Review Cats demolish North by 75 points.

[Generalissimo]

Looking back on our last few wins, our inside midfield group has a real greater than the sum of its parts vibe. I wonder if the unpredictability created by our lack of stand out talent in the area. Pretty much everyone rotating through has a good defensive first mindset to just shut down their direct opponent. But when the ball bounces our way the opposition doesn't know where the attack is coming from, the punch they don't see does the damage.

This is true, but I think the principle extends even further. Today we saw Jezza, who'd already kicked four, turn up on a half back flank and O'Connor of all people leading out from the goalsquare. Makes it very hard to plan against, on top of the midfield carousel we have going on.

 

[Interdimensional Bigfoot]

We really need to sign Holmes.

 

[iameviljez]

Also, can we please never ever again see Sam De Koning in the ruck?

I disagree. We need to think about life after Blicavs - he's playing well, but he's 33 and he won't play forever.

So, who takes change-up ruck duties? Ideally, it's Neale, but at just six games, he's far from a guarantee. So, De Koning makes sense to me. I can't see anyone else doing it - perhaps O'Sullivan, but he's not really tall enough for what will be the ruck in 10 years.

Besides, this isn't the 80s. You can't just come off the long run and smash into the other ruckman any more.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

He wasn't disgraced, but I think he's wasted there.

I wasn't a fan of it, strongly agree he's wasted there

 

[iameviljez]

We really need to sign Holmes.

I wouldn't honestly panic until at least July.

 

[cats_09]

 

[cats_09]

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I disagree. We need to think about life after Blicavs - he's playing well, but he's 33 and he won't play forever.

So, who takes change-up ruck duties? Ideally, it's Neale, but at just six games, he's far from a guarantee. So, De Koning makes sense to me.

Besides, this isn't the 80s. You can't just come off the long run and smash into the other ruckman any more.

I would have sent Neale there. I could be wrong but I don't think we won a clearance with SDK there.

 

[iameviljez]

I would have sent Neale there. I could be wrong but I don't think we won a clearance with SDK there.

Maybe? But the issue for me is that if Blicavs hung up the boots at the end of next year (or even went down with an injury tomorrow), Neale is no guarantee to be good enough at AFL level to justify a spot in the 22. De Koning is. Hence, might as well give him a few AFL ruck contests in junk time.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

In: Hawkins, Dangerfield, Kolo
Out: O'Sullivan, Clark, 2E

Shannon Neale deserves to retain his spot, but I'd expect him to ruck more with Hawkins lurking about up forward. O'Sullivan showed promise but now it's time to take that taste of senior footy back to the VFL and let it simmer. Tuohy is going to ground too easily these days and struggles to hit a target.

Spot on with changes Generalissimo: with the in's a given but the out's I'm not so sure it'll end up that way.

Shannon Neale will help enormously in regards with too many opposition defensive marks been taken against us this year which has been our achilles heel this year prior to North game and as you noted he was very good today and deserves another game, if not next Saturday night against the Lions then in near future, especially with a few big games coming up. Love Clark's tenacity, hardness and pressure around the ball but he lacks a bit of polish and has got caught holding the ball a couple of times with lack of awareness but that will all change in time. And with Tuohy, well he's been ultra lucky this year getting games as he's been very ordinary in a number of games as you pointed out. Mark O'Connor I was disappointed with him in a couple of the preseason games but in fairness to him has been excellent in most AFL games since, so well done Mark.

 

[Finknottle]

Neale is another tall athletic type who just might be able to play football. He was impressive today. That drag with Scott towards the goals showed his straight line speed and the bump and pick up on the run was encouraging. He's got a way to go but time is on his side. Because he is mobile he just might be able to play alongside Hawkins and Cameron. Neale will provide the crash and bash that Hawkins and Cameron do not. This will be needed against Brisbane's intercept marking especially Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

28

Ht

202cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

. I will go crazy if I see another game like the Bulldogs one last week where Hawkins was standing flat-footed as his opponents took mark after mark.

 

[Finknottle]

O'Connor was good today. Apart from his usual run and tackling pressure he did a couple pure football things.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Maybe? But the issue for me is that if Blicavs hung up the boots at the end of next year (or even went down with an injury tomorrow), Neale is no guarantee to be good enough at AFL level to justify a spot in the 22. De Koning is. Hence, might as well give him a few AFL ruck contests in junk time.

Neale might prove to be not good enough, but I would back him in for enough games to find out. That at least gets us to another trade period or two. Mitch Edwards might overtake him by then or we could go a different way entirely.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

O'Connor was good today. Apart from his usual run and tackling pressure he did a couple pure football things.

I remember his preseason match thinking he might be way off the pace, but he's been great

 

[CHAWKTS]

In: Hawkins, Dangerfield, Kolo
Out: O'Sullivan, Clark, 2E

Shannon Neale deserves to retain his spot, but I'd expect him to ruck more with Hawkins lurking about up forward. O'Sullivan showed promise but now it's time to take that taste of senior footy back to the VFL and let it simmer. Tuohy is going to ground too easily these days and struggles to hit a target.

I agree with you entirely on 2E. But I think CS loves him. And for good historical reasons. So I think his falling out of best 23 (and it has to happen if we are going to be at pointy end) will be slow. Which is ok if injuries and management and he isn’t keeping out any of the young talent we want as best 23 by year end.

In terms of COS that was a great taster for him today. He does need more time in VFL as expected to build body and dominate back line before coming back in as a permanent afl backman. SDK was year 3 before he was ready

I really hope they find a way to keep Neale in. Personally wouldn’t be shocked if they can’t squeeze him in but would love him to get a shot at another game. To stretch Brisbane.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

O'Connor was good today. Apart from his usual run and tackling pressure he did a couple pure football things.

I think Mark O'Connor realises now that he's gotta add a bit of class and offence to his game with so many players at the Cattery vying for games. We're in a great spot at present but the next 4 to 5 extra tough games should give us a better indication of who's capable or not of playing finals type pressure footy.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Their media person will be the highest paid out there surely by the end of the year.

 

[Mr Meow]

Now do Bruhn

21 disposals, 9 contested possessions, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 6 score involvements and 5 tackles per game from 65% game time for Bruhn in 2024.

We are playing extra midfielders with lower game time, compared to sides with 85% TOG primary midfielders. Which explains why any individuals disposal stats are 30% lower than your standard top line midfielder.

 

[Mr Meow]

Sure, but you're overlooking the fact that Geelong's centre square mids get stuff-all game time - usually between 65 and 70%.

Yes, someone like LDU got more touches - but he also played 85% of the game, same as the Bont, Treloar and Libba last week.

Parfitt played 68%. 20 touches at 68% is equivalent to 25 at a "standard" game length of 85%.

The five disposal obsessed posters on here just can't get their head around that with our 2022-onwards midfield rotation. They just want to see the two top midfielders getting 30 touches so they can sleep easy.

Bruhn's 18 disposals did more damage than the likes of Green and Serong's 24 and 29 disposals this weekend.

Even Parfitt has become a high efficiency player with a high proportion of his disposals ending in scores.

 

[CoolCat75]

6 players 21 and under today. Not bad!


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[Mr Meow]

Touhy is the only true concern in our side atm.

I never used to worry when had the ball in his hands, now I'm feeling that way regularly.

I was prepared to write off last year as a mulligan for the whole side, but he's continued that form into this year.

He's getting caught more often too. I know he's underdone but the signs have been there for 12 months now.

I do hope we bite the bullet and he's out of the side once we have full availability. The kids have gone past him, and the experienced players on the sidelines obviously offer more at present.

Tuohy's not needed when we are close to full strength and I'd consider pulling the trigger already for Mullin in the meantime.

Clark we're still a year early on.

They should be the ones to make way for Dangerfield and Guthrie. On the surface it leaves us a midfielder heavy but Blicavs and Bowes can give us high quality minutes on the wing too, plus Blitz has the backup ruck duties.

 

[DanA]

Have moved up to 14th for CP.

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I'm not too worried about our midfield despite the relatively weak numbers and facing relatively weak midfield.

Firstly while we are bad in terms of contested possessions and clearance differential, we are league best in terms of scoring differential from clearances and scoring differential from turnovers.

Secondly, it's about who is, and who isn't performing well in the middle. Bowes, Bruhn, and Parfitt are all running at a very healthy 5 clearances, and 20 possessions a game (or thereabouts). Clark and Atkins on the other hand are statistically really poor this year. Clark I think is just learning the craft at AFL and while surely will improve, probably won't get there this year. But Atkins I believe is hampered by a groin injury and there's every reason to believe he can perform closer to his 2022 (when in midfield) and 2023 performances. Add Danger and Guthrie, along with a fit/firing Atkins and we should be in a very strong position.

Thirdly, we've seen vastly improved ruck work from 2023 between a healthy Stanley, Conway, and even in the support from Blicavs, De Koning, and Neale. It was a real problem last season and it just doesn't appear to be one this season. For sure, we don't have Max Gawn or ruck dominance, but we are holding our own at least.

 

[DanA]

Tuohy's not needed when we are close to full strength and I'd consider pulling the trigger already for Mullin in the meantime.

Clark we're still a year early on.

They should be the ones to make way for Dangerfield and Guthrie. On the surface it leaves us a midfielder heavy but Blicavs and Bowes can give us high quality minutes on the wing too, plus Blitz has the backup ruck duties.

I think the natural changes are to have Guthrie and Danger replace Clark and one of Touhy, Duncan, or O'Connor. Danger can be a part-time forward, Holmes can have less centre bounces attendances, and Bowes is flexible enough to play a range of roles. We should be alright.

 

[Mr Meow]

I think the natural changes are to have Guthrie and Danger replace Clark and one of Touhy, Duncan, or O'Connor. Danger can be a part-time forward, Holmes can have less centre bounces attendances, and Bowes is flexible enough to play a range of roles. We should be alright.

Duncan has a 0% chance of being dropped. Desperately unlucky to not have a goal to add to yet another goal assist this weekend.

He's a 20+ disposal, 350+ metres gained, 5+ score involvement a game back flanker this season. Our defensive to offensive transitions benefit greatly from having Duncan in the side.

 

[David the Cat]

O'Connor was good today. Apart from his usual run and tackling pressure he did a couple pure football things.

Yes....he has transitioned from a fringe selection to a fixture in the best 22....his development has been a pleasure to watch.

Very good hands.