Geelong premiership forward Cam Mooney has questioned the Cats’ top four legitimacy on the eve of Friday night’s cut-throat semi-final against Sydney.
After finishing the home-and-away season in second place, the Cats are staring down the barrel of an embarrassing straight sets finals exit against the competition’s in-form outfit.
“Are they a top two team?,” Mooney said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“I’ve been questioning that all year and at the start of year I had them around fifth and sixth.
“Winning seven or so games at Simonds Stadium means they are already half way to a top four finish.”
The two-time premiership player says the Cats’ issues are an inability to run the ball out of defence, leg speed and the forwards requirement to push up the ground because of a lack of run from the back half.
“They’ve got to find a way to be able to run the ball out of the backline,” he said.
Shouldered with that burden will be Tom Stewart, Jed Bews and Zach Tuohy. Stewart and Bews struggled mightily against the Tigers but have enjoyed strong years and can be expected to rebound.
Mooney has also called for Wylie Buzza to be recalled to play an aggressive forward role, while Dan Menzel has already been green lighted by the coach after inexplicably being left out of the qualifying final side.
But the spectre of rain creates a conundrum for coach Chris Scott.
Around 10-15mm have been forecast which would ensure the game is played predominantly at ground level.
Nakia Cockatoo has been ruled out with a hamstring injury while Cam Guthrie’s season appears done with a calf complaint.