‘Freak’ explodes in vintage masterpiece; how Cats filled brutal star void — Player Ratings

A long-time star “turned the clock back” in a massive way in Friday night’s preliminary final, as Geelong stormed to a second grand final berth in four years.

Meanwhile, multiple Cats stepped up to fill the significant void left by Tom Stewart after his concussion.

Foxfooty.com.au rates every Geelong player out of 10 from its preliminary final victory over Hawthorn.

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3. BAILEY SMITH

The All-Australian was quiet in the opening term but began to exert influence in the second stanza. Had an equal-team-high 16 disposals at half-time. “Bailey Smith’s final has been superb. His kicking has been a bit untidy, but he just keeps running.” Of course, there just had to be a Bailey moment, and it came with a few minutes left as he streamed in and goaled from distance. “From a footy point of view, he’s been beyond reproach,” Demons great Garry Lyon said on Fox Footy in the waning moments of the game. He finished with 36 disposals and eight inside-50s, as well as a goal that put the icing on the cake for the Cats. 8

5. JEREMY CAMERON

Drew Josh Battle. The superstar forward started clunking a few marks in the second quarter, and set sail from distance and a tough angle to keep the Cats within touching distance. Kicked his second goal of the night in the third quarter to extend the Cats’ lead to 26 points. His third goal of the night came after pouncing brilliantly at stoppage. 8

7. SHAUN MANNAGH

Mannagh, who was playing further up the ground, nailed a set shot in the second quarter to narrow the Cats’ deficit to single digits. Late in the third quarter, he booted a ridiculous goal on the run from a tough angle to put the Cats out by 28 points. 7

9. MAX HOLMES

Well, Maxy will finally get his chance on grand final day, and very deservedly so. Holmes was shifted to half-back in the second quarter, with Jack Ginnivan responsible for the Geelong speedster. Lyon said right before half-time: “He’s had a massive second quarter, here.” Lyon: “I thought Holmes’ last 15 minutes (of the first half) were really significant. He started to run and get them going.” Holmes snapped a huge goal in the third quarter to put the Cats up 19 points. 8

12. JACK BOWES

Made a few good decisions with ball in hand and had a few key touches in the third quarter. 6

13. JHYE CLARK

Clark started as the tactical substitute but was quickly inserted into the game after Tom Stewart’s concussion. Had instant impact, with his quick hands on full display. The 21-year-old has started as the sub in three of his eight senior games this season, including for the qualifying final against Brisbane. 6

14. CONNOR O’SULLIVAN

Started on Mabior Chol before momentarily going to Jack Gunston after Jack Henry’s temporary injury absence. For someone playing in his first preliminary final, O’Sullivan looked as settled as anything. 7

16. SAM DE KONING

Was responsible for Mitch Lewis early on. Looked settled for most of the evening. Obviously, with Tom Stewart exiting, he took on added responsibility in that back six and didn’t look out of place at all. 7

17. LAWSON HUMPHRIES

Relatively inauspicious for most of the evening, hardly touching the footy — not that he needed to. 5

18. TYSON STENGLE

Didn’t account for much early on but snapped a key goal late in the first half and buzzed around a few times throughout the night. He snapped his second of the evening in the third quarter before kicking his third off the ground in the waning minutes of the game. 7

19. JACK MARTIN

Martin was very quiet in the early going, with Lyon saying: “Jack Martin hasn’t touched the ball, so if he’s going to play this role, it’s OK not to find it (the footy), but you can’t allow James Sicily to be intercept-marking like that.” He got a bit more involved late in the half with a few touches in the forward half. He got on the end of some Dangerfield brilliance for a goal in the third but lacked a bit of polish in possession. 6

28. OLLIE DEMPSEY

Initially matched up with Massimo D’Ambrosio on a wing. Crafted a magical goal assist to Tyson Stengle in the second quarter and was generally threatening. 7

30. TOM ATKINS

Chris Scott confirmed pre-game that Atkins would go to bullocking Hawthorn midfielder Jai Newcombe, as some predicted he might, and he was arguably Geelong’s best player in the opening term. He kept Newcombe pretty quiet in the first half. Newcombe had just two score involvements to three-quarter-time, while Atkins was among the Cats’ major ball-winners. “He’s eclipsed Jai Newcombe,” AFL Legend Jason Dunstall said on Fox Footy. 8

32. GRYAN MIERS

Involved himself in the contest without being incredibly influential early, but his possessions were incredibly valuable in the third term when the Cats separated the game. At three-quarter-time, he had a game-high 10 score involvements. He kicked a cherry-on-top goal in the final term to cap off his night. 8

33. SHANNON NEALE

Drew the Tom Barrass matchup. Kicked a goal early in the second term and was competitive throughout the evening, but was comfortably beaten all-in-all to finish which three disposals and just one after half time. 4

34. OISIN MULLIN

He didn’t go to Jai Newcombe as some predicted he might. Instead, he went with Nick Watson. Watson kicked a miraculous goal in the second term ut was otherwise well held. Lyon said: “He’s kept him (Watson), apart from a miracle goal, to zero impact.” 7

35. PATRICK DANGERFIELD

A scintillatingly vintage performance from a legend of the game. Dangerfield started in the guts before floating forward. He kicked a key goal to stem the flow late in the first quarter. Finished the first half with a game-high seven score involvements. Tom Hawkins said on Fox Footy of his old teammate at half-time: “Late in that second (quarter), he really stood tall.” Jordan Lewis added: “Dangerfield led from the front.” After bursting away with a centre clearance in the third, Lyon said: “He’s turned the clock back, the big fella.” Then, he snapped a masterful goal to put Geelong up 13 points. And right as the Hawks were getting back into the contest, Dangerfield classily assisted a Jack Martin goal to halt their progress. Dunstall said: “He’s doing it all, Danger … the man’s a freak.” Dangerfield then did it again in the fourth, snapping his third of the evening to put the result beyond doubt. “This is one they will talk about for so many years to come!” exclaimed Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson. He finished with 32 possessions, 13 score involvements, three goals and nine inside-50s. 10

38. JACK HENRY

Started the game on Gunston before hurting his left foot in an awkward motion in the first quarter. There was some doubt over whether he’d returned, but he did and gallantly soldiered on for the rest of the night — though Dunstall noted he looked “a bit proppy” with his movements — and stood tall at times in defence. Still allowed Gunston too much room at times. 5

39. ZACH GUTHRIE

Guthrie appeared to start on Jack Ginnivan, but he was forced to change tack after Stewart’s injury — and he did so with aplomb, playing the spare role that Stewart did in the early stages. He had an equal-team-high 16 disposals at half-time and continued his admirable play into the second half — including desperation spoils and general acts to thwart Hawthorn attacks. Finished the match a game-high 10 intercept possessions, all of which came before the final break. 8

42. MARK O’CONNOR

Was very quiet in terms of finding the footy, but he looked to be spending time on Connor Macdonald as the game wore on. 6

44. TOM STEWART

The heartbreak story of the evening was the Cats’ vice-captain going down early. Stewart was initially allowed to roam loosely in the back half, before he cruelly suffered a concussion from a Mabior Chol tackle — not only ruling him out of the rest of Friday night, but also the grand final next Saturday.

45. BRAD CLOSE

Involved in a few scores and applied good forward-half pressure throughout without having a tremendous influence. Still had the better of Blake Hardwick. 6

46. MARK BLICAVS

The ever-reliable utility got involved in a few Geelong scores and was typically dependable. Was a tough battle with Lloyd Meek, but his tackle pressure was worth more than just that of a fourth on-baller. 7