Preview AFL Round 4 - Geelong v North Melbourne, Simonds Stadium, 3:20PM Sunday 26 April

[fpm84]

As stated in another thread, im a bit worried about this week, dont think we can match the Roos for speed and really worried about how we can contain Petrie, Waite and Brown up forward when we dont really have any tall KPD left if Lonergen misses,could be a long match.

If Lonergan misses, I assume Taylor, Rivers and Blicavs take Petrie, Waite and Brown.

They're equally as undersized down back with Hansen and Grima missing. They will struggle to contain Clark and Walker (plus maybe Hawkins) with just Thompson and the likes of Firrito punching above his weight. But as I wrote on the North board, our issue will be actually getting the ball down there. Our tall forwards are the least of my concerns at the moment.

 

[Footy Smarts]

As stated in another thread, im a bit worried about this week, dont think we can match the Roos for speed and really worried about how we can contain Petrie, Waite and Brown up forward when we dont really have any tall KPD left if Lonergen misses,could be a long match.

We've got Rivers to come in and he's more than handy. Then there's Blicavs who can play back or Kolo if they want. There's also the option of doing what they did in the last quarter yesterday. Play Clark as a mobile loose man in defence, back him to get to any high balls that come in giving us a 2 on 1 and just play smalls on the key position players so we run it out of defence.

Of course the big issue is how we limit their midfield. As you say if they cut us up on the outside then it doesn't matter who our defenders are. I'm confident whoever we play in defence will do alright against those guys. I'm way less confident about our midfield.

 

[4quarter_cat]

Was really happy with our win yesterday. Thought it showed a ton of guts, and we really learned a lot about the team in the second half.

3 Things:-

- Lonergan is by far the biggest out for next week (imho) fingers crossed he comes up peaches and doesn't have to miss but I can't see that happening.
- Walker, Thurlow were both great on return to the side and must be retained for next week.
- Other than the obvious outs due to injury only Murdoch comes to mind as someone who stunk it up and should be dropped.

 

[goyoucatters]

Out: Bartel Stokes Lonergan Cockatoo
In: Horlin-Smith Smedts Rivers Blease

Bews Blicavs Enright
Thurlow Taylor Rivers
Duncan Johnson Guthrie
Lang Walker Caddy
Gregson Clark Motlop
Stanley Selwood Horlin-Smith
Kelly Smedts Murdoch
Cockatoo (SUB)

Domsy will surely miss after that head knock. Blitz gets the nod back there due to his versatility/willingness to give everything his absolute best.
The height of the Kangas forward line means Riv gets a guernsey. Would love to see Kolo but I don't see them going there with so many other youngsters in the team.
JT was really promising and means Billie should not return in the back half.

Hopefully Duncan is freed up more again. Was better yesterday.
Lang and Gregson doing more than enough to hold their positions.
Can't see Toma being back so Walks is definitely in the side. He worked quite well with Mitch.

SJ looked massively limited in his movement yesterday. Did a stack of very ordinary things as a result. No doubt he will convince the MC he's all good to go again, though. When he's that poor, I'd prefer him up around the ball rather than squandering opportunities closer to goal. We're better off having him winning some clearances (and then potentially turning it over) rather than never getting our hands on the ball in the first place.

Rhys was not stellar but looks some way ahead of any other viable option in the ruck. No doubt Goldy will give us an utter hiding next weekend so better to have Stanley as at least some sort of threat to keep up/hurt him going the other way.
Such a shame we can only write the name Selwood once on the team sheet. Did the work of two or three yesterday. Magnificent.
Hyphen must come back. When we are comprehensively thrashed around the ball every week and still see fit to leave him out, I am just staggered.

Billie will come back, I imagine. Hopefully closer to the opposition's goals than ours this time.
And Murda will undoubtedly retain his place. I didn't understand his role yesterday and didn't see much of anything to justify his selection but I'm resigned to seeing him in the ones again next week (sigh).

Nakia maybe clings on as well as sub. I'd probably prefer to see him run out a game in the VFL and use Blease in the vest instead.

One thing is for sure, if we keep on conceding contested possessions/clearances and I50 differentials of the same magnitude that we did yesterday, we are next to no chance against anyone of real quality.

 

[Daniel McL]

Changes for me this week:

Out - Bartel, Stokes, Lonergan, Murdoch.
In - Gore/GHS, Hawkins, Rivers, Smedts.

- Do want Kolodjashnij to debut very soon but not this week, make him debut against an easier opposition unless Rivers doesn't come up.
- Thurlow & Walker have to keep their spots.
- Was between Cockatoo & Murdoch to go out & Cockatoo brings more right now considering Murdoch doesn't use his pace enough.
- Was between Gore & GHS to come in & I would prefer Gore simply because of his speed but it won't matter too much who they choose out of the two considering GHS has the experience so wouldn't be disappointed with either coming in.
- Smedts comes back in, wishing they play him Half Forward (Pleeeeeeeeeeeease) now that Thurlow is still in & more suited to that Half Back/Wing role.
- Hawkins back in of course, Hawkins & Clark to be in the F50 with Walker roaming up towards the Wings to offer a marking target for our backmen.
- Stanley keeps No.1 Ruck spot with Clark backing up. Screwed against Goldstein either way.
- Blease would be the closest out of the players in the VFL along with Gore to make their way into the team.

 

[ButterMill]

PS. Guthrie to a back flank in the last surely provided a glimpse into what we need to do more of. Him and Thurlow should be locked in now. Smedts can come back up the ground where he should be. I realise we are light on mids but we just have to get through with Kelly, HS, Caddy and Johnson in there until we can get Gore/Cocky/ and hopefully Danger in there.

Guthrie with the sleeves on playing from the back line gave me a shiver of excitement. He looks so good back there.

We are still absolutely rubbish exiting our defensive 50. I think it is time we boosted those flanks to help and like the idea of Thurlow and Guthrie supporting Bews and the bigs.

The back six is an old unit that has me worried, but you do the following:

H Taylor, Blicav, Bews
Thurlow, J Kolo, Guhtrie

And it then has run, skill, genuine defenders whilst still having enough size. Not to retire Lonergan, Rivers or Enright early. However when they do (likely next year) I think we can still have a very good back six, with more pace. J Kolo is the one though that needs the experience who isn't getting so I hope he is given ten games in the seniors this year.

Of course that doesn't answer our rucks, our lack of mids (where Guthries loss would be felt), or the fact our kick outs are bombs to the boundary nearly every time (Walker as a consistent target with crumbers might help).

 

[iameviljez]

- Do want Kolodjashnij to debut very soon but not this week, make him debut against an easier opposition unless Rivers doesn't come up.

I just can't think of a better chance, to be honest. If all of Blicavs, Lonergan and Harry are fit, there's no way he's getting into that team.

 

[Daniel McL]

I just can't think of a better chance, to be honest. If all of Blicavs, Lonergan and Harry are fit, there's no way he's getting into that team.

And Rivers as well true.
And I guess North only have two main forwards with Petrie & Waite.
Lonergan/Blicavs on Waite with Taylor on Petrie.
Then Kolodjashnij on Mason Wood would be a good matchup

 

[iameviljez]

And Rivers as well true.
And I guess North only have two main forwards with Petrie & Waite.
Lonergan/Blicavs on Waite with Taylor on Petrie.
Then Kolodjashnij on Mason Wood would be a good matchup

You're forgetting Ben Brown I think.

 

[Daniel McL]

You're forgetting Ben Brown I think.

Ah yes damn knew I would forget someone.
Okay Taylor on Petrie.
Lonergan/Blicavs on Waite.
Kolodjashnij/Rivers on Brown.
Thurlow on Wood

 

[CatTricks]

Ah yes damn knew I would forget someone.
Okay Taylor on Petrie.
Lonergan/Blicavs on Waite.
Kolodjashnij/Rivers on Brown.
Thurlow on Wood

Thurlow got Wood?

 

[Teriyakicat]

Ah yes damn knew I would forget someone.
Okay Taylor on Petrie.
Lonergan/Blicavs on Waite.
Kolodjashnij/Rivers on Brown.
Thurlow on Wood

Knock on Wood?

 

[My Third Nipple]

Without seeing Gore play as yet, can both Gore and GHS come in, or are they 2 of the same player?
#toomanycommas,notsure

 

[bulletproof]

I would bring GHS in ahead of Gore, probably the more conservative route but I think GHS was a little stiff to begin with.

There is a case for both with Stokes missing as well. That would mean Smedts would miss and Guthrie could play at half back, where I thought he showed plenty of dash and desperation in second half on Sunday.

 

[CatTricks]

Gore has got some wheels, so I would like both GHS and Gore to come in for Bartel/Stokes.

 

[JUBJUB]

Thurlow got Wood?

Well he did stiffen the backline up yesterday

 

[Turkey Tom]

Bit of 'spewing' in this thread...and I will add to the spewing if Walker gets dropped if Hawkins decides to play.

It is not like 3 tall forwards has never worked before! Roughead, Franklin and Gunston seemed to go ok. Franklin, Tippett and Reid wasn't too bad either.

 

[iameviljez]

Well he did stiffen the backline up yesterday

Certainly had that effect on me once or twice.

 

[iameviljez]

Bit of 'spewing' in this thread...and I will add to the spewing if Walker gets dropped if Hawkins decides to play.

It is not like 3 tall forwards has never worked before! Roughead, Franklin and Gunston seemed to go ok. Franklin, Tippett and Reid wasn't too bad either.

I suspect that kind-of works because Gunston and Franklin aren't your typical tall forwards - they're really flankers in disguise (and some would say that in Buddy's case, at least it rhymes ).

On completely unrelated note, the club says "Rivers (...) is almost certain to play if Lonergan misses (http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2015-04-20/in-the-mix-rnd-4)". They generally do not contradict their own media, typically you can read plenty into the Into the Mix article from experience.

 

[Teriyakicat]

I suspect that kind-of works because Gunston and Franklin aren't your typical tall forwards - they're really flankers in disguise (and some would say that in Buddy's case, at least it rhymes ).

On completely unrelated note, the club says "Rivers (...) is almost certain to play if Lonergan misses (http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2015-04-20/in-the-mix-rnd-4)". They generally do not contradict their own media, typically you can read plenty into the Into the Mix article from experience.

Buddy and 'flanker' don't rhyme, though...

 

[iameviljez]

Buddy and 'flanker' don't rhyme, though...

A bit like the old joke that the Irish currency was called the Punt because it rhymed with "Bank Manager"

 

[Teriyakicat]

A bit like the old joke that the Irish currency was called the Punt because it rhymed with "Bank Manager"

Lol. Hadn't heard that one. Very good
I did like your Buddy joke, btw- thought it was very clever!

 

[Winter]

Forgive the intrusion fellow Scott brethren, just wanted to share a likely 22 from North for your match up debate.

Firrito, Tarrant, Wright
Atley, Thompson, McDonald
Gibson, Swallow, Wood
Higgins, Waite, Turner
Thomas, Petrie, Brown
Goldstein, Cunnington, Harvey

IC: Nahas, Bastinac, Jacobs, Dumont

In: Dumont
Out: Ziebell

Unavailable: Dal Santo, Wells*, Ziebell*, Hansen, Grima, Macmillan
* 50/50 but considered very unlikely


All in all a couple of heavily wounded animals fighting for their respective seasons?

 

[JUBJUB]

In: Dumont
Out: Ziebell

Hope he's not traveling down by taxi

 

[Dirty_11]

Forgive the intrusion fellow Scott brethren, just wanted to share a likely 22 from North for your match up debate.

Firrito, Tarrant, Wright
Atley, Thompson, McDonald
Gibson, Swallow, Wood
Higgins, Waite, Turner
Thomas, Petrie, Brown
Goldstein, Cunnington, Harvey

IC: Nahas, Bastinac, Wright, Dumont

In: Dumont
Out: Ziebell

Unavailable: Dal Santo, Wells*, Ziebell*, Hansen, Grima, Macmillan
* 50/50 but considered very unlikely


All in all a couple of heavily wounded animals fighting for their respective seasons?

Jacobs for Wright V2.0.