Humphries, is another product of the Geelong system who has just appeared on the scene this year and slotted seamlessly into the Cats game plan. As much as pundits attempt to write off the Cats, they continually rejuvenate their team by quietly slotting young players into their system – AMAZING.
Fremantle – ‘whoops, you did it again…’
It is maybe better I let the Fremantle supporters deride their own club, but from the outside you have blown it again at the end of the season.
From the moment Josh Treacy went down injured in the last quarter against the Bombers last weekend, Freo’s season has gone backwards and how. There seems to be a lack of confidence in Fremantle’s forward structure by the players up the field without Josh Treacy (the most improved player in the AFL this year) in the team.
For three quarters of this match Caleb Serong played predominantly as a forward and he ended with three goals by games end, but in the last quarter when he was needed upfield on the ball (there is a term that is rarely mentioned anymore), there was little to no cohesion forward of the 50-metre arc for the Dockers.
I stated earlier the Dockers forward line looked capable, but I avoided using the word dangerous or threatening on purpose, as they just looked capable for three quarters, but when Serong moved up the field they couldn’t fire a shot.
Jye Amiss has shown plenty potential in his relatively short career but given his ability these are the kind of matches where he needs to stand up and command that he is the man. There is a lot to like about Amiss, but at this stage of his career he lacks the presence his position deserves.
Matt Taberner
Matt Taberner is a good case study for Jye Amiss to learn from, as a career once having a lot of potential being at the end without the potential ever being fully realised. Before I get jumped on, Taberner has been a good honest player who has got the most out of himself, but in the first few years of his career many were saying he was the player with potential. At the end we saw glimpses of his true ability, but his career was cruelled by injuries and bouts where he has lacked confidence.
Sadly, Taberner may have played his last AFL game, and his career might be at an end. At 31 years of age, and with injuries stop/starting his career, his performance against the Cats was not his best game and he was subbed out in the last quarter. There has to be a better system rather than subbing a player out.
Taberner was pick number 70 in the 2013 in the Rookie Elevation Draft, and he has played 125 games and kicked 173 goals for the Dockers which is no mean feat. If we don’t see you again on the big stage, well played and good luck.
What’s coming up?
From being in the top four two weekends ago, the Dockers now find themselves in a position they are the team most vulnerable to missing out on a final’s appearance. Next week they travel to ENGIE Stadium to face a red-hot Giants team, followed up by a do-or-die matchup against the Power in the last game of season 2024. They needed to muster enough stick to win at least one of these games.
On the other hand, Geelong’s destiny is in their own hands as they have two games they would be favoured to win. Next weekend the Cats travel to Marvel to take on the contrary and inconsistent Saints, and they finish their season at their beloved Cattery where they should account for the disappointing Eagles.
