Geelong coach Chris Scott admitted that criticism of his team’s capitulation at the hands of Brisbane was the inspiration behind the Cats responding by destroying Fremantle by 41 points.
The Cats were coming off the back of humiliating defeat the previous week when they somehow blew a 52-point lead over the Lions, but they bounced back in superb fashion to put in their best defensive performance of the season against the Dockers to get back on track despite what some Aussie Rules betting odds were saying online.
In a scrappy game, not helped by both by the conditions and a defensive style set-out by Fremantle, Geelong beat the Dockers at their own game, completely cutting off their avenues to goal and taking their chances when they were offered.
The Cats managed to keep Fremantle to just one inside 50 for the third quarter and just seven for the entire second half, as it won 11.19 (85) to 7.2 (44), smashing Fremantle in contested footy, with a huge 60-possession differential 185-125 in an interesting clash for those who had a bet with bet365 in-play.
Head coach Scott said it was the sort of response he was looking for after the previous performance and all the negativity it had brought the Cats in the week following.
“We thought we played the way we talked about playing. It was one thing to put in the work during the week and be really clear (about) what we wanted from each other, but it’s another thing to actually get out there and execute against a really good team,” said Scott after the win.
“So there are some good signs there, but we were embarrassed after the week before. We’ve been questioned on the defensive side of our game and that stings. I’m not saying the criticism’s unwarranted, in fact I’m saying the opposite.”