Cats' call on Smith pays off in mauling of Bombers
Bailey Smith's inspired showing in Geelong's 95-point thumping of Essendon vindicated the Cats' management of the Brownlow Medal contender's hamstring tightness, says coach Chris Scott.
Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron put injury-ravaged Essendon to the sword as Geelong leapt into second place on the AFL ladder with a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) thrashing at the MCG on Saturday evening.
Cameron kicked six goals to move to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race.
Brownlow Medal contender Smith showed no signs of the hamstring issue that sidelined him against West Coast.
The gun recruit finished with 41 disposals plus 760 metres gained as he and Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership.
"He just looked like he played the same way that he did the last time he played," Scott said.
"He and Holmes are a pretty potent combination at the moment.
"I think I was as clear as I could have been last week. It was one of those where he could have played, and then when you come away with a win, and then he comes back and plays so well, you feel a bit vindicated."
Smith made headlines just over a week ago after AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking met at his surf coast property, reportedly about emphasising his position as a role model.
"I don't think that he felt like there was focus on him," Scott said.
"I understand that there were questions around it.
"I thought it was more the interest in something that's a bit unusual, like a conversation around the fire - that didn't really light very well. It's rare for an AFL CEO to do that with a young player.
"I mean, we appreciated it, it was a step in the right direction, but maybe I misread it and I don't follow much of that stuff.
"But I didn't feel like it was a negative that would have put pressure on him."
Geelong will feel exceptionally confident heading into Friday's blockbuster against reigning premiers Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium.
"I just go with the philosophy that the first half of the year generally you can't win anything, but you can play yourself out of it," Scott said.
"It's just nice to feel like we're in contention."
On Saturday, Shannon Neale (four goals) and Shaun Mannagh (three) chipped in, and skipper Patrick Dangerfield (two goals, 10 score involvements) was a constant threat.
Sam De Koning was substituted in the third quarter after injuring his left shoulder, and Scott didn't have a definitive update on the key defender.
Essendon haven't beaten Geelong since 2018 and have done so just four times over the past 20 years.
The Bombers are several weeks away from regaining the injured Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid, Kyle Langford and Mason Redman, while Sam Durham is suspended for another week and Ben McKay (foot) is also sidelined.
Sam Draper is among four players done for the season.
Essendon ruck Todd Goldstein (30 hitouts, 20 disposals) battled hard, while Will Setterfield (31 disposals) and Jye Caldwell (28 disposals) were busy.
The Cats led by 23 points at quarter-time, 35 at halftime and 49 at the final change, and relentlessly punished Essendon's turnovers.
In the final quarter, Geelong drilled seven majors while keeping Essendon goalless.
Essendon, on a three-game losing streak, face Fremantle at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday.
"The scoreboard obviously says what it says. It's not someone's opinion. It is what it is," Essendon coach Brad Scott said.
"But when you concede 107 points from intercepts and 72 of those in your back half, and you just give the ball back to a very well-drilled, well-organised team, they make you pay, so that's the big difference."
Bailey Smith's inspired showing in Geelong's 95-point thumping of Essendon vindicated the Cats' management of the Brownlow Medal contender's hamstring tightness, says coach Chris Scott.
Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron put injury-ravaged Essendon to the sword as Geelong leapt into second place on the AFL ladder with a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) thrashing at the MCG on Saturday evening.
Cameron kicked six goals to move to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race.
Brownlow Medal contender Smith showed no signs of the hamstring issue that sidelined him against West Coast.
The gun recruit finished with 41 disposals plus 760 metres gained as he and Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership.
"He just looked like he played the same way that he did the last time he played," Scott said.
"He and Holmes are a pretty potent combination at the moment.
"I think I was as clear as I could have been last week. It was one of those where he could have played, and then when you come away with a win, and then he comes back and plays so well, you feel a bit vindicated."
Smith made headlines just over a week ago after AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking met at his surf coast property, reportedly about emphasising his position as a role model.
"I don't think that he felt like there was focus on him," Scott said.
"I understand that there were questions around it.
"I thought it was more the interest in something that's a bit unusual, like a conversation around the fire - that didn't really light very well. It's rare for an AFL CEO to do that with a young player.
"I mean, we appreciated it, it was a step in the right direction, but maybe I misread it and I don't follow much of that stuff.
"But I didn't feel like it was a negative that would have put pressure on him."
Geelong will feel exceptionally confident heading into Friday's blockbuster against reigning premiers Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium.
"I just go with the philosophy that the first half of the year generally you can't win anything, but you can play yourself out of it," Scott said.
"It's just nice to feel like we're in contention."
On Saturday, Shannon Neale (four goals) and Shaun Mannagh (three) chipped in, and skipper Patrick Dangerfield (two goals, 10 score involvements) was a constant threat.
Sam De Koning was substituted in the third quarter after injuring his left shoulder, and Scott didn't have a definitive update on the key defender.
Essendon haven't beaten Geelong since 2018 and have done so just four times over the past 20 years.
The Bombers are several weeks away from regaining the injured Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid, Kyle Langford and Mason Redman, while Sam Durham is suspended for another week and Ben McKay (foot) is also sidelined.
Sam Draper is among four players done for the season.
Essendon ruck Todd Goldstein (30 hitouts, 20 disposals) battled hard, while Will Setterfield (31 disposals) and Jye Caldwell (28 disposals) were busy.
The Cats led by 23 points at quarter-time, 35 at halftime and 49 at the final change, and relentlessly punished Essendon's turnovers.
In the final quarter, Geelong drilled seven majors while keeping Essendon goalless.
Essendon, on a three-game losing streak, face Fremantle at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday.
"The scoreboard obviously says what it says. It's not someone's opinion. It is what it is," Essendon coach Brad Scott said.
"But when you concede 107 points from intercepts and 72 of those in your back half, and you just give the ball back to a very well-drilled, well-organised team, they make you pay, so that's the big difference."
Bailey Smith's inspired showing in Geelong's 95-point thumping of Essendon vindicated the Cats' management of the Brownlow Medal contender's hamstring tightness, says coach Chris Scott.
Smith, Max Holmes and Jeremy Cameron put injury-ravaged Essendon to the sword as Geelong leapt into second place on the AFL ladder with a 23.13 (151) to 8.8 (56) thrashing at the MCG on Saturday evening.
Cameron kicked six goals to move to 44 for the season and pull clear of GWS spearhead Jesse Hogan (38) in the Coleman Medal race.
Brownlow Medal contender Smith showed no signs of the hamstring issue that sidelined him against West Coast.
The gun recruit finished with 41 disposals plus 760 metres gained as he and Holmes (873 metres gained, 36 disposals) continued their dynamic midfield partnership.
"He just looked like he played the same way that he did the last time he played," Scott said.
"He and Holmes are a pretty potent combination at the moment.
"I think I was as clear as I could have been last week. It was one of those where he could have played, and then when you come away with a win, and then he comes back and plays so well, you feel a bit vindicated."
Smith made headlines just over a week ago after AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking met at his surf coast property, reportedly about emphasising his position as a role model.
"I don't think that he felt like there was focus on him," Scott said.
"I understand that there were questions around it.
"I thought it was more the interest in something that's a bit unusual, like a conversation around the fire - that didn't really light very well. It's rare for an AFL CEO to do that with a young player.
"I mean, we appreciated it, it was a step in the right direction, but maybe I misread it and I don't follow much of that stuff.
"But I didn't feel like it was a negative that would have put pressure on him."
Geelong will feel exceptionally confident heading into Friday's blockbuster against reigning premiers Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium.
"I just go with the philosophy that the first half of the year generally you can't win anything, but you can play yourself out of it," Scott said.
"It's just nice to feel like we're in contention."
On Saturday, Shannon Neale (four goals) and Shaun Mannagh (three) chipped in, and skipper Patrick Dangerfield (two goals, 10 score involvements) was a constant threat.
Sam De Koning was substituted in the third quarter after injuring his left shoulder, and Scott didn't have a definitive update on the key defender.
Essendon haven't beaten Geelong since 2018 and have done so just four times over the past 20 years.
The Bombers are several weeks away from regaining the injured Jordan Ridley, Zach Reid, Kyle Langford and Mason Redman, while Sam Durham is suspended for another week and Ben McKay (foot) is also sidelined.
Sam Draper is among four players done for the season.
Essendon ruck Todd Goldstein (30 hitouts, 20 disposals) battled hard, while Will Setterfield (31 disposals) and Jye Caldwell (28 disposals) were busy.
The Cats led by 23 points at quarter-time, 35 at halftime and 49 at the final change, and relentlessly punished Essendon's turnovers.
In the final quarter, Geelong drilled seven majors while keeping Essendon goalless.
Essendon, on a three-game losing streak, face Fremantle at Perth's Optus Stadium on Thursday.
"The scoreboard obviously says what it says. It's not someone's opinion. It is what it is," Essendon coach Brad Scott said.
"But when you concede 107 points from intercepts and 72 of those in your back half, and you just give the ball back to a very well-drilled, well-organised team, they make you pay, so that's the big difference."
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