Review Cats belt Freo by 78 points.

[CatToTheFuture]

Nice pick up, but we are talking about careers that are worlds apart.

I'm referring to young key forwards playing AFL games like Neale. I don't think Mitch Lewis will be clinging onto JPod's path.

Got any contenders?

Yeah i don't think it's comparable either, you just have me an excuse to post it

 

[CatToTheFuture]

They arent all australian mids yet. Getting close though.

Technically that's an AA grader

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Thoughts on the game:

- Loved the pressure that we brought in the first half and the last quarter. Freo looked average, but it was our pressure and tackling that caused it.

- Third quarter: Freo were always going to come out and have a crack with their one wood (center clearances). We held on well for most of the quarter. When the floodgates started to open with the four goal run, I noted senior players (Cameron, Danger) running up to the middle and pointing/waving, which suggests to me that they were noting something wrong with our setup. After the 4th goal, Danger moved himself into the middle. Good leadership shown, but should have been proactive after the first or second goal in the run, not after four. People on here blaming Mullin for the goals don't understand the game: the backline was being hung out to dry by quick ball coming out the front of the center stoppages.

- Smith lifted in the last quarter, which was great to see. Honestly didn't realise he had had that much of the ball up until that point when I was at the game. Butchers the ball by foot occasionally, but so does Danger, so we can put up with it given his maniacal run and carry for 4 quarters.

- Neale iced the game early in the last quarter with two big marks leading to goals. Sign him up long term now - plenty of teams will be sniffing around to see if he is available, especially the two from W.A. Don't even know if I would trade him for H. Reid at this point, as he would be difficult to replace.

- Keep persisting with Knevitt. It's been a long time since we had a big inside mid who dishes it out to quicker teammates on the outside and tackles like a demon. The Joel Corey comparisons are not far wrong, although he would have been a thorn in the Fremantle midfield coach's side on Saturday.

- Once I heard they would persist with SDK in the ruck, he was straight into my Supercoach side. Will have up and down weeks, but is the best option there. Playing the 2022 Stanley role of dropping behind the play to free up Stewart - lets see how opposition coaches try to counter it.

Great observations and great share.

On your point about the senior players correcting and guiding in the 3rd and that the intervention should have happened earlier, i would counter that sometimes teaching is letting someone fail at something safely a few times before you correct them. If you always drive with sat nav on you never learn the roads

 

[CHAWKTS]

Great observations and great share.

On your point about the senior players correcting and guiding in the 3rd and that the intervention should have happened earlier, i would counter that sometimes teaching is letting someone fail at something safely a few times before you correct them. If you always drive with sat nav on you never learn the roads

You are so old school. Why do you need to learn the roads if you have sat nav? Or my wife’s phone number if I have her in my contacts

 

[Gunf]

Was it me or when MOC was subbed off for Clark he had an ice pack near his hammy?

 

[dudusmaximus]

While on the topic of Knevitt, the other one thereabouts at clearances (though not on display this game) who prodigiously handballs is SDK..

 

[Flat Punt Doug]

Has anyone analysed the 3rd quarter fadeout?
Was it mainly a big momentum swing which is often unstoppable?
Was it our MF just not keeping up?
I didn't see it live.

After a superb first half off the back of high class tackling and brilliant ball handling/execution resulting in match winning lead, my sense is that we went into 'management mode' for the 3rd qtr. No doubt Freo got a bake at half time too, particularly in the mid field where Sam had had the better of Jackson and Sarong was non existent till half time. That changed significantly in the 3rd. But, 'management mode' still worked and Freo had only reduced the margin by a goal or two up until the the last 6 minutes. A couple of self-inflicted errors (Cameron and Stewart) combined with the increased intensity from Freo and bang, suddenly it was raining forward entries

 

[Flat Punt Doug]

After a superb first half off the back of high class tackling and brilliant ball handling/execution resulting in match winning lead, my sense is that we went into 'management mode' for the 3rd qtr. No doubt Freo got a bake at half time too, particularly in the mid field where Sam had had the better of Jackson and Sarong was non existent till half time. That changed significantly in the 3rd. But, 'management mode' still worked and Freo had only reduced the margin by a goal or two up until the the last 6 minutes. A couple of self-inflicted errors (Cameron and Stewart) combined with the increased intensity from Freo and bang, suddenly it was raining forward entries

.....whoops....and that kid with the headband was having the time of his life. Mullin looked lost but pointing the finger at him is unfair. In any event, normal service resumed in the last in what must be said was a very emphatic win and not just on the scoreboard. One wonders what Ross the Boss has in store for us next week.

 

[ctravm]

Because sometimes the roads are blocked and satnav doesn't know. Then you have to rely on your own knowledge. Happened to me tonight. Technology is great until it isn't. Always need plan B.

On CPH1831 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Turkey Tom]

Was it me or when MOC was subbed off for Clark he had an ice pack near his hammy?

TV commentators said Corked Thigh.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Was it me or when MOC was subbed off for Clark he had an ice pack near his hammy?

I thought he was limping a bit too. But I understand all is ok.

I wonder whether he might switch to sub next week to give Clark a full crack? Unless we have someone to tag?

 

[CHAWKTS]

While on the topic of Knevitt, the other one thereabouts at clearances (though not on display this game) who prodigiously handballs is SDK..

not that I should ever question CS or King tactics in the middle but I was (quietly) critical last year that we didn’t seem to want to do the handball out of clearance to release players. I saw other teams do it effecitvely against us and get really clean clearances that are impossible to defend.

Whereas we had Danger, Stewart, Holmes, Atkins and even Bowes who are all kick first MFs in the centre bounces and therefore when we did get a clearance (not often) it was pretty “dirty” unless Danger or Holmes had powered out (which is hard to do consistently).

All of a sudden this game, against a strong MF, we had a handful of great handballs from inside to a runner. Knevitt had two I remember that were frankly elite (to Close around ground and to SDK from centre). Agree that SDK also is pretty balanced between kick and handball when he gets hands on it.

Given we now have Smith and Holmes (and SDK) at most stoppages we should be focussed on releasing them. That is why I see Mitch having a break out year. I would love to see Dempsey get involved more around the ground as he is a handball out player too - but he needs to develop his contested stuff before they put him in that situation.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Because sometimes the roads are blocked and satnav doesn't know. Then you have to rely on your own knowledge. Happened to me tonight. Technology is great until it isn't. Always need plan B.

On CPH1831 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Nope. Plan B is get angry at technology and feel sorry for myself.

 

[CHAWKTS]

After a superb first half off the back of high class tackling and brilliant ball handling/execution resulting in match winning lead, my sense is that we went into 'management mode' for the 3rd qtr. No doubt Freo got a bake at half time too, particularly in the mid field where Sam had had the better of Jackson and Sarong was non existent till half time. That changed significantly in the 3rd. But, 'management mode' still worked and Freo had only reduced the margin by a goal or two up until the the last 6 minutes. A couple of self-inflicted errors (Cameron and Stewart) combined with the increased intensity from Freo and bang, suddenly it was raining forward entries

Agree….i doubt it was a decision to “manage” that early but no doubt the mind just relaxes no matter how much they are told to keep intensity up. It was hot and we were 9 goals up. Just a minor slip in intensity leads to kicks that miss targets and defensive lapses and all of a sudden other team is on a role.

That knevitt to close to dempsey goal (only one in the third) was actually critical as I would have hated to only be 15 points up at 3 qtr time.

To the team credit they were switched on in the 4th. Played keeping’s off (but safely) for the first 10 minutes to take heat out of the ground and after we kicked one we resumed kill mode.

In some ways I prefer what happened then the second half being a “nil all draw” type game. Was good to be challenged (even if self inflicted) and respond. Very impressive

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I thought he was limping a bit too. But I understand all is ok.

I wonder whether he might switch to sub next week to give Clark a full crack? Unless we have someone to tag?

I liked what Clark did in the 20 minutes he had

 

[CHAWKTS]

I liked what Clark did in the 20 minutes he had

Actually always have when he has been sub. Don’t want him pigeon holed in that role but he has done it well everytime where as other young players (dempsey, knevitt etc) struggled to make impact as sub…Clark looks like he has an on switch that can easily be turned on which is perfect for sub. But I hope they give him a crack to start this week or next at least

 

[Mangy Carl]

not that I should ever question CS or King tactics in the middle but I was (quietly) critical last year that we didn’t seem to want to do the handball out of clearance to release players. I saw other teams do it effecitvely against us and get really clean clearances that are impossible to defend.

Whereas we had Danger, Stewart, Holmes, Atkins and even Bowes who are all kick first MFs in the centre bounces and therefore when we did get a clearance (not often) it was pretty “dirty” unless Danger or Holmes had powered out (which is hard to do consistently).

All of a sudden this game, against a strong MF, we had a handful of great handballs from inside to a runner. Knevitt had two I remember that were frankly elite (to Close around ground and to SDK from centre). Agree that SDK also is pretty balanced between kick and handball when he gets hands on it.

Given we now have Smith and Holmes (and SDK) at most stoppages we should be focussed on releasing them. That is why I see Mitch having a break out year. I would love to see Dempsey get involved more around the ground as he is a handball out player too - but he needs to develop his contested stuff before they put him in that situation.

100% spot on.. I've thought this has been a major negative to our clearance game for sometime.. No 'handballing' mids.. It was either kick it, or get caught in a tackle..
I though Knevitt, especially, had some great releasing handballs out of contest that released the runner... And Smith seemed to know exactly where to run to receive that handball... Loved the look of it..

 

[D BRIDGE]

Actually always have when he has been sub. Don’t want him pigeon holed in that role but he has done it well everytime where as other young players (dempsey, knevitt etc) struggled to make impact as sub…Clark looks like he has an on switch that can easily be turned on which is perfect for sub. But I hope they give him a crack to start this week or next at least

Clark also came on halfway through the Dons scratch match and slotted in nicely.

I haven't been a huge Clark fan and he still has a long way to go but he is looking better... Albeit with limited minutes.

Here's my question.

With Smith now taking a midfield spot and Knevitt playing well and offering something different size-wise... Is Bruhn a walk-up start?

Bruhn should be ahead of Clark (although Clark is starting to come on)... but is he now ahead of Knevitt?

It's probably a good problem to have since our midfield has been so thin in the past.

Smith coming in makes a big difference IMO.

 

[Hamingja]

Come on. SDK in the ruck might or might not work. But the idea that our ruck solution for this season should've been Fremantle's number 3 ruck with 2 career games was laughable.

SDK is going to be Stanley all over again.

Our best current ruck option by far but the level of output is going to be all over the shop and as soon we lose a match / get well beaten in the clearances people will be out and about throwing around hit out stats.

I have always said the problem with trading for rucks is that for every Nankervis there are 15 Reidys.

Sydney did well trading for rucks in the early days when teams were playing 2 and having another 2-3 developing rucks on the list. Most teams have cut the ruck divisions on their list back to the bone and the same hack back ups get recycled around the league.

To get a ruck better than a Stanley or SDK we need to develop one ourselves. We have made an investment on that front in Conway, Edwards, Molier and Pike so let's see how it plays out. Until then we will have the SDK debate on every match thread.

 

[iameviljez]

Just on the sentiment that his overhead marking is not up to scratch : when not quite in pole position to mark he elects/ is directed to hit the ball down and forward. It seemed obvious to me live but I haven't been able to watch replay yet.

I didn't get that impression - I got the feeling that he was, pretty rightly, going for the mark (as he should be). Bringing the ball to ground is a defender's job - so long as Neale gets first hands to it, even if he doesn't hold the mark, it brings the ball to front and centre regardless.

 

[PzBlinky]

Clark also came on halfway through the Dons scratch match and slotted in nicely.

I haven't been a huge Clark fan and he still has a long way to go but he is looking better... Albeit with limited minutes.

Here's my question.

With Smith now taking a midfield spot and Knevitt playing well and offering something different size-wise... Is Bruhn a walk-up start?

Bruhn should be ahead of Clark (although Clark is starting to come on)... but is he now ahead of Knevitt?

It's probably a good problem to have since our midfield has been so thin in the past.

Smith coming in makes a big difference IMO.

Depends what you want.

I think Knevitt is the more flexible player. He's taller and can take a mark, can play out on the wing (well, at least they put him out there from time to time)...but he's not performing consistently yet.

Bruhn is very much a clearance player (and improved on this a lot over 2023-2024, at least statistically). I think that's the biggest knock many have on him - outside the contest, what else can he do? He can kick a nice goal or do the odd good thing, but nothing jumps out.

Right now, I think Bruhn gets the nod, especially if Danger is parked in the F50 a lot more. But if Knevitt can develop some consistency, MC might favour his flexibility...

Or maybe there's room for both?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Actually always have when he has been sub. Don’t want him pigeon holed in that role but he has done it well everytime where as other young players (dempsey, knevitt etc) struggled to make impact as sub…Clark looks like he has an on switch that can easily be turned on which is perfect for sub. But I hope they give him a crack to start this week or next at least

Yeah, I think he just gets gassed if you stick him out there for a full game. We need Friday night games where he can spend some time in the seniors side then do managed minutes in the 2s to keep him training

 

[Pollywaffle]

I didn't get that impression - I got the feeling that he was, pretty rightly, going for the mark (as he should be). Bringing the ball to ground is a defender's job - so long as Neale gets first hands to it, even if he doesn't hold the mark, it brings the ball to front and centre regardless.

Yes.I would imagine that if you can mark the ball, surely that should be first priority. Why overcomplicate things?
Sweaty day, lots of greasy sunscreen probably (hopefully) explains a few missed clunks.

 

[BORIS332]

SDK is going to be Stanley all over again.

Our best current ruck option by far but the level of output is going to be all over the shop and as soon we lose a match / get well beaten in the clearances people will be out and about throwing around hit out stats.

I have always said the problem with trading for rucks is that for every Nankervis there are 15 Reidys.

Sydney did well trading for rucks in the early days when teams were playing 2 and having another 2-3 developing rucks on the list. Most teams have cut the ruck divisions on their list back to the bone and the same hack back ups get recycled around the league.

To get a ruck better than a Stanley or SDK we need to develop one ourselves. We have made an investment on that front in Conway, Edwards, Molier and Pike so let's see how it plays out. Until then we will have the SDK debate on every match thread.

SDK is significantly better around the ground than Stanley ever was, and his ruck craft will improve.

 

[iameviljez]

Yes.I would imagine that if you can mark the ball, surely that should be first priority. Why overcomplicate things?
Sweaty day, lots of greasy sunscreen probably (hopefully) explains a few missed clunks.

That, and the fact that an attacking-half contested mark is probably the hardest skill in footy.