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

[Vdubs]

I thought Holmes put his hand up and said he wasn't right?

Nope

He did not

Irrelevant. Holmes had just turned 20, had no experience with hamstring injury recurrences, and was understandably shattered to not play the GF. But he would not have been cleared to play without significant risk, and the correct COLLABORATIVE decision was made

 

[Mr Meow]

Agree that Brisbane should be the best team in it, and after their horrible start, they certainly looked to have hit peak form.
Then some inexplicable losses.
Nevertheless, the record at the G is not that bad, and their last 45 minutes v GWS was brilliant.
Many teams start the way they finished their last game, and given we have played 1 game in 26 days by the time we face Brisbane, I can not visualise us beating them this week.
Nevertheless, I think we have achieved so much this year, a lot more than I had expected, and as long as we can keep key players like SDK and pick up some key draftees, we will remain in contention.
I think Brisbane can go the next step this year, and would not begrudge them if they beat us.

Had to stop reading at record at the G "not that bad".

They are 2-7 there over the past 3 years.

Let's file that one along with "much more talented list" ad things VDubs made up to pump up the opposition.

 

[Mr Meow]

Irrelevant. Holmes had just turned 20, had no experience with hamstring injury recurrences, and was understandably shattered to not play the GF. But he would not have been cleared to play without significant risk, and the correct COLLABORATIVE decision was made

Can we not go on about off topic nonsense for several pages? Prelim preview thread. Talk about SDK's form and conditioning regarding his selection chances. Rehashing Holmes 2022 injury gives us ZERO clue as to what happens this week.

 

[moond0g]

I have to admit, I think this is kind of overstated on a few counts:

• Cameron isn't what he was a few years ago.
• Bews isn't a magical cheat code - Cameron has "gotten" him a couple of times, particularly that game in 2019 that he won off his own boot
• We do have other small defenders who can keep Cameron quiet, but do better offensively.

Yeah I'm probably in the minority, but I think dropping Bews for Stewart is the easiest change you could make this week. For all the reasons that you mention and more. Re. point 1, I'd also add that Bews also isn't what he was a few years ago. If he is a sure thing to just stop the oppo's best small forward, why did he spend most of the year playing VFL?

He's played 4 AFL games this year, including 1 as sub. 2 of those were against WCE and North in easy wins, which basically tell us nothing. One (granted, in a final) was also a complete demolition job, where Port's entire team looked inept. The only game where he was under any pressure in defence was vs. Adelaide where their small forward (Rachelle) had 5 scoring shots and got 5 coaches votes.

 

[cats_09]

Yeah I'm probably in the minority, but I think dropping Bews for Stewart is the easiest change you could make this week. For all the reasons that you mention and more. Re. point 1, I'd also add that Bews also isn't what he was a few years ago. If he is a sure thing to just stop the oppo's best small forward, why did he spend most of the year playing VFL?

He's played 4 AFL games this year, including 1 as sub. 2 of those were against WCE and North in easy wins, which basically tell us nothing. One (granted, in a final) was also a complete demolition job, where Port's entire team looked inept. The only game where he was under any pressure in defence was vs. Adelaide where their small forward (Rachelle) had 5 scoring shots and got 5 coaches votes.

Not sure Bews is getting dropped - he's already been doing media where he's talking about the match-up on Cameron and his contract extension

Kinda sounds like he's playing

 

[iameviljez]

Can we not go on about off topic nonsense for several pages? Prelim preview thread. Talk about SDK's form and conditioning regarding his selection chances. Rehashing Holmes 2022 injury gives us ZERO clue as to what happens this week.

Eh, it's a conversation.

 

[iameviljez]

For anyone feeling nervous about this game, Dwyane Russell has picked Brisbane. That should put you at ease.

He's been negative about us all year and continually tips against us in big games; he has jinxed Brisbane.

He's a Geelong man from the early 90s; I can't blame him for not wanting to jinx us!

 

[iameviljez]

Not sure Bews is getting dropped - he's already been doing media where he's talking about the match-up on Cameron and his contract extension

Kinda sounds like he's playing

I agree, it'd be a bit cruel of the club to sign off on this and then !blammo!

 

[Munich]

Mullin out for Stewballs then.

 

[Play it Sam]

Even though we're short odds to beat Brisbane, and two wins from a flag, i don't think the idea we could actually be premiers has really sunk in for pretty much anyone.

It will sink in to my Visa. I've told the Head of Treasury there are literally 1,319,687 members who wish it was them.

 

[cats_09]

I agree, it'd be a bit cruel of the club to sign off on this and then !blammo!

I didn't have him in the gun anyway

Since the QF I've thought it would only be one change with Stewart in and had Mullin purely based on last man in type situation - I wasn't sold on Duncan's first half against Port but he did improve as the game went on, so think he did enough to hold his spot with his experience

 

[moond0g]

Not sure Bews is getting dropped - he's already been doing media where he's talking about the match-up on Cameron and his contract extension

Kinda sounds like he's playing

Yeah I'm not saying I think he will get dropped, I'm saying I think he should get dropped.

To me Bews and Mullin are clearly our weakest players from last match, so one of those is the obvious out for Stewart. But even though I'm not confident that Mullin is at the level of playing a prelim, I'd still probably prefer him over Bews atm.

 

[Lana]

Agree that Brisbane should be the best team in it, and after their horrible start, they certainly looked to have hit peak form.
Then some inexplicable losses.
Nevertheless, the record at the G is not that bad, and their last 45 minutes v GWS was brilliant.
Many teams start the way they finished their last game, and given we have played 1 game in 26 days by the time we face Brisbane, I can not visualise us beating them this week.
Nevertheless, I think we have achieved so much this year, a lot more than I had expected, and as long as we can keep key players like SDK and pick up some key draftees, we will remain in contention.
I think Brisbane can go the next step this year, and would not begrudge them if they beat us.

Just pretend that we're St Kilda in 09, then you won't be able imagine us losing either

 

[Vdubs]

Had to stop reading at record at the G "not that bad".

They are 2-7 there over the past 3 years.

Let's file that one along with "much more talented list" ad things VDubs made up to pump up the opposition.

So far 2 games this year, a win v Demons, easily, and a 1 point loss to the Pies- not bad- the G itself is not the issue.
Don't need to go back to 2022, but they did win a semifinal v Demons at the G, again, proving they can play there.
This week is a combination of not only who we are playing, but also when.
I don't expect you to agree, but we are all allowed to express our opinions, fears, hopes without criticism.
I do rate our opposition, have all year, Port, Lions, Swans, GWS, Blues, Doggies, and here we are top 4, above what I expected (6-8)

 

[Mr Meow]

Eh, it's a conversation.

We've had it about 100 times. It's gone on long enough for version, #103.

 

[Mr Meow]

So far 2 games this year, a win v Demons, easily, and a 1 point loss to the Pies- not bad- the G itself is not the issue.
Don't need to go back to 2022, but they did win a semifinal v Demons at the G, again, proving they can play there.
This week is a combination of not only who we are playing, but also when.
I don't expect you to agree, but we are all allowed to express our opinions, fears, hopes without criticism.
I do rate our opposition, have all year, Port, Lions, Swans, GWS, Blues, Doggies, and here we are top 4, above what I expected (6-8)

2-7 over 3 years. It's a poor record.

You're allowed to say it's not bad and I'm allowed to say why I disagree.

 

[Vdubs]

Just pretend that we're St Kilda in 09, then you won't be able imagine us losing either

We were easily the second best, and ultimately, the best team that year. Saints were 20-2 pre finals.
This year, I don't see us as the best or even 3rd best team in it. An opinion only. Not that we can't end up premiers, would not be an upset, just very hard to see it.

 

[Play it Sam]

I didn't have him in the gun anyway

Since the QF I've thought it would only be one change with Stewart in and had Mullin purely based on last man in type situation - I wasn't sold on Duncan's first half against Port but he did improve as the game went on, so think he did enough to hold his spot with his experience

I watched Bews again last night and felt his first half he was a little bit lost, late to the mark, running in circles. He warmed to the game, close checking. Duncan bringing the ball out and passing, kicking was excellent. No contest there but may have lost some strength in tackling. Would still be top ten named. We do have an expectation of a perfection that can't eventuate, but a team that pulls together and backs each other, that's what we want to see for the win.

 

[Vdubs]

Can we not go on about off topic nonsense for several pages? Prelim preview thread. Talk about SDK's form and conditioning regarding his selection chances. Rehashing Holmes 2022 injury gives us ZERO clue as to what happens this week.

So what, it's very relevant recent history, and no point rewriting history, and the way CS is said to override player and medical opinion. Simply not true.
SDK looks just off the pace- has a lot of this year.
Unless Stanley is dropped, he sadly misses out this week IF Stewart is fit.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Just going to add a premiership and 50 more games to his resume on the way out

Jed Farnham.

 

[iameviljez]

We were easily the second best, and ultimately, the best team that year. Saints were 20-2 pre finals.
This year, I don't see us as the best or even 3rd best team in it. An opinion only. Not that we can't end up premiers, would not be an upset, just very hard to see it.

Yeah, I did not see that QF result coming. We do have warts; most flag sides don't have a period of going 1 and 6 in the middle of the year.

Brisbane and Port have done us massive favours in semi-final week IMO.

 

[Lana]

We were easily the second best, and ultimately, the best team that year. Saints were 20-2 pre finals.
This year, I don't see us as the best or even 3rd best team in it. An opinion only. Not that we can't end up premiers, would not be an upset, just very hard to see it.

Well Brisbane aren't 20-2, why do give them the same treatment then

 

[iameviljez]

We've had it about 100 times. It's gone on long enough for version, #103.

Eh, it's the Geelong BF Rule: every conversation must go back to one of:

• Trading out SJ/Chapman
• Varcoe for Mitch Clark
• Thurlow over Grundy

 

[Max Rooke]

Saturday forecast is for 'showers increasing, most likely afternoon and evening', upto 4mm..

Given that, I can't see SDK getting selected, its unlikely to be a game for tall forwards, thus extra talls in defence wont be needed.
As disappointed as DeKoning will be, its not like he's been dropped from the side.. I cant see this as a catalyst for him wanting out of the club, ala dropping Mumford for Blake in 2009 was..

However, dropping Neale for Hawkins could see a disgruntled Neale looking to go home to WA..
Geelong made the mistake of dropping Neale for the Bulldogs game, and having no tall target, even in the wet, was a big mistake that day.

Neale must stay in, Hawkins only hope is for Cameron/Neale to fall to an injury..
SDK's only hope to get back into the side is an injury to Stanley, Blitz, Henry or Kolo..
I cant see a option for Guthrie to force his way in..

Stewart in for Mullin/Touhy as the only change.

Rain they say? Does not bode well for Stanley then…

 

[Munich]

Even though we're short odds to beat Brisbane, and two wins from a flag, i don't think the idea we could actually be premiers has really sunk in for pretty much anyone.

I said at the end of last year we'd win next (this) year.

Glad that my optimism is right so far.