Match

Geelong Cats vs GWS Giants

Commentary / 27 Aug 2017

Pre Game

59:30

Welcome to Simonds Stadium for the Geelong Cats v GWS Giants Round 23 clash.

59:33

Outs for Cats: Z.Guthrie, S.Simpson, J.Thurlow

59:34

Ins for Cats: M.Blicavs, B.Parfitt, T.Hawkins

59:35

Outs for Giants: M.de Boer, H.Himmelberg

59:36

Ins for Giants: S.Johnson, R.Lobb

59:40

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

00:00

These two teams have used some slow and methodical ball movement in 2017. Geelong has played on following 30 percent of its marks this season, and GWS has played on following 29 percent of its marks (ranked 17th and 18th).

Quarter 1

00:00

Q1 is now underway.

01:12

The Giants get the opening goal of the game from a forward half stoppage. GWS averages 19 points from this source (ranked second).

03:02

A number of early stoppages to start the game, which suits the Giants. GWS has had the most stoppages in its games this season, and is the No.1 ranked team for clearance differential.

03:50

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mitch Duncan)

04:09

An accurate set shot from Mitch Duncan gets the Cats their first goal of the game. Duncan has averaged career-highs of 29 disposals, five tackles and four clearances per game this season.

06:24

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Toby Greene)

06:39

The goal to Toby Greene was launched with a forward half intercept on the smothered kick by Hawkins. GWS average 33 points from forward half intercepts, and has the third highest strike rate at scoring from these intercepts.

08:00

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Scott Selwood)

08:34

Both of the goals to the Cats have come from forward 50 intercepts. Geelong averages only 8.5 points per game from this source in 2017.

09:27

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)

11:02

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

12:55

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Steven Motlop)

13:14

Geelong has had the last four inside 50 entries, and also has the last four scores in the game, but has only returned 1.3.(9) during this period of control.

14:30

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Sam Menegola)

14:39

A third forward 50 intercept, produces a third goal for Geelong. GWS has had seven defensive 50 chains, with none of these producing an inside 50 entry for the Giants, and three of these chains resulting in turnovers and goals to Geelong.

18:14

Geelong lead in ground-ball gets (15-8), and has now generated eight of the last nine inside 50 entries on the back of this dominance.

18:27

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

22:01

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Brett Deledio)

22:25

The goal to Deledio ended a run of six consecutive scores to the Cats, and was the second goal of the night to the Giants from a forward half stoppage.

23:52

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)

27:40

Geelong lead intercept marks (5-2), and this season the Giants are ranked last in this measure, with just the 12 such marks per game.

28:07

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Toby Greene)

31:11

The siren has sounded to end Q1.

31:21

Geelong was on top in the midfield in the first quarter, with Sam Menegola (11 disposals and five score involvements) and Patrick Dangerfield (nine contested possessions and five clearances) both prominent.

Quarter 2

00:00

Q2 is now underway.

01:48

Cats Interchange - Sam Menegola off due to an injury.

01:59

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zac Smith)

02:54

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rory Lobb)

03:17

Geelong lead 8-2 in forward 50 marks, with the superior ball movement of the Cats generating quality entries into this area of the ground.

04:44

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Zac Williams)

05:38

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Stewart)

06:05

GWS is currently working overtime defensively. Both teams have attempted 36 tackles, with the Giants successful on 26 of these attempts, and the Cats successful on only 17 of their attempts.

06:32

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Wylie Buzza)

08:24

Cats Interchange - James Parsons and is possibly out for the game.

09:15

Geelong has now scored 4.0.(24) from forward 50 intercepts, which is the most it has scored from this source in a game this season.

09:42

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Devon Smith)

12:04

Geelong lead in contested marks (5-2), intercept marks (7-2) and forward 50 marks (10-2).

13:59

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Cameron)

14:18

All four of the goals to the Giants have come from chains starting in the attacking midfield. This season Geelong has scored from 31 percent of its attacking midfield chains (ranked second), but it has just one score from ten chains at this stage.

15:35

Cats Interchange - Jordan Murdoch off due to an injury.

16:55

Cats Interchange - Daniel Menzel off due to an injury.

18:25

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Jonathon Patton)

20:20

Callan Ward leads the Giants for clearances (five), contested possessions (eight), score involvements (four), disposals (16) and metres gained (257).

22:17

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)

23:04

In the first quarter, the Giants generated just the three inside 50 entries from 17 defensive half chains. In the second quarter, the Giants have generated eight inside 50 entries from 16 such chains as they find a way through the Geelong defence.

23:47

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Toby Greene)

24:33

The last goal to Greene was the first goal the Giants have scored from a defensive 50 chain. GWS averages 20 points per game from such chains this season (ranked second).

25:18

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Daniel Menzel)

26:01

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zac Smith)

26:11

Cats Interchange - Jordan Murdoch off due to an injury.

26:54

The siren has sounded to end Q2.

27:04

GWS has converted its 21-16 lead in clearances, to a 14-6 lead in scores from stoppages in the first half.

Quarter 3

00:00

Q3 is now underway.

02:23

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Wylie Buzza)

03:54

Geelong lead 8-3 in one-on-one contest wins, and is the No.1 ranked team for winning offensive one-on-ones, while the Giants are ranked last at winning defensive one-on-one contests.

04:59

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Daniel Menzel)

06:34

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Jed Bews)

07:49

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Devon Smith)

08:25

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Steven Motlop)

08:32

In the third quarter, the Cats lead in clearances (3-1), contested possessions (13-9) and inside 50 entries (6-3), and have the only two goals through dangerous forwards Menzel and Motlop.

10:00

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Sam Menegola)

10:12

A game-high 26 point lead now to the Cats who have the last three goals in the match. Menegola now has a game-high nine score involvements, which includes two goals and four score launches.

12:55

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Brandan Parfitt)

13:29

Geelong has generated eight of the last nine inside 50 entries, and has scored 3.2.(20) to 0.1.(1) during this period of control.

15:23

GWS has recorded 14 clanger kicks, while Geelong has only recorded six such kicks, with this contributing to the advantage the Cats have in forward half intercepts of 17-6.

16:24

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Sam Menegola)

18:45

Contested possession No.20 for Dangerfield lead to the last goal. No other player on the ground has won more than ten contested possessions.

20:25

In the third quarter, the Cats now lead in clearances (9-3), contested possessions (29-17), and inside 50 entries (14-7), with the game completely on their terms.

22:06

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Lachie Henderson)

22:18

Geelong lead intercept marks (12-4) and forward 50 marks (13-5), with one of each contributing to the last goal to Henderson.

23:20

The Cats have scored 6.2.(38) from 19 forward half intercepts, while the Giants have scored only 2.0.(12) from just the seven such intercepts.

23:42

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Jeremy Cameron)

26:21

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jordan Murdoch)

29:06

Harry Taylor has taken a game-high four intercept marks, and 11 of his 12 disposals have been effective in another important game from the veteran Cat.

30:24

The siren has sounded to end Q3.

30:34

A powerful third quarter from the Cats who outnumbered the Giants at the contest winning loose-ball gets 18-6. Duncan and Dangerfield won more loose-ball gets combined (8) than the Giants in the third quarter.

Quarter 4

00:00

Q4 is now underway.

01:14

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Wylie Buzza)

02:27

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Jordan Murdoch)

02:41

Seven of the last eight goals now to the Cats, who have scored 10.9.(69) from turnovers, compared to the Giants who have scored 3.4.(22) from this source.

04:43

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Callan Ward)

05:29

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Callan Ward)

06:53

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Rushed)

09:16

Geelong lead ground-ball gets 85-57, with the midfield dominating its highly regarded GWS opposition.

12:58

GWS had generated nine of the last ten inside 50 entries leading into the goal to Jeremy Cameron, but had scored only three points during this period prior to the Cameron goal.

17:08

SCORE GOAL - Giants (Toby Greene)

17:47

GWS has now scored 5.3.(33) from stoppages, compared to Geelong who has scored 2.3.(15) from this source.

19:29

SCORE BEHIND - Giants (Toby Greene)

23:52

Tom Stewart has again been impressive for the Cats disrupting the GWS ball movement with five intercept possessions (including two intercept marks) and six spoils across half back. He has also contributed 17 disposals at 82 percent efficiency.

25:24

SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

26:33

SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)

27:02

Geelong has averaged 34 points from 25 forward half intercepts this season. Tonight the Cats have punished the Giants and scored 8.3.(51) from 26 such intercepts.

28:13

Sam Menegola caps off a terrific game with his third goal. Menegola has a game-high 13 score involvements, and team-highs for disposals (34) and metres gained (497).

30:16

The siren has sounded to end Q4.

30:26

In addition to dominating the ground-ball, the Cats also won the aerial contests, and finished with advantages in forward 50 marks (18-9), intercept marks (17-8) and contested marks (15-4).