Preview AFL Round 3 - Fremantle v Geelong, Subiaco

[DivideandMultiply]

Cheers for the game lads, it was good to see Ablett live in action and him with Chapman were unstoppable for most of the game.

Just out of interest, who was Ling tagging? I didn't take much notice of it but wondered this after the game.

I went to the game last year at Subi and it was the same.

A clutch player but also seems to go well against Fremantle.

 

[PavAA29]

That was an awesome game. Freo did well to contain your stars in Ablett and Chapman in the last quarter, major turning point in the game. Pods was impressive, strong hands, missed an easy shot, but good composure to put you guys back in front with a few minutes left.

One pivotal moment in the game... the stretcher comes on the ground for Suban after Geelong had a free kick for OOF and kicked to Johnson in the back pocket. Then you guys have played on, running it out of defence then they decide to stop the play for the stretcher. So Johnson is forced to kick to a contest from 10m away. Freo go on and score hold it in there and win the game. Very big moment in the match, especially considering he was off the ground, then ran back onto the ground. Why didn't he stay off the ground if he needed the stretcher? Had they not stopped the game, IMO Geelong win the game.

Lol.

Thems the rules, stretcher comes onto the ground the umps have to halt play, there is no choice.

They also have to stop play so the side with a player down can replace their player.

Muppet, we deserved the win. Geelong were gallant and I still think you'll pick up another flag.

 

[SJ]

Not overly concerned by the loss. Freo were fantastic and I found myself hoping they would win. Weird that it saounds. I thought our form was solid. Missed Scarlett up back. But the guys gave it a crack. It was a good game and freo deserved to win it.

Sorry?

 

[RoJo Junior]

Lol.

Thems the rules, stretcher comes onto the ground the umps have to halt play, there is no choice.

They also have to stop play so the side with a player down can replace their player.

Muppet, we deserved the win. Geelong were gallant and I still think you'll pick up another flag.

I'm aware of that. The stretcher came on as the kick from the OOF was taken. The kick should've been taken back to there. Long bomb out of defence from 50m from goal instead of 5m out would've made it a different outcome.

I don't think anyone can really claim they "deserved" the win, both sides were fairly even throughout the course of the game. If anything Geelong should be more disappointed that they held the lead for the longest period but gave it up with a couple of minutes to spare.

 

[maryjames]

Not overly concerned by the loss. Freo were fantastic and I found myself hoping they would win. Weird that it saounds. I thought our form was solid. Missed Scarlett up back. But the guys gave it a crack. It was a good game and freo deserved to win it.

I enjoyed the game aswell but wouldn't go as far to say ''hoping they would win.'' Game could had gone either way and if you look at the results over the last 3 years Cats normally win those type of games.. I'm not concerned at all aswell..We have a massive chance this year to win Premiership again.

 

[Vdubs]

Why did he deserve to stay in the side? Yes he played well during the season but Blake was/is the better ruckman of the 2. With Ottens back we didn't need another ruckman to play forward/back we needed someone to do better in the ruck. Which Blake is much better than Mumford in that area.

Perfect summation. Spot on .I agree

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Whenever you hear Thompson being interviewed after a game where Ottens kills it, you can tell in the wistful tone of his voice that he doesn't rate Blake, when he says things about Ottens like "You know, I wish we could have two of him... one to run in the ruck and one to rest forward at the same time... unfortunately we don't have two of him, and we can't keep him on the ground for the whole game, we need to give him a spell..."

 

[couchy555]

Great game, terrific effort considering the circumstances Geelong faced coming into this game, but ultimately i hope this pisses them off no end, and they come out next week and tear Port a new one. Especially since ill be making the trip over to see it.

Pods to kick 7.

 

[PavAA29]

I'm aware of that. The stretcher came on as the kick from the OOF was taken. The kick should've been taken back to there. Long bomb out of defence from 50m from goal instead of 5m out would've made it a different outcome.

What a load of shit. You blokes are ridiculous.

I don't think anyone can really claim they "deserved" the win, both sides were fairly even throughout the course of the game. If anything Geelong should be more disappointed that they held the lead for the longest period but gave it up with a couple of minutes to spare.

More bullshit.

We were fantastic, the fact we came back showed true grit. Questionable they were up for a longer period.

West Coast fans arent coping too well.

 

[vinum coupe]

Hey guys, I couldn't watch it and only listened to about 10 minutes so I'm trying to read up on reports now.

Hats off to Freo. Pretty damn hard to get past any Geelong side at the end of a 4th quarter. And it's a great feeling to start a new season 3-0

But I notice that they had 35 scoring shots!!

That doesn't happen very often. Can someone please let me know if this was due to a very open game with a disorganised backline?

 

[SJ]

The last time we conceded that many scoring shots was Round 13 2006, when Adelaide kicked 21.21 against Geelong at AAMI.

 

[witsend]

Hey guys, I couldn't watch it and only listened to about 10 minutes so I'm trying to read up on reports now.

Hats off to Freo. Pretty damn hard to get past any Geelong side at the end of a 4th quarter. And it's a great feeling to start a new season 3-0

But I notice that they had 35 scoring shots!!

That doesn't happen very often. Can someone please let me know if this was due to a very open game with a disorganised backline?

Absolutely we were disorganised. Scarlett, Milburn and Harley missing from GF side. Gamble played there ffs!
Part of this season is gonna be about preparing for the future. I think we're in very good shape, but it is not going to be without it's issues.
Much better hit out with so many structural outs than last years debacles against Carlton/Brisbane.

 

[Partridge]

Absolutely we were disorganised. Scarlett, Milburn and Harley missing from GF side. Gamble played there ffs!
Part of this season is gonna be about preparing for the future. I think we're in very good shape, but it is not going to be without it's issues.
Much better hit out with so many structural outs than last years debacles against Carlton/Brisbane.

Yeah, but Harley's retired, and we get Hunt back - who is also a premiership defender. So it's only 2 we're missing. Why Gamble was played there I have no idea.

It's no coincidence that most of the poor games were played by defenders. Apart from Taylor who was again terrific - who played well in the backline yesterday? Even Enright while doing good things made some horrendous blunders.

 

[johnnystav]

i think with scarlett alone we would've won he holds our backline together really well looking forward to getting him back

 

[SJ]

Yeah, but Harley's retired, and we get Hunt back - who is also a premiership defender. So it's only 2 we're missing. Why Gamble was played there I have no idea.

It's no coincidence that most of the poor games were played by defenders. Apart from Taylor who was again terrific - who played well in the backline yesterday? Even Enright while doing good things made some horrendous blunders.

Thought Lonergan did all he could as well. Mackie made some horrific mistakes yet again, and yes Enright made some uncharacteristic errors. Gamble was really a fish out of water down back, have no idea why he was there.

Reading the Herald Sun stats this morning it was interesting to note that although Geelong had about 80 more disposals that Fremantle, they went inside 50 on nine less occasions (50 to 59). This would suggest to me that Fremantle drew level in the midfield, if not beat us. Not sure when the last time we conceded 59 inside 50s, but it doesn't surprise me that they had 35 shots at goal.

 

[witsend]

Yeah, but Harley's retired, and we get Hunt back - who is also a premiership defender. So it's only 2 we're missing. Why Gamble was played there I have no idea.

It's no coincidence that most of the poor games were played by defenders. Apart from Taylor who was again terrific - who played well in the backline yesterday? Even Enright while doing good things made some horrendous blunders.

They definitely need some structural consistency. I thought before the game that we would be very likely to "leak" a lot of goals, and we did.
Greta defences are built by having a core of players who know where the other guys are and how they will behave. We have a way to go to work that out yet with this bunch, and after Harley's retirement, and with Milburn and Scarlett missing, we have to expect some teething problems.
Considering we lost Egan in 2007 (AA CHB) and picked up Taylor, and to some degree Lonergan seems to be finally showing some promise, I'm pretty happy with where we're at.

 

[witsend]

Yeah, but Harley's retired, and we get Hunt back - who is also a premiership defender. So it's only 2 we're missing. Why Gamble was played there I have no idea.

It's no coincidence that most of the poor games were played by defenders. Apart from Taylor who was again terrific - who played well in the backline yesterday? Even Enright while doing good things made some horrendous blunders.

Off a knee reco...
These guys are building to September.
There was blind panic aplenty in August last year and we managed to do alright.

 

[witsend]

Thought Lonergan did all he could as well. Mackie made some horrific mistakes yet again, and yes Enright made some uncharacteristic errors. Gamble was really a fish out of water down back, have no idea why he was there.

Reading the Herald Sun stats this morning it was interesting to note that although Geelong had about 80 more disposals that Fremantle, they went inside 50 on nine less occasions (50 to 59). This would suggest to me that Fremantle drew level in the midfield, if not beat us. Not sure when the last time we conceded 59 inside 50s, but it doesn't surprise me that they had 35 shots at goal.

Mackie needs to learn to put his body on the line.
So does SJ.

 

[corio bay]

did anyone else hear the hilarious commentary moment provided by BT, i think it was towards the end of the 3rd quarter.

Freo just kicked a goal and BT exclaimed:

"im still feeling the purple surge"

my missus and i were rolling on the floor for the next 5 mins after that.

 

[YIIIABLETTT]

did anyone else hear the hilarious commentary moment provided by BT, i think it was towards the end of the 3rd quarter.

Freo just kicked a goal and BT exclaimed:

"im still feeling the purple surge"

my missus and i were rolling on the floor for the next 5 mins after that.

Yeah i had a good chuckle at that, he said it so excitedly as well. BT is a class act in the comm box, the best going around imo. He said it leading into the final quarter i think, the other commentators were suggesting Geelong would run away with it, BT wasn't sure sensing the Purple surge, good prediction in the end

 

[witsend]

did anyone else hear the hilarious commentary moment provided by BT, i think it was towards the end of the 3rd quarter.

Freo just kicked a goal and BT exclaimed:

"im still feeling the purple surge"

my missus and i were rolling on the floor for the next 5 mins after that.

Waaay too much info, BT!

 

[Commando]

Flew over to watch the game yesterday and am pretty happy with what i saw from the cats. Credit to freo who played a tremendous match but put into perspective it is only week 3 of a 25 week campain (hopefully).

Spoke to a couple of players at the airport on the way back and they seemed dirtier at giving up a winning lead than losing the match, but having said that conditions were trying, (30 degrees) 6 Day back up from monday and travel.

Also the delay with the suban injury (stretcher) didnt help either, that delay (2-3 mins) probably swung the momentum of the match, it was all freo after that and if not for the stoppage in play i personally feel geelong would of hung on.

positives -
Podsiadly, seen plenty of him at werribee over the years and was rapt in his game, big engine, strong hands, football brain, great acquisition.

Forward line, multi-dimensional, scored 118pts and if you score like that you will win most weeks. Accuracy is the only concern, better conversion could have been the difference (freo also missed some easy chances tho)

Ablett. no more to say

negatives -
Backline, no scarlett so excuses can be made, i think gamble did as well as could be expected for a fish out of water, i think he was played there to free up a corey/bartel to maximise midfield rotations given the conditions.

A few others were below their best but i think they did ok for the amount of ball coming in. Subi is also a pretty big ground so it is obviously harder to zone off and minimise space.

so in conclusion a cracker of a match to watch, geelong can take plenty away from the game (except the four points) and freo are obviously heading in the right direction but i wouldnt be booking flights to melbourne in september just yet.

 

[SJ]

Good post Commando, agree with everything.

 

[walken79]

Great game yesterday fellas, good on you for not making excuses and handling the loss with grace. Could've gone either way obviously and we were lucky to get over the line in the end. I had the pleasure of being there and watching Ablett & Bartel etc is as exciting as ever and anyone who thinks the Cats are starting to fade has a screw loose. Hopefully we'll have many more great games as exciting as this one in the future

 

[legitimatic]

Even when we were 8 points up with only seconds to play (those at the game don't know how long is left) I was convinced we would lose- Geelong is that good.

Still my tip for the flag this year, it was an amazing game and Ablett is just a ridiculous player.