Match

GWS Giants vs Geelong Cats

Commentary / 03 Apr 2016

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Manuka Oval for the GWS Giants v Geelong Cats Round 2 clash.

59:33

Outs for Giants: J.Steele, J.Stewart, A.Tomlinson

59:34

Ins for Giants: S.Coniglio, W.Hoskin-Elliott, J.Patton

59:36

No changes for Cats.

59:40

Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.

00:00

Likewise, with the addition of Smith and Dangerfield around the ruck contests, Geelong won 10 more clearances than its opponent in Round 1. In 2015, on average the Cats conceded 5.3 more clearances per game to its opposition (ranked 18th in the league).

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:07

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

01:17

Hawkins has kicked an early goal in his 168th game. Along with his father Jack, the combined father-son pair has now played 350 VFL/AFL games between them.

03:40

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)

05:10

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jimmy Bartel)

05:22

With improvement shown around the stoppages shown by both sides in Round 1, Geelong has had the ascendancy early in this match, winning five of the first seven clearances.

10:52

In a quiet start to the match, Geelong is prepared to control possession of the ball. The Cats have recorded 12 more short kicks than the Giants (19-7) resulting in 12 more marks (20-8).

13:21

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

15:08

Geelong has recorded four more inside 50s than Greater Western Sydney (9-5), however the Cats have been wasteful in front of goal kicking three behinds and two out of bounds on the full.

17:34

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)

18:49

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Nathan Wilson)

19:03

After a long period without a major to either side, Nathan Wilson kicks the first for Greater Western Sydney on the run from outside 50 metres. He has now kicked five of his ten career goals from outside the arc.

21:30

Both sides are struggling to find targets forward of centre in the past ten minutes. In this time Greater Western Sydney has recorded a kicking effectiveness in its forward half of just 20 per cent with Geelong not much better at only 29 per cent.

23:55

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Ryan Griffen)

24:08

Ryan Griffen has been the dominant player on the ground in the first quarter, winning 12 disposals at 83 per cent effectiveness. He has won three clearances and three inside 50s and now kicked a major.

25:31

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)

26:26

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mark Blicavs)

29:14

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

29:15

In a quarter of wasted opportunities for both sides, Greater Western Sydney were slightly more effective forward of centre than Geelong and take a two-point lead to the first break.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:01

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Darcy Lang)

01:31

The Cats have kicked now kicked the first goal of each quarter - both within the first 70 seconds.

04:22

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)

05:45

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Devon Smith)

06:54

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Steve Johnson)

06:59

The goal from Johnson is his third in just his second match for Greater Western Sydney. In 253 AFL matches for Geelong, the veteran forward kicked 452 goals - the third-highest tally of any player for his former club.

07:12

This game is quickly being decided about success around the stoppages. This quarter Greater Western Sydney has won three of the four clearances, two leading directly to goals.

11:23

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Stephen Coniglio)

14:46

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)

15:18

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mark Blicavs)

16:26

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Dylan Shiel)

17:03

Greater Western Sydney is dominating around the stoppages this term, winning seven of the eight clearances and directly generating four goals. All six of the Giants' goals in this match have been sourced directly from a stoppage win.

17:37

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Toby Greene)

20:17

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Tom Scully)

23:52

Greater Western Sydney has won the last 11 clearances of the match.

24:38

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jonathon Patton)

24:49

Giants Interchange - Caleb Marchbank and is possibly out for the game.

25:41

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mark Blicavs)

26:25

Geelong is remaining in the match with effective transition from its kick-ins. The Giants have kicked three behinds this quarter, and from two of the resulting kick-ins the Cats have taken the ball inside 50, resulting in two goals to Blicavs.

26:49

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Cameron Guthrie)

29:13

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Rhys Stanley)

31:15

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Shane Mumford)

31:18

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

31:19

A dominant performance around the stoppages has helped Greater Western Sydney to its largest score in a quarter against Geelong (39 points), after winning 11 of the 14 clearances for the term.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

03:47

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jonathon Patton)

06:02

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)

07:17

Cats Interchange - Mitch Duncan and is possibly out for the game.

08:43

After another scrappy start to the term, repeat forward 50 entries to Greater Western Sydney have eventually resulted in a spectacular mark and goal to Hoskin-Elliot. The Giants have won six forward half intecepts so far this term.

08:51

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Will Hoskin-Elliott)

11:00

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rory Lobb)

11:18

In the first half, Geelong was able to transition the ball from the its defensive 50 to forward 50 on nine out of 19 attempts (47 per cent). This term the Cats have been unable to do so from its first seven attempts out of its back line.

11:54

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jonathon Patton)

13:38

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Rory Lobb)

13:46

Greater Western Sydney is dominating the term with its press not letting Geelong take the ball out of its back half. The Giants have won ten of the past 11 inside 50s, most of them generated from eight intercepts in their forward half.

15:13

Greater Western Sydney has owned the territorial battle and is now reaping the rewards. The ball has been inside the Giants' forward half for 90 per cent of the past 10 minutes.

16:18

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Lincoln McCarthy)

17:20

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Lincoln McCarthy)

19:21

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Devon Smith)

19:48

Greater Western Sydney has owned possession of the ball this term, with 68 disposals to only 48 of Geelong. Six Giants have won five or more disposals this term, while no Cats have done likewise.

23:34

Cats Interchange - Jordan Murdoch off due to an injury.

24:07

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Josh Caddy)

25:34

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Cory Gregson)

26:04

Geelong has capitalised on a sloppy seven minutes from Greater Western Sydney. In that period the Giants have made five turnovers and from the resulting intercepts the Cats have kicked three goals.

30:50

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

30:51

Greater Western Sydney takes a 24-point lead to the final change after winning its third straight quarter. The Giants won 46 more disposals than the Cats for the term (109-63), however three late goals to Geelong softened the damage.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

02:54

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

03:44

Hawkins has kicked a goal off the ground from outside 50 metres. This is only the third goal off the ground from that distance recorded in AFL matches since 1999 (David King and Josh Hill kicked the other two).

07:33

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

07:55

Tom Hawkins has kicked back-to-back goals early in the final term. The Geelong forward has now taken ten marks, including game-highs four contested marks and five marks inside forward 50.

11:46

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Rhys Stanley)

12:05

Geelong has kicked the last five goals of the game, capitalising on the errors of Greater Western Sydney. In that time the Cats have won 14 intercept possessions, with five of these resulting directly in goals.

14:02

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Shane Kersten)

16:42

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)

17:14

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Cory Gregson)

18:04

Geelong is now finding no issues transitioning the ball out of its back line. The Cats have taken the ball from defensive 50 to forward 50 seven times out of its past nine attempts (78 per cent). The league average since 2015 is 20 per cent.

22:01

Giants Interchange - Nathan Wilson off due to an injury.

23:11

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rory Lobb)

23:12

Cats Interchange - Cory Gregson off due to an injury.

23:26

Toby Greene has been a big influence in the midfield for Greater Western Sydney, with game-highs in disposals (34), clearances (seven), score involvements (10) and inside 50s (eight).

26:24

Cats Interchange - Josh Caddy off due to an injury.

26:33

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Ryan Griffen)

26:46

After the previous six shots of the match by both sides missed the target, Griffen has kicked truly to ice the game. The experienced midfielder has won 31 disposals, five clearances, seven score involvements and five inside 50s.

27:54

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

27:55

Greater Western Sydney has weathered the storm to record its first win over the fast-finishing Geelong by 13 points. The win was set up by dominating at the stoppages in the second term and immense forward pressure in the third quarter.