Cats Media identified four points of interest to follow through the Cats’ round eight clash with Essendon. Here’s how they played out:
Snap the streak
"For the third week in a row it was a really, really poor performance. We've got to stop talking about being uncharacteristic, because it is what we are right at the moment.”
Those were the words of Chris Scott following the Cats’ third consecutive defeat. Having started the season undefeated after five rounds, Geelong is playing unrecognisable football and a 17-point defeat to Essendon was no exception.
This loss and the two prior have been and will continue to be analysed and picked apart by fans and pundits alike, but ahead of a Friday night match-up with the reigning premier – on a historic night for the football club overall – the Cats’ form does not stack up.
Tom Lonergan and the Cats leave the field after losing to Essendon by 17 points. (Photo: AFL Photos)
It ain’t luck of the Irish
Mark O’Connor’s first taste of AFL didn’t end with a win, but it will still be memorable for the Irishman all the same.
The 20-year-old collected nine disposals and laid two tackles and marking O’Connor harshly in a game where the majority of his teammates were nowhere near their best would be unfair on the debutant.
A loss to the Bombers was not the best start to Mark O'Connor's AFL career. (Photo: AFL Photos)
Congratulations Pops
What a great footballing moment it was to see both captains chair 300-gamer James Kelly off the ground.
Kelly left the MCG on the shoulders of Joel Selwood and Dyson Heppell as one of Essendon’s best with 23 disposals and some 10 marks.
The former Cat was prolific in the first half and well and truly set up the win against his old club.
Former Cat James Kelly is chaired off the MCG by Joel Selwood and Dyson Heppell following his 300th game. (Photo: AFL Photos)
History says…
Clearly history means very little.
Having had success against Geelong on only two occasions since 2004, and certainly not at all in the last six meetings, a number of Bombers had never played in a winning side against the Cats.
It all changed last Saturday night as Essendon lead from start to finish to register a controlled and convincing win.
Michael Hurley was one of Essendon's best against the Cats. (Photo: AFL Photos)
