THE final margin might have shown a 47-point loss, but Geelong VFL coach Shane O’Bree knows the benefits of playing a team like Southport are more important than the result for the Cats’ AFL listed contingent.
Nine of Geelong’s team from Thursday night are on the AFL list, with only Zac Guthrie and Francis Evans having featured at the highest level.
“All these young guys are getting experience playing VFL,” O’Bree told Bay 93.9’s The Sideline View.
“Playing against Southport, (and) the more mature bodies, it’s only getting them right to play against AFL players,
“They’re all developing nicely.”
Using the breeze at Fankhauser Reserve to their advantage, the Sharks kicked seven goals to two to open up a 30-point lead at quarter time.
It was a margin Geelong would never eat into, with Southport claiming a 15.13 (103) to 8.8 (56) victory.
“We thought we structured up the right way to defend the wind,” O’Bree said.
“To their credit, Southport, they had four shots from outside 50m, and they all went through the middle.
“We had our chances, too, in the first quarter against the wind to put a score on.
“But, they took their opportunities more than us, and that was the difference in the end.”
Of Geelong’s AFL-listed contingent, Francis Evans impressed with 3.1 and 21 disposals, while Zach Guthrie gathered 21 disposals and next-in-line midfielder Cooper Stephens 19.
Of the VFL contingent, St Mary’s aligned Jye Chalcraft had 21 disposals, co-captain Jackson McLachlan had 19 and kicked 1.4, while debutant Lachie Bond managed two goals on his Cats debut.
Geelong, which has a 2-2 record, has a bye next week before hosting Williamstown at GMHBA Stadium on May 1.
Twitter: @tom_king79
