Geelong’s VFL side has lost its fourth straight game, falling to the Northern Blues on Saturday in a thrilling match, 11.9 (75) to 12.8 (80).
Conditions made scoring difficult all day for both sides with harsh winds pushing the ball across the ground and often out of bounds.
This was evident in the first term with both sides combining for just four goals despite a 33-minute quarter.
The relentless wind ensured the game would remain a low scoring affair and only four points could separate the sides after three quarters.
It was a different story in the final term as both sides combined for 10 goals with the home side edging out the Cats to win by five points.
It was a thrilling final term with a deflating result but Cats coach Shane O’Bree was proud of the effort shown by his players in testing conditions.
“The boys were really consistent in effort all day, all the focus areas we went in with, we implemented really well,” O’Bree said.
“I’d hate to know how long the ball was in our forward half in that last quarter but we just couldn’t get that extra goal or score.”
With each quarter going beyond 33 minutes, players were tested physically and mentally, but none more than VFL listed Cat James Tsitas.
In the third term, Tsitas showed enormous courage going back with the flight of the ball but was involved in a sickening collision and had to be taken from the field.
“You could see it happening five seconds before it did, (Tsitas) was in one of those spots where you just had to go,” O’Bree said of the incident.
Despite looking like his day was over, the tough midfielder returned to the field to be amongst the Cats’ best players, finishing with 31 disposals (21 contested), six tackles, five clearances and two goals.
Against a Northern Blues side with numerous experienced AFL players, it was a great effort from the VFL listed Cat.
Tsitas wasn’t alone as Sam McLachlan, Ben Moloney and Ben Reid also found their way into Geelong’s best players with great performances.
McLachlan was the pick of the bunch, claiming best afield honours with 29 disposals, 22 by foot, 12 clearances and a goal.
“Today, that was the Sam of old, exploding from centre bounces, exploding away from stoppages and hitting guys lace out or kicking the goal,” O’Bree said.
“That is what he did consistently last year so hopefully we can see that more often.”
Moloney played a variety of tagging roles on players such as Billie Smedts and Nick Graham whilst racking up 31 disposals and 12 tackles himself.
Of the AFL listed boys, Ryan Abbott (34 hitouts, 16 possessions) and Timm House (13 disposals, three marks) were amongst the best players whilst Rhys Stanley totalled 34 hitouts and 21 touches.
Aaron Black backed up his three goals last week with another three against the Blues and led from the front as the captain for the day.
The VFL Cats will look to bounce back next week when they take on Box Hill.
VFL Round 15 – Bendigo Bank Cats 11.9 (75) def. by Northern Blues 12.8 (80)
Goals: Black 3, Stanley, Tsitas 2, Webb, House, Dobson, McLachlan
Best: McLachlan, Tsitas, Moloney, Abbott, House, Reid
Reports: Nil
Injuries: Nil
@ IKON Park, Carlton
