SHADES OF MORDOR by George On The Outer

The players thought that one night in Mordor (Geelong) before the game would be bad enough, but it turned into two dark nights with the Cats giving the Demons a lesson in the final quarter to run out 15-point winners.

And while the coach makes much about “learnings”, surely it is time for the side to “learn” how to play wet weather football?

Three defeats in wet conditions so far this year. You can add the Brisbane game on a humid, slippery night to make it four.

In such conditions, the game style must change. Kick the ball off the ground, just kick the ball. In this game the Demons had 158 handballs - 53 more than Geelong. That is NOT wet weather football. 

And while conditions in the last quarter were not belting rain, as in the others, the ground remained wet. Three of those six Geelong final quarter goals started from kicks off the ground further upfield.  If the Cats weren’t soccering the ball, they were kicking long and deep.  In slippery conditions it creates chaos and opportunities, which certainly happened on a further three occasions. 

Melbourne led by seven points into the last quarter, but following another ANB howler, the momentum changed with Geelong kicking three goals in the next three minutes. 

Game over as the Mordor darkness descended. 

But that wasn’t the only obvious failing.  After standing Darcy Moore last game and denying him opportunity, Joel Smith simply lost Stewart this week and allowed five intercepts in the final critical quarter. It finally (but by then, far too late) led to Petty being taken from the backline in the dying moments of the game to provide some aerial contest.  

Other forwards hadn’t learnt the wet weather football mantra of playing in front.  So, Henry, Bews and Stewart had an easy job which was made even easier with the lack of crumbing from the Melbourne small forwards.  

Contested possessions? Despite winning the numbers game for the match, it was -10 in the final quarter.  

Rucks?  Despite winning the hit outs stat, neither Grundy nor Gawn provided any around the ground input to any real effect.  Max took his solitary mark for the game with less than a minute to play! Which further compounded the problems in the forward line with only eight for the night while Geelong managed 50% more!   

Can we just give up on “resting” rucks in front of goal?  Max has kicked 7 in 11 games and Brodie 9 in 14 games. It is just embarrassing watching both trying to run to deny the opposition backs head downfield….they are meant to be resting not running. 

There was little to commend from this game.  Just remember Geelong were without Dangerfield and Guthrie in the middle, while they lost Cameron early in the game.  That should have given the Demons a huge advantage.  

So, what are the “learnings” from this game?

Mordor is still a horrible place to spend the night.  Worse if it is two.  

Wet weather doesn’t seem to worry Cats.

No need to acclimatise for Kitty Litter Park … it is only 21 metres above sea level. 

We need El Nino to be running hot in September to avoid rain ruining our chances.

MELBOURNE 2.1.13 4.8.32 6.11.47 8.15.63

GEELONG 3.4.22 4.7.31 5.10.40 11.12.78

GOALS

MELBOURNE Fritsch Pickett J Smith 2 Petracca van Rooyen 

GEELONG Rohan 3 Bruhn 2 Blicavs Duncan Z Guthrie Hawkins Henry Stengle

BEST

MELBOURNE Petracca Viney Salem Lever Rivers Hunter

GEELONG Stewart Close Bruhn Rohan Duncan Atkins

INJURIES

MELBOURNE Nil

GEELONG Jeremy Cameron (concussion)

REPORTS

MELBOURNE Nil

GEELONG Nil

SUBSTITUTIONS

MELBOURNE Charlie Spargo (replaced Jordon in the third quarter)

GEELONG Jack Bowes (replaced Cameron in the first quarter)

UMPIRES Nick Foot Daniel Johanson Brett Rosebury Nathan Williamson 

CROWD 19,617 at Kitty Litter Park