Match

Geelong Cats vs Melbourne

Commentary / 22 Jun 2023

Pre Game

00:00
Melbourne and Geelong have been the two worst teams this season at preventing the opposition scoring from forward 50 clearances. The Demons have conceded a score from 74.5 percent of such clearances (ranked last defensively) and the Cats have conceded a score from 64.2 percent of these clearances (ranked second-last). In slippery conditions tonight, it is expected there will be numerous forward 50 stoppages.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:05
The first score of the game to Geelong followed their second forward half intercept. The Cats have scored from 37.7 percent of such intercepts this season (ranked second).
02:01
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tyson Stengle)
02:44
Geelong has kicked the first goal of the game following another forward half intercept. The Cats have an early 3-0 lead in this measure and average 34.7 points per game from this source (ranked third).
03:26
Melbourne generated its first score of the game from a centre bounce clearance. The Demons are ranked third for the differential in points scored from this source.
05:21
The Demons have already won three free kicks for holding the ball. Melbourne averages only 3.8 such free kicks per game this season (ranked 17th).
07:24
Melbourne has had eight chains starting in its defensive half and none of these have resulted in an inside 50 entry. Geelong has an early 6-1 lead in forward half intercepts and is making it difficult for the Demons to move the ball.
09:17
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tanner Bruhn)
09:34
Geelong has scored a goal from its first forward half clearance of the game. The Cats average 19.3 points per game from these chains this season (ranked fifth).
12:13
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Mitch Duncan)
12:44
The behind to Mitch Duncan came from a chain started with an intercept in the defensive 50. Melbourne has conceded a score from only 5.5 percent of opposition defensive 50 chains this season (ranked No.1).
15:29
Cats Interchange - Jeremy Cameron and is possibly out for the game.
23:00
The Demons have launched an inside 50 from 47.3 percent of defensive midfield chains this season (ranked No.1). Tonight, they have not generated an inside 50 entry from the first eight such chains.
23:28
Melbourne has scored its first goal of the game following a forward half intercept. The Demons average 28.1 such intercepts per game this season (ranked No.1).
24:39
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Isaac Smith)
26:03
Demons Interchange - Jack Viney off due to an injury.
27:16
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Zach Tuohy)
27:29
Melbourne has conceded a score from only 39.7 percent of opposition inside 50 entries this season (ranked second). Geelong has generated six scores from its first ten inside 50 entries tonight.
30:56
Geelong has an early 8-6 lead in intercept marks with both teams struggling to connect with players forward of the ball. Each of these teams averages 17.9 such marks per game.
32:06
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Gary Rohan)
32:30
Another goal for the Cats following a forward half intercept. Geelong now leads 12-7 in such intercepts and 14-6 in points scored from this source. The Cats average 23.7 such intercepts per game.
35:38
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Joel Smith)
36:05
The goal to Joel Smith came from a forward half stoppage. Melbourne averages only 13.3 points per game from this source, which is ranked 13th, and did not kick a goal from these chains in either of its last two games.
37:26
Geelong was able to generate more forward half intercepts (12-7) in the opening quarter which resulted in a favourable inside 50 count (14-9). With both teams struggling to move the ball from their defensive half, all of the goals came from forward half chains.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
00:10
In the first quarter, Melbourne was unable to convert a hitout to advantage edge (4-0) into either more effective clearances (5-5) or points scored from stoppages (7-7).
01:46
Geelong has recorded a kicking efficiency of 65 percent in its forward half tonight, while Melbourne has posted forward half kicking efficiency of only 43 percent.
01:52
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
04:36
Despite starting the game as the substitute, Jack Bowes is already the No.1 ranked player on the ground for pressure. Both teams are currently recording high pressure ratings (Geelong leading 203-195).
05:08
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kade Chandler)
06:08
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Trent Rivers)
06:42
Melbourne has generated the first six inside 50 entries of the quarter and the last eight in the game but continues to record forward half kicking efficiency below 50 percent.
07:17
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
08:06
The Demons lead the tackle count 11-2 this quarter, with this pressure contributing to the Cats having difficulty moving the ball out of their defensive half.
09:24
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Gary Rohan)
09:41
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Oliver Henry)
09:51
Geelong has generated three intercepts in its forward 50 tonight and scored three behinds from these chains. The Cats have scored from 72.3 percent of its forward 50 chains this season (ranked No.1 and the AFL average is only 57.4 percent).
11:28
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Gary Rohan)
12:34
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tom Hawkins)
12:51
Gary Rohan has been involved in all four scores for Geelong this quarter including two score assists. The Cats now lead 17-9 in forward half intercepts and 22-8 in points scored from this source.
15:20
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Joel Smith)
15:26
Joel Smith had kicked only two goals in 30 games before tonight but has become the first multiple-goal kicker in this game, and again a forward half intercept was the goal source.
18:41
Melbourne has applied strong pressure in its forward half tonight and leads 6-0 in forward 50 tackles and 20-9 in forward half tackles.
19:10
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
20:39
A brilliant piece of play from Kysaiah Pickett has given Melbourne the first goal of the game from a forward 50 stoppage. There have been eight such stoppages in the forward 50 of the Demons and the Cats are yet to have a forward 50 stoppage.
25:59
All of the eight goals in this game have come from chains starting in the forward half, making territorial advantage crucial. The Demons have recorded 64 percent time in forward half this term.
29:17
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
29:41
Christian Petracca has won a game-high six clearances with five of these coming in the second quarter. The Demons have edged ahead in clearances 22-16 and points scored from stoppages 15-8.
29:50
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
30:49
Melbourne was able to win the territory battle in the second quarter with 68 percent time in forward half and a 17-9 inside 50 count. However, the Demons returned only 2.7.19 in difficult conditions. Melbourne also won the tackle count 26-8 which is the biggest differential in any quarter this season.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:10
Brad Close won nine contested possessions post-clearance in the first half which already equals a career-high. No other player on the ground won more than five such possessions in the first half. Close also recorded game-highs for both disposals (15) and pressure acts (16) in a prominent first half.
00:35
Michael Hibberd was prominent for the Demons in the first half with six intercept possessions, and eight disposals at 100 percent efficiency while winning two of his three one-on-one contests (and drawing the other).
01:55
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kade Chandler)
02:04
The first score of the second half to the Demons came from a forward 50 stoppage. Melbourne now leads 8-0 in points scored from this source and 10-1 in forward 50 stoppages generated.
03:26
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Gary Rohan)
03:39
The goal to Gary Rohan was the first of the night to come from a defensive half chain. Rohan has been involved in a game-high six scores for the Cats and the score assist was provided by Gryan Miers (ranked No.1 in the AFL for this measure).
05:39
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rhys Stanley)
06:05
Geelong leads 7-4 in centre bounce clearances but neither team has scored a goal from this source. Melbourne leads 14-7 in clearances from around-the-ground stoppages.
08:41
Melbourne is leading the contested possession count 19-8 this quarter but recording kicking efficiency of only 38 percent and has taken only two marks.
10:51
Since Round 8, Mark Blicavs leads the Cats for clearances with 28, having at least four in all but one game. The versatile Cat currently has recorded an equal team-high five intercept possessions, three clearances, and a game-high six spoils.
11:58
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
13:15
Melbourne leads the forward 50 tackle count 16-3, and it was the third of these tackles for Geelong that led to its last score. The Demons also lead 33-16 in forward half tackles.
16:49
The Cats have conceded 13.3 opposition forward 50 marks per game this season (ranked 15th defensively). Last season Geelong allowed only 9.4 such marks per game. Both teams have taken seven such marks tonight, with the last of these by Jacob van Rooyen providing the last goal.
18:39
The Demons have scored from 20 percent of their defensive midfield chains this season (ranked No.1). Tonight Melbourne has scored only two behinds from 30 such chains with the weather and a disciplined Geelong defence making ball movement difficult.
20:28
In the last four rounds, the Demons recorded a shot at goal accuracy of only 31.7 percent (ranked last). Melbourne has fared marginally better tonight but has again had issues converting opportunities.
20:34
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
21:22
Melbourne now leads 17-4 in forward half clearances and 21-6 in points scored from this source following the last goal to Kysaiah Pickett who has scored both of his goals tonight from forward half clearance chains.
22:47
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Oliver Henry)
25:12
Since the start of 2019, Geelong has lost only six of its 33 games at Kardinia Park and five of those six losses were by less than ten points.
26:43
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
28:25
Melbourne was able to edge Geelong for clearances (13-8) and contested possessions (45-34) in the third quarter, but the Cats did start to move the ball a bit better at times with five inside 50 entries from defensive half chains after only having six such chains in the first half.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
00:16
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Tanner Bruhn)
00:54
Steven May has gained 25.5 metres per disposal this season, which is ranked No.1 at the club, and he has tonight recorded a game-high 537 metres gained from his 14 disposals.
02:17
Geelong has an edge in both contested marks (9-6) and forward 50 marks (9-7), following the last mark (and goal) for Oliver Henry. Both of the goals for the Cats in the second half have come from chains started with an intercept in the defensive midfield.
03:58
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Zach Guthrie)
04:29
Zach Guthrie, who has just put the Cats back in front, finished with a team-high 26 disposals and 612 metres gained last round against the Power. It was the first time in his career that he had recorded the most disposals for his team.
05:44
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Charlie Spargo)
09:55
SCORE BEHIND - Cats (Rushed)
10:08
Geelong leads the contested possession count 16-9 this quarter and also leads 40-21 in disposals after Melbourne was leading both of these measures to three-quarter time.
12:11
Another strong contested mark for the Cats (who now lead 12-6 in this count) provided the last goal for Geelong who now has a major 21-3 advantage in points scored from defensive half chains.
14:01
Another goal from the defensive half for the Cats who are starting to break the game open. Gary Rohan was again prominent and he has now been involved in nine scores for the Cats and the next most by any other player is six.
15:47
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Mitch Duncan)
16:05
A powerful burst from the Cats continues with another counter-attack goal. This quarter, Geelong leads in both contested possessions( 24-14) and tackles (9-3), with the last four goals all coming from chains started in the defensive half.
17:22
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Rushed)
18:53
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Christian Petracca)
19:11
Melbourne averages a competition-high 38.6 points per game from defensive half chains this season. Tonight the Demons have scored only three behinds from these chains while conceding five goals to the Cats from their equivalent chains.
21:16
SCORE GOAL - Cats (Tanner Bruhn)
21:35
Six goals in a row to the Cats who have kicked these goals from only nine inside 50 entries with the Demon defence overwhelmed. Tanner Bruhn has recorded equal career-highs tonight for both contested possessions (12) and goals (2).
23:23
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Christian Petracca)
27:04
Geelong leads 36-30 in forward half intercepts which is easily the most such intercepts it has generated in a game this season. The Cats also lead 31-22 in points scored from this source.
28:41
SCORE BEHIND - Demons (Kysaiah Pickett)
29:51
Tom Atkins has now applied 94 tackles this season, which is 30 more than any other Cat. Atkins is the No.1 ranked player on the ground tonight for pressure.
31:08
SCORE GOAL - Demons (Bayley Fritsch)
31:16
A pair of late goals to the Demons with Christian Petracca prominent in both. Petracca leads all players for contested possessions (16), clearances (10), and disposals (33).
33:31
A five-goal burst in less than ten minutes during the final quarter by the Cats separated the teams tonight. Geelong showed signs of moving the ball better in the third term and then delivered in the final quarter to finish with a 33-4 advantage in points scored from the defensive half.