Cats struggle to finish games

Geelong is being heavily outscored after half time this season, with poor last quarters in particular becoming a worrying trend.

The Cats are battling hard against bottoming out and trying to keep their golden era going for just a little longer.

They have made the finals the past eight seasons, and nine of the past 10 seasons. They have also finished in the top four or better in seven of the past eight seasons.

Their remarkable recent record is astonishing, and incredibly impressive.

However, this season it appears to be heading south, with four wins from the opening nine rounds.

They are definitely still playing some great footy at times, as was demonstrated with their 41-point win over Collingwood.

However, the older experienced stars are not quite what they once were. And on the other side of the ledger, their young players are showing great development, but are not quite good enough to be elite players and push the best sides just yet.

It is by no means an indictment on Geelong’s recruiting or the players at its disposal. They have arguable one of the best recruiters in the business, in Stephen Wells. However, it is simply a natural progression of football. One team can’t be on top all the time with the way our game is set up.

Where it is beginning to come undone is after half time.

What the first nine rounds has shown us, is that Geelong is starting games brilliantly. However, the Cats fall away in the second half, which is letting them down big time.

Statistics show that Geelong rank second in the league for first quarter scores after the first nine rounds (37.20 242), only behind ladder leader Fremantle (40.21 260).

Geelong is also second in the competition in first quarter scoring differentials, scoring 76 points more than their opponents in the first quarter of matches.

But the latter stages of matches are where things get nasty.

The Cats sit 17^th for second halves won, having only won two all season. They have a scoring differential of -143 points in second halves this year.

The Cats are ranked 16^th in last quarter points differential, conceding 77 points more than they are scoring.

Geelong need to quickly figure out how to stop the run on of teams in the second half of matches if they want to play finals for a ninth consecutive year.