Match

Geelong Cats vs Fremantle

Commentary / 25 Jun 2017

Pre Game

59:30
Welcome to Simonds Stadium for the Geelong Cats v Fremantle Round 14 clash.
59:33
Outs for Cats: L.Henderson, N.Cockatoo, Z.Smith
59:34
Ins for Cats: M.Blicavs, T.Hawkins, G.Horlin-Smith
59:35
Outs for Dockers: S.Collins, B.Grey, J.Griffin, N.Fyfe, C.Sutcliffe
59:36
Ins for Dockers: G.Logue, N.Suban, H.Ballantyne, J.Deluca, S.Darcy
59:40
Don't forget to enter your tips for this match, you have until the bounce to make your selection.
00:00
The Dockers have two players making their debut today. Sean Darcy has averaged 29 hitouts, three clearances and seven contested possessions in 12 WAFL games. Josh Deluca-Cardillo has averaged 24 disposals and seven tackles in the WAFL this season.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:01
Fremantle has won the first two clearances to start the game, and in their Round 1 encounter with the Cats this season recorded 16 more clearances, which is its best differential recorded since Round 5, 2015.
02:02
Cats Interchange - Joel Selwood and is possibly out for the game.
03:16
An accidental head clash has seen Joel Selwood leave the ground early for the Cats. Selwood has averaged career-highs this season for disposals (28.4), contested possessions (15.6) and clearances (7.3).
04:20
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Rushed)
06:12
Fremantle lead the contested possession count 9-4 and has had the first three inside 50s to start the game.
08:24
The Dockers now lead in forward half disposals 18-4, and inside 50s 7-0, but have scored just the one point for all this territorial dominance.
10:31
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
10:37
After Fremantle was not able to take a forward 50 mark from any of its inside 50s, the Cats have taken two such marks and converted a goal with their first inside 50.
13:48
Fremantle has kicking efficiency of just 44 percent compared to Geelong who has 70 percent kicking efficiency early in the game.
15:36
Geelong lead 15-3 in forward half tackles. The Cats have averaged 39 forward half tackles per game this season, which is the equal-most applied by any team.
16:21
An excellent running goal by Brad Hill gives the Dockers their first goal of the game. The goal was launched by a forward half intercept, from which the Dockers average 22 points per game (ranked last).
19:07
Geelong has the lowest kick-to-handball ratio this season, and has started with 24 kicks and 38 handballs today.
22:37
It has been a scrappy start to the game, with the young Dockers (the third youngest team in Round 14) doing well in the territorial battle (inside 50s 11-3) against the experienced Geelong team (the second oldest team in Round 14).
25:02
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
25:27
Both of the Geelong goals have come from chains starting in the defensive half. The Cats average 36 points per game from such chains (ranked fifth).
27:21
Geelong has tackle efficiency of 93 percent compared to Fremantle who has tackle efficiency of 65 percent. Geelong is ranked first and Fremantle last in this measure in 2017.
27:28
Dockers Interchange - Hayden Ballantyne off due to an injury.
30:58
The siren has sounded to end Q1.
31:08
Patrick Dangerfield leads all players for both contested possessions (seven) and metres gained (214), and has had ten disposals at 100 percent efficiency in the first quarter.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:31
With Geelong ace Joel Selwood on the bench, team mate Mitch Duncan has been prolific early with a game-high 12 disposals including six contested possessions.
01:25
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
02:48
The Dockers get their second goal of the game with a fluent passage of play started at the kick-in. Fremantle average just 2.4 points per game from kick-ins (ranked 15th).
04:14
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Josh Deluca)
05:40
Another good passage of play started in the defensive 50 leads to a goal for Fremantle, with a nice block on the goal line from Darcy assisting the Ballantyne kick. Fremantle average 26 points per game from defensive 50 chains (ranked last).
09:03
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Patrick Dangerfield)
10:16
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Hayden Ballantyne)
11:03
Back-to-back goals to Hayden Ballantyne gives Fremantle a game-high 12 point lead and some reward for a 20-14 advantage in inside 50s.
11:48
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Darcy Tucker)
12:11
Ballantyne providing the assist for the Tucker goal is causing the Cats a lot of problems in his return game. Fremantle has kicking efficiency of 87 percent in the second quarter as it starts to find holes in the Geelong defence.
15:07
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Andrew Mackie)
15:30
Geelong has created 12 forward half intercepts, but is yet to score from any of these opportunities. This season the Cats average 34 points from 23 such intercepts.
17:13
Cats Interchange - Jed Bews off due to an injury.
17:16
Fremantle appear to be getting more numbers to the ball than Geelong, and lead in loose ball gets 33-20, with the absence of Joel Selwood appearing costly.
18:00
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Michael Walters)
18:22
Dockers Interchange - Shane Kersten off due to an injury.
18:33
Cats Interchange - Tom Stewart and is possibly out for the game.
20:48
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Scott Selwood)
21:44
An excellent goal from Lachie Neale makes it six goals in a row to Fremantle. The Dockers are getting good service from rookie Darcy in the ruck who has a team-high four clearances and has helped gives the Dockers a 26-18 leads in hitouts.
24:31
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Darcy Tucker)
24:51
The Dockers are doing well to punish the Geelong turnovers. Fremantle has scored 3.0.(18) from eight forward half intercepts.
25:49
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Steven Motlop)
26:16
Steve Motlop ends the run of seven Fremantle goals, with the Cats first goal of the game from a centre bounce clearance. Geelong average 15 points per game from centre bounce clearances (ranked second).
27:37
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Shane Kersten)
28:40
Tom Stewart who is currently off the ground for the Cats has team-highs for intercept possessions (six), spoils (four) and intercept marks (three).
29:20
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
30:21
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
30:24
The siren has sounded to end Q2.
30:34
In the first quarter Fremantle played on following five of its 22 marks. In the second quarter, the Dockers played on 12 times from 25 marks as they successfully looked to move the ball quickly.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
02:06
An excellent start to the third quarter for the Dockers with a long range goal to Cam McCarthy. This was the second goal of the day to the Dockers from a forward 50 stoppage. The Dockers average five points from this source (ranked last).
04:17
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Zach Tuohy)
04:24
Zach Tuohy, who kicked the last goal, has had 101 rebound 50s and inside 50s combined this season the most of any player in the competition for this combined measure.
06:03
Cats Interchange - Darcy Lang off due to an injury.
06:31
Dockers Interchange - Josh Deluca off due to an injury.
07:05
Geelong lead in intercept marks 12-5, with the Dockers continuing to have some issues with their kicks inside 50.
07:51
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Sam Menegola)
09:56
Geelong has been very good this season in one-on-one contests (ranked first for winning offensive one-on-ones). Today both teams have won eight such contests.
10:58
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Scott Selwood)
11:34
The Cats have applied good forward half pressure today leading in forward 50 tackles (19-2) and forward half tackles (45-24). Geelong average 39 forward half tackles (ranked first).
13:36
Cats Interchange - Darcy Lang and is possibly out for the game.
14:50
Fremantle has kicking efficiency of just 45 percent this quarter, with the game reverting back to the slow way it was played in the first quarter. The Dockers kicking efficiency in the second quarter was 77 percent.
17:01
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Darcy Tucker)
17:34
Darcy Tucker had kicked five goals in 21 games prior to today. He now has a game-high three goals, 16 disposals and 327 metres gained in a prominent display.
19:01
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Lachie Weller)
20:11
The locals are getting frustrated at Kardinia Park, but with the Cats down three players and Fremantle continuing to scrap well and winning clearances (29-22), Geelong is finding it difficult to bridge the gap.
22:29
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Sam Menegola)
22:59
Geelong is finally able to punish a Fremantle turnover with the Menegola goal. The Cats have now scored 3.1.(19) from 19 forward half intercepts.
23:44
SCORE GOAL - Dockers (Nicholas Suban)
23:54
An excellent long goal from Nick Suban finished off a slick passage of play to give the Dockers an answering goal. Fremantle now lead clearances (30-24) and scores from stoppages 4.4.(28) to 2.3.(15).
27:02
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Zach Tuohy)
28:52
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
29:21
Geelong has had seven of the last eight inside 50 entries with the Dockers looking to park the bus before three quarter time.
30:20
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
30:34
The siren has sounded to end Q3.
30:44
The Cats worked hard in the third quarter, but could only reduce the margin by three points. Geelong won the contested possessions (39-35) and inside 50s (15-10) having the game played more in its forward half.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
02:38
Geelong gets the important first goal of the final quarter thanks to a run down tackle from Dangerfield. Geelong has now scored 5.2.(32) from forward half intercepts with the Dockers having difficulty clearing the ball from their defensive half.
04:29
Consecutive goals to Parsons, and three in a row to Geelong who has had the last ten inside 50 entries of the game.
07:17
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)
08:05
The Cats lead contested possessions 15-5 in the final quarter, and are completely swamping the Dockers. Geelong has won its final quarters by an average of 17 points this season, which is ranked first and more than double the next best performed team.
08:35
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
09:44
In the final quarter, the Cats lead tackles (7-3), contested possessions (18-5), inside 50s (9-0) and effective disposals (31-15) and are dominating the rattled Dockers.
14:49
The Dockers have only got a combined four effective disposals today from their key forwards in Kersten and McCarthy. The big players for the Cats are contributing in a 15-9 advantage for one-on-one contest wins.
17:31
With Joel Selwood injured, Geelong has had nine different players attended centre bounces in support of its ruck, while Fremantle has only used five such players.
17:40
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Shane Kersten)
19:36
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
19:45
A bad miss from Rhys Stanley restores the one point lead for Geelong. The Cats have scored 5.6.(36) from set shots at goal, and Fremantle has scored 3.2.(20) from its set shots.
20:35
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
21:41
Dockers Interchange - Sean Darcy off due to an injury.
22:49
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mitch Duncan)
23:01
Geelong has missed a few chances to close out the game in the last quarter. The Cats lead inside 50s (15-3), shots at goal (10-1) and forward 50 tackles (7-0) in a complete domination during the last quarter.
30:01
SCORE BEHIND - Dockers (Michael Walters)
30:07
The siren has sounded to end Q4.
30:17
Another powerful final quarter from Geelong who is the No.1 team in last quarters this season. The Cats won the clearances (14-7), contested possessions (43-25), inside 50s (19-6) and shots at goal (10-3) in a terrific final quarter.