By Luke Voogt
Geelong will need to step up its intensity when it returns to Simonds Stadium to face Fremantle on Sunday afternoon.
Cats coach Chris Scott said the 11th-placed Dockers’ “extreme top-end talent” posed a dangerous threat despite the side being “in transition”.
“We’d expect a pretty hot contest. When they all perform very well they’re very hard to beat.”
The Cats were out-tackled (74 to 93) and slightly outmuscled on ball by the fiery Eagles during their disappointing 13-point loss last Thursday.
“We were really disappointed in a number of areas … I don’t want to explain it to Ross (Lyon) in great detail,” Scott said.
“We didn’t get it inside 50 well enough and in greasy conditions we were out-pressured around the ball, which hadn’t been the case for the previous few weeks.
“If they dominate the inside 50 count and field position it’s going to be a tough night for us.”
Geelong’s tackling paid dividends in its last game against Fremantle, with the Cats laying 27 more tackles in their 42-point win.
The Cats are ranked equal third for tackles in the AFL, with an average of 73.8 per game, while the Dockers are last with 59.8.
Geelong also dominated in the clearances and inside 50s.
Plenty of supply to the forward line will help the Cats break the 100-point mark for the first time since round nine.
The Cats will welcome back key forward Tom Hawkins, who is still in the Coleman Medal race despite missing last week’s game due to suspension.
Geelong are ranked third for points for with an average of 102 points, while the Dockers are 17th on 76.
But Geelong does not enjoy the same home advantage against Fremantle as some other sides.
The Dockers have won two of their last three games there at Simonds Stadium, including a 44-point win in round two, 2015.
Cockatoo will miss this Sunday’s game against Fremantle, and Scott said he would need to be “absolutely, categorically right” when he returns.
Nakia Cockatoo will need to better read the cues his body gives him following his minor hamstring injury, he added.
“He is just a little bit raw in terms of understanding the feedback mechanisms his body provides.“
“We’re relieved to hear it’s not as serious as it could have been. But it left us one down for virtually the whole game.”
Scott said he and his coaching staff had a responsibility to temper the players’ on-field aggression, in the wake of Hawkins’ suspension and Joel Selwood’s report last week.
Hawkins was suspended for a jumper punch against Adelaide following an AFL crackdown, while Selwood was fined after collecting West Coast’s Sam Mitchell.
“We want our players playing hard, aggressive footy and sometimes that means you go close to the line,” he said.
“But if you overstep it you pay a very big penalty and you do run the risk of being penalised where some players haven’t.”
The Cats women’s side will take on Melbourne Uni in the VFLW at St Mary’s Oval from 10.45am.
