By Justin Flynn
Nobody saw it coming.
Not even the staunchest of Essendon fans really thought their side could roll Geelong after a week from hell.
But it happened.
The Bombers consigned Geelong to eighth spot on the ladder and win-loss record that sits precariously at five and four.
It couldn’t happen again, could it?
Never say never, but it’s highly unlikely.
Geelong’s meeting with Carlton tomorrow night is at the safe confines of GMHBA Stadium and the Blues were trounced by more than a hundred points last weekend.
However, Geelong will need to tackle more this week.
The Cats lost the tackle count by a whopping 23 against the Dons.
Nine players registered two tackles or less.
Essendon’s GWS recruit Devon Smith laid 10 tackles himself.
As coach Chris Scott said: “We didn’t execute any of the things we planned going in. We just couldn’t apply the requisite pressure that’s needed to beat a team that’s up and about.”
Scott conceded his side was “obliterated” around the ball, but also praised Essendon’s game.
Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan got plenty of the ball, but Tim Kelly, Gary Ablett and Sam Menegola could only muster 16, 17 and 16 disposals respectively.
The Cats struggled in front of goal. Five of their seven goals came from two players – Tom Hawkins with three and Dangerfield two. Two of Hawkins’ goals came in junk time during time on in the last quarter when the game was gone.
The Blues will regain Ed Curnow from suspension, which will give young gun Patrick Cripps some help in the midfield.
Cripps was superb in the huge loss to the Demons with 31 possessions and nine tackles.
Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer was down on form last week and Marc Murphy struggled, although he did lay 11 tackles.
The Blues will just have to be patient and keep getting games into the likes of Sam Petrovski-Seton, Zac Fisher, Paddy Dow and Harry McKay.
But the Blues are struggling to score goals as well.
Ironically, both Carlton and Geelong scored 7.8.50, but it’s Geelong’s performance which looks the more likely to be an aberration.
Carlton hasn’t played at Kardinia Park for premiership points since 1997 when the Cats prevailed by 28 points.
It’s difficult to see how a light training run on the ground the day before the game will be enough for the Blues, who are lacking key personnel.
Geelong will wear its 2018 Indigenous guernsey to mark the annual Djilang Round.
Tomorrow’s game at GMHBA Stadium starts at 7.25pm.
It’s hard to see anything other than a Geelong victory. But that’s what we said last week.
We’re a little more confident this time.
Cats by 39 points.
