Preview AFL Round 19 - North Melbourne v Geelong, Etihad Stadium, 7:40PM Saturday 2 August

[steady2]

...They all could be dangerous , but if we are the side that CScott says we are , then they should be worrying about us , not us about them.

After we thrash the Roos and the Dockers I'll go with that.

 

[steady2]

Just on form,...Know it's not gonna happen, but one of our tall backs has to go, Hartman didn't touch it last week, Murdoch is really out of form, Caddy isn't doing that much and I just think we look better with the Daws/Blitz combo.

Caddy has been injured for much of the season and only just got back, what has he had - 3 games? I thought against GWS he was much better and he should and will be retained as he has so much potential, another good game and some improvement and he might reach his pre-season form. I agree with the comment that Simpson with Blitz looks good, unfortunately for Daws HMac does so much more running, kicking, marking, handpassing and kicking goals that in spite of Daws centre bounce strength HMac is much more valuable to us at the moment.

 

[CatTricks]

Been thinking about our clearance dilemma.
Do you think we are foxing and protecting blokes until finals when we will suddenly come out and smash sides around the ball or am I dreaming/hoping?

 

[Partridge]

Caddy has been injured for much of the season and only just got back, what has he had - 3 games? I thought against GWS he was much better and he should and will be retained as he has so much potential, another good game and some improvement and he might reach his pre-season form.

He's had 5 games back. First 2 as sub and 3 full games (I think, correct me if I'm wrong).

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

Been thinking about our clearance dilemma.
Do you think we are foxing and protecting blokes until finals when we will suddenly come out and smash sides around the ball or am I dreaming/hoping?

Geez, we must rate ourselves pretty highly if we think we have that luxury. In what is one of the most even seasons in a long time, I'd find it hard to think we would try and do that and stroll into the top 4.

Unless, they took the perspective of 'see how we go and if we lose games we'll just blood kids instead'. But I highly doubt it.

 

[manboob]

I hope you're right. We've changed our game style at (what appears to be) very late notice before.

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

I hope you're right. We've changed our game style at (what appears to be) very late notice before.

Yeah, we didn't go with the 'kicking it long to Hawkins' plan until what, the first round of the '11 finals?

 

[Partridge]

Been thinking about our clearance dilemma.
Do you think we are foxing and protecting blokes until finals when we will suddenly come out and smash sides around the ball or am I dreaming/hoping?

Not at all. I just think we simply aren't going to be as good at winning clearances, as a team, for another year or so. I really have to crunch the numbers of the previous generation of midfielders and see how it compares. I don't think it's a simple matter of tactics or effort or intelligence; it's just it's a collective skill that takes time to hone like others. During the third quarter last week at times we looked great - Simpson was palming it straight down to our guys and we ran it out of there. Couldn't sustain it. I don't think Christensen or Caddy will change it much this season. It's two components out of about 12.

 

[Pivo]

Been thinking about our clearance dilemma.
Do you think we are foxing and protecting blokes until finals when we will suddenly come out and smash sides around the ball or am I dreaming/hoping?

Do you really need an answer?

We've been losing clearances for years. If we were foxing it is the a piece of subterfuge to rival the Greeks and their pesky Trojan Horse.

 

[Seeds]

I agree, Simpson gets more decisive hitouts. But a lot of times, those decisive hitouts go straight to an opponent (again, whether this the fault of Simpson, the midfielders, or a combination is hard to know) but in that Essendon game, Simpson seemed to consistently be getting a decisive tap, then the ball would go straight to Heppell or Zaharakis. When that is happening, sometimes it's better to either spike the ball forward, or put it straight on the ground (i.e. an 'indecisive' hitout), to stop the opposition getting another easy take-away.

I would agree with this. there are times when Simpson whens a clear hit out only to find it fall into open space and even sometimes oppositions hands. This is probably part the mistake of Simpson and part the midfielders not roving properly. The only way they can fix this though is if they keep playing him. Playing Simpson in the reserves ain't going to help the midfielders get better at reading his rucking.

McIntosh is a less risky option. But centre clearances will reman our weakness against the other final aspirants if we stick with him as there ain't much upside in a ruckman who can't jump. If we are to win the premiership then I think we need to take some gambles and hope they pay off. Simpson has lots of upside because if they can start reading the ruck then one of our great weaknesses could very quickly become our strength. His around the ground work last year was also more then good enough. Its been ordinary to horrible this year but he does have the ability to take pack marks and contribute around the ground. He may find it or he may not this year. There is only one way we will find out.

 

[Partridge]

McIntosh is a less risky option. But centre clearances will reman our weakness against the other final aspirants if we stick with him as there ain't much upside in a ruckman who can't jump. If we are to win the premiership then I think we need to take some gambles and hope they pay off. Simpson has lots of upside because if they can start reading the ruck then one of our great weaknesses could very quickly become our strength. His around the ground work last year was also more then good enough. Its been ordinary to horrible this year but he does have the ability to take pack marks and contribute around the ground. He may find it or he may not this year. There is only one way we will find out.

Can't see it changing to be honest. They were happy to last year to go into September with ruckmen who could jump; they just couldn't ruck.

Either way, Simpson is only going to play if one of McIntosh or Blicavs don't. And that won't happen.

 

[Seeds]

I don't think that's necessarily untrue but a lot of blame has to fall on the midfield, we have gone through several ruck combinations the last three years, and with all of them we still get beaten in the midfield most times, and a lot of times by non top four teams. I think the midfielders need to impove more so than us changing the ruck set up.

Secondly, while Simpson does hitouts better, McIntosh does everything else better. At the moment half this board would move better than Simpson around the ground, and he is nowhere near fit enough. This is critical for us because the good teams that beat us park their bus in our forward line and play us on the break, exposing our lack of speed and ground coverage. This is only exacerbated by playing Dawson which basically leaves us with 17 players once the ball hits the deck and we can't carry that. I am not sure what the cause is, because while he is not as good a mark or as agile as McIntosh, last year he was moving much better around the ground and contributing more after the ruck contest, but at the moment he's not moving nearly as well and until he is he has buckley's chance of playing ahead of HMac in the finals.

True although its not that much better. Its like 7 possessions and 2 marks a game better. And we have to remember Simpson has been subbed out of most games this year so it does effect his possession count. McIntosh is pretty useless as well when the ball hits the deck so lets no pretend that Simpson leaves us a man short compared to playing McIntosh. If anything Simpson tends to fight for it more when the ball is on the ground. He looks comical doing it and tends to fall on his face but he does fight for it. Every other team has ruckman as well who are as good too useless when the ball hits the deck.

The midfielders ability to read the ruckwork has been poor for a while and that's even more reason why we need to put our best ruckman in to give us every possible chance of winning the clearances. We can't win a premiership and be one of the worst team in the league at the clearances. It simply won't happen.

 

[Seeds]

Can't see it changing to be honest. They were happy to last year to go into September with ruckmen who could jump; they just couldn't ruck.

Either way, Simpson is only going to play if one of McIntosh or Blicavs don't. And that won't happen.

I agree that's the way its looking. But doesn't mean I can't disagree with their decision. Its the 2013 Trent West thing all over again except Simpson is far better than West.

 

[Partridge]

True although its not that much better. Its like 7 possessions and 2 marks a game better. And we have to remember Simpson has been subbed out of most games this year so it does effect his possession count. McIntosh is pretty useless as well when the ball hits the deck so lets no pretend that Simpson leaves us a man short compared to playing McIntosh. If anything Simpson tends to fight for it more when the ball is on the ground. He looks comical doing it and tends to fall on his face but he does fight for it. Every other team has ruckman as well who are as good too useless when the ball hits the deck.

Both of them have good tackle stats for ruckmen - Simpson (2.6), McIntosh (2.7) per game.

 

[Seeds]

He's had 5 games back. First 2 as sub and 3 full games (I think, correct me if I'm wrong).

Caddy has been massively disappointing this year compared to where I thought he would be. Even if you count the injury. I still think he has massive upside in him but your predictions regarding his weaknesses at the start of the year has unfortunatley been correct so far.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I would agree with this. there are times when Simpson whens a clear hit out only to find it fall into open space and even sometimes oppositions hands. This is probably part the mistake of Simpson and part the midfielders not roving properly. The only way they can fix this though is if they keep playing him. Playing Simpson in the reserves ain't going to help the midfielders get better at reading his rucking.

McIntosh is a less risky option. But centre clearances will reman our weakness against the other final aspirants if we stick with him as there ain't much upside in a ruckman who can't jump. If we are to win the premiership then I think we need to take some gambles and hope they pay off. Simpson has lots of upside because if they can start reading the ruck then one of our great weaknesses could very quickly become our strength. His around the ground work last year was also more then good enough. Its been ordinary to horrible this year but he does have the ability to take pack marks and contribute around the ground. He may find it or he may not this year. There is only one way we will find out.

They'd have to at least consider giving McIntosh and Simpson (if not both, along with Blicavs) another run against Sandilands. I'd be shocked if they didn't. If they can reduce Sandilands' influence, they can still secure their place in the side as a tandem, come finals time as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Spazz Cat]

Caddy has been injured for much of the season and only just got back, what has he had - 3 games? I thought against GWS he was much better and he should and will be retained as he has so much potential, another good game and some improvement and he might reach his pre-season form. I agree with the comment that Simpson with Blitz looks good, unfortunately for Daws HMac does so much more running, kicking, marking, handpassing and kicking goals that in spite of Daws centre bounce strength HMac is much more valuable to us at the moment.

If we are going full tilt for a flag do you think we can do better than Caddy if he doesn't get back into same form as 2 of those NAB cup matches?

 

[Partridge]

If we are going full tilt for a flag do you think we can do better than Caddy if he doesn't get back into same form as 2 of those NAB cup matches?

Hartman, Lang, Stringer, Schroder, even Smedts come to mind as available replacements if required.

 

[dazbroncos]

Been thinking about our clearance dilemma.
Do you think we are foxing and protecting blokes until finals when we will suddenly come out and smash sides around the ball or am I dreaming/hoping?

Im know as an optimist but I have had the same thought - in that CS knows what other teams expect from us. Hawks won a flag in 08 based on giving us something different on the day and we hand no answer for it (and we killed ourselves too).

I posted that CS is a cagey prick. I see the same here…. perhaps…..maybe…..

Or we just plain suck at clearances….

Go Catters

 

[goyoucatters]

They'd have to at least consider giving McIntosh and Simpson (if not both, along with Blicavs) another run against Sandilands. I'd be shocked if they didn't. If they can reduce Sandilands' influence, they can still secure their place in the side as a tandem, come finals time as far as I'm concerned.

You could be right.

And maybe it's just my view of the reality. Maybe other teams have two ruckmen who lumber around the ground as (relatively) ineffectually as our duo.

Can't say I've seen evidence of it, though.

I see the two of them out there together for us as a worrying prospect.

On a good day, they look as slow as treacle to me. On most days, I would imagine that treacle has them covered in its sleep.

Would have thought the pace of finals is going to leave us massively exposed if they both play.

And it's not like their combination is likely to make a fantastic difference to our clearance stats in any case.

I'd be going Daws and Blitz for the finals (if Simpson shows any improvement at all in the next few weeks).

If not, then Hammer and Blitz would be my preference.

And the 'Hamish and Daws' show would be a very distant third as an option.

Lots of us around here would suggest that we're extremely long odds to lift the cup this year.

While I'm not totally sure that we're out of it, I believe you can rule out any prospect of a 2014 Cats premiership team containing both #16 and #17.

Simply won't happen.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

We'll win the flag...bookmark it now, then thank me later.

 

[poeyonline]

In regards to our gameplan, i keep thinking back to very early in the season, where we played a very high pressure on the ball carrier for acouple of games. Maybe we are saving this for when it really counts?

 

[manboob]

poeyonline best avatar ever

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

In regards to our gameplan, i keep thinking back to very early in the season, where we played a very high pressure on the ball carrier for acouple of games. Maybe we are saving this for when it really counts?

Do you play bingo?

 

[poeyonline]

Do you play bingo?

Im sorry, im not sure what you mean?