Match

Geelong Cats vs Melbourne

Commentary / 28 Aug 2016

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Simonds Stadium for the Geelong Cats v Melbourne Round 23 clash.
59:33
Outs for Cats: L.Henderson, D.Lang, S.Selwood, S.Kersten
59:34
Ins for Cats: J.Bews, J.Bartel, D.Menzel, J.Caddy
59:35
Outs for Demons: D.Kent, C.Oliver, V.Michie, A.Neal-Bullen
59:36
Ins for Demons: J.Garlett, C.Salem, J.Harmes, M.Jones
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
Both teams have been strong at stoppages this season. The Cats are ranked fourth in both clearance differential and scores from stoppages. Melbourne is ranked third for clearance differential.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
00:27
The Cats win the opening clearance from the centre bounce to start the game through Dangerfield. Only team mate Joel Selwood has won more centre bounce clearances this season.
01:21
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jimmy Bartel)
03:00
A terrific start for the Cats with a goal from a forward half intercept, followed by a goal from the next centre bounce. Geelong averages 14.8 points per game from centre bounce clearances (ranked first).
04:34
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Aaron vandenBerg)
04:52
Melbourne scores its opening goal of the game from a centre bounce clearance. The Demons average 11 points per game from this source (ranked 10th).
07:29
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
07:57
The opening four goals in this game all going the way of the team that has won the centre bounce clearance. The Cats have also generated three forward half intercepts and scored two goals from these.
09:33
Melbourne able to score its second goal of the game from a chain that started in the defensive 50. The Demons have generated 22 percent of their scores this season from such chains, which is the highest percentage of any team.
12:09
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
12:18
Geelong has taken four marks inside its forward 50 that have all lead to accurate set shots at goal. The Cats average 15 forward 50 marks per game (ranked first), but are ranked 15th for accuracy from set shots at goal.
14:40
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Josh Caddy)
15:48
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
18:56
The Cats lead both the contested possession count (28-17) and the tackle count (12-7). They have not lost any of the nine game this season when they have won both of these counts.
19:33
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
23:41
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
24:14
Geelong has now scored 3.0.(18) from seven forward half intercepts. This season, the Cats have averaged 31 points per game (ranked 5th) from 25 such intercepts (ranked 4th).
26:21
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
29:02
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Steven Motlop)
29:28
Demons Interchange - Nathan Jones off due to an injury.
30:04
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
30:14
A powerful first quarter from the Cats, who have produced their highest scoring quarter of the season. Geelong has dominated at the contest leading both contested possessions (37-27) and tackles (19-11).

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:00
Cats Interchange - Joel Selwood off due to an injury.
01:54
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Angus Brayshaw)
02:29
Melbourne has won the last six clearances in the game, with the last clearance leading to the Brayshaw goal. The Demons actually lead in scores from stoppages 2.0.(12) to 1.2.(8), with the Cats punishing the Melbourne turnovers.
09:04
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
09:30
Melbourne has generated six of the first seven forward 50 entries to start the second quarter, in an improved performance.
11:18
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Joel Selwood)
13:56
In the opening quarter, the Demons attempted 20 tackles and applied just 11. In the second quarter they have already attempted 17 tackles and applied 13, with this defensive improvement making it harder for Geelong to score.
14:17
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Josh Caddy)
16:44
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
16:53
Tom McDonald had his hands full with the Tom Hawkins in the opening quarter, but currently leads all Demons for contested possessions (6), intercept possessions (8), metres gained (222) and disposals (12).
18:32
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zac Smith)
18:51
Geelong has now generated the last six inside 50 entries, but scored only 1.3.(9) from this period of control.
21:30
Patrick Dangerfield leads all players for contested possessions (7), clearances (5), metres gained (440), inside 50s (9), score involvements (6) and score assists (4).
21:43
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
22:53
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Lincoln McCarthy)
24:12
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Steven Motlop)
24:20
Geelong now has the last 11 inside 50 entries, and the last seven scores in the game for a return of 3.4.(22).
27:46
On the back of Max Gawn, the Demons have only lost the count for hitouts to advantage in four games this season. They currently trail 4-7, with this assisting the Cats to lead 24-13 in clearances.
30:20
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jack Watts)
30:31
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
30:41
Geelong has pressured Melbourne into error, with the Demons registering 18 clanger kicks in the opening half (they average 20 per game). The Cats have already scored 8.2.(50) from turnovers, and average 58 points per game from this source.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:56
The third quarter starts in the same manner as the first half, with a clearance to the Cats, an inside 50 from Dangerfield and another forward 50 mark for the Cats (their 10th). Geelong also leads in contested marks 9-4.
00:59
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
03:29
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
04:41
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jimmy Bartel)
06:12
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Sam Menegola)
06:19
Geelong now has kicked the last six goals in the game, and it is getting ugly for Melbourne who is yet to have an effective kick in the third quarter.
08:16
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
09:49
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Jayden Hunt)
10:41
The better ball use of the Cats in this match is shown by their return of 3.0.(18) from five inside 50 entries this quarter, compared to the Demons who have returned 0.3.(3) from their five forward 50 entries.
17:11
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
18:06
Cats Interchange - Jake Kolodjashnij and is possibly out for the game.
19:57
Geelong is the number one ranked team this season for contested marks (13.6 per game). The Cats have been strong in this area again today and currently lead in contested marks 15-4.
22:13
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Joel Selwood)
23:32
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
24:02
Joel Selwood producing another prolific game for the Cats, has a game-high 25 disposals, with seven score involvements and five clearances.
24:13
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Nathan Jones)
26:29
The Demons have not scored a goal since Angus Brayshaw kicked the opening goal of the second quarter less than two minutes into that quarter. Geelong has kicked the last six goals.
28:24
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
28:34
The Cats have won all 12 games this season when they have won the contested possession count by 10 or more. They currently lead this count by 31 and are headed for a big victory.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:05
The top five players on the ground for contested possessions are all Cats, whilst the Demons still have six players yet to apply a tackle.
04:35
Patrick Dangerfield now has five goal assists for the Cats. Only Jack Steven with six against Carlton in round 12, has had more in a game this season.
06:47
After going more than two quarters without a goal, Garlett ends the Demon drought, and breaks a streak of seven goals to the Cats.
09:14
Geelong has generated 26 forward half intercepts and scored 7.3.(45) from these intercepts. Melbourne has generated 20 forward half intercepts and scored 0.3.(3) from these intercepts.
10:52
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
12:45
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Joel Selwood)
15:06
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Sam Menegola)
16:29
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Sam Menegola)
17:11
Patrick Dangerfield now has 15 inside 50 entries today, which is the most by any player in a game this season.
18:32
The wheels falling off for the Demons in the final quarter, with the Cats scoring six goals from just nine forward 50 entries in this quarter. The AFL average is a goal from 20 percent of inside 50s.
19:36
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jeff Garlett)
21:48
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
21:55
Geelong has now scored 10.3.(63) from its 29 forward half intercepts. It has only scored more from forward half intercepts this season in the round 6 win over Gold Coast when it scored 67 points. Melbourne still has no goals from this source.
22:14
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
23:40
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Harry Taylor)
25:32
Harry Taylor leads all players for intercept possessions with 11, which includes six intercept marks. These both equal his season best returns.
25:51
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Jesse Hogan)
27:36
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
28:54
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Josh Caddy)
30:28
Geelong lead in forward 50 entries 58-43, but has a massive advantage in forward 50 marks of 20-6 as it has easily moved through the Melbourne defence.
30:58
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jimmy Bartel)
32:49
The Cats make it 10 goals in the final quarter, and easily their most productive quarter of the season.
33:47
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
33:57
Geelong with a massive win against a disappointing Melbourne today. The Cats were ruthless at the contest winning the contested possessions 162-126, clearances 41-31 and tackles 72-65.