By Luke Voogt
The Cats will need more than their recent run of good fortune to be premiership contenders, coach Chris Scott has said.
Scott admitted the Cats could easily have lost their last two matches if not for the opposition losing key players and kicking poorly.
“We’re clear that it’s not our brilliance that’s necessarily got us into this position, it’s been a fair bit of good fortune as well.”
“I think it’s the height of arrogance to come in and say ‘we’re going well we’re three and zip’.”
Geelong will face arch enemy Hawthorn in the traditional Easter Monday blockbuster at the MCG.
Hawthorn will be out for blood after their disastrous 0-3 start and will attempt to replicate Melbourne’s pressure around the ball, which forced many Geelong errors.
Melbourne dominated Geelong with possession, tackles, time in forward half and scoring shots in the second and third quarters but were unable to convert on the scoreboard.
The Demons finished with six more scoring shots than the Cats, despite losing by 29 points.
“The middle part of the game they were better than us around the ball,” Scott said. “It was nice to be play outplayed and still hang in today.”
“But again, if they kicked straight we wouldn’t be saying that.“
Geelong has dominated the AFL in goal accuracy at 64.7 per cent, well ahead of Adelaide, Port Adelaide and GWS who have kicked at about 55 per cent.
Scott said the team’s preseason goal kicking practice had paid off so far.
“We were bottom four last year. It’s a huge turn around.”
Meanwhile, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd warned Harry Taylor’s move to the forward line could mean an “early end to his career.”
“Geelong have kicked 55 goals for the year. Do you know how many he’s kicked? None.” Lloyd told Channel Nine on Sunday.
The star backman admitted his season had been underwhelming so far.
“My influence from a scoreboard point of view has been non-existent,“ Taylor told Fox Footy on Monday night.
“But hopefully some of the things we’re trying to implement are helping the team.”
Scott agreed, saying Taylor was “the quintessential team man” and had taken pressure off Geelong’s forwards.
“What’s best for Harry may well be just to play as a key defender, but it may well be that what’s best for the team is for him to play forward.”
Scott said his presence helped Tom Hawkins and Daniel Menzel kick five and four goals respectively.
Half forward Brandan Parfitt also stood out in just his third match.
The 18-year-old won a Rising Star nomination with 23 touches and five tackles – one of which won him a free kick and subsequent goal.
He told AFL.com.au that joining fellow former-Darwinians Steven Motlop and Nakia Cockatoo had made the move to Geelong easier.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling after all the hard work over the summer, so it’s good to see it pay off.“
