#33 George Horlin-Smith - 2015 Player Review
If someone had mentioned at the start of the year that George's mad monday costume would be the highlight if this year, it would have left plenty feeling disappointed. A 2013 rising star nominee, George looked to have cemented his place in the team the following year, playing 21 games, and would have been keen to atone for a poor showing in the semi final loss against the Kangaroos.
Unfortunately, it was not to be, with a season dogged by a hip injury resulting in the midfielder playing only 7 AFL games for the year, and being dropped multiple times to the VFL.
Despite a limited preseason, George was brought into the senior team against Fremantle in round 2 where, despite 18 touches, he looked well off the pace of senior football. After being an emergency for the Gold Coast match the following week, George returned to the team against North Melbourne, where he managed only 10 touches in a disappointing game for the Cats. He wore the sub's vest the following week against Richmond, coming on late in the third but managing only 3 touches. It was the last senior game he would play for a time.
There was, however, better news when George signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until the end of 2018.
After being dropped to the VFL, George began to show some good form before suffering a groin injury and a week out. He came back to be one of the best on ground in a close loss against Williamstown, but the injury curse then stuck again with a hyper-extended knee the following week in the first half of a heavy loss to Essendon. Although cleared of structural damage, the knee meant that Horlin-Smith spent the next three weeks on the sidelines as the senior side struggled with a heavy injury toll of their own.
Returning for VFL round 12, George earned 21 touches in another heavy loss to the VFL team against the Casey Scorpions. It was the first of 5 straight VFL games, with the last one, a 42 touch effort in a thumping win against Frankson, earning him a recall to the senior squad the following week against Sydney.
Unfortunately, with the vest on, George didn't come onto the ground until the 4th quarter, meaning only 4 touches in a solid win. Still, it was enough to have him start on the ground the following week against the Hawks, where he earned 26 touches in his most solid performance for the year thus far. Unfortunately, despite having only one less scoring shot, the Cat's inaccuracy cost them, with a 36 point loss against the eventual premiers, Rioli making the difference with 6 goals.
Going in hot favourites against St Kilda, Horlin-Smith retained his spot in the midfield, gather 19 touches in a shock draw. His leg speed came into play, with only 4 of his disposals being kicks. He did manage 5 clearances, but it wasn't enough to save him as he was again dropped to the VFL.
Playing in the final VFL game of the season against the Blues, Horlin-Smith did everything that could be expected of a dropped player hoping to find his way back to senior selection, playing across half forward and earning 31 touches and 4 goals in a thumping win to round out a disappointing season for the Bendigo Bank Cats. It was enough to earn himself a place in the final AFL game against Adelaide, a game that will long by remembered by Cats fans for other reasons, with a solid 19 disposal effort rounding out a disappointing year.
It would be fair to say that with a disappointing year behind him, George will be hoping for a full preseason and an opportunity to cement a place in the Cats' side, a job that will becoming more daunting with the probable recruitment of Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Selwood. The club, however, have shown long term faith in the young Cat, and both he and the club will be hopeful that he can be a long term success story.
Not so bad for a such a fresh-faced Cat, is it?
If someone had mentioned at the start of the year that George's mad monday costume would be the highlight if this year, it would have left plenty feeling disappointed. A 2013 rising star nominee, George looked to have cemented his place in the team the following year, playing 21 games, and would have been keen to atone for a poor showing in the semi final loss against the Kangaroos.
Unfortunately, it was not to be, with a season dogged by a hip injury resulting in the midfielder playing only 7 AFL games for the year, and being dropped multiple times to the VFL.
Despite a limited preseason, George was brought into the senior team against Fremantle in round 2 where, despite 18 touches, he looked well off the pace of senior football. After being an emergency for the Gold Coast match the following week, George returned to the team against North Melbourne, where he managed only 10 touches in a disappointing game for the Cats. He wore the sub's vest the following week against Richmond, coming on late in the third but managing only 3 touches. It was the last senior game he would play for a time.
There was, however, better news when George signed a contract extension keeping him at the club until the end of 2018.
After being dropped to the VFL, George began to show some good form before suffering a groin injury and a week out. He came back to be one of the best on ground in a close loss against Williamstown, but the injury curse then stuck again with a hyper-extended knee the following week in the first half of a heavy loss to Essendon. Although cleared of structural damage, the knee meant that Horlin-Smith spent the next three weeks on the sidelines as the senior side struggled with a heavy injury toll of their own.
Returning for VFL round 12, George earned 21 touches in another heavy loss to the VFL team against the Casey Scorpions. It was the first of 5 straight VFL games, with the last one, a 42 touch effort in a thumping win against Frankson, earning him a recall to the senior squad the following week against Sydney.
Unfortunately, with the vest on, George didn't come onto the ground until the 4th quarter, meaning only 4 touches in a solid win. Still, it was enough to have him start on the ground the following week against the Hawks, where he earned 26 touches in his most solid performance for the year thus far. Unfortunately, despite having only one less scoring shot, the Cat's inaccuracy cost them, with a 36 point loss against the eventual premiers, Rioli making the difference with 6 goals.
Going in hot favourites against St Kilda, Horlin-Smith retained his spot in the midfield, gather 19 touches in a shock draw. His leg speed came into play, with only 4 of his disposals being kicks. He did manage 5 clearances, but it wasn't enough to save him as he was again dropped to the VFL.
Playing in the final VFL game of the season against the Blues, Horlin-Smith did everything that could be expected of a dropped player hoping to find his way back to senior selection, playing across half forward and earning 31 touches and 4 goals in a thumping win to round out a disappointing season for the Bendigo Bank Cats. It was enough to earn himself a place in the final AFL game against Adelaide, a game that will long by remembered by Cats fans for other reasons, with a solid 19 disposal effort rounding out a disappointing year.
It would be fair to say that with a disappointing year behind him, George will be hoping for a full preseason and an opportunity to cement a place in the Cats' side, a job that will becoming more daunting with the probable recruitment of Patrick Dangerfield and Scott Selwood. The club, however, have shown long term faith in the young Cat, and both he and the club will be hopeful that he can be a long term success story.
Not so bad for a such a fresh-faced Cat, is it?
