Review Cats defeat gallant Pies by 6 points to get into another PF

[00VicWard001]

It was a hugely stressful last few moments on the bench, I wouldn't read to much into the death stare. I think every player primed to go on if needed. Stanley watching Scotty intently, maybe listening to Scott's frantic directions- but you couldn't reasonably expect to be sent in as ballast at that stage of the game, it's lock down with the personnel you have out there in the last 1.10.

In my opinion - After all he’s said and done in the last year about being in the moment - being a happier person - there is no possible way CS would be rude to Stanley and disrupt his equilibrium during a game. Likewise - Rhys is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet - as much as we wish he would - he’s not death staring anyone.

I doubt CS or Stanley would be unprofessional enough to be rude or treat each other with disrespect while they are in the throes of a game about to be won, lost or drawn. Likely he was listening to CS intently - As CS was talking to the guys upstairs and discussing what happens if there is a draw.

If there was a draw - then Stanley would probably be back on as the rotations would start again.

Stanley wasn’t that bad- he won a few tap outs and provided a good contest. Dropped marks when it was hot - but hell, our ice in their veins mid Duncan and small forward Close - missed goals too.

 

[00VicWard001]

Or the forgotten man Duncan, who took the original hospital handball but cooly swung around to release Guthrie a second time. He had great moments all game and was about as inspirational as Stewart, Sel and Atkins I thought. Although only a couple have shared the same view it seems.

Guthrie took the Kick that Duncan would have taken - I wonder if Duncan would have gone down the middle to Rohan or to the wing to Jez?

I’m leaning to the middle as JC
made a great decoy run drawing Maynard, freeing Rohan for a one on one with Sidebottom. The tackle on Duncan opened up space for Guthrie to run to the left and made the Cameron play the higher percentage one.

That whole play was excellent - the tackle by Selwood to turnover and quick execution by Stewart.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

Rhys is one of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet - as much as we wish he would - he’s not death staring anyone.

Yeah I re-watched the footage. It's not a death stare, just an intent look. People really like to read into things way too much with no information whatsoever.

 

[catempire]

Yeah but you make your own luck. They were running themselves into the ground to get outnumbers to every contest. Luck is manufactured through workrate

Nah it’s the magnificent and brutal randomness of the bounce of a Sherrin. Just ask Steven Milne. Nothing to do with work rate.

 

[Isaac Norm Smith]

Gee, Close hits the post from the top of the goalsquare two thirds through the 3rd. He kicks that and we go two goals clear and I reckon we run over them. Had all the running.

Yep. I couldn't help but reflect on that moment when we were two goals down in the last.

We had the momentum and that was a real turning point when they went down the other end and scored quickly after that.

 

[Isaac Norm Smith]

Pies were all focused on Jez and were ball watching. Then it was Rohan they focused on. By then it was too late. Daicos only sprinted in the last 30m when he felt like he had a chance to get involved. He was jogging the whole way up. Maynard actually left Rohan to try and tackle Jez, who got off that kick and took a decent hit from Maynard. Sidebottom had to cover Rohan.

That was beautiful by the team - and don’t forget Guthrie’s vision and execution to get the ball to JC.

It great vision by Guthrie but full credit to Mitch Duncan there too. Guthrie's handball to him initially was a poor option and put him under immense pressure. He did well to break the tackle and get it back to Cam. Great vision by Guthrie and then a perfect pass by Cameron.

 

[Kyuss]

I watched the replay today and i can honestly say i dont think ive seen a game lately where the ball has bounced as favourable for our opponents, seemed like every time the ball hit the ground it bounced in the direction of the nearest Collingwood player, anyone else think that?

Yep seemed that way didn't it. Happened so many times

 

[Seeds]

There was no way Stanley could go back in. He wasn't hooked so much as tactical taken off to have a quicker team out there in the end.

I thought stanley was kept off cos we ran out of rotations and were only going to use runners with the last couple we had left.

 

[Seeds]

Disagree. It was phenomenal how many times they were advantaged by pure physics.
No matter how hard you work, a ball diverting crazily like that more than a few times is sheer bad luck/bounce.
In fact, I might borrow a Tiggers tin hat and say the AFL planted magnets in it, and Pies (Home) shorts.

We got that same luck in the last minute with the goal sealer though.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Disagree. It was phenomenal how many times they were advantaged by pure physics.
No matter how hard you work, a ball diverting crazily like that more than a few times is sheer bad luck/bounce.
In fact, I might borrow a Tiggers tin hat and say the AFL planted magnets in it, and Pies (Home) shorts.

Well it certainly felt like there was some kind of magnetic attraction going on in my pants by full time

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Nah it’s the magnificent and brutal randomness of the bounce of a Sherrin. Just ask Steven Milne. Nothing to do with work rate.

There's definitely a few lucky bounces there, but the number of times they had outnumbers due to running harder was significant

 

[Generalissimo]

From the kid who was cramping in the last quarter of his debut match to running 100m to get on the end of this passage and kick the winning goal - Holmes has come so far and yet is no where near the finished product

I remember Varcoe doing that in the last quarter of the 2011 GF.

 

[MisterMarcus]

It was the loss we had to have.... Without actually losing

That’s actually the best way to describe it.

2007 prelim vibes…

 

[catempire]

There's definitely a few lucky bounces there, but the number of times they had outnumbers due to running harder was significant

Yep but separate issue.

I have in mind the bounces for Blicavs, Tuohy and Holmes that were sheer acts of randomness when we were first to the ball.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yep but separate issue.

I have in mind the bounces for Blicavs, Tuohy and Holmes that were sheer acts of randomness when we were first to the ball.

Yeah that Holmes one especially irked me when the commentators were talking about pressure and bounce of the ball just put it straight up in the air and he was no chance

 

[00VicWard001]

Yeah, I suppose a more accurate description of what I was seeing is that, Pies seemed to transition the ball with ease when they needed to. In those instances it seemed like we couldn't catch them at all, to the point that I just pencilled in a goal if Pies got the ball free.

Yep they appeared to be able to implement their game style more easily than we could. But the style of game suited them as they don’t mind it ugly.

We we doing the same to them too

What we have gotten from Holmes this year I thought we would get in 2 years time. Ditto Close. Did not see Atkins emerging as a midfield bull this season, nor a key reason we won the QF.
Holmes has always been quick, and just needed a tank. He was also a shank of a kick for goal.
1.7 from 12 games last year, 12.5 this season. 12 goal assists this year, 3 last year.
But if you look as how he has tracked from last year to this year, its massive. Stepped up his disposal averages, marks, goals, assists, i50s, clearances, r50s.
His score involvements and meters gained are through the roof too, which you want from a winger.

All he needs to do is curb his clangers and he will be elite within 2 years.

We have an absolute weapon on our hands.

how good to see him tackle Daicos and get the free.

 

[Sire of Claude]

Agree with all the observations of the cruel ball bounces - they brought Blicavs undone several times.

Watching the replay I noticed several opportunities wasted because of pressure: Guthrie took a shot when Stengle, in a better spot, was asking for the handball. Several times players running forward on the flank ignored fellows by themselves in the corridor more or less at CHF.

Stanley, Henry, Blicavs, Tuohy and Mieirs struggled once again to equal their H and A output and will need to do better next time.

Hawkins again struggled in a final but it wasn't a day for full forwards and he helped out with a couple of important touches.

O'Connor looked shaky.

But the fellows gave their all and got it done against a good and determined foe.

Them's me thoughts after watching the replay.

 

[00VicWard001]

I pencilled in goal attempts for them first quarter when they kept transitioning the ball UNOPPOSED down that wing!
It was so obvious, noticeable from our seats, where the kick out was going from their D. Magpies were primed for that positioning. Yet our mids and HB's refused to man that side, most likely expecting more direct centre/opposite wing ball. That inflexibility is the only thing that worries me about our coaching and game plan mindset.

Yeah, but then we adapted and they stalled as they tried to move it down. So there is flexibility.

 

[Cataholic]

I didn’t think that. I thought he was listening in waiting for orders ready to go. He looked nervous. ZGuthrie was also there and I think Atkins went onto the field. It was probably our last rotation.

I wonder if CS was on ground level for that entire quarter.

Fair enough.

But with 10 seconds to go the rotations and game were done, and to me, it was more a look of angry disgust.

 

[MisterMarcus]

I’ve watched the replay three times and each time I’m still nervous as hell in the last quarter….

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

From the kid who was cramping in the last quarter of his debut match to running 100m to get on the end of this passage and kick the winning goal - Holmes has come so far and yet is no where near the finished product

Love this kid; great trade on draft night to secure his selection

Holmes is flying under the radar massively at the moment. Not many talking about him.
He was absolutely brilliant on Saturday and has been for the last 2 months.
Every game he is growing.
He provides so much to the team.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

I’ve watched the replay three times and each time I’m still nervous as hell in the last quarter….

The game was played at a higher pressure level than some Grand Finals.
The tension was phenomenal and something I haven’t experienced at a game for a long time.

 

[DangerHere]

Bullshit, Collingwood lost but now have a better chance of being in the big dance than Geelong.

Lol, I see there are still some extra strong pharmaceuticals available at the “hanger”.

“Whatever it takes” hey ?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I watched the replay today and i can honestly say i dont think ive seen a game lately where the ball has bounced as favourable for our opponents, seemed like every time the ball hit the ground it bounced in the direction of the nearest Collingwood player, anyone else think that?

Yeah the bounce of the ball was crazy all night.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

My personal favourite was the contest on the boundary in the last quarter where a Geelong player was getting tackled while the ball was laying on the ground behind him between the contest and the umpire and we still didn't get a holding the man free kick.

There was an in the back to hawk in the last that wasn’t paid either. Bloke literally jumped on his back when Hawk was on the ground.