QUINTON Narkle has responded to being left out of Geelong’s AFL squad with another stylish performance in the Cats’ VFL loss to Collingwood.
Narkle, the unused medical substitute in Geelong’s AFL loss to Sydney in Round 2, tallied 27 disposals, six clearances and two goals against the Magpies.
“Quinton Narkle’s put (together) two games where he’s had 27 possessions and kicked a couple of goals, and his attitude towards it all has been fantastic,” coach Shane O’Bree said.
“He probably deserves an (AFL) opportunity after that.
“And then you’ve got those experienced guys in (Mark) O’Connor and (Gryan) Miers that you think now are ready to play AFL football after long layoffs with injuries.”
O’Connor finished with 23 disposals, and Miers had 22 and kicked 2.1 to provide Geelong’s AFL coaching staff with something to think about ahead of the Round 4 clash with the Brisbane Lions.
Despite the best efforts of that trio, it wasn’t enough to stop the home team from claiming a 15.10 (100) to 11.12 (78) victory at Olympic Park Oval.
Injuries to Hawthorn recruit Jonathon Ceglar (foot), and returning midfielder Sam Menegola (concussion) didn’t help the Cats’ cause.
“(It) was a good learning curve,” O’Bree said of the loss. “Collingwood’s pressure in the contest and their contest method got us on the back foot early in the game.
“At half-time, the scoreboard reflected that a bit. But, to our credit, we responded really well in the third quarter to be within a kick.
“Then the last quarter was a bit of an arm wrestle.
“Our first quarter probably let us down the most, and we couldn’t get that score back.”
Of the VFL-listed players, key defender Cooper Jones had 20 disposals and took eight marks, and co-captain Matthew Ling gathered 19 possessions and reeled in ten marks.
Like Geelong’s AFL team, the Cats’ VFL will also face the Lions next week, with the match to be played as a curtain-raiser at GMHBA Stadium on Friday afternoon.
Twitter: @tom_king79
