Patrick Smith's 10 Commandments to beat Geelong

[Benchwarmer]

"PORT VOW TO BEAT GEELONG"
Patrick Smith - "The Australian" September 5, 2007


GEELONG has finished on top of the ladder and stylishly, too.

It had won 15 matches in succession until Port Adelaide snuck a five-point win in the dying minutes of their round 21 match. This was described as the loss the Cats had to have.
It would variously smarten the Cats up, make them keener, bring them back to earth, and put pressure on the players to hold their place for the finals. It may have done all of these things but it had one other element - and something quite sinister at that.

Port Adelaide was able to expose Geelong's weaknesses and the manner in which it could be beaten.

Smart football men have watched that game and consider the favourite for the premiership vulnerable and hardly the invincible side it appeared in the middle of winter.

Port showed there are 10 commandments that, followed religiously, can bring Geelong down. Dean Laidley, you should feel free to use them on Sunday. A small charge will apply.

One: Gary Ablett provides the energy and vision for the team. He is the single-most important player. Opposition clubs need to sit on him with their very best run-with player. He goes everywhere Ablett does and sits on the interchange bench with the Geelong star. Ablett will have an effect because he is so good but to beat Geelong he must somehow be stifled if not beaten.

Two: Only Port's Kane Cornes (613) and Ablett (585) have had more disposals this season than Joel Corey (582). The Geelong midfielder is a great accumulator and almost as important as Ablett. He, too, must be assigned an experienced run-with player.

Three: The third-most important player is Darren Milburn. He is the collector and distributor on the backline. He is very good at getting across to help a team-mate out as the third man up and he then generals the way the ball is run out of defence. He must be assigned a defensive forward who must draw him outside 50metres or take him back into the goal square. If he is allowed to hover across the defence, 30metres from goal he has his best chance to control the defence and therefore the ball movement.

Four: Have two ruckmen on the ground at least 80 per cent of the time. Geelong's style is to kick, mark and handball off, kick, mark and handball off. It is rapid and direct football, always focused on attacking through the corridor. Port Adelaide coach Mark Williams made this difficult by using Brendan Lade as a centre forward and Dean Brogan as centre back. Coming out of defence Geelong had to push wide of Lade and going into attack play around Brogan. The corridor was not as accessible as Geelong liked. And Geelong's best forward Cameron Mooney is not comfortable with a big ruckman standing in front of him. It plays on his mind. Because Lade rucked the forward line and Brogan the back, it allowed the two ruckmen to have extended time on the ground.

Five: Spread the Geelong defence. Port spaced its four marking forwards brilliantly. All started close to the goal. Warren Tredrea was 20 to 30metres out from goal. He would lead at his team-mate coming down the ground. Daniel Motlop would lead out to the right, Brett Ebert out to the left. Justin Westhoff stayed in the goal square. Between them, the quartet kicked 10 of Port's 16 goals. The structure and the direction the forwards led meant it was very difficult for Geelong defenders to supply cover to team-mates. They were forced to play their men one-on-one. So the Geelong defence, the meanest in the league, previously conceding just 72 points a match, gave up 106 to Port.

Six: Slow down the tempo of the game. The Cats midfielders are risk-takers, rhythm players with only Cameron Ling defensively strong. Geelong's first aim is to attack relentlessly, much like Adam Gilchrist plays one-day cricket. Opposition sides must retard Geelong's momentum. Port did it by manning up, chip kicking and keeping the ball out of Geelong's hands. Huddle and spread. Frustrate. Stifle.

Seven: Protect the corridor. Opposition clubs must almost zone off and clog Geelong's favorite attacking avenue. With Lade playing centre forward and Brogan centre back, flankers also gravitated towards the corridor. It meant Geelong had to work the ball around the flanks which is contrary to its game plan.

Eight: Geelong likes to stream forward, kicking to leading targets. Opposition defenders must stand two to five metres ahead of their opponents. This will help force them to lead out to the boundary and force the ball to be delivered out of the corridor. The Geelong forwards could lead back towards goal but they are not comfortable doing that. Put a strong, experienced defender who is prepared to give as good as he gets - physically and verbally - on Mooney. He is less effective, more distracted when he can't intimidate.

Nine: The man hunted by Ling should never push into Geelong's forward line. Avoid the lure of running to stoppages in the forward 50. Ling is the one mid-fielder who can kick goals. He has 27 for the season and only forwards Matthew Stokes (28), Nathan Ablett (28), Steve Johnson (41) and Mooney (55) have more.

Ten: Opposition midfielders should push to all stoppages in their own forward line. Get numbers around the ball because Geelong's midfield and onballers are not strong defensively. Decent ruck work will give opposition midfielders quality shots on goal.

Port's victory over Geelong was made simpler by the absence of Ling and Jimmy Bartels. But without Matthew Egan (foot fracture), both Matthew Scarlett and Tom Harley will have to adjust their roles. Critically, the round 21 match showed that if the defence is spread and the corridor blocked, Geelong is uncomfortable and beatable when removed from its primary game plan.

All the commandments must be followed if Geelong is to be beaten. It is good enough to work around some of the tactics but not all of them. Ten out of 10 - it will produce the perfect score.

[MW]

11. Get into their heads about the 4 loosing GF's

[Rik E Boy]

And if you can get all ten things above done (MW's bull5hit doesn't count with this group) then you might win on the last kick of the day with three seconds to spare if Geelong have four of its best 22 players out and you are ranked the number two team in the league.

Simple.

regards,

REB

[Dirko]

NFI Patrick Smith...

Biggest crock of crap I've ever read...IMO Geelong LOST that game against Port not the other way round...

[Pup]

NFI Patrick Smith...

Biggest crock of crap I've ever read...IMO Geelong LOST that game against Port not the other way round...

Most articles of his are pure rubbish and this is no exception

[JK]

I don't think it's all rubbish, there's definitely some poignant material in there, but I think to achieve the results he's suggesting Port are probably the best equipped team ... Not saying they are (or aren't) the best list in the comp, just that Port have the players to achieve some of what he's talking about there.l

[haloman]

Easiest way to beat Geelong this September...............
Make sure the bus breaks down on it's way to the ground.
I'm sure there are a few Port supporters who could help out with that.

[Booney]

NFI Patrick Smith...

Biggest crock of crap I've ever read...IMO Geelong LOST that game against Port not the other way round...

Bollocks.If Abletts goal had been the last of the day,the Cats would have stolen it off us.We had the run for the major part of the game,I'd say 60/40 that we were on top.

Yes,Geelong had 3 players out who are critical to their side,two quality midfielders and one of the best 'run-with- players in the comp,who is a goal kicker too.

Just as Port payed much respect to the league leader,Geelong were aware the Port forward line is capable of having multiple players kick multiple goals,and our midfielders goals are the cream on top of our forward line ability.

Dont be mistaken,Geelong are beatable.Even to win in the last 5 seconds,you have to be close enough to do so.

Carn Port.

[MW]

MW's bull5hit doesn't count with this group

It does count, it's the culture of the Geelong Footy Club, in that they simply cannot get it done in finals. The proof is only winning one flag in 44 years. How many GFs have they lost in that time?

[Hondo]

I bet Dean Laidley is having a second look at that article ..

[the wonder elephant]

I bet Dean Laidley is having a second look at that article ..

and any other coach looking to go at them in the finals some very good points

[haloman]

NFI Patrick Smith...

Biggest crock of crap I've ever read...IMO Geelong LOST that game against Port not the other way round...

Bollocks.If Abletts goal had been the last of the day,the Cats would have stolen it off us.We had the run for the major part of the game,I'd say 60/40 that we were on top.

Yes,Geelong had 3 players out who are critical to their side,two quality midfielders and one of the best 'run-with- players in the comp,who is a goal kicker too.

Just as Port payed much respect to the league leader,Geelong were aware the Port forward line is capable of having multiple players kick multiple goals,and our midfielders goals are the cream on top of our forward line ability.

Dont be mistaken,Geelong are beatable.Even to win in the last 5 seconds,you have to be close enough to do so.

Carn Port.

I have never before agreed with a Port supporter on anything..........untill now.

[Booney]

Good work Halo,Im glad you agree with the "Carn Port" bit.

[Rik E Boy]

Port were definately the better side on the day Booney and it would have been a steal if Ablett's goal was the last. I guess my main objection to this article is not even really a football but a journalistic one.

The content is fair enough, but Phatprik Smith has merely rehashed an article that Gerald Healy wrote several months ago....and Geelong has had one last kick loss since then. No team is unbeatable, but this is as close to it that Geelong has ever been to it in my lifetime. Port have played out of thier skins this year and deserve their lofty ranking but there's a lot of young bodies in that team and that gives me confidence going in despite the loss at Cat Park a couple of weeks ago.

Just got to get past the Roos. That first final is where Port and Adelaide sides of recent years have failed. If we get to the Granny we will win it.

regards,

REB

[silicone skyline]

REB is sure to denounce any possibility that Geelong are beatable now matter how "poignant" the points may be.
For those who watched the movie "300", it only takes the right number people of a like-mind to effect victory.
Geelong are a good side, but say if Archer steamrolls Ablett with a jaw shattering hip and shoulder, and Mooney loses the plot, chinks in the armour open up.
They're deservedly favourites, but if Hawthorn get past the Crows, and have to face the Cats at some stage, i'd tip them as the team to beat em.

[Cracker]

But REB the power have performed recently on the big stage. The MCG on the biggest day of the year holds no fear for them, not sure Geelong would feel the same.

[MW]

But REB the power have performed recently on the big stage. The MCG on the biggest day of the year holds no fear for them, not sure Geelong would feel the same.

Not for this group of players apparently...

[Rik E Boy]

Talk about getting ahead of yourselves. You've got to get past West Coast first.

regards,

REB

[Dutchy]

interesting stat from this season - Geelong did not play an outdoors night game until Round 22 this year...probably means nothing but should they have a night final at the G it will be a bit of an unusual environment for them

[Felch]

Port were definately the better side on the day Booney and it would have been a steal if Ablett's goal was the last. I guess my main objection to this article is not even really a football but a journalistic one.

The content is fair enough, but Phatprik Smith has merely rehashed an article that Gerald Healy wrote several months ago....and Geelong has had one last kick loss since then. No team is unbeatable, but this is as close to it that Geelong has ever been to it in my lifetime. Port have played out of thier skins this year and deserve their lofty ranking but there's a lot of young bodies in that team and that gives me confidence going in despite the loss at Cat Park a couple of weeks ago.

Just got to get past the Roos. That first final is where Port and Adelaide sides of recent years have failed. If we get to the Granny we will win it.

regards,

REB

The last statement is spot on - this weeks games are where the premiership is won and lost. If Geelong lose, then things get pretty tough. Same goes for Port, even more so. IMO, West Coast are the side holding the key. If they win, you would think whoever gets thrown to their side of the draw faces an uphill battle to get to the GF. But i think they will also cause chaos if they lose. They are the proven team in the top 4. IMO, if West Coast lose Friday night, Geelong wont make the GF. Heres a question - Who would Geelong rather play, West Coast in Melbourne, or Port Adelaide at AAMI? I would think Port. Maybe they are better off losing if the Eagles win Friday night.