Game Day 2018 Elim Final - Dees v Cats

[Grimoz]

I was so disappointed our Sparkle wasn't name. Really hoping he's a late in.

The sad thing is Kitty if we win tonight without him he is unlikely to get another run this year barring injuries.

 

[dazbroncos]

oh... and the bye sucks!

GO Catters

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Time to flex our muscle, we will know if the cats are fairdinkum about September action come tonight.

First 5 mins in the first quarter and I’ll be able to call if we are on or in for another horrendous finals showing.

 

[Mr Meow]

I don't think my heart could take the stress but I've got a vision of Ablett in the same situation as vs Richmond except this time kicking the match winning goal. Either way, stoked for the little master to have another crack at finals action after too much time away.

Besides that, the kids and mature age pick ups come good are the other ones I'm glad get to relish the experience. Regardless of how far we make it, getting at least one win would be a huge confidence boost for future years.

Selwood as skipper, fully fit unlike last year, hopefully has a point to prove and this time rather than leading an upset loss, is behind a slight upset win. He battled manfully last series but his execution fell short. With more support around him now, I think he could once again be the star of our team during finals.

I'm hoping it's dry because I think slippery conditions will just induce the fumbles the team are prone to under heat.

It will mostly come down to composure (i.e hitting targets and gettable shots at goal) and the pressure game - how we apply it, how we withstand it. Do we go into this game as the hunter or the hunted? Underdog status suits us well in this regard I think.

Can we utilise Hawkins properly at the G? Moving the ball quickly and cleanly, creating space as we somehow do on the far smaller ground at KP, and stopping the double team (Re Gawn). It's a big factor in why we've struggled at this ground for a while, as he's so vital to us. I'd be more worried if Lever was in; I actually think the big man could tear the Dees up again.

I think we'll put in a similar performance to the Swans game last year. Melbourne won't be as lackluster as the opposition then but I don't think their finals game will be fine tuned until at least next year. We just have to capitalise.

Go Catters.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

What's the weather prediction?

 

[Daniel McL]

What's the weather prediction?

Weather app just says sun with a bit of cloud, then 5pm onwards just sun/clear. No prediction of rain or anything.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Weather app just says sun with a bit of cloud, then 5pm onwards just sun/clear. No prediction of rain or anything.

I'm starting to gain in confidence for some reason.

 

[Daniel McL]

I'm starting to gain in confidence for some reason.

Haha same, if we’re any chance of beating them it has to be clear conditions considering our skills aren’t amazing at the best of times anyway. Plus they’re the best contested side in the comp so playing in the rain would demolish us. Have a feeling Melbourne will still win but hoping it’s close.

 

[Hamingja]

Fixed that for you

Drunkcat's breakfast

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Haha same, if we’re any chance of beating them it has to be clear conditions considering our skills aren’t amazing at the best of times anyway. Plus they’re the best contested side in the comp so playing in the rain would demolish us. Have a feeling Melbourne will still win but hoping it’s close.

The first 10 or so minutes will decide our fate.

 

[cynical]

i expect it to be low scoring and close for the first quarter (melbourne will pepper the goals but miss a lot)
2nd and 3rd quarter they will cut us up and be up by 40 points
last quarter we make a mini come back and lose by about 20points

our lack of skills in close and inability to apply pressure in the midfield will be telling

 

[Hamingja]

Total Media blackout in our house tonight , my son is working till 8.00 WST - worth the wait to watch it delayed as he's a lucky charm when it comes to big games we watch together

You can all thank me later

So I take it your son doesn't get home until 3qt time and we can blame him for the start we always give up

 

[ATSAM]

The first 10 or so minutes will decide our fate.

Agree. If we are awake and have 'fire in our belly' we are a chance-if the opposite then it will be the usual catch up game where we are always disadvantaged.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

My signed Ablett jnr framed picture just popped up on my facebook memories. I think it's a sign.

 

[Grimoz]

First point of call tonight will be to mute those bloody fox footy commentators because we all know it will be Melbourne this Melbourne that blah blah blah Melbourne have been the better side (even if they are down by 5 goals).

 

[Grimoz]

I'll be interested to see what kind of crowd ratio there is tonight, will it be like the Richmond final and be 75% Dees fans or will our 64000 members make an appearance, from all reports they are expecting 90,000 plus, I hope at least half of that is Cats fans, Dees usually struggle to get half of that at home games during the year.

 

[Daniel McL]

This is it lads, all or nothing.

First Goal - Menzel
Last Goal - Ablett
Most Touches - Ablett
Most Goals - Hawkins
Most Marks - Stewart
Most Tackles - Parfitt
Tip - Melbourne by 7 points.

Expecting Gawn to dominate the ruck battle, nothing against Abbott who will try his best and compete hard but Gawn is just too good.

From a Geelong individual point of view, most excited to see:
GAJ - The GOAT back in finals, BOG coming up.
Kelly - If he can step up even more in finals and stay composed.
Blicavs - Down back instead of in the midfield in the finals, much prefer that, good luck tonight Mark.
Scooter - Hopefully a Max Rooke style pressure forward performance, prefer him in that role much more than in the midfield.
Stewart - Second finals series, hopefully plays with that All Australian form.
Parfitt - Finished season well, has been able to move up the ground more recently which I prefer, let’s see if he’s just as composed in traffic in a final.

Good luck Cats!!!

 

[Daniel McL]

The first 10 or so minutes will decide our fate.

Either way I’m drinking a lot.

 

[Munich]

Either way I’m drinking a lot.

Yep!

 

[dazbroncos]

I'm starting to gain in confidence for some reason.

see.. you are a Cats supporter!!!

GO Catters

 

[Grimoz]

This is it lads, all or nothing.

First Goal - Menzel
Last Goal - Ablett
Most Touches - Ablett
Most Goals - Hawkins
Most Marks - Stewart
Most Tackles - Parfitt
Tip - Melbourne by 7 points.

Expecting Gawn to dominate the ruck battle, nothing against Abbott who will try his best and compete hard but Gawn is just too good.

From a Geelong individual point of view, most excited to see:
GAJ - The GOAT back in finals, BOG coming up.
Kelly - If he can step up even more in finals and stay composed.
Blicavs - Down back instead of in the midfield in the finals, much prefer that, good luck tonight Mark.
Scooter - Hopefully a Max Rooke style pressure forward performance, prefer him in that role much more than in the midfield.
Stewart - Second finals series, hopefully plays with that All Australian form.
Parfitt - Finished season well, has been able to move up the ground more recently which I prefer, let’s see if he’s just as composed in traffic in a final.

Good luck Cats!!!

Worried about Kelly the butcher making an appearance tonight under finals pressure, if he turns the ball over as much as he has during the season then we are screwed, Dees will kill us on the rebound with Hibberd and Co. Hopefully the older guys can settle him and he can gain his composure early.

 

[Grimoz]

Either way I’m drinking a lot.

So just a normal day hey Dan?

 

[Daniel McL]

Worried about Kelly the butcher making an appearance tonight under finals pressure, if he turns the ball over as much as he has during the season then we are screwed, Dees will kill us on the rebound with Hibberd and Co. Hopefully the older guys can settle him and he can gain his composure early.

That’s what I’m worried about too, but either way he’ll be great for the experience. If he’s butchering it on the outside a bit perhaps we move things around and put him inside the centre bounces and tell him to be the extractor getting it out to guys like Duncan & Ablett on the outside.

 

[Daniel McL]

So just a normal day hey Dan?

Normal day is drinking a lot... of chocolate milk

 

[Seeds]

This is it lads, all or nothing.

First Goal - Menzel
Last Goal - Ablett
Most Touches - Ablett
Most Goals - Hawkins
Most Marks - Stewart
Most Tackles - Parfitt
Tip - Melbourne by 7 points.

Expecting Gawn to dominate the ruck battle, nothing against Abbott who will try his best and compete hard but Gawn is just too good.

From a Geelong individual point of view, most excited to see:
GAJ - The GOAT back in finals, BOG coming up.
Kelly - If he can step up even more in finals and stay composed.
Blicavs - Down back instead of in the midfield in the finals, much prefer that, good luck tonight Mark.
Scooter - Hopefully a Max Rooke style pressure forward performance, prefer him in that role much more than in the midfield.
Stewart - Second finals series, hopefully plays with that All Australian form.
Parfitt - Finished season well, has been able to move up the ground more recently which I prefer, let’s see if he’s just as composed in traffic in a final.

Good luck Cats!!!

I tipped geelong. If we werent playing a rookie ruck we would win this by 7 goals. We should still win by a couple though.

Blicavs will play second ruck tonight. We are too tall down back with them missing hogan and need support for abbott. Blicavs will definately spend times in the ruck tonight unless Scott has gone completely off the deep end and plays henry or menegola instead.