Review AFL 2nd Qualifying Final Review - Geelong v Western Bulldogs

[vealesy]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

Yep I can definately see Harley retiring as a dual premiership captain!

A great effort from the boys, I have dusted off my membership card. No longer in the bin. I saw what I wanted to see.

Only negative: Stokes and Hogan must be dropped for Max and SJ.

I can see Mumford being more use than Blake too, especially if we are playing Collingwood.

Might have to fly over again for this one!

 

[OldStyle2007]

The Cats and the Punt Road End

Is there some kind of hoodoo? I get the feeling that we really struggle at that end of the ground.

We only kicked 2 goals at that end on Saturday.

Is that the end which we kicked 3 goals, 14 points in the 2008 GF?

Any theories?

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

Yep I can definately see Harley retiring as a dual premiership captain!

A great effort from the boys, I have dusted off my membership card. No longer in the bin. I saw what I wanted to see.

Only negative: Stokes and Hogan must be dropped for Max and SJ.

I can see Mumford being more use than Blake too, especially if we are playing Collingwood.

Might have to fly over again for this one!

I know its flavour of the month to say Mumford is better than Blake, etc, but if people cant see what Blake has given us since he came back then i am lost for words. Its no coincidence that we have started winning the clearances since he came back, and they are absolutely vital in todays game. As for around the ground, Mumford was good at battling on the ground yes, but other than that, he was having just as minimal impact as Blake does, apart from 1 or 2 goals for the season.

 

[Kahn]

Re: The Cats and the Punt Road End

And add to the list Jimmy Bartel kicking a point after the siren up the punt road end against Hawthorn a few weeks ago - there must be a hoodoo

 

[timeout]

Re: The Cats and the Punt Road End

there is no hoodoo just you die out at the end of games

 

[Shell]

Re: The Cats and the Punt Road End

there is no hoodoo just you die out at the end of games

Thanks for that fascinating insight. Did you come up with that seeing as you have copious amounts of spare time, seeing as how your povo team didnt make the finals??


As for the OPs question, didnt worry me much on Saturday, as I was sitting down the other end behind the goals.

 

[CATACK]

Re: The Cats and the Punt Road End

There must be a goalie, just on that side when we play..............What a stupid thread

 

[re cat]

Re: The Cats and the Punt Road End

Well if we make to the GF we will probably be the home team, the CS will be that end and most of our supporters. We kicked that end in the last v Hawks.

 

[rizzo]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I know its flavour of the month to say Mumford is better than Blake, etc, but if people cant see what Blake has given us since he came back then i am lost for words. Its no coincidence that we have started winning the clearances since he came back, and they are absolutely vital in todays game. As for around the ground, Mumford was good at battling on the ground yes, but other than that, he was having just as minimal impact as Blake does, apart from 1 or 2 goals for the season.

spot on.

 

[CF]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

spot on.

the problem is for most of the blake haters that post here they never see the good things he does and probably never will. Their whole perception of him is completely biased against him.

 

[Generalissimo]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I think you'll find the "Blake haters" only got that way because they kept expecting to see his attitude and around the ground contributions improve, and have been consistently disappointed.

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I think you'll find the "Blake haters" only got that way because they kept expecting to see his attitude and around the ground contributions improve, and have been consistently disappointed.

While i agree with you on that point, the fact is that his replacement was not much better, if at all, in his contributions in general play, and we were getting smashed in a vital area of the game (clearances). At one stage in the 1st quarter on Saturday clearances were 5-0 to us - Blake has improved us a lot in that area.

One passages of play sums it up - everyone remembers Gaz bursting out of the centre and hitting up Mooney on the left foot. But how did the ball get to Gaz in the first place?

 

[Generalissimo]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

Mumford's played 60 odd games less than Blake, but he has a much better attitude and there is no doubt in my mind that he has far greater potential than Blake. I'd like to see the Mummy get more game time to fast track his development. But the question now is, to win this year's finals series do we go with a rookie with a huge heart but whose tap outs are still a work in progress, or a pea heart with a bad attitude who can palm the ball straight onto Ablett's chest? Probably going with Blake is the right call. But that doesn't mean I have to approve of Blake's lack of commitment around the ground and stupid decision making, and it doesn't mean he'll be favoured forever. I reckon by halfway through 2010, our ruck duo will be Ottens and Mumford.

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

Mumford's played 60 odd games less than Blake, but he has a much better attitude and there is no doubt in my mind that he has far greater potential than Blake. I'd like to see the Mummy get more game time to fast track his development. But the question now is, to win this year's finals series do we go with a rookie with a huge heart but whose tap outs are still a work in progress, or a pea heart with a bad attitude who can palm the ball straight onto Ablett's chest? Probably going with Blake is the right call. But that doesn't mean I have to approve of Blake's lack of commitment around the ground and stupid decision making, and it doesn't mean he'll be favoured forever. I reckon by halfway through 2010, our ruck duo will be Ottens and Mumford.

Agree with you there - Blake isnt signed up either as yet according to media, so may be trade bait at end of this year. But for now, he is defnitely the best option as we were getting beaten badly in clearances with Mumford, who seemed to run out of puff towards the end of the year.

 

[Fuzzyash]

Need to settle the Blake argument with two facts:

1. Blake is hopeless
2. Blake is our best option as 2nd ruck right now

Arguing for 2 does not mean you do not agree with 1, and vice versa.

 

[True Blue Cat]

Need to settle the Blake argument with two facts:

1. Blake is hopeless
2. Blake is our best option as 2nd ruck right now

Arguing for 2 does not mean you do not agree with 1, and vice versa.

People see that but then see

1. Mumford is good in contests and around the ground
2. Mumford isn't our best option as 2nd ruck right now

Makes it difficult for some people to see that they are both 50% of a complete ruckman but that Blake gets chosen over Mumford.

However we need a ruckman not a player with Otto playing forward more and doing less ruck work.

I think you'll find the "Blake haters" only got that way because they kept expecting to see his attitude and around the ground contributions improve, and have been consistently disappointed.

After his run in the Vfl Blake came back to Afl level in the swans game and had improved a hell of a lot in my opinion. However the following week he had gone backwards and was back to the old Blakey. I am guessing once he realized he was going to have a place back at Afl level anyways he gave up on the effort. It does disappoint me that he came back with early signs of actually being able to turn into an at least partially mobile ruckman but then has gone backwards.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Something about the way Geelong played on saturday.... i'm not sure. I reakon they have something up their sleeve. To dominate the first and third like they did. Looked like 2007. Then just let the dogs back in. I reakon they are hiding something. Not giving something away. F**ked if i know what it is though.

 

[JUBJUB]

Something about the way Geelong played on saturday.... i'm not sure. I reakon they have something up their sleeve.

but they didn't have any sleeves on the weekend

 

[vealesy]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I know its flavour of the month to say Mumford is better than Blake, etc, but if people cant see what Blake has given us since he came back then i am lost for words. Its no coincidence that we have started winning the clearances since he came back, and they are absolutely vital in todays game. As for around the ground, Mumford was good at battling on the ground yes, but other than that, he was having just as minimal impact as Blake does, apart from 1 or 2 goals for the season.

Yes I agree, but thats only applicable when Ottens is out.

Hes back baby, Mr September.

 

[True Blue Cat]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I know its flavour of the month to say Mumford is better than Blake, etc, but if people cant see what Blake has given us since he came back then i am lost for words. Its no coincidence that we have started winning the clearances since he came back, and they are absolutely vital in todays game. As for around the ground, Mumford was good at battling on the ground yes, but other than that, he was having just as minimal impact as Blake does, apart from 1 or 2 goals for the season.

I disagree. It is a coincidence that our clearances went back up when he came back. They dropped because our defenders were gone not because Blake was gone. Those returns just happened to coincide. He had pretty much nothing to do with those returning to normal.

However i do agree that we need Blake over Mumford at this current time as we need a ruckman not another player.

Well when you say Blake has improved since he came back into the Afl i am on the fence. His first game back (against the swans) i thought was the best game i had ever seen him play. His decision making had improved slighly he went after the ball a few times i believe and he impressed me. Sadly this was shortlived.

The week after he was started to go backwards (still better than before his vfl break) but not as good as the Sydney game. In the Fremantle game i believe he did ok and was still a little above his normal when it came to decision making when he had the ball. However he has not kept his standards up. He has stopped going after the ball. He has reverted to the old Blakey.

He has shown he has the ability to improve but once he knew he had his spot back he forgot about it.

 

[SJ]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I disagree. It is a coincidence that our clearances went back up when he came back. They dropped because our defenders were gone not because Blake was gone. Those returns just happened to coincide. He had pretty much nothing to do with those returning to normal.

However i do agree that we need Blake over Mumford at this current time as we need a ruckman not another player.

Well when you say Blake has improved since he came back into the Afl i am on the fence. His first game back (against the swans) i thought was the best game i had ever seen him play. His decision making had improved slighly he went after the ball a few times i believe and he impressed me. Sadly this was shortlived.

The week after he was started to go backwards (still better than before his vfl break) but not as good as the Sydney game. In the Fremantle game i believe he did ok and was still a little above his normal when it came to decision making when he had the ball. However he has not kept his standards up. He has stopped going after the ball. He has reverted to the old Blakey.

He has shown he has the ability to improve but once he knew he had his spot back he forgot about it.

Why on earth do you think Geelong's number of clearances would fall because defenders were missing? What evidence do you have to back up your claim that this trend is a mere coincidence?

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I disagree. It is a coincidence that our clearances went back up when he came back. They dropped because our defenders were gone not because Blake was gone. Those returns just happened to coincide. He had pretty much nothing to do with those returning to normal.

Why on earth do you think Geelong's number of clearances would fall because defenders were missing? What evidence do you have to back up your claim that this trend is a mere coincidence?

I am curious too - how do clearances fall when defenders were gone? Forgive me if i am wrong, but we still had the likes of Ablett, Selwood, Bartel, Long, Corey, etc at each clearance - the same onballers that we do now.

 

[barmy44]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

Why on earth do you think Geelong's number of clearances would fall because defenders were missing? What evidence do you have to back up your claim that this trend is a mere coincidence?

what TBC was trying to say, im assuming, is that the missing defenders meant bartel, corey and sometimes ablett were forced to play deeper in defence, thus taking important clearance players out of our midfield. so the missing defenders eventually lead to dropping clearance numbers. the return of our solid defensive unit meant the clearance players were now back where the clearances happen.

i think there is some merit here, to the coincidence of higher clearance numbers and blake returning, but also believe that blake has had an impact on them also. onbviously our midfield is stronger with our prime midfielders there, that makes perfect sense. but blake does have an impact too, IMO. im very torn on the blake/mumford debate, and im glad im not a selector.

im leaning towards blake. i like the way he taps. im going to go with S thinks hes daicos J here, and say its more than just coincidence.

 

[CF]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

I disagree. It is a coincidence that our clearances went back up when he came back. They dropped because our defenders were gone not because Blake was gone. Those returns just happened to coincide. He had pretty much nothing to do with those returning to normal.

How do you work that one out? I have read some bizarre things on BF but this one......

Barmy we still have midfielders at the center bounces though, they aren't playing deep then.

Statistically we are marginally better at CB clearances since Blake has returned. Except the one game against Freo where they creamed us because of Sandilands.

Round 17 10 CB hitouts with 12 CB clearances
Round 18 13 CB Hitouts with 11 CB clearances
Round 19 15 CB hitouts with 12 CB clearances

Blake returns

Round 20 17 CB hitouts with 15 CB Clearances
Round 22 6 CB HO's with 9 CB Clearances (against Sandilands)
Q2 14 CB HO's with 16 CB Clearances

 

[maximus steel]

Re: 2nd Qualifying Finals Post match Thread

i think wojak played his best game for the year. 7 inside 50's. Top stuff.

got plenty of the ball but didnt use it well, big fan of woja and the run he gives us but his delivery is one of the reasons why he'll be considered for rooke/johnson, still reckon stokes will be the unlucky and undeserving one but doc. larkins reckons rookes no certainty to return in prelim.