Preview AFL Round 19-Geelong Cats vs Sydney Swans, Saturday 8th August 7.20pm, Simonds Stadium

[GFrost]

So next time Chris Scott has a quarter time pep talk with Billie saying "Don't worry about your bad start, just make sure you put it behind you and contribute for the rest of the game" Billie replies under his breath: "You say that but I'll still be dropped anyway..."

Still no Rivers.... not expecting him back at least until Kolo has signed a contract

Predicted sub?

 

[JUBJUB]

Predicted sub?

KD

 

[db swannie]

So right!... only idiots express themselves and have an opinion.

Fascinating form of expression it is too, not to mention an in-depth opinion, on what nobody even knows anymore.

 

[JUBJUB]

I rewatched most of the second half this afternoon and Smedts actually did some nice things and was involved in some strong pages of play that lead to goals. His first quarter wasn't great, but he did turn things around after quarter time.

 

[cats_09]

He may well have done something, but really, anything would be better than the nothing he has done over the past how ever many years.

The context of the statement mentioned Gregson too, who would you choose, Gregson or Smedts?

Smedts - he showed some strong form in the VFL which lead to his senior recall and he deserved a better chance to transfer those performances from VFL to AFL level. Should never have been sub against GWS and instead been given 8 solid quarters of senior footy; better chance to adapt to the increased pace and intensity of the game rather than sitting on the bench for majority of the GWS game before being thrown into the starting 18 against the Lions - that is setting him up to fall on his face.

Also nothing wrong with Gregson having a rest last week and being in the VFL this week - over the season he is averaging 12.9 disposals but he has only bettered that mark once (with 13 disposals) in his last 5 games, and only kicked 2 goals in the same time period. Wouldn't have hurt for him to have 1 or 2 weeks in the VFL where he just gets his hands on the ball for and maybe kick a few goals.

 

[Lana]

I understand he's slow but so is Stokes. One just got 40 odd touches and has a 3yr contract to go with solid vfl form. The other will be lucky to be here in 2016...

Sadly I think that stokes would still beat him for pace in a 50 metre sprint.

 

[cats_09]

I'm underwhelmed by these changes

Smedts was very good after 1/4 time - unless he's sore this is a brilliant way to dent his confidence , not impressed
What does GHS have to do to get a call up?
Lang needs a rest so unless there's some last minute changes we've brought back in a veteran who was only serviceable last week and a 1st year who was rested and probably could have come back via the VFL and given Smedts/GHS/Jansen or Gore a chance
Who are the emergencies?

emergencies: GHS, Rivers & Simpson

so a real good way to dent Smedts confidence not even drop him to being an emergency.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Official changes:

IN: Stokes, Gregson
OUT: Johnson, Smedts

One change for Swans: Goodes in for Franklin.

Would have to almost be a career in the hoops for Billie done now you would think.
If the club prefers a 30+ player that wont contribute to our next flag to him the writing must be on the wall

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Sadly I think that stokes would still beat him for pace in a 50 metre sprint.

Possibly and he's not replacing a fast player, SJ isn't exactly quick either. SJ has been playing midfield and half forward. I'd back GHS over Stokesy to get a goal or two. For me it comes down to how long are they going to go before rewarding his good reserves form. Something has to give at some point. If they are concerned over his lack of pace, then why sign him to a 3yr deal?

 

[you pick one]

I understand he's slow but so is Stokes. One just got 40 odd touches and has a 3yr contract to go with solid vfl form. The other will be lucky to be here in 2016...

They're banking on 3 wet years.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

They're banking on 3 wet years.

is that why we don't have a ruck coach, spent all our money on a meteorologist instead

 

[FredLeDeux]

They're banking on 3 wet years.

They put him on the books so they can trade him to one of the Queensland Rainbelt Swamp teams?

 

[JUBJUB]

is that why we don't have a ruck coach, spent all our money on a meteorologist instead

Brad Ottens is ruck coach,unless he's gone

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Brad Ottens is ruck coach,unless he's gone

Goneski

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Love the changes.

Expecting Lang to be the sub.

Just as well the sub role is disappearing because we don't use it well.
Why have Nakia come on for a 1/4 on the HBF , pick up 4 meaningless touches ( couple of clangers and a couple of uncontested marks from backward kicks)
Whilst he doesn't deserve his spot this week at least he will start( presumably)
Dumb move if Lang is the sub - he's labouring big time and needs a rest not the pressure of coming on late and chasing it like a madman

 

[kanyewest]

Oh boy... really woeful selections being made by the match committee.

We have Smedts, who needs AFL game time and has played OK, being dropped. Meanwhile we have Cockatoo, who needs VFL playing time and hardly finds the ball, holding his position.

We have Horlin-Smith, who needs to be tested again in the AFL and deserves an elevation, playing seconds. Meanwhile we have Gregson, who has surprised this season but would benefit from playing in the VFL, being selected.

And I like Stokes, but he will not be at the club next year. Can we recognise this at some point and just make this week his farewell game? He's a little champ but time is called on everyone at some point. This 'brutal truth' that Chris Scott mentioned last week is irrelevant unless it's actually acted upon.

 

[Lana]

Possibly and he's not replacing a fast player, SJ isn't exactly quick either. SJ has been playing midfield and half forward. I'd back GHS over Stokesy to get a goal or two. For me it comes down to how long are they going to go before rewarding his good reserves form. Something has to give at some point. If they are concerned over his lack of pace, then why sign him to a 3yr deal?

IMO GHS doesn't fit the game plan we are trying to use for the moment, the issue for him is that while his inside game is up to scratch, his outside ability isn't. We don't have a shortage of players who can fill inside rotations, if we selected him he'd be playing half the game in position that doesn't suit him and would leave us vulnerable, it's brought on by his lack of pace which he can get away with as an inside mid but e can't on a wing or when resting forward. Stokes often plays an unusual role for us which allows him to "hide" his deficiency of pace but Horlin-Smith isn't quite savvy enough to do that role. Though Stokes is currently have trouble doing it with his current physical abilities which is why its probably going to be his last year at AFL level(if he does play on he'll find himself sending most of next year in the VFL)

 

[son of meto]

Staggered that GHS isn't in after 43 possessions and BOG last week.

Against Sydney we need hard contested ball winners.

 

[MotleyLemon]

Furious they dropped Smedts. Bloke needs game time at the top level. Was putrid last week but there's still upside there I think. He was getting to the right spots, just needed to execute a little/lot better. A VFL game or two for Gregson wouldn't have done him any harm, same for Lang who looks badly in need of a rest.

If that was to be Billie's last game for us, they've probably cost us about 10 slots in the draft with his trade value, though no doubt we'll let him go for pick 80 anyway, becasue we're such polite operators.

Very frustrating.

 

[afl genius]

GHS must be spewing. Kersten and Cockatoo very Lucky

 

[manboob]

I think this must come down to players doing what they are told. Guys like Kersten and **** appear to be doing not much, yet stay. People say Smedts and Hyphen are continually stiff - something's up. It's past tinfoil hats and carwashes IMO.

 

[Teriyakicat]

I understand he's slow but so is Stokes. One just got 40 odd touches and has a 3yr contract to go with solid vfl form. The other will be lucky to be here in 2016...

Stokes is nowhere near as treacle as GHS is...

 

[manboob]

Stokes is nowhere near as treacle as GHS is...

He's on the same shelf in the supermarket. And I think the used by date has passed too!

 

[STP18]

Would've liked to see GHS get a run, got to reward strong VFL performances.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Brad Ottens is ruck coach,unless he's gone

He was a victim of spending cuts in the footy department...
In: Scarlett
Out: Otto