Review Cats back in business after smashing Hawks by 82 points at the G

[cats_09]

Some may disagree, but there was a few similarities with a match we played 199 days ago - in particular halftime and the third quarter

No shit we were right on top of things at halftime in the GF and not so much tonight, but our opponents both times acted in a very similar manner

The GF halftime entertainment finishes, and we're all but ready to come back out from the rooms & kick off the second half... Meanwhile the first siren to end halftime sounds and the Swans are still in their rooms. I imagine that Longmire nor the players were too pleased with their efforts, but I remember them being really late back out on the field & it was then like they didn't turn up for third quarter as we kicked 6.3 to 0.1


Today had a very similar feel to things - we were out of the rooms early & back on the field warming up & wanting to get the 3rd quarter underway

The first siren after halftime sounds and the Hawks are still in the rooms. I'm guessing they turned up at some stage, but that third quarter played out like they were still in the rooms as we kicked 10.5 to ZIP

It may sound a little weird, but watching our guys back out on the field ready to go, while Hawthorn waited for an extended time just gave a bit of confidence that we were ready & up for the fight with what lay ahead

 

[Chinacats]

Jez averaging 4.5 goals a game. 23 x 4.5 = ton+ !

 

[allrighty]

Great win. Always good to bury those grubs. Zuthrie and miers great all game. Atkins, danger and Close huge second half and jezza keeps the spark alive no matter what

I think Cameron is clearly the spiritual leader, but Atkins is the beast-mode leader and Miers is the linkup leader

 

[winty]

Amazing all the Richmond fans on Twitter calling for Jezza to be suspended for the umpire contact. This is the worst of the bad lot.

 

[Kitcat]

Thank god for that.
Wasn't looking great at half-time. Not terrible. But decidedly not great.
And the suddenly, everything started going right, for the first time this year.

Hawkins influential again.
Close looking sharp.
Stengle looming ominously.
These players had yet to assert themselves in 2023.
Tom Atkins, who also hasn't reached his 2022 heights this season, suddenly showed his grit and value.

Special mention to a few players for their conduct up to and including a 0-3 start a half-time deficit against the 17th best team in the comp:

Gryan Miers - might well be up there in the B+F at this early stage. He's played smart, he's played hard, he's minimized his flaws and made the most of his strengths. I really have to respect and acknowledge the mental side of his game; runs hard week in, week out, and has turned himself into a better than 50/50 bet in a 50/50 contest.

Esava Ratugolea - he's had his ups and downs in 2023 to date, but he hasn't dropped his head or his bundle.
I've been really impressed with his conditioning as much as anything else; he has been called into action big time and despite skill and experience errors he has looked physically up to the challenge.
Today he was excellent, his best game as a KD; no silly mistakes, played within himself and yet chimed in with some big marks early in the game.

Mark O'Connor - he's been really composed and mature during this testing first 4 weeks; nothing silly, but he has taken on every bit of responsibility a player of his experience should take on. Great leadership.

Isaac Smith - his start to the 2023 season is really underlining his greatness. Like a few Hawthorn greats over the past 15 years, my passion as a Geelong supporter had blinded me to Smith's ability over the years. It took that Norm Smith for me to finally accept his impact at Geelong. He has not put a foot wrong this season, despite the rest of the team's erratic form. Respect.

Today, specifically:

Jake Kolodjashnij was rock solid, very good early when we were under pressure and struggling to generate run. Excellent return. Mitch Duncan similarly good.

Jeremy Cameron sublime as usual; while the team has been off the pace up until the 3rd quarter of round 4, Cameron has looked like a player completely in tune with his game. Should have had at least 5 goals last week, 7 a fair return for his class today.

Max Holmes had played 3 reasonable games to date; today he had a really strong 1st half against the tide, and then things got easier for the team and Max as the game progressed. I want this guy locked away on contract for a decade.

I have had 231 opinions of Mark Blicavs over the years, but I have never doubted his effort. The way he fought back after that weak-gutted dog knee from Meek or whoever it was (Reeves?) was epic; really committed stuff.
The aforementioned Tom Atkins was a real catalyst in the 3rd quarter too.

2023 hasn't been much fun to date, but today was hugely cathartic. Cracking 100 points is always a nice box to tick in modern footy, too.

Dangerfield's first win as the club's official captain; liked his game today.

Thank you for the time and thought you put into this post.

 

[Chinacats]

100-9 after half time! That’s the standard! Came from a place of not being content at half time! Hunger; desire; hunt and a ferocity to win! That’s what it’s about! Now back it up cats!

 

[WynyardCat]

I thought Atkins back in the centre in the second half was one of the keys to the turnaround. He has that bit of mongrel that you need at centre bounces.

 

[catters05]

Apparently record crowd for bottom of the table clash

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Got to get home and wash the stench of Hawk fan off me. Football illiterate morons the lot of them.

 

[cats_09]

Amazing all the Richmond fans on Twitter calling for Jezza to be suspended for the umpire contact. This is the worst of the bad lot.

Henry might also be in trouble for putting his hands on the umpire

 

[Seeds]

It was a tap-in win and we tapped it in... Same next week with WCE.

Hopefully we can catch some form from now on.

Huh? Tap-in?

 

[cats_09]

Huh? Tap-in?

My interpretation -

"We should have beaten the Hawks & we did. And next week we should beat the Eagles..."

Seemed to be playing down the win - and while somewhat correct that we should have expected to win going into today, we haven't been playing great footy this season until that third quarter

 

[D BRIDGE]

Huh? Tap-in?

Yes a gimme/tap in... The oldest team in the comp and premiers v the youngest in the comp and spoon faves.

Next week is also already in the books... Just a matter of margin.

Bring on Sydney for us to get back even with wins/losses.

 

[cats_09]

 

[FredLeDeux]

Henry might also be in trouble for putting his hands on the umpire

All joking aside, our unavailability list continues to be a problem , with Bews, Rohan (probably) and Blicavs (possibly) all missing next week.

 

[Seeds]

Yes a gimme/tap in... The oldest team in the comp and premiers v the youngest in the comp and spoon faves.

Next week is also already in the books... Just a matter of margin.

Bring on Sydney for us to get back even with wins/losses.

Is that american sports slang?

 

[cats_09]

All joking aside, our unavailability list continues to be a problem , with Bews, Rohan (probably) and Blicavs (possibly) all missing next week.

Blicavs played out the match, so hoping he's fine for next week - he's one tough bugger

 

[kickazz]

hawks ruck should face 2 weeks per knee.
Absolute campaigner act

They showed this and C Scott reaction on Fox, but I have no audio.

What did he say? Seemed something like "it's not allowed" or similar.

Should be suspended along with the sniper coach campaigner who put him up to it

 

[kickazz]

Is that american sports slang?

Golf

 

[Mr Meow]

All joking aside, our unavailability list continues to be a problem , with Bews, Rohan (probably) and Blicavs (possibly) all missing next week.

Luckily none of them have been in great form. MOC is giving us a lot more than Bews at the moment. Respect to Blicavs for fighting on today, but for whatever reason he hasn't been 2022 Blicavs yet. He surely still plays next week. I like having Rohan in the team and O.Henry as an impact sub but he can still give us plenty if the other players around him (Miers, Close, Stengle) are bringing the pressure game.

Your general point stands though, need as much of our 2022 premeirship core out there as possible. Our cohesion lifted several gears today.

 

[kickazz]

Got to get home and wash the stench of Hawk fan off me. Football illiterate morons the lot of them.

They are proof that even God makes mistakes

 

[D BRIDGE]

Is that american sports slang?

Golf mate... Just tap it in... Happy Gilmore style

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

If this side can win more cameron would be a brownlow smoky.

Absolutely not. It's a disposal medal. After Cripps won it last year and Brayshaw the MVP I give no credence to those awards.

Cameron should have won the MVP last year. The fact he got 19 Brownlow votes is testament to this and pretty much sums up my first paragraph.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Got to get home and wash the stench of Hawk fan off me. Football illiterate morons the lot of them.

Most of them are new Australian's. Jumped on when they were winning flags.

 

[kickazz]

I really liked Stanley today, all game. Should have got a lot more frees some blatant cheating today.

And our HF trio Miers Close Stengle all very good. Even in first half, they ran to the right spots and we just over handballed or kicked it too high or long