Geelong Coach Dan Lowther will be hoping his side can maintain it’s good form heading into finals, with one more game against the winless Swans on Saturday evening.
The Cats will take a lot of confidence out of last weeks match, despite it being a loss to reigning premiers Adelaide.
Lowther said this weekends clash against Sydney will be a good chance to refine their gameplan and sharpen up their skills before finals.
“Up to that last 90 seconds we were still a chance to win the game,” he said.
“I don’t feel like we didn’t have control of the game, so the feedback to the players was that we had moments in the game where we were controlling the game, controlling the way the game was played, and moving the ball quite well.
“I think early on Adelaide had significant impact and control but after the first quarter in particular we played pretty good footy, but we just couldn’t quite get the inside 50s and that forward half pressure we’d have in the last four weeks.
“The wash up post game was that we did a lot right, it was just about refining how we go into the next week and hopefully further on and a few areas that Adelaide stopped us in, which for us is good learning.”
Geelong’s already all-but secured a spot in finals on percentage, but a big win against the Swans could potentially see the Cats rise up the ladder to secure themselves a home final.
“We still want to maintain the way we play the game which is important so contested ball and pressure are really the key focus for us, which it is from what I see from Sydney as well,” Lowther said
“They’re an extremely young group with really good individual players like all the expansion teams are and they are a high pressure team, a contested ball team as well so they’re finding their groove.
“If that pressure is not there you’re not going to match it against any team let alone a young team who since round five have hit their straps and found some really good form.”
Geelong will also be celebrating game number 25 for young gun Nina Morrison, with Lowther heaping praise on her leadership at a young age.
Morrison’s journey to the milestone has been a long time coming, overcoming two ACL tears across her first three years at the club.
“It’s phenomenal for her to get to 25 games,” Lowther said.
“It feels like she’s been around the competition since its inception of it, but she’s just one of the most genuine, driven people that I’ve ever met.
“She leaves no stone unturned in terms of her prep and the way she plays the game, she’s a student of the game, she’s a leader of our club and she’s still only 21.
