3 minute read
The heat will be on Geelong this Friday night as last year's grand finalists attempt to avoid a straight-sets finals exit when they take on GWS in Perth.
If Patrick Dangerfield is trying too hard then Geelong coach Chris Scott has a simple message for the star midfielder - relax a little.
Dangerfield was one of a number of Cats players who underperformed in last week's 43-point qualifying-final loss to Port Adelaide.
AFL great Leigh Matthews asked this week whether Dangerfield's desperate bid for premiership glory has resulted in him trying too hard in finals games.
Scott isn't sure if that's the case for Dangerfield, but said it was a good reminder for the Brownlow medallist ahead of Friday night's semi-final against GWS at Optus Stadium.
"Generally if Leigh Matthews says something, I tend to concur with it," Scott said.
"I'm not exactly sure it applies to Pat, but there is a scenario where you just build yourself up so much and you want something so badly that it can result in negative behaviours or actions.
"Let's assume it's true, then a good message for Pat would be to just narrow his focus on what he does well, and think less about the outcome and time of year, and just narrow his focus down to what makes him a super player."
Scott used the example of American John Wooden, who is considered the greatest NCAA basketball head coach of all time, to highlight how less is sometimes more.
"He referenced his coaching style in the early days as being one where he was trying too hard," Scott said.
"That manifested in all sorts of negative ways, like wanting it so badly that you keep the players out there for longer and keep pushing, pushing, pushing.
"It wasn't until he lightened up a little bit and let things flow a bit more that performances improved. So I think there is something in that. Whether it relates to us, it's hard to tell."
Scott made a statement on the selection front by axing Luke Dahlhaus.
Dahlhaus booted 0.1 from just six disposals against Port and paid the price for the quiet display.
Sam Simpson was also dropped while defender Mark O'Connor was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Esava Ratugolea has been recalled to add potency in attack and a back-up option in the ruck, with dashing defender Zach Tuohy and first-year Cat Max Holmes the other inclusions.
The Giants lost star forward Toby Greene (suspension), Tom Green (broken arm) and Sam Reid (hamstring) in a costly fallout to their one-point win over Sydney last week.
Into the 22 come Bobby Hill, Tanner Bruhn and Conor Stone.
Friday's match will pit star Cats recruit Jeremy Cameron up against his former club for the first time.
"He's a pretty relaxed character," Scott said.
"It's good theatre playing against your old team, but it really pales into insignificance when compared to the opportunity for our team."
The winner of Friday's match will meet Melbourne in a preliminary final in Perth next week.
