It is pushing the proverbial uphill, but coach Dan Lowther will not give up on Geelong’s finals chances until they are mathematically shot.
The Cats face the prospect of being two-and-a-half games outside the top eight with five matches to play following last (Tuesday) night’s 18-point loss to Fremantle at GMHBA Stadium.
After leading by 12 points during the first half, the Cats conceded six of the following eight goals to suffer an 18-point loss, 6.9 (45) to 3.9 (27).
“We will still fight the fight,” Lowther said.
“Clearly, we are playing well below standard, but it is great to see the competition improving each year.
“With five games to go, we have five days before our next game, so that is the focus for us.
“We want to make some significant ground from today’s game heading into the Swans.
“We will keep fighting the fight until it is Round 10, and we are done.”
Geelong had a wasteful 1.6 on the board before Fremantle opened its account.
However, once the Dockers got on the board, their ball movement proved difficult for the Cats to halt.
“Last week, we kicked accurately in the first half and waned a bit after that, whereas today, we had plenty of looks inside 50 early and didn’t capitalise,” Lowther said.
“Then the ease for them to take it the other way into our defensive 50, and we get scored against, which is a really disheartening part of it.
“I am sure that is how the players reacted on the field, too; all that work for not much reward, and then it can become emotionally and physically taxing.”
Another lowlight for Geelong was the shoulder injury suffered by debutant Bryde O’Rourke.
It was a night of mixed emotions for the Bendigo product.
O’Rourke received her first jumper from dad Ray, who played two games for the Cats in 1969.
But she had barely been on the ground five minutes when she suffered a knock to her AC joint that left her unable to raise her left arm above her head.
“She laid a tackle and got a bit of a knock on her AC, and it gave her a bit of a stinger there, (and she) had it strapped up,” Lowther said.
“It was a low-grade hit to her shoulder, so hopefully, she can get through the week and maybe front up for the Swans (on Sunday).
“Pre-game stuff was exciting for her; her dad gave a fantastic jumper presentation, (and) the history of him playing at the club was really great as well.
“That was a great moment, and it was a bit sour (afterwards), but she still looks like she’s going to have an impact in the season, which is great.”
X: @krockfootball
