Another loss leaves Geelong with a lot of work to do to hunt a top-four spot. There is still time but time is also beginning to run out.
So often in years gone past, a 50-50 game like Saturday’s against Fremantle was one that Geelong would simply find a way to win.
But just as they spent most of the day one step behind while the Dockers chained the ball forward by hand with ease, the Cats just couldn’t reel in the home side in a 29-point loss.
Tom Atkins can’t believe a decision made against the Cats. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
A problem for Chris Scott all season, Geelong’s traditionally note-perfect defensive structure was ripped apart over and over by Fremantle, as the Dockers midfield over powered a depleted Cats division and then ran away from them.
Stars Caleb Serong and Andrew Brayshaw continued to feed the ball to the runners and the easy inside-50 entries were too much for Geelong’s defence to do anything about.
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As that dynamic duo hoovered up possessions, no Geelong player had 20 disposals, a feat as rare as the drop kick in modern footy.
In the makeshift midfield, each of Tom Atkins, Max Holmes, Mark Blicavs and Tanner Bruhn had their moments but they played like role players looking for a star to follow.
The Dockers cruise was on such calm waters that Tom Hawkins raised it at halftime on Fox Footy, bemoaning that “we just allowed them to run with freedom in attack”.
The Cats were chasing all day. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images
In the end, Fremantle had 109 more uncontested possessions, a gap that is too great for most defences to overcome.
For the fourth time this year, in just 10 games, the Cats conceded 100 points or more.
You have to go back to 2017 to find the last year Geelong conceded triple figures more than twice in a whole season.
And the Cats let through 100 points four times in 71 games before the start of this season.
As the Cats sit under siege, they remain undermanned.
As many as seven first-choice players could return in the next two weeks before the bye, and Geelong will need them.
The Cats leave the field. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images
After next week’s home clash against GWS Giants, Geelong faces the Western Bulldogs, Port Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
To make the top four and be a true premiership contender, the Cats need to get a wriggle on and need to win almost all of those matches.
There are still seven games at GMHBA Stadium to come and if that lengthy injury list begins to clear, the Cats should come home strong.
The cavalry returning should help those defensive woes and until Geelong begin to stop opposition attacks again and stop the injuries, the clock will tick louder.