2025 Pre-Season chat

[Gavin Excell]

Good post.

I can recall many Strange Cats. With deference to our poster friend ..,,.

Newman
Bos
Lindner
GAS
Rooke
sure there are many others..

They all had their idiosyncrasies but were all valuable teammates and successful

Bos, for example, was dressed and out of the rooms and on his way home before most of the players had even got their tape and gear off

Scarlett was an odd and by all accounts prickly bloke

 

[Gavin Excell]

Bartel tells a story in his first year when he asked Bomber if he could be excused a training session or may have been a practice game to attend a mates wedding

Bomber apparently says "yes of course. If that's important to you" (sting in the tail)

And then is dumped for the next few weeks main team. Said he learned a lesson

 

[Cataholic]

Bartel tells a story in his first year when he asked Bomber if he could be excused a training session or may have been a practice game to attend a mates wedding

Bomber apparently says "yes of course. If that's important to you" (sting in the tail)

And then is dumped for the next few weeks main team. Said he learned a lesson

That footy is more important than friends and family?

Nah.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Scarlett was an odd and by all accounts prickly bloke

I'm was dating Marc woolnoughs cousin many years ago ... him and scarlo were great mates. Worst bloke I've ever met. (Scarlett that is) So full of himself and thought he was superman. Loved the nose powder too.

 

[cats_09]

TAKE IT TO A PM

This isn't the place

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

TAKE IT TO A PM

This isn't the place

My sincere apologies.

 

[My Tilly]

I think you have misinterpreted what Art said.

Training won't be the issue with Smith.

He is a very hard trainer.

I don't see the issue though.
He's been leading from the front from a training stand point. It's early January with months still to go before the footy begins.

What's Smith done wrong?

As long as he delivers on the field, we all knew he would draw unwanted attention due to his media profile. That was part and parcel of the package we decided to sign up for.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Regarding Bailey Smith, who I am sure attracts rumours and innuendo like flies to shite; if the club can get a Tim Kelly-ish block of midfield time out of him then I'm sure Chris Scott and the club will be able to manage and mitigate any ''shite bloke'' stuff.

Performance will be everything; Smith himself must be acutely aware of that - would be detrimental to his brand should he be relegated to VFL duties.

 

[Spearman]

I also won't comment on personalities, I don't know them. Egos take time to sort themselves out, hopefully.
But I think, and hope, there shouldn't be much on field problems because at the moment, Bailey's online business model is not dependent on personal footy stats. His popularity might have started as a footy star, but it is sustained now as much by his looks and abs as it is his onfield performances. If his SM profile had "Champion Goal Kicker...", then I would be more concerned. But I think he'll settle in after some rustiness and new team cohesion issues wear away after season has started. TBH, due to my own biases and older generational taste, my fear is that he, or any Cat, started doing choreographed(branded) celebrations after each tackle, take away or goal, like they do in the NFL. That would suck.
Be it puff pieces in the media, or gossipy whispers, I never take most preseason news seriously. Injury and police reports, yes, but not that crap. Let's see him in action with the rest of them on the field before judgement.

 

[dazbroncos]

I have heard similar but not yet ready to give into it not working…. No doubt he is “different” and players have been a bit taken aback by that difference. But even in a couple of months I think a lot have already moved on to the fact that he is who he is and as long as he plays the team game they will all be fine.

They understand he has issues but I don’t think have got to point where they think “bad bloke”. At the same time there is an amazement at his skills and desire to be better. If he can channel that into a desire for team to win then the players will absolutely back him despite being “different” (mostly just intensity being OTT…)

It is not without risk for sure - but I think the players are strong enough to allow him to be who he is and not get distracted. I am hopeful - lets see

There’s a difference too between being a different person and bad person.
Not saying he is either.
And the club and team had to allow for different types of people as they undoubtedly already do.

What they won’t stand for IMO is I’m bigger than they team and that dies t apply to me type shit as I’m too good for that .

There is only bloke in my mind that could pull that shit and get away with .. and he was from a different era and retired 30 years ago
GAS was just different.

Go catters

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Safest option is to panic for the next couple of months and then overanalyse for signs of friction once the season starts.

I find out most comforting to bring panic forward, that way when the actual worst case happens you're like the ocean front rocks in a winter storm

 

[Turbocat]

Only time will tell if we have a Pineapple on Pizza situation or oil and water…. and preseasons are not the best time of year for those that are best kept busy by the grind of regular competition and the chance to do what they do best.

Obviously there is a line for all players but if we want to trumpet the advantages of less structure team mandate and pandering to each as individuals and letting them do what they must to find their best ..then occasionally the artist who is more abstract will not be to everyones taste... yet still will have a place in the gallery and may gain acceptance for what they bring to the whole.

Lets see how he fits in and blends when can do what he is here to do. Play and contribute on field.

Pineapple on Pizza situation or oil and water… Time will tell.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Only time will tell if we have a Pineapple on Pizza situation or oil and water…. and preseasons are not the best time of year for those that are best kept busy by the grind of regular competition and the chance to do what they do best.

Obviously there is a line for all players but if we want to trumpet the advantages of less structure team mandate and pandering to each as individuals and letting them do what they must to find their best ..then occasionally the artist who is more abstract will not be to everyones taste... yet still will have a place in the gallery and may gain acceptance for what they bring to the whole.

Lets see how he fits in and blends when can do what he is here to do. Play and contribute on field.

Pineapple on Pizza situation or oil and water… Time will tell.

Even oil and water can work pretty well if you give the salad dressing bottle a good shake

 

[D BRIDGE]

I don't see the issue though.
He's been leading from the front from a training stand point. It's early January with months still to go before the footy begins.

What's Smith done wrong?

As long as he delivers on the field, we all knew he would draw unwanted attention due to his media profile. That was part and parcel of the package we decided to sign up for.

I have no idea if he has “done anything wrong”.

I’m also not sure if him delivering on field will make everything perfect if things aren’t clicking behind closed doors (although I hope so).

It’s very early days.

Hopefully he plays well, hopefully he integrates in with the squad, hopefully all is rosie.

 

[My Tilly]

I have no idea if he has “done anything wrong”.

I’m also not sure if him delivering on field will make everything perfect if things aren’t clicking behind closed doors (although I hope so).

It’s very early days.

Hopefully he plays well, hopefully he integrates in with the squad, hopefully all is rosie.

At least it's not a Jake Stringer situation where he was rarely giving his all on the training track, forever a tantalising talent.

Only concern with Bailey is the knee. Does it sap him some of that explosion we were used to seeing before the ACL.

I reckon he won't die wondering.

 

[Turbocat]

Even oil and water can work pretty well if you give the salad dressing bottle a good shake

salad yes. was thinking more an engine and road but just goes to show how a different perspective can change an analogy

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I have heard similar but not yet ready to give into it not working…. No doubt he is “different” and players have been a bit taken aback by that difference. But even in a couple of months I think a lot have already moved on to the fact that he is who he is and as long as he plays the team game they will all be fine.

They understand he has issues but I don’t think have got to point where they think “bad bloke”. At the same time there is an amazement at his skills and desire to be better. If he can channel that into a desire for team to win then the players will absolutely back him despite being “different” (mostly just intensity being OTT…)

It is not without risk for sure - but I think the players are strong enough to allow him to be who he is and not get distracted. I am hopeful - lets see

He's a hard trainer and he's obsessive about getting better in a football sense. If he backs that up and finds his form of 3 years ago they will all get on because they want to win. Personality won't stop it.
My main worry is his knee more than anything else.

 

[Vdubs]

He's a hard trainer and he's obsessive about getting better in a football sense. If he backs that up and finds his form of 3 years ago they will all get on because they want to win. Personality won't stop it.
My main worry is his knee more than anything else.

I keep being buoyed by the success Wojcinski had after an ACL reco. If ever we had a brilliantly quick explosive player, it was Wojo, and he lost NONE of his acceleration and innate speed. I loved watching his blistering pace and attacks from defence to often, goals, and he could take a speccy mark as well.
There is, of course, the other extreme with Menzel, 3-4 ACL's is unprecedented, and yet he still had some excellent games after all of that.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

He's a hard trainer and he's obsessive about getting better in a football sense. If he backs that up and finds his form of 3 years ago they will all get on because they want to win. Personality won't stop it.
My main worry is his knee more than anything else.

As long as he doesn't think himself too good to train the basics and is a team enough player to make time for junior players then he'll be fine.

 

[PzBlinky]

I keep being buoyed by the success Wojcinski had after an ACL reco. If ever we had a brilliantly quick explosive player, it was Wojo, and he lost NONE of his acceleration and innate speed. I loved watching his blistering pace and attacks from defence to often, goals, and he could take a speccy mark as well.
There is, of course, the other extreme with Menzel, 3-4 ACL's is unprecedented, and yet he still had some excellent games after all of that.

I think Menzel was a case of the damage being done. Sure, most players bounce back after 1 ACL...but 4? Even then, he kicked 33 goals in 18 games in 2016 and 40 goals in 19 games in 2017 - bloody good numbers for someone who was limited.

I get a little sad whenever his name's mentioned, of all the "what ifs...", him having healthy knees is probably one of the bigger ones (at least for our club).

 

[Mr Meow]

salad yes. was thinking more an engine and road but just goes to show how a different perspective can change an analogy

I think Bailey Smith has salad oil inside of him and so with a good shake he should be fine.

 

[Phill Hendo]

I understand we are all starved for football right now but this Baily Smith discussion is based on an unsubstantiated rumor. Every video the club puts up has a bit of Smith doing something good in it. Yes he has a high profile on the internet. He will probably make lots of money from it. Good on him.

Give the guy a chance before you all start believing every rumor going around. (There will be plenty.)

My reaction is to hope the club finds the rumor monger and terminates his/her employment.

Go Cats.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

As long as he doesn't think himself too good to train the basics and is a team enough player to make time for junior players then he'll be fine.

I think that bit of it will be fine because if anything he over trains. Obviously we know he's a different cat so how he gels with the younger guys may be a thing to manage. But honestly I'm not worried about that he's very professional in that sense. We have managed much less committed personalities than him.
I'm more worried about taking on a player who relies on burst speed coming off am acl when we haven't seen him play post knee. But at least he is diligent with rehab so it gives him a good chance.

 

[you pick one]

Get a grip people he's ticking along just fine.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Get a grip people he's ticking along just fine.

Unless you are within the club's inner sanctum, you are completely guessing/hoping.

I'm looking forward to seeing him play.