While the Cats will be disappointed to have exited the finals in straight sets, it was a terrific effort to earn the double chance after finishing 13th last year.
BY THE NUMBERS
Position: 5th
W-L-D (%): 12-7-1 (117.7%)
Players used: 55
Played every match: 1 – Dan Capiron
AFL players used: 27 (269 matches)
Ex-AFL players: 2 (6 matches)
Debutants: 14 – Ethan Borys, Mitchell Edwards, Joe Furphy, Patrick Hughes, Lawson Humphries, Ryley Hutchins, Liam Kershaw, Ajang Kuol Mun, Tobyn Murray, Connor O’Sullivan, Joe Pike, Jack Sarcevic, Todd White, Oli Wiltshire
STAR PERFORMERS
Best and Fairest: 1st: Mitch Hardie (223 votes), 2nd: Ted Clohesy (188), 3rd: Mitch Knevitt (177), 4th: Marcus Herbert (175), 5th: Dan Capiron (174)
J.J. Liston Trophy: Mitch Hardie (19 votes), Ted Clohesy (10), Brandan Parfitt (9), Shaun Mannagh (7), Mitch Knevitt (6)
Coaches MVP Award: Mitch Hardie (91 votes, runner-up), Ted Clohesy (45), Mitch Knevitt (39), Brandan Parfitt (29), Lawson Humphries (22), Shaun Mannagh (22)
Leading Goalkickers: Shaun Mannagh (23), Phoenix Foster (19), James Willis (18), Kaelan Bradtke (18), Ted Clohesy (17)
Smithy’s VFL Team of the Year: Mitch Hardie (half forward flank)
STAT LEADERS
(Averages – minimum 6 matches)
Disposals: Mitch Hardie 25.8, Brandan Parfitt 25.1, Mitch Knevitt 22.7, Lawson Humphries 22.2, Ted Clohesy 22.1
Contested possessions: Brandan Parfitt 13.3, Mitch Hardie 10.5, George Stevens 10.2, Mitch Knevitt 10.1, Ted Clohesy 8.9
Kicks: Mitch Hardie 17.6, Lawson Humphries 14.4, Ted Clohesy 13.4, Emerson Jeka 13.2, Jed Bews 13.2
Handballs: Brandan Parfitt 13.2, George Stevens 11.8, Mitch Hardie 11.2, Mitch Knevitt 11.1, Ted Clohesy 8.6
Marks: Daniel Capiron 7.9, Emerson Jeka 6.2, Connor O’Sullivan 5.6, Lawson Humphries 5.2, Jed Bews 5.1, Mitch Hardie 5.1
Tackles: Ted Clohesy 6.6, Jhye Clark 6.1, Brandan Parfitt 5.8, Mitch Hardie 4.9, Patrick Hughes 4.2
Hitouts: Joe Furphy 20.7, Joe Pike 19.8, Tanner Lewis 3.2, Phoenix Foster 0.9, Kaelan Bradtke 0.8
Clearances: Brandan Parfitt 6.4, Mitch Hardie 5.8, Mitch Knevitt 4.7, George Stevens 4.3, Ted Clohesy 3.9
Inside-50s: Ted Clohesy 5.8, Brandan Parfitt 4.5, Mitch Hardie 4.3, Jhye Clark 3.4, Mitch Knevitt 3.4
Rebound-50s: Jed Bews 5.3, Emerson Jeka 4.0, Lawson Humphries 3.8, Marcus Herbert 3.1, Daniel Capiron 3.0
What went right: Plenty went right as the Cats climbed the ladder from 13th to fourth at the end of the home and away season to make the finals for the first time since 2019. The highlights came in Rounds 4 and 5 with a gritty three-point upset of the Brisbane Lions in Queensland before belting Carlton by 101 points at IKON Park. Those results sparked a seven-match winning streak that included 10-goal defeats of Frankston and the GWS Giants, along with another interstate triumph over Sydney at the SCG. Mitch Hardie was a class above, while Marcus Herbert, Patrick Hughes and Darcy Edmends emerged as very good players.
What went wrong: The season was bookended by a pair of disappointing defeats – convincing home losses to Werribee and Box Hill at the start when they gave away big runs of goals, and a straight-sets finals exit to eventual Grand Finalists the Tigers and Southport (at home). A stunning home loss to Carlton after having beaten the Blues by 101 points earlier in the season was crucial in their finishing position. Vice-captain Brayden Ham’s departure after Round 2, a season-ending knee injury to Bailey van de Heuvel in Round 4 and a back problem for talented young forward Tobyn Murray also hurt, while none of Osca Riccardi, Jamieson Ballantyne or Kade Chalcraft managed more than five games.
Summary: While the Cats will be disappointed to have exited the finals in straight sets, it was a terrific effort to earn the double chance after finishing 13th last year and not really recruiting to the point where you would expect that sort of spike. They put the competition stragglers to the sword on most occasions but they weren’t quite up to speed against the better teams, going 1-5-1 against the others in the top six – including the two convincing finals defeats. Premiership coach Mark Corrigan has them heading in the right direction and they will hope to learn and grow from that experience. Captain Dan Capiron is one of the most underrated players in the competition.
Grade: 7/10
2024 SMITHY'S VFL SEASON REVIEWS
Williamstown
Box Hill Hawks
Frankston
Gold Coast Suns
Richmond
Essendon
Sandringham
Sydney Swans
GWS Giants
North Melbourne
Port Melbourne
Casey Demons
Coburg
Carlton
Collingwood
Northern Bullants
