The Bendigo Bank Cats are now assured of second spot on the VFL ladder following its commanding 69-point victory over Werribee at Chirnside Park on Saturday.
The blitzing four-quarter performance is just what we’ve come to expect from Geelong this season as the Cats seemingly comprise no weakness in its star-studded line-up.
‘The boys are very strong-willed at the moment, they know what they’re after, and their fitness is just helping them get where they want,’ coach Leigh Tudor said after the game.
‘In our last quarters, we just keep outrunning and outscoring our opponents, so I just think what we did in the pre-season is really working.’
Playing away to a nearby rival in Werribee who were desperate to keep its finals hopes alive, the encounter presented another tough challenge for a Geelong side brimming with confidence.
Perfect conditions and an array of forward line talent presented by both sides allowed for an enterprising start to the game as the scorline read 5.3 apiece at the first break.
Key forward Todd Grima picked up where he had left off the week before with three in the first term, going on to boot 6.4 for the day from 13 marks and 27 possessions in a best on ground performance. Charlie Gardiner chimed in with five majors while Tom Hawkins and Henry Playfair managed two and three respectively.
‘The work rate of Charlie Gardiner, Todd Grima and Tom Hawkins today was just outstanding. They were getting the ball off the backline players, taking marks on the wing, but were also taking marks close to goal and converting,’ Tudor said.
In a near-faultless display, the Bendigo Bank Cats entered their forward zone an incredible 79 times for an attractive scoreline of 20.19(139) to Werribee’s 10.10(70) from 38 entries.
The result was put to rest in the third quarter as the gallant Tigers suffered a 40-minute goal drought causing for an eight point deficit to blow out to 45 points late in the third term.
While the forward quartet aforementioned bagged 16 goals between them, it was the efforts of Geelong’s defence and midfield which warmed the hearts of its supporters and coaching staff alike on the weekend.
‘Tim Callan had 35 possessions again on a wing. He’s been in our best three-four players just about every game, so it’s been an outstanding year for him. Scotty Thompson and David Johnson were just fantastic for us down back as well,’ Tudor said.
‘I thought we had 15-16 players beat their direct opponent today, so it’s very hard to pick the best yet again this week because we’ve had so many winners on the ground.’
Thompson was simply outstanding in defence with 22 possessions, six spoils and five rebounds from 50. Chris Urie and Jay Cheep also epitomised the astonishing depth the club possesses at the moment with 30 and 26 disposals respectively.
To follow Stephen Owen’s tragic knee injury from last week, fellow defender Sam Hunt suffered what appeared to be a hamstring tear late in the match.
‘There was just a little bit of general soreness with Ryan Gamble and David Johnson. Liam Bedford and Simon Hogan are coming back from injuries so we just had to look after them as well,’ Tudor said.
Despite next week’s final home and away match not having an effect on Geelong’s ladder position for 2007, the Bendigo Bank Cats will not be approaching its clash with the Bombers any differently.
‘We’ll just put the best 22 out there next week and try to play to our structures that have been working for us all year, so the aim will just be to win the first quarter,’ Tudor said.
