Preview 2nd Prelim Final Geelong v Brisbane Sat Sept 21 2024 515pm @ MCG

[supahoops]

When I say club, it is mostly the players and not our coaching staff etc.
A lot of our players are unheralded. To majority of Geelong people they know where they stand and up the upside to their game but it's right across the board.

I was laughed at on the main board when I suggested Zuthrie was in the frame of AA, first half of season in particular. I’d take him over Zorko every day of the week. Ditto Stengle>Moore. Could go on..

 

[cats_09]

Geelong Track Watch: Cats tackle Sam De Koning puzzle as veterans Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

, Cam Guthrie watch on​

Sam De Koning shapes as an intriguing selection dilemma heading into the prelim, while Tom Stewart looks fit for a return, with Gary Rohan

23

Gary Rohan

Age

33

Ht

189cm

Wt

92kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.6

2star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

3.3

3star

T

2.5

4star

G

1.0

4star

D

8.8

2star

K

6.0

2star

HB

2.8

2star

M

3.4

3star

T

2.3

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

9.8

3star

K

6.8

3star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

4.2

5star

G

1.2

4star

sporting a new look. JOSH BARNES has the latest.


Geelong veterans Cam Guthrie and Tom Hawkins

26

Tom Hawkins

Age

36

Ht

197cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

7.9

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

5.5

5star

T

1.9

4star

G

2.1

5star

D

12.7

3star

K

8.6

3star

HB

4.1

3star

M

5.1

5star

T

2.1

3star

G

1.6

5star

D

7.8

2star

K

5.6

3star

HB

2.2

2star

M

4.2

4star

T

1.0

3star

G

2.2

5star

appear likely to be left out of selection discussions this week as Tom Stewart showed no signs of illness or hamstring problems at training on Monday.

The Cats worked through some standard drills before media was asked to leave GMHBA Stadium, with Stewart, Hawkins, Guthrie and Sam De Koning all training.

Guthrie began with a warm up away from the main group and a member of the Geelong fitness staff could be heard asking about his running speeds, as the Cats monitor the dual best-and-fairest winner closely.

It appears increasingly unlikely that either Guthrie or Hawkins will be called up to face Brisbane in Saturday’s preliminary final.

Guthrie has played just four games this year, his last coming in round 10, as he battled quad and Achilles injuries.

Champion goalkicker Hawkins fought through a foot problem to return to VFL action last week – alongside Guthrie and De Koning – but may end his career watching on, with Shannon Neale in good form up forward.

The popular Neale bounded out of the change rooms carrying the portable speaker the Cats used for the session.

With Stewart certain to come back in after missing the qualifying final through illness and his hamstring problem, the question of Geelong’s week will revolve around De Koning.

He hasn’t played since round 21 due to a knee injury and since being ruled out, the Cats have successfully retooled the defence by sending veteran Mark Blicavs

46

Mark Blicavs

Age

33

Ht

198cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

M/R

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.2

5star

CL

1.7

4star

D

11.1

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.9

3star

CL

0.1

2star

D

8.6

3star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.6

4star

CL

2.0

4star

back there, while Rhys Stanley

1

Rhys Stanley

Age

33

Ht

200cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.6

3star

K

7.2

3star

HB

6.4

4star

CL

3.4

5star

HO

27.6

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

7.5

3star

HB

4.5

3star

CL

5.0

5star

HO

21.5

5star

D

11.8

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

6.4

4star

CL

3.0

5star

HO

33.0

5star

has held down the ruck.

Geelong could deploy De Koning in either position, with the Lions boasting giant Oscar McInerney

46

Oscar Mcinerney

Age

30

Ht

204cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.1

2star

K

4.1

2star

HB

3.9

3star

CL

1.4

4star

HO

14.3

5star

D

6.9

1star

K

4.1

2star

HB

2.7

2star

CL

1.9

4star

HO

16.4

5star

D

7.6

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.6

3star

CL

0.4

3star

HO

11.2

5star

in the ruck and tall forwards Joe Daniher, Eric Hipwood

30

Eric Hipwood

Age

27

Ht

203cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.0

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

2.6

2star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.3

3star

G

1.5

5star

D

11.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

2.7

2star

M

4.1

4star

T

1.1

2star

G

1.1

5star

D

10.6

3star

K

8.4

4star

HB

2.2

2star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.4

5star

and Logan Morris.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-track-watch-cats-tackle-sam-de-koning-puzzle-as-veterans-tom-hawkins-cam-guthrie-watch-on/news-story/5a580bbab84eccb8b2cb4dbc9c01ab68

 

[Munich]

Dafuq is Rohan training for?

 

[Hinkley29]

And Tuohy will throw everything into what will be his last game or two.

I don’t buy that.

 

[BotsMaster]

There's going to be no music played after each goal right?

 

[Grimoz]

Did i hear somewhere that our midfield were ranked number 1 for clearances over the past 6 weeks?

 

[Munich]

There's going to be no music played after each goal right?

Hope not.

Last time there were fireworks though iirc.

 

[TEDDY24INC]

There's going to be no music played after each goal right?

Hope not, utter cringe

 

[goyoucatters]

I get where he's coming from tbh.

I thought we could win a premiership this year in the pre-season, but close to my entire premise was based on getting Guthrie back to '22 form, squeezing one last borderline AA year out of Hawkins, and maybe seeing a kid or two make the leap.

To be where we are without anything vaguely resembling that is nothing short of remarkable.

Dempsey, Holmes, Humphries, Bruhn, & Mannagh becoming key players.

Neale, Bowes, Close, & the Henry bros playing their roles, and Stengle, Miers, & Zuthrie in particular making the leap to the competitions upper echelon of players.

We're once again in the final four, but this time, we look like a team on the rise rather than a side teetering on the cliff.

Particularly with some key additions looking like they're on their way in a few weeks.

Things are rarely linear like that in football, and it's not to say I won't be disappointed if we can't go on to win these last two games - I will be - but I'm much more comfortable with where we're placed compared to years gone by.

I don't disagree with you at all. I was simply making a lark of the fact that a Geelong supporter was seemingly suggesting they would be 'happy' to see us not win the GF from here. No matter how outrageous our current position, I definitely cannot say that!

This is an amazing opportunity to truly meet the dictionary definition of 'pinching a flag' and I'm not going to be even slightly pleased about the outcome if we don't get it done from here.

Proud? Yes.
Confident about our future? Absolutely.
'Happy' that we let some other relatively ordinary line-up take the ultimate prize home instead of us? No way in the world.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Loved his first 5 minutes. Set the tone.

Took a nice mark then kicked it straight to a Port player. But instead of dropping his head as a lot of young players do, he was involved in the next contest straight after and took another strong mark which have even lead to the stengle goal.
Excellent from Neale.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Dafuq is Rohan training for?

Apparently if we make the GF he might be an option if needed. Hasn’t been ruled out if we make it that far.

 

[Munich]

Apparently if we make the GF he might be an option if needed. Hasn’t been ruled out if we make it that far.

Utterly ridiculous.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Utterly ridiculous.

Fwiw I don’t think he will play but it’s good he’s training with the players for support.

 

[Vdubs]

Why the need to make unnecessary changes to a winning team? Stewart in for the player who replaced him and keep the team balance. So Mullin out.
The concern for Daniher's height is a bit overrated. He took 5 marks, 1 contested and 2 inside 50. Mobility will be more important than excessive height.
McInerney took 4 marks, 2 contested, and was comfortably beaten in hitouts. A rested Stanley will surely be able to keep him from dominating. Neale, who took 9 marks last outing, can also help in the ruck, allowing Stanley to play further back if needed.
I think the bigger issue is how are how they going to stop our forwards!! Our midfield is now being acclaimed as top shelf so we should create plenty of opportunities, as we did against the much touted Port midfield. We should win this, as long as the attitude is right, and no reason to think it won't be.

On CPH1831 using BigFooty.com mobile app

One thing we've seen is that winning or losing form one week often means nothing a week later. Horses for courses. 16 days since our winning form.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Utterly ridiculous.

Try and tell a pro athlete to stop training in this situation. They'll all be busting a gut in the hope that the door opens for them ala Holmes '22 PF.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Just shared this in ticket thread but should of shared it in here instead.

You’re all soo ****ing lucky. (Ppl that get to go). I can’t go to this years PF but was at the last PF in 22’, make sure you scream extra loud for me.

 

[The Unforgiven]

There's going to be no music played after each goal right?

What, you don't appreciate hearing Zombie Nation's iconic turn-of-the-century hit Kernkraft 400 after each sausage Jezza snags as much as the rest of us?

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Apparently if we make the GF he might be an option if needed. Hasn’t been ruled out if we make it that far.

According to Kingy and Benny on the latest podcast he's got over 50 staples holding his noggin together. Even if he could get on the field come gameday one sharp knock would see his head come apart like a splatty tomato!

 

[dangerwood]

Did i hear somewhere that our midfield were ranked number 1 for clearances over the past 6 weeks?

Hoyne said we are no.1 for points differential from clearances.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Our bottom six is better, but their top six are better than ours.

More elite players still playing in the prime of their careers, where as one of ours is a 34yo dangerfield. Their midfield is also hands down better and they have no obvious flaws across the field where as we do.

Outside of cameron stewart holmes stengle dangerfield i wouldnt say we have alot of A graders. It evens out very quickly throughout the 22. But in saying that, pur strength lies in our even 22 compared to others which can build incredible synergy when it all “clicks”

Dangerfield cameron and stewart are better than any of their players bar neale. But i agree their next 10 or so are better than ours. But we also have a good bottom 6 compared to them and a much better coach.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

What, you don't appreciate hearing Zombie Nation's iconic turn-of-the-century hit Kernkraft 400 after each sausage Jezza snags as much as the rest of us?

I 'member when this and that 'Sandstorm' thing were in clubs everywhere. EDM has never been my thing but I got dragged along.

Pingers made it more fun than it otherwise would have been.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Hope not, utter cringe

Not this country roads crap cringe.

 

[Commando]

What, you don't appreciate hearing Zombie Nation's iconic turn-of-the-century hit Kernkraft 400 after each sausage Jezza snags as much as the rest of us?

Don't care as long as we kicking snags!!!

 

[catempire]

Took a nice mark then kicked it straight to a Port player. But instead of dropping his head as a lot of young players do, he was involved in the next contest straight after and took another strong mark which have even lead to the stengle goal.
Excellent from Neale.

It was a long kick i50. Not even close to his fault it was turned over.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Just hope we don’t lose bc I’ve already got us sitting in the front seat on GF day. Never felt so confident about making a GF before.