Preview AFL NAB Challenge match 1 - Geelong v Collingwood, Simonds Stadium, 7:10PM Wednesday 12 February

[The rabbi]

The 2014 Season kicks off with the first match of the NAB Challenge between Geelong and Collingwood. The first game takes place on Wednesday February 12th at 7:10 pm and the venue is Simonds Stadium (Kardinia Park, Geelong).

How do you see the line up given the players that are available and the desire of the MC to get a good look at the youth of the list in a competitive match?

*I do not know if the is an extended bench for this competition.

http://www.afl.com.au/fixture/nab-challenge

 

[Beanstalk]

Here's what I'd like to see for the first game... positions relevant.

FB: Thurlow Walker Kolodjashnij
HB: T.Hunt Taylor Blicavs
C: Duncan Caddy Cowan
HF: Christensen Vardy McCarthy
FF: Kersten Hawkins Motlop
R: Simpson Horlin-Smith Guthrie
I/C: Stringer McIntosh Murdoch Schroder (If there's an extended bench... Sheringham, Brown, Smedts, Burbury)

Josh Walker at full back. There's only two spots for genuine tall forwards, and Walker hasn't earned either of them. Time to cut his losses and learn a position where we really need somebody.

Blicavs at half back. Somewhat wasted as a ruckman - I really like him as a player, however. I believe if he is to 'make it', it'll be as a hybrid attacking winger/half back flanker. Andrew Mackie 2.0

Caddy in the guts. The new Bartel. This kid is going to be a star - I hope to see him in the middle of the ground/on the ball for 100% of his gametime.

Josh Cowan on a wing - I really hope this kid can make it. Hoping for a Motlop/Guthrie style breakout season from him.

Vardy at CHF - it's no secret I want him as a permanent forward (With either Simpson + McIntosh or Simpson going it alone in the ruck.) Keep him away from the centre bounce.

Lincoln McCarthy - Chris Scott says we should be excited. No brainer to throw him straight in now that he's fit.

Shane Kersten in a pocket - Reminds me of Menzel. I really hope two tall forwards + Kersten can work - which is why I think it's very important to trial this during the NAB Challenge.

Horlin-Smith and Guthrie on the ball. I'd love to see one or both of these two flourish as genuine ball winning mids. Questions about the hyphen's speed - and some think Guthrie would be better used down back - but this is where I'd like to see them both.

Sheringham... "At least DO SOMETHING! DO! Don't think, don't hope, do! At least you can come off and say 'I did this, I shepherded, I played on. At least I did something.'"

 

[vinum coupe]

Gysenn

Each to their own.

I would not play Walker back. I'm not sure if Hawkins needs to play, but he does need to tone down.
It would be interesting to see Kolod, but I'd leave him out.

Clubs have said they like 4 practice games. This year we get 2. Not really the time to experiment too much.

They need to get some form, and get the game plan going.
I'd play Bartel, SJ, Mackie, and Kelly in game one.

I'd play Kersten, GHS, Thurlow, Brown, Cowan (as you have listed) as the 'experiments'

The club started back a couple of weeks late, and the preseason starts a couple of weeks early.
We're really pushing shit up hill to get our game up and running in time for round 1.

That's why I wouldn't play a complete youth team.

 

[Beanstalk]

Gysenn

Each to their own.

I would not play Walker back. I'm not sure if Hawkins needs to play, but he does need to tone down.
It would be interesting to see Kolod, but I'd leave him out.

Clubs have said they like 4 practice games. This year we get 2. Not really the time to experiment too much.

They need to get some form, and get the game plan going.
I'd play Bartel, SJ, Mackie, and Kelly in game one.

I'd play Kersten, GHS, Thurlow, Brown, Cowan (as you have listed) as the 'experiments'

The club started back a couple of weeks late, and the preseason starts a couple of weeks early.
We're really pushing shit up hill to get our game up and running in time for round 1.

That's why I wouldn't play a complete youth team.

Maybe a little too experimental - but we have three - one against north Melbourne as well. That would be my 'close to best 22' game.

 

[Turbocat]

Probably depends om how many of the regulars we want to play. Id like to see what a few of the young guys have to offer but I doubt it will be as I've selected ...anyway

FB: Kelly Toohey Bews
HB: Guthrie Taylor Brown
C: Duncan Caddy Cowan
HF: Christensen Vardy Walker
FF: Burbs Hawkins McCarthy
R: Hmac Horlin-Smith Smedts
I/C: Stringer Murdoch Schroder Kersten

 

[JUBJUB]

Will Kersten be fit for the NAB ?
I'm sure Scott said this week he'll be right come Rd 1,but it sounded like he was saying he'll just make it back from recovery.

 

[The rabbi]

Will Kersten be fit for the NAB ?
I'm sure Scott said this week he'll be right come Rd 1,but it sounded like he was saying he'll just make it back from recovery.

I doubt that he will be available after his surgery.

 

[Bobby_]

Probably depends om how many of the regulars we want to play. Id like to see what a few of the young guys have to offer but I doubt it will be as I've selected ...anyway

FB: Kelly Toohey Bews
HB: Guthrie Taylor Brown
C: Duncan Caddy Cowan
HF: Christensen Vardy Walker
FF: Burbs Hawkins McCarthy
R: Hmac Horlin-Smith Smedts
I/C: Stringer Murdoch Schroder Kersten

I'd like to see this line-up

FB: Poodle Toohey Bews
HB: Blicavs Taylor Brown
C: Schroder Caddy Cowan
HF: Christensen Vardy Varcoe
FF: Burbs Kersten McCarthy
R: Simpson Horlin-Smith Guthrie
I/C: Rivers, Murdoch, McIntosh, Walker

small zippy forward line but Vardy the focal point with Kersten the lead-up bull right infront of him.

 

[Beanstalk]

I'd like to see this line-up

FB: Poodle Toohey Bews
HB: Blicavs Taylor Brown
C: Schroder Caddy Cowan
HF: Christensen Vardy Varcoe
FF: Burbs Kersten McCarthy
R: Simpson Horlin-Smith Guthrie
I/C: Rivers, Murdoch, McIntosh, Walker

small zippy forward line but Vardy the focal point with Kersten the lead-up bull right infront of him.

Great minds, Bobby.

 

[BlitzenTrapper]

I doubt that he will be available after his surgery.

Didn't Thurlow have a very similar/pretty much the same surgery as Kersten? I could be completely wrong but I thought that was the case.

 

[The rabbi]

Didn't Thurlow have a very similar/pretty much the same surgery as Kersten? I could be completely wrong but I thought that was the case.

GEELONG is confident that highly-rated youngsters Jackson Thurlow and Shane Kersten will be fit to play some part in the NAB Challenge, although both are currently on modified training programs.
Thurlow had off-season hip surgery, while Kersten had a clean-up on his knee.
"Thurlow is doing a little bit of work," assistant coach Blake Caracella said.
"And Kersten is doing part of the training. He's not doing all of it, but he's back kicking the ball and moving around and so forth."

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-22/cats-confident-on-injured-pair

 

[BlitzenTrapper]

FB: Thurlow, Guthrie, Rivers
HB: T.Hunt, Blicavs, Taylor
C: Duncan, Christensen, Caddy
HF: Murdoch, Vardy, Bartel
FF: Kersten, Hawkins, Motlop
R: Macintosh, Horlin-Smith, Smedts
I/C: Murdoch, Varcoe, Simpson, Walker

I have included both H-Mac and Simpson, as Chris Scott has said they pretty much guarantee they will play H-Mac Round 1. And they obviously want to ease some match fitness back into Simpson, so maybe they will rotate the two throughout the game.

 

[BlitzenTrapper]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-22/cats-confident-on-injured-pair

Oops. Not sure where the hell I got the surgery similarities between them?

 

[The rabbi]

Oops. Not sure where the hell I got the surgery similarities between them?

I think that both Bundy and Thurlow have had hip work.

 

[you pick one]

This is harder than picking lotto but here goes.
FB: Thurlow Rivers Bews
HB:Guthrie Toohey Varcoe
C:Blicavs Caddy Cowan
HF:Christensen Vardy Smedts
FF:Motlop McIntosh Murdoch
R:Simpson Duncan GHS
I/C:Walker McCarthy Bourke Hunt.
I'm assuming Kersten won't be ready for this game.

 

[dazbroncos]

Will Kersten be fit for the NAB ?
I'm sure Scott said this week he'll be right come Rd 1,but it sounded like he was saying he'll just make it back from recovery.

I thought I heard the same thing. CS said he hurt it in the VFL GF and is working his way back, but not there yet….

Go Catters

 

[vinum coupe]

Great minds, Bobby.

and fools never differ

 

[you pick one]

No good shutting the gate after the milks bolted.

 

[speedybundy]

Mcintosh must play, plain and simple. Didn't play at football at all last year needs as much game time as possible before the season starts.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Other than the guys just drafted in november, basically everyone who is fit on the whole list will play at least one game and they'll rotate the squad so not much point trying to pick a team.

Would say some of the over 30's like Boris will be eased into it with minimal minutes, but basically everyone else will get a good chance to show their stuff.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

The way i see it, MC will want a squad of about 30-32 players to pick the round 1 team from and with 3 practice games available i'd say they would want those players to have played at least 2 out of the 3 games to be properly prepared for round 1. Going by this don't be surprised if the team to play the Pies is a little bit more experienced than what might be expected. Also, our second game is in Alice Springs so they might decide to leave some of our experienced players home for that trip and take up a younger squad so that the older guys can avoid the travel and playing in the extreme heat.

Then for our third match against North i'd expect that they would play as close to our best team as possible to try to get things right for round 1.

**** I can't wait!

 

[El Dubya]

Mcintosh must play, plain and simple. Didn't play at football at all last year needs as much game time as possible before the season starts.

Same could be said for Simpson.

 

[speedybundy]

Same could be said for Simpson.

Difference with Simpson is he played well at AFL level last year, Mcintosh did nothing at any level

 

[El Dubya]

Difference with Simpson is he played well at AFL level last year, Mcintosh did nothing at any level

Well if we've got the extended bench I see no problem in playing them both together. I see Simpson as more valuable long term, and I'd be relatively content to cut our losses with HMac unless he or Daws prove capable of playing second ruck and another position around the ground.

 

[you pick one]

Well if we've got the extended bench I see no problem in playing them both together. I see Simpson as more valuable long term, and I'd be relatively content to cut our losses with HMac unless he or Daws prove capable of playing second ruck and another position around the ground.

There was a reason we give this bloke a 3 year contract.
The mark from the kick in Taylor and Lonergan never got near it.