Geelong’s midfield was a thorn in North’s side last time the two sides met, and it looms as the match-defining area this Sunday at Etihad Stadium.
The Cats are coming off an impressive Round 1 performance against Fremantle at Domain Stadium, using an 11-goal first half blitz as the foundation for their 42-point victory.
Handball
A slight change in Geelong’s game style was on show against the Dockers, with handball a prominent feature.
The numbers of the key ball-winners reflected the extra handballing. Mitch Duncan’s 30 disposals consisted of 15 handballs, Joel Selwood’s 28 disposals included 13 handballs and 15 of Patrick Dangerfield’s disposals were by hand.
With the AFL transitioning to a game of extreme pressure and numbers around the ball, opting to handball through is often the best way to keep possession, then moving forward quickly once the press has been broken.
That was a key component of the Western Bulldogs’ finals run last season, and opposition sides appear to have taken notice.
Clearances
In preparing for this Sunday, North will no doubt be aware of Geelong’s brutal efficiency after gaining the clearances against Fremantle.
The Cats scored 51 points from just 33 clearances, an efficiency rate which was far and away the best in the league over the opening weekend.
Perhaps understanding Aaron Sandilands would win the majority of hit-outs, the Cats did their work at ground level.
A similar tactic has often been employed by opposition clubs when playing against North, gifting the Roos the hit-out advantage and the Roos will have to be on guard for it again on Sunday.
Ball-winners
Much of the focus on Geelong’s midfield understandably rests on Dangerfield and Selwood, and it was those two who dominated last time North faced the Cats.
Dangerfield was a clear best on ground with 48 disposals, 13 clearances and 11 inside 50’s, while Selwood was next in line with 38 touches and eight clearances.
On that evening, North’s midfield was undermanned. Andrew Swallow was concussed in the early stages, while Ben Cunnington and Nick Dal Santo were limited with injury concerns.
Cunnington’s return to the lineup this week after serving his suspension will give North another ball-winner, and potentially change the midfield mix.
If all of Cunnington, Swallow, Ziebell and Dumont are on the ground and in the midfield at the same time, the head-to-head matchups could be divided up in any number of ways.
Dumont has had experience playing a defensive role in the past, while there is always the option of Cunnington and Ziebell spending more time forward.
