Preview AFL Round 15 - Geelong v Hawthorn, MCG, 7:40PM Saturday 6 July

[WWSD]

I reckon the ruck dual between Bailey versus Simpson will be very interesting. Two big 206cm ruckman who have battled so much injuries throughout their careers. With Bailey he has had 3 knee reconstructions and has played just the 34 games in 8 seasons of footy, while Cats big man Simpson has played just the 7 games in 6 years of footy after having multiple back operations, but now he is back and last week against Fremantle was the best game he has played.

With rain forcast for Saturday nights game, I believe that this dual will be crucial and could perhaps decide who has the advantage in the midfield. It's great to see young Dawson Simpson back in the Cats side.

 

[candiehappy]

I'm worried about Roughhead. He's hit form and I think can be a real match winner. I assume Harry will play on him, and will have to play tight. And that might well restrict Harry's ability to roam around the ground.

 

[muttonchops]

Absolutely disgusted that I have to pay 15 bucks for a reserved seat because it may be a sell out. I am more than happy to rock up and sit wherever on the night because we all know there are always spare seats. You lay out the coin for a membership for 11 home games and that's what it should mean. Blatant rip off. It pissed me off for the essendon game and now it's happening again. I seriously reckon they just do it to raise extra money that they may not normally get but it really is just ripping off members on a double dip.

 

[Turbocat]

I'm worried about Roughhead. He's hit form and I think can be a real match winner. I assume Harry will play on him, and will have to play tight. And that might well restrict Harry's ability to roam around the ground.

Roughead has always been dangerous , quite often its only his conversion that has prevented the Hawks winning.

Hawthorn really do remind me of us in the 90's. The best way to stop their forwards is to slow or stop supply. If Franklin or Roughead or Riolli etc are given enough rope , they will hang us.

I reckon the ruck dual between Bailey versus Simpson will be very interesting. Two big 206cm ruckman who have battled so much injuries throughout their careers. With Bailey he has had 3 knee reconstructions and has played just the 34 games in 8 seasons of footy, while Cats big man Simpson has played just the 7 games in 6 years of footy after having multiple back operations, but now he is back and last week against Fremantle was the best game he has played.

With rain forcast for Saturday nights game, I believe that this dual will be crucial and could perhaps decide who has the advantage in the midfield. It's great to see young Dawson Simpson back in the Cats side.

Yes the battle of banged up bodies will be be enlightening. But it the players under neither that will determine the result. Both sides are adept at reading and gaining possession from the other rucks. If both rucks are 50/50 and both sides trust theirs to win , it really could be a score feast

 

[candiehappy]

it's wednesday and I've got loose bowels

 

[Stig_90]

Haven't you read 'The Mission'? Scott Gullan doesn't believe in proof reading.

FWIW, that's probably not Gullan's mistake. Sub editors usually do the headlines.

 

[CatAttack84]

FWIW, that's probably not Gullan's mistake. Sub editors usually do the headlines.

If I've put my name to something, I'd want to make sure it's all good. Journos should do the same.
The embarrassing thing is that it's been there since last night, and been mentioned on twitter to his account. So what do they do all day? Surely not hide in trash cans like Hutchy?

 

[Stig_90]

Maybe it's the absence of Chappy, but I'm not that confident going into this game. I think we'll have another close game and sooner or later Hawthorn are going to be the ones with their noses in front at the end.

 

[Stig_90]

If I've put my name to something, I'd want to make sure it's all good. Journos should do the same.
The embarrassing thing is that it's been there since last night, and been mentioned on twitter to his account. So what do they do all day? Surely not hide in trash cans like Hutchy?

Yeah you would think he would ring up whoever did the headline and get them to change it ASAP. Pretty glaring mistake.

 

[JUBJUB]

it's wednesday and I've got loose bowels

you need one of these

 

[candiehappy]

you need one of these

Bosk size !

 

[BedlamHawk]

Hawks by 82. Buddy to kick 8.12

 

[barmy44]

Hawks by 82. Buddy to kick 8.12

cool, thanks for the heads up

 

[Jmac2225]

Hawks by 82. Buddy to kick 8.12

Hooks too big not gonna bite.

 

[BedlamHawk]

Hooks too big not gonna bite.

Would it help if I predict that Cyril will have 43 possessions and Selwood will get knocked out in the first minute after trying to headbutt Hodge's knee?

 

[cats_09]

Hawks by 82. Buddy to kick 8.12

Sounds good, but surely if the Hawks are getting the ball into their fwd line that much you would be better off directing more of the play through Roughead & Gunston as that way you won't waste the good work of your defenders & midfield and will most likely win by 120/130+

 

[Catdog]

Would it help if I predict that Cyril will have 43 possessions and Selwood will get knocked out in the first minute after trying to headbutt Hodge's knee?

Love your avatar is that a selfie???

 

[BedlamHawk]

Sounds good, but surely if the Hawks are getting the ball into their fwd line that much you would be better off directing more of the play through Roughead & Gunston as that way you won't waste the good work of your defenders & midfield and will most likely win by 120/130+

All apart of the plan. All of our 78 entries on the weekend will be directed to Buddy. A few midfielders/small forwards will shark a few here in there but Buddy will generate the majority of the score.
On Grand Final day though the gameplan will change. Buddy will play on the half forward flank attracting all 6 of geelong's defenders allowing the other 5 hawks forwards to have no opponents inside the forward 50. The team will kick 36 goals and go on to win by 172. Gunston, Roughead, Breust and Rioli to kick 8 each.

 

[cats_09]

All apart of the plan. All of our 78 entries on the weekend will be directed to Buddy. A few midfielders/small forwards will shark a few here in there but Buddy will generate the majority of the score.
On Grand Final day though the gameplan will change. Buddy will play on the half forward flank attracting all 6 of geelong's defenders allowing the other 5 hawks forwards to have no opponents inside the forward 50. The team will kick 36 goals and go on to win by 172. Gunston, Roughead, Breust and Rioli to kick 8 each.

Got it now - at least you rate us enough to get to the grand final

 

[Baudolino]

Yay. More inane, incomprehensibly dull pre-match banter. Can never have too much of that.

 

[AM]

Why not? He's been good but he's not invincible. Fact remains whilst he is solid and reliable he's not a game changer whilst IMO Vardy and West have the potential to be when spending time up forward and stretching the Hawks defence. I could see either one of those blokes kicking 2-3 goals (more likely Vards) which is something I can't see Blitz doing.

As for the notion of keeping Blitz as a HF/Winger well which person currently in those positions gets dropped? Murder/Caddy and Stringer are the most likely candidates I guess. I guess it could be done but I would be wary of it.

Wouldn't mind giving him a run in the VFL just to try and learn a 2nd position rather than trying to learn on the fly against the strongest opposition in the land.

Wasn't opposed to it. Just trying to tease out who the poster would drop. Or where he'd play Blitz if not in the ruck.

Blitz has been a fantastic story. However his ruck work is ordinary. And I don't reckon his skills are up to playing on the wing (at this stage)as some suggest. That's why I'd be all for Vards replacing him as his tap work is better and so is his contested marking. And disposal for that matter. Also Vards is more value in the forward half than West.

My ruck dream team would be HMac and Vards. Suspect that even if Hamish makes it on the park this year his interrupted preparation will make it extremely unlikely he'll be sufficiently match fit to carry the number one ruck responsibility though.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Add In: Smedts
Out: Stringer

Need some X factor forward sans SJ

I think, fortunately, that it's unlikely the MC will, against a team like Hawthorn, replace an in and under 4-quarter goer like Stringer with a hit-and-miss F50 player like Smedts, especially since (a) we already have one in Murdoch, (b) Stringer's game last week was better than any Smedts has played this season, and (c) Smedts' 2nds performances have been well short of "banging the door down".

 

[BotsMaster]

it's wednesday and I've got loose bowels

Best bit is letting it all out.

 

[Cattery]

My personal two least favourite teams, geez knocking them off back to back would be something.

Can't recall a more dominant display then that which the Cats put on last week, forty one points flattered the dockers as we were a ten to fifteen goal better side on the night; bring that form/intensity this week and we could be looking at eleven straight.

West and Smedts in for Bilcavs and Caddy for mine.

 

[fpm84]

West and Smedts in for Bilcavs and Caddy for mine.

Caddy did enough IMO.

West and Smedts in for Blicavs and Murdoch. Murder had an impact as a sub, coming on when the game was all but over, but Smedts has had some pretty important possessions in our last two games v Hawthorn. He's a dangerous target and they will need to pay him respect.