2025 Pre-Season chat

[CatToTheFuture]

I think why many of us have been a little disappointed in the selection of Jyhe Clark, is that up to 2022 we had not had a high draft pick in such a long time and out of nowhere we were 'gifted pick 7 that became 8' by the Suns. It thus became such an exciting and unexpected surprise to us all at the cattery and I guess we were all hoping and praying we may 'fluke' getting a Joel Selwood (pick 7) or Jimmy Bartel (pick 8) calibre type of player which would be a dream for all us supporters. So whoever we were going to select with that pick was on a hiding to nothing from a supporters expectation point of view and for sure Jhye is no Joel Selwood or Jimmy Bartel, however on reflection that draft has ended up very thin with the exception of some very early picks. So in conclusion, being a hopeless addicted Geelong supporter I still can only hope Jhye Clark a long and successful career at the cattery.

PS - I too was in the Philipou camp and although he's still going to be a very good to excellent footballer, he too has struggled more than what I thought he would in the early stages of his career, although granted he is still ahead of Jhye at this point of time.

AFL Draft Order 2022

View the latest up-to-date 2022 AFL Draft Order. Pick swaps and trades from the AFL Trade Period included.

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Could imagine how we'd be reacting if we'd have drafted Will Phillips at pick 3, DGB at 6, Tsatas at 5, or Fish McAsey at 6 with a pick we actually earned the hard way?

 

[My Tilly]

Big fan of Clark.
Not phased by the slow start whatsoever.

Look at Zac Butters and how long it took before he became a star. Jhye may not reach those kind of heights but he'll very likely be one of our best midfielders.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Could imagine how we'd be reacting if we'd have drafted Will Phillips at pick 3, DGB at 6, Tsatas at 5, or Fish McAsey at 6 with a pick we actually earned the hard way?

Excellent point CTTF:..... just goes to show how harsh, demanding and sometimes down right unfair us supporters can be, but then again if you've ever had a deep and hopeless love for a woman, then for us Cat diehards it all makes perfect sense and logic regardless of the sometimes stupidity of it all.

 

[Mr Meow]

Just standard media training for mine.
We have no idea who leads.

And who cares about the next skipper? If he's leading down back then good.

People who post about it care and your cynical view doesn't have to bring absolutely every topic down with it.

Hear Chris Scott talk about Zuthrie and you'd realise the respect he's gained among the group. The standards he had to meet to work on his game and develop his light frame were very high. And he plays with great spirit on the field, to the point where he has been able to stand in for Stewart when he has been needed in midfield.

We never have the clearest idea, but it's fine to speculate from what we see. That is the whole point of a football forum, after all.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

People who post about it care and your cynical view doesn't have to bring absolutely every topic down with it.

Hear Chris Scott talk about Zuthrie and you'd realise the respect he's gained among the group. The standards he had to meet to work on his game and develop his light frame were very high. And he plays with great spirit on the field, to the point where he has been able to stand in for Stewart when he has been needed in midfield.

We never have the clearest idea, but it's fine to speculate from what we see. That is the whole point of a football forum, after all.

Well stated Mr Meow: in fact I'm extremely appreciative of supporters like you who generously give their time to engage and participate on our Geelong forum through 'many topics' and although we may not always agree with each others opinions, I for one derive an enormous amount of pleasure from reading well learned and thoughtful contributions made by people like your good-self and others.

I also feel we are somewhat fortunate that with the majority of the Geelong Big Footy posters we are rather open-minded and have a genuine want to contribute worthy thoughts to the forum unlike some posters from other clubs.... with some Tiger posters being to the point of 'unbearable', hence why I have very little to do with main board these days as these 'INSECURE delusion morons' just hijack threads and destroy them.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Big fan of Clark.
Not phased by the slow start whatsoever.

Look at Zac Butters and how long it took before he became a star. Jhye may not reach those kind of heights but he'll very likely be one of our best midfielders.

I don't necessarily disagree, and there certainly does need to be patience here...but Zak Butters was in the AA squad in just his second year.

He did take until year five to breakout into the superstar we see today, but he was a quality AFL footballer for a long period prior to that.

I rate Clark, but we're still at the "looking for flashes in the VFL" stage, while Butters was a proven best 22 commodity who just took a little while to make the leap to stardom.

Hopefully 2025 can be the start of a similar trajectory for Jhye.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Way too early to call on any of this, and Phillipou seems like he would not be a culture fit for us.

I remember being skeptical about Clark in his draft year, but I watched a few of his Champs games and I was sold. He just read the play better than anyone else and I saw first-hand the competitive spirit he's lauded for.

Since he's joined us I felt his first season of VFL was very, very poor. Last season he improved out of sight, he just wasn't running out games.

I don't know what his off-field application is like but it will need to be top shelf for him to make it, and if it is he will have a very good career.

It's all fitness with him I think. He needs to improve that a lot but if he does the potential is there.

 

[D BRIDGE]

I don't necessarily disagree, and there certainly does need to be patience here...but Zak Butters was in the AA squad in just his second year.

He did take until year five to breakout into the superstar we see today, but he was a quality AFL footballer for a long period prior to that.

I rate Clark, but we're still at the "looking for flashes in the VFL" stage, while Butters was a proven best 22 commodity who just took a little while to make the leap to stardom.

Hopefully 2025 can be the start of a similar trajectory for Jhye.

I was the person who initially put Clark in the Butters basket.

Both first-round inside mids, the same height, and the same tenacious play style.

One evident thing is the Clark doesn't have the acceleration, side step and leg power as Butters (Butters also has very good across-the-body vision)... and going back through Butters draft year videos you can see all those traits.

Clark just doesn't have it... Hopefully, he can build and get better year after year and be a solid player (probably will).

But me putting him in the Butters basket was just because they both are tough buggers (but Atkins/Clohesy are also tough).

 

[Tony Barber]

People who post about it care and your cynical view doesn't have to bring absolutely every topic down with it.

Hear Chris Scott talk about Zuthrie and you'd realise the respect he's gained among the group. The standards he had to meet to work on his game and develop his light frame were very high. And he plays with great spirit on the field, to the point where he has been able to stand in for Stewart when he has been needed in midfield.

We never have the clearest idea, but it's fine to speculate from what we see. That is the whole point of a football forum, after all.

It doesn't matter who posts.
You just hold a contrarian view for kicks.

 

[Mr Meow]

It doesn't matter who posts.
You just hold a contrarian view for kicks.

That would explain the many posts I make in complete agreeance with people's points - and the fact I always present a discussion of whatever football topic I'm replying to (Zuthrie/leadership in this instance).

You were the one being contrarian for no reason.

I note that you didn't reply to any of the football related points I made and have instead reverted to playing the man only.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

My ears are burning.

 

[cats_09]

Training video time

 

[moond0g]

Don’t get any of the negativity around Clark or O’Sullivan. Clark played 14 games last year, predominantly as an undersized, 19yr old mid. From what I saw, he had decision making and toughness at the contest. Could buy himself time, and knew where to run when the ball was in dispute. He got bullied at times for his size, and the time he could usually buy for himself at TAC level wasnt there because of this. That will change as he gets bigger with every off season. As for O'Sullivan, a key position prospect, that debuted as an 18 yr old, and looked super comfortable? Give me a spell. Guys like Selwood and Taylor shape opinion, because they contributed straight away. But it is such an unrealistic expectation. If you asked anyone in the Cats development program I’d hazard a guess they would be chuffed with development of both.

I think a lot of it is purely that we haven't had a top 10 pick in so long that there are somewhat unrealistic expectations on him. This is probably compounded by the fact he's a midfielder and we were seemingly crying out for another high quality mid last season.

Would I perhaps have like him to show a tiny bit more last year? Yes. If given the chance, would I go back and swap him for Phillipou based on their output to date? Also yes, but only because of his last month to the season. But is there still a decent chance he'll turn into a solid player for us? Yes.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Mannagh‘s body looks more like a pro athlete now.

Last year his rig looked like one of a part-timer a little.

Hopefully he can go to another level next year… he’ll be a legit weapon if he can.

 

[Mr Meow]

Mannagh‘s body looks more like a pro athlete now.

Last year his rig looked like one of a part-timer a little.

Hopefully he can go to another level next year… he’ll be a legit weapon if he can.

Do you think with the better conditioning he rolls through midfield more? Would be great if he gave us something there as an impact player at opportune times (Chappy Jr?).

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Do you think with the better conditioning he rolls through midfield more? Would be great if he gave us something there as an impact player at opportune times (Chappy Jr?).

Absolutely but the upshot for MC is it makes him that more flexible Mr Meow: In fact the more on think about it with so many of our young talented players coming on, it's 'their flexibility' that's so impressive, even the taller players in Sam DeKoning and Connor O'Sullivan are great below their knees for their size. We very well maybe heading into very exciting times with this group.... here's hoping and GO CATS !!!

 

[D BRIDGE]

Do you think with the better conditioning he rolls through midfield more? Would be great if he gave us something there as an impact player at opportune times (Chappy Jr?).

Certainly would think it's a possibility.

He seems to get busy whenever he is around the pill so I just want him in the action.

As long as he is improving his output (which already was decent) I'll be fine with him playing anywhere.

 

[The rabbi]

Training video time

Who was that kicking the footy at the opening of the video?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Who was that kicking the footy at the opening of the video?

Mannagh from heaven

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Training video time

One got the Jhye Clark watchers out there, I remember an interview with Harley Reid where they asked him how he was naturally so good at fending off. He said it was all forearm strength and the ability to push through your fingertips.

The exercise that he described was throwing the heaviest medicine ball you could find across the room over and over again. Which is what it looks like Jhye is doing here.

 

[Mr Meow]

One got the Jhye Clark watchers out there, I remember an interview with Harley Reid where they asked him how he was naturally so good at fending off. He said it was all forearm strength and the ability to push through your fingertips.

The exercise that he described was throwing the heaviest medicine ball you could find across the room over and over again. Which is what it looks like Jhye is doing here.

View attachment 2205326

Jhye Clark = Harley Reid confirmed?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Jhye Clark = Harley Reid confirmed?

I wonder how many people we can make lose hair by starting a rumour that people believe this

It's almost worth trying but I don't want another repetitive trope polluting every conversation.

Just noting that he's working on fundamentals for contested mid types and hoping he develops the strength and endurance to do so at senior level competitively

Tl:dr will be better than Reid lock it in

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Mannagh‘s body looks more like a pro athlete now.

Last year his rig looked like one of a part-timer a little.

Hopefully he can go to another level next year… he’ll be a legit weapon if he can.

If injury free I reckon he will.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I wonder how many people we can make lose hair by starting a rumour that people believe this

It's almost worth trying but I don't want another repetitive trope polluting every conversation.

Just noting that he's working on fundamentals for contested mid types and hoping he develops the strength and endurance to do so at senior level competitively

Tl:dr will be better than Reid lock it in

Also, for reasons that are hard to explain without sounding like I watch too many sweaty young men, I believe this is Clark not Clohesy based solely on running gait

Edit: I'm not weird, you're weird, so being weird

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I watch too many sweaty young men

Noted