June 11, 2007
From Geelong Advertiser
INACCURATE kicking and a lack of accountability have cost the Cats a chance to consolidate top position on the VFL ladder after a 15-point loss to Werribee on Saturday.
The Tigers have been in outstanding form, claiming their fourth consecutive scalp. Their previous three victories came at an average of 96 points.
``The VFL competition is very even, and every week is different due to the alignments and injuries teams have,'' Cats coach Leigh Tudor said post-match.
Bulldog veteran Chris Grant played his first reserves game for 14 years and, along with AFL teammates Jordon McMahon, Sam Power and Will Minson, provided a great deal of experience for Werribee. Small forward and ex-Cat Matthew Robbins was prominent, kicking 4.4 for the day and applying great forward line pressure.
Geelong registered three of the first four goals for the game, but it was Werribee which played the superior football from then onwards, entering its forward 50 16 times to nine for the quarter.
The Tigers also doubled the Cats' tackle count throughout the game, displaying a stronger desire to win the contested ball around the ground.
A lack of forward line pressure and accountability through the midfield from Geelong saw the Tigers slam on five unanswered majors to lead at the first break by 20 points.
Captain James Byrne led the way in the second term with a goal to break the drought, and the crowd was also heartened to see Rising Star nominee Joel Selwood return to the field after suffering a knock to the ribs.
The young gun managed a game-high 33 possessions and seven hard-ball gets, proof that he is a tough and classy performer.
A mercurial snap from second-round draft pick Nathan Djerrkura reduced the deficit to two goals, but Werribee finished the better, entering half-time with a 25-point buffer.
The third quarter was the most disappointing for the Cats, who scored a dreadful 0.8 to 3.5.
The delivery into the forward line was at times atrocious, and even when it did improve, forwards Charlie Gardiner and Tom Hawkins were unable to convert.
When the match was on the line in the second and third quarters, Geelong kicked 11 straight behinds, some from easy positions.
``Poor kicking has cost us in two out of our last three games, and we just weren't able to create any scoreboard pressure when we kicked behinds,'' Tudor said.
``We will work on our kicking in from defence and zone set-up during the week, also. Brent Prismall did really well to collect his 24 disposals for the day, despite being heavily tagged, and Selwood's in-and-under work was really good.''
