Geelong have “become the hunted” without their inspirational leader Joel Selwood, and players haven’t been able to step up in his absence, Fox Footy’s Jonathan Brown has warned.
Brown believes the loss of the now retired Selwood has been undersold as the reason why Geelong are the first reigning premier since the 1970s to start the next season 0-3.
“I’ve lived this. I’ve seen it first hand. Brisbane were able to continue on and win flags in a row, but I’m talking about when you lose a leader, a great warrior,” he said On the Couch.
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“We can’t downplay the loss of Joel Selwood. The impact it can have on that club.
“I think now the midfield without their great warrior out there are starting to lack a bit of belief.
“I see some vulnerability. When I look into the eyes, I see some doubts out there.
“They are now becoming the hunted. When Joel Selwood was out there, how many times did you see a Joel Selwood team being hunted? They were always the hunters.
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“I saw it when Michael Voss left the Lions. It had a big impact on the midfield. All of a sudden you look around and you don’t have that great warrior there.
“This is not a knock on Paddy Dangerfield (as the new skipper).
“A guy like Cam Guthrie is struggling, the midfielders are struggling.
“It’s an important loss.”
Premiership Hawk Jason Dunstall lamented the Cats’ midfield’s inability to win the ball.
“I don’t buy into complacency,” he said on AFL 360.
“Once you’ve climbed the mountain … it’s the only place you want to be.
“For me, the midfield is what’s genuinely killing them.
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“They are getting beaten at contested possession, clearances – things they banked on in the past.
“It looks like an uphill battle at the moment with the way they are playing and the lack of weaponry at his disposal.”
AFL player ratings show a host of key Cats down on form in 2023, including Brad Close -55%, Tom Hawkins -52%, Tyson Stengle -50%, Mark Blicavs -27%, Jed Bews -26%, Zach Guthrie -14% and Sam de Koning -13%.
On the Couch host Garry Lyon said it was clear Cats coach Chris Scott has “got concerns” with a side that remains the only winless team in the competition, given the likes of Stengle are down on form.
“They are coming from a fair way back now,” he said.
“Is Tyson Stengle doing everything he did last year to be such an influential player?
“In his first three weeks he’s down in every level. He’s not laying tackles, he hasn’t kicked a goal for two weeks.
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“Stengle’s tackles are in half, Close’s tackles are in half.”
Statistics show the Cats have a number of issues to address before their Easter Monday clash with Hawthorn.
During their premiership year, Geelong were ranked 17th for long kick percentage, as players opted to lower the eyes time and time again. But in 2023, the Cats are sitting ranked first.
The side has also dropped in a number of key areas including disposal differential (from sixth to 17th), contested possession differential (from fourth to 17th), uncontested possession differential (from eighth to 15th) and uncontested marks (fifth to 16th).
“What we’re seeing at the moment is Geelong’s (game plan) isn’t coming together,” Nathan Buckley added.
