By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
WHILE Geelong Cats players enjoyed a nine-day break as a change from the series of six-day turnarounds they endured during the season, Geelong coaching staff had other worries this week.
An emerging trend of second half fade-outs and a poor percentage put the Cats behind the top four teams in more ways than one.
Coach Chris Scott was adamant at his media conference on Tuesday that lacklustre second-half efforts were not due to a lack of fitness.
“We’ve got supreme confidence that, as on the weekend, when the chips are down we’re running out games well.
“We’ve certainly had a look at it. It’s not something we shy away from, we don’t pretend it’s not happening.
“The objective numbers are impossible to argue against, at least in terms of the scoreboard.
“We’re having a look at a whole range of things. I think it’s been symptomatic of where we’ve been the last couple of months.
“And it’s probably why we’ve had to absorb some external criticism of our performances. We’ve just been a bit inconsistent and most of those inconsistencies have been later in games.
“But we’re pretty confident we can fix it.”
Scott admitted Geelong’s poor percentage effectively put the side two games behind the top teams.
But he ruled out trying to play percentage catch up, preferring to see his players take advantage and run up a big score if an opportunity presented itself.
He also admitted that a few of the older players were carrying niggles but pointed out so would the veterans of most sides at this stage of the season.
“(Managing the older players) is quite complex but the most important thing is that we prioritise what’s best for that individual in any given week,” he said.
Skipper Joel Selwood, defender Harry Taylor – who plays his 150th game this weekend – and mercurial Steve Motlop all pulled up well despite injury concerns.
Scott admitting he was biased about Taylor, declaring him the best key defender in the competition.
“He’s the one that’s really been able to hold our group together as (the stars) have retired,” Scott enthused.
He was also happy with the performance of Jed Bews so far, with some comparisons to defender Corey Enright’s debut.
“He’s got a long way to go before he’s reaching the Corey Enright stage but I understand the comparison in terms of Jed being a little bit unobtrusive, especially the way Corey was early in his career.
“Jed had a couple of weeks off, which is part of his plan, but such is the confidence we have in him he came straight back into the AFL team.
“We’ve got a lot of confidence in the player he can be but even more than that we are confident he can do the job this week, next week, the week after.
“He’s got a lot of developing to do but all the signs are good for Jed.”
