Preview AFL 2nd Semi Final - Geelong v Fremantle, MCG, Friday 10 September 7:45PM

[Poetic Justice]

Harvey turns heat on Cats

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/harvey-turns-heat-on-cats/story-e6frf9jf-1225915288119

FREMANTLE coach Mark Harvey says all the pressure will be on Geelong at the MCG on Friday night, claiming his team has nothing to lose.

"We've got nothing to lose now,'' Harvey said.

"They're expected to play in a prelim final, if not a Grand Final.

"So all the pressure's in their backyard and we'll see what they've got and how far they go.''

I hate to sound arrogant but don't opposition coaches learn not to make these comments?

 

[OldStyle2007]

Stokes has been good this year. I don't know what your criticisms of him really are??? He has kicked big goals, provides great crumbing and generally has the full support of those around him. He deserves his spot.

In my opinion, if Rooke has showed in the last month that he is training at 100%, then maybe, just maybe he is worth the punt. Purely because of the grunt he adds...we would play him in the vital defensive forward position (on Harry O'brien or Sam Fisher) - he needn't be a big possession winner to make a large impact. I'd back bombers call on this, but doubt he would do it.

And in regards to Chappy - yep, would like to see him more in the forward line too? Not sure why we playing him more in the midfield when he clearly adds so much potency to our forward line and we still have a plethora of good mids'.

Criticisms of Stokes are that he doesn't tackle, doesn't create forward pressure, doesn't set up goals, and despite what you say I don't think he is a very good crumber at all. The goals he does get are generally cheapy's from the goal square

Stokes has 29 tackles from 16 games, 23 goals 10 bhds, 16 goal assist, 22 1%, and 54 inside 50s

Varcoe has 74 tackles from 18 games, 28 goals 11 bhds, 27 goal assist, 28 1% and 63 inside 50s

Byrnes, 62 tackles, 21 games, 32 goals 19 bhds, 22 goal assist, 13 1%, and 72 inside 50s

Can't be stuffed calculating exact averages to counter for different games played but it's clear that Stokes provides least forward pressure, kicks least goals and sets up the least goals out of those 3 small forwards

So I can't believe there's even a question as to which one of those 3 should go out because he is the worst performaning small forward stats wise

 

[donbooger]

As a supporter right now this is the least amount of pressure ive felt in september for 4 years, we have premierships behind us and are up against 2 other geniuinely deserving teams. The players should feel similar.

Harvey is barking up the wrong tree this year.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

Harvey turns heat on Cats

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/harvey-turns-heat-on-cats/story-e6frf9jf-1225915288119



I hate to sound arrogant but don't opposition coaches learn not to make these comments?

Under pressure in a final again? Well, gee we don't react well to that.

Nope...

 

[Hybrid7]

Harvey turns heat on Cats

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/harvey-turns-heat-on-cats/story-e6frf9jf-1225915288119



I hate to sound arrogant but don't opposition coaches learn not to make these comments?

If you hear no comment from Bomber regarding what Harvey said before friday night, Fremantle should be very very afraid....

Personally I was disapointed that Bomber was making comment about Baker last week - Geelong seem to have better fortunes when nothing comes from the cats camp!!

...and they better win the next 3 in a row, I just snagged 4 grand final tickets in a work comp

 

[winty]

Harvey turns heat on Cats

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/harvey-turns-heat-on-cats/story-e6frf9jf-1225915288119



I hate to sound arrogant but don't opposition coaches learn not to make these comments?

Sounds remarkably similar to what Malthouse said before last year's prelim if you ask me.

 

[Poetic Justice]

Agreed it sounds like Malthouse etc. But come on, why do you ever say you've got nothing to lose? You play footy for premierships. You've got a potential premiership to lose you dumb idiot.

 

[KevinCat07]

Us by 75 points.

 

[SJ]

Agreed it sounds like Malthouse etc. But come on, why do you ever say you've got nothing to lose? You play footy for premierships. You've got a potential premiership to lose you dumb idiot.

I remember in the lead up to the 2002 Wimbledon final, David Nalbandian said he had "nothing to lose" against Lleyton Hewitt.

Now whether he believed this or merely stated it is another matter, but I remember one of the commentators saying at the time "of course he has something to lose, he has the Wimbledon final to lose, he may never get another shot". Eight years later and Nalbandian has never made another grand slam final.

 

[Boppo]

We will win this.

Wet
Windy
MCG
Freo kids in front of 70,000
The drilling our boys have copped from Bomber
The return of Pods, giving Moons the 2nd defender


My tip, Cats by 50. Jimmy best on in the wet

All of these factors will contribute to simultaneous rise of the Dockers as a legitimate act and the demise of one of the great squads in footy history.

 

[Claude Balls]

Criticisms of Stokes are that he doesn't tackle, doesn't create forward pressure, doesn't set up goals...

I'm with you re Stokes. Hasn't been the same player in my eyes since his small bout of OP in 2008. In '06 and '07 he appeared significantly faster and more energetic and didn't go to ground as much or get spoilt as easily in marking contests.

Still a useful contributor, but behind Varcoe (obviously) and Byrnes (slightly).

 

[OldStyle2007]

I'm with you re Stokes. Hasn't been the same player in my eyes since his small bout of OP in 2008. In '06 and '07 he appeared significantly faster and more energetic and didn't go to ground as much or get spoilt as easily in marking contests.

Still a useful contributor, but behind Varcoe (obviously) and Byrnes (slightly).

Yep, I think we should have taken West Coast's offer for a round 1 pick last year.... Oh well

Look he's still good but I think the telling stat is the inside 50's. He has the least in total and on average and it shows you that he is staying home in the F50 a lot and probably doesn't have the ability to run as much as he used to.

And a stay at home forward pocket who doesn't kick a lot of goals or tackle is a massive luxury in this day and age

 

[Hybrid7]

All of these factors will contribute to simultaneous rise of the Dockers as a legitimate act and the demise of one of the great squads in footy history.

I think you and the 3 other Fremantle cheer squad members that turn up friday night will be very disappointed.

Now back to your own board pepe'

 

[bingle]

Harvey turns heat on Cats

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/harvey-turns-heat-on-cats/story-e6frf9jf-1225915288119



I hate to sound arrogant but don't opposition coaches learn not to make these comments?

These comments about "We've got nothing to lose" really anger me actually.
of course you have something to lose Harvey you silly goose!!!!
How about a semi final, would've thought that was pretty important.

And your right, i would've thought a senior coach would've learnt be now to not make comments like this. Thompson would be best served not even acknowledging his former team mate on this occasion

 

[bingle]

I remember in the lead up to the 2002 Wimbledon final, David Nalbandian said he had "nothing to lose" against Lleyton Hewitt.

Now whether he believed this or merely stated it is another matter, but I remember one of the commentators saying at the time "of course he has something to lose, he has the Wimbledon final to lose, he may never get another shot". Eight years later and Nalbandian has never made another grand slam final.

amen

 

[bingle]

Agreed it sounds like Malthouse etc. But come on, why do you ever say you've got nothing to lose? You play footy for premierships. You've got a potential premiership to lose you dumb idiot.

^^ this too. Lucky i checked this thread. I was about to start a new one when i read the article. I literally LOLed

 

[bulletproof]

Fremantle are not that young of a team anyway, they have 6-7 very experienced guys who are terribly influential and of their young crop none will be able to replace the massive influence of Sandilands and Pav. I'd say next year they will be a bit stronger but they not on the verge of a golden era. They'll give us a game, if Pavlich works up a head of steam they could really give us a fright.

 

[Sando]

Rooke......any chance? silly chance?

if he's going to play this year it would have to be this game

 

[bingle]

Rooke......any chance? silly chance?

if he's going to play this year it would have to be this game

Was funny to hear the coach not rule him out for a return actually. I would've thought that one was done and dusted!

Would love to see him back

 

[Hybrid7]

Yeah I heard bomber say that too. You would think if he was going to bring him back it would be this week - you definately wouldnt bring an un-tested player back if we progress to collingwood or the GF?!

 

[Sando]

Was funny to hear the coach not rule him out for a return actually. I would've thought that one was done and dusted!

Would love to see him back

Out Stokes, Blake
in Rooke, Pods

Sit Rooke in the forward pocket and tell him to snap a couple of Freo youngsters in half

 

[bingle]

Out Stokes, Blake
in Rooke, Pods

Sit Rooke in the forward pocket and tell him to snap a couple of Freo youngsters in half

the thought of that just gave me chills. Could've used him in the first half last week. Seeing him interviewed at half time on the scoreboard was pretty painful. We needed him and his 70's porno mo out there

 

[goyoucatters]

In regards to this week's semi, well that's a question that can't be answered, we'll know on thurs whether I'm right or wrong.

In regards to the general trend, no it's absolutely true Bomber has 'favourites' who get preferential (read non merit) treatment at selection, 08 GF should remind you of this among many other examples of selections and non selections. Even the way Bomber has spent the last 2 months talking about 'we'll give Max every chance because he's our spiritual leader and because of the quality of person that he is'. Now I have nothing against Max, in fact I absolutely love Max, and hate the fact that he's out injured, but once you hear a coach talking in those terms, it should be a clue to you that that player (if they can get cleared by the medical staff) will be treated differently at selection than another player on the list would if they were coming back from the same injury. It's just a fact. I will concede you one point-I should not be so quick to tar the whole MC with the same brush, because they don't talk about their philosophy in public enough for me to know whether they play favourites or not, but I absolutely know that Bomber plays favourites, tis' just a fact mate.

In regards to thursday, I just hope for a JPOD, and in general, the best possible team we can field. Time will tell if that's what we get.

Threads like this one demonstrate that there is much conjecture about a few of the final places in 'the best possible team we can field'. However, I don't see how there's any conjecture that Pods is one of the players who's definitely in that 'best possible' line-up at the moment.

He will be named on Thursday; he will show his worth on Friday.

GO PODS!!!

 

[Hybrid7]

He is definately in our best 22. He has show a lot more consistency this season compared to Hawkins and Mooney.
And he has started to show that big games arent really a factor.

He WILL be named on thursday and run out on the park the following night.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Threads like this one demonstrate that there is much conjecture about a few of the final places in 'the best possible team we can field'. However, I don't see how there's any conjecture that Pods is one of the players who's definitely in that 'best possible' line-up at the moment.

He will be named on Thursday; he will show his worth on Friday.

GO PODS!!!

Absolute automatic selection.......can you imagine the difference he would have made in the last quarter with 17 inside 50's to feast on? Also can't imagine him doing what Hawkins did in the 3rd.....Pods is our most composed Forward by a mile.