Demons legend Garry Lyon has called out a moment first-year Cats forward Shaun Mannagh went away from Geelong’s “DNA” during its preliminary final loss to Brisbane.
The Cats fell by just 10 points in the MCG thriller that went down to the wire in the fourth quarter.
But Lyon took issue with a moment from Mannagh early in the third term when Geelong was “in control” and leading by 19 points.
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With the opportunity to extend that lead, Mannagh had a shot at goal instead of passing to open teammate Tyson Stengle inside 50, with Brisbane going down the other end and kicking a goal to continue its fightback.
Speaking on Fox Footy’s On the Couch, Lyon thinks it was a blight on the successful culture that’s been built at Geelong this century.
“This Geelong side’s DNA — you go back to Cam Mooney, Stevie J and Chapman — it is about selflessness. They got more joy giving away goals than kicking them,” Lyon began.
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The success of Managh, 27, a mature-aged pick-up in last year’s draft, has been widely lauded, with the ex-Werribee player tallying career highs in disposals (23) and goals (three) in the qualifying final win over Port Adelaide.
It’s even ignited calls for clubs to be more aggressive in targeting mature-aged players in future drafts.
And while Lyon acknowledged Mannagh has had an “outstanding” season, he said the Cat “let himself down on this occasion”.
“It was really important, they had the game in their hand and control,” the Melbourne great continued.
“But right here, he starts to think about himself. That hasn’t been the way Shaun Mannagh has established his respect throughout this game. This is going away from what this club stands for.
“He’ll have this moment back in his own mind and say: ‘No, no, Geelong give that’. This is what the Geelong footy club does, they just give it.
“All of a sudden the exact thing that makes Geelong such a great side is glaringly denied and ignored.
“I reckon Shaun Mannagh let himself down in that moment, which is a tough thing to say because he’s a good kid.”
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