Theatrical; Mark Thompson
Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG coach Mark Thompson has shrugged off a series of animated antics during the Cats’ qualifying loss as “pure theatre”.
But he warned players who let the side down they would “pay in some way” ahead of Friday night’s cut-throat finals’ clash against Fremantle.
Thompson was furious minutes after St Kilda held on to a four-point win last week after Cameron Mooney was penalised for pushing Saints defender James Gwilt in the back with just 61 seconds remaining.
Cats captain Cameron Ling cleaned up the spilled ball, kicking a goal seconds after the umpire blew his whistle in a play that would have put Geelong in front for the first time since the opening quarter.
“The free kick was probably there,” Thompson said.
“It was probably the 15 other ones they didn’t pay that were probably wrong.”
Mooney had been heard telling umpire Matt Stevic “You’ve just cost us the game” but the AFL ruled against citing the Cats centre half-forward even though his comments were caught on a microphone and broadcast on television.
A contrite Thompson refused to comment to reporters at the game’s press conference on whether the free kick cost Geelong victory.
Three days later he laughed off the frantic last moments.
“There are some things on the footy field that are pure theatre worth listening to and part of the game,” Thompson said.
“If people get sensitive about those sort of comments then they’re really kidding themselves.
“It was good TV – even I enjoyed the pure emotion of the performance.”
Thompson planned to “back our boys in” to reel in the Dockers but not until they overcame an extensive review during the week.
“They’ll pay in some way,” he said.
“They’ll sit down with the coaches and have a look at their performance.
“We can’t get to a big game, a final, and with our players play like they did in the first half.”
The Cats at one stage trailed St Kilda by 33 points.
Geelong will enter the second semi-final at the MCG as overwhelming favourite against Fremantle.
Thompson said the Cats would play with an urgent mindset to avoid a shock early elimination.
“I thought (Fremantle) was fantastic against Hawthorn on the weekend,” Thompson said.
“We know we’re facing a knock-out final and we cannot afford to take Fremantle lightly at all and we totally respect them.”
Thompson will face off against former Essendon teammate Mark Harvey who has had the ability to get his young charges up for past Geelong clashes.
Harvey, in Perth, was quick to heap expectations back on the defending premier.
“We’ve got nothing to lose now,” the Dockers coach said.
“They’re expected to play in a preliminary final, if not a grand final, so all the pressure’s in their backyard and we’ll see what they’ve got and how far they go.”
