Preview Cats V North Sun April 14 1pm @ GMHBA

[Mr Meow]

Conway's main issue in both games was running the game out. I think we're still a few seasons away from him playing four good quarters in a row. But he showed great signs in both games regardless.

Agree with the premise but the timeline is pretty stretched. By a few years you're meaning Conway won't run out games until he's 24 or so (2028 season)?

I'd be hoping for more like 2026, with help from Blicavs until then. Maybe by 2026 Neale will be a secondary ruck to compliment his forward duties? It's a ghastly thought given how poor his ruckwork is, but post Blicavs we'll need another option.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Or they rest him twice - including the match up in Darwin...

I'd say that one is much more likely

 

[SkittleCats]

Heads up to anyone traveling down this weekend: I was just on the vline site planning the trip down and found out there are no train services for Sunday, so if anyone else sees this you'll need to plan ahead...

If anyone from the club sees this you need to do better at liaising with Vline and working this out so we dont see this rubbish happen again. How can 40,000 people get to the game with buses replacing trains all weekend? Ive gone from planning the day down in Geelong to working out which pub ill watch the game at in Melbourne. Replacement buses arent good enough for the volume of people that are heading down there now for games.

I hate to say it, but im starting to wonder if going down for games is worth it. What with the issues with mobile phone reception, the lack of trains even when they do run (especially after night games), and the awful traffic flow leaving the ground, it seems like nobody from the city council, the trust or the club put any thought into what games with 40,000 people attending would actually need from a logistics perspective, which is bloody piss poor if you ask me. These arent teething issues, this is basic planning that shouldve been thought about well ahead of time. Everyone needs to do better here.

 

[iameviljez]

But Im not as sold as you that Conway is ready to take the mantle as no. 1 ruck just yet. I’m bullish on him long term. But as frustrating as Stanley is he’s still probably a better AFL player right now.

In a sense, I agree with everything you've said. I don't think Conway is completely ready for Stanley to just be dumped, and if we played a GF tomorrow, yes, it's Stanley.

That said, Conway needs and deserves to play AFL now. It's not going to do him much good to beat the pants off some VFL ruck next week. We'll be in better stead giving him games now.

I think we need to bear in mind that although Conway is not a perfect 2024 solution, neither is Stanley. He did get his arse handed to him by Reilly O'Brien - not for the first time - two weeks ago, and I think that did move the needle a bit. Blooding Conway now might mean he is genuinely the better option by September.

 

[iameviljez]

I hate to say it, but im starting to wonder if going down for games is worth it. What with the issues with mobile phone reception, the lack of trains even when they do run (especially after night games), and the awful traffic flow leaving the ground

Mate, we did Waverley in the 90s! Trains? pah! Traffic flow leaving the ground? What's "flow"? Mobile phone reception was pretty solid for the three people who had one, though.

(In all seriousness, I haven't done the drive to Kardinia since 2018, so I guess I can't really talk).

 

[CHAWKTS]

Hawkins won’t be rested, can’t remember the last time we rested him.
He is better off not having the break, getting a few easy goals this weekend.
Percentage is strong but if we can have a big win that will be extremely important come the end of the season.
You won’t get north at a better time, backline is absolutely depleted

I figured that out of the last few years (slow learner) everytime I called for him to be rested. Given I kept hearing it was part of the Coach’s plan over past decade to manage players - but I could never find any instance that Hawkins was actually managed…

Maybe at 36 they finally do? But I have stopped calling for it

 

[SkittleCats]

Mate, we did Waverley in the 90s! Trains? pah! Traffic flow leaving the ground? What's "flow"? Mobile phone reception was pretty solid for the three people who had one, though.

(In all seriousness, I haven't done the drive to Kardinia since 2018, so I guess I can't really talk).

It took forever to get through the city and out to the highway after the game last week, more so than ive ever experienced. I put this down to the increased volume of traffic due to the new capacity but might have missed some other reason for the traffic issues.

 

[CHAWKTS]

I doubt it’ll happen but I wonder if COS is half a sneaky chance to get a game.

I’d think If he had a good VFL game this week that it would be a real possibility.

But probably unlikely given he didn’t play.

Very hard to argue with that…

 

[iameviljez]

It took forever to get through the city and out to the highway after the game last week, more so than ive ever experienced. I put this down to the increased volume of traffic due to the new capacity but might have missed some other reason for the traffic issues.

One of the reasons why I used to park on the other side of Latrobe in a side street, and get out via Newtown.

**** me I miss that trip out to Geelong. Great way to just forget your worries for a half-day.

 

[iameviljez]

I doubt it’ll happen but I wonder if COS is half a sneaky chance to get a game.

I’d think If he had a good VFL game this week that it would be a real possibility.

But probably unlikely given he didn’t play.

I can't see it happening in the first half of the year unless Kolo or SdK cop an injury.

 

[Catman]

If PFD is ready, do we bring him back this week or hold him back in the knowledge of the tough stretch following this week? Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne, Port and Gold Coast are all difficult matchups.

Surely he doesn't play this week.

 

[Catman]

Heads up to anyone traveling down this weekend: I was just on the vline site planning the trip down and found out there are no train services for Sunday, so if anyone else sees this you'll need to plan ahead...

If anyone from the club sees this you need to do better at liaising with Vline and working this out so we dont see this rubbish happen again. How can 40,000 people get to the game with buses replacing trains all weekend? Ive gone from planning the day down in Geelong to working out which pub ill watch the game at in Melbourne. Replacement buses arent good enough for the volume of people that are heading down there now for games.

I hate to say it, but im starting to wonder if going down for games is worth it. What with the issues with mobile phone reception, the lack of trains even when they do run (especially after night games), and the awful traffic flow leaving the ground, it seems like nobody from the city council, the trust or the club put any thought into what games with 40,000 people attending would actually need from a logistics perspective, which is bloody piss poor if you ask me. These arent teething issues, this is basic planning that shouldve been thought about well ahead of time. Everyone needs to do better here.

V/Line usually plan shutdowns around the footy, so you'll find they don't have much of a say in this one as it's a Rail Projects Victoria decision and generally these things are planned months and months in advance, well before the fixture is released.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Agree with the premise but the timeline is pretty stretched. By a few years you're meaning Conway won't run out games until he's 24 or so (2028 season)?

I'd be hoping for more like 2026, with help from Blicavs until then. Maybe by 2026 Neale will be a secondary ruck to compliment his forward duties? It's a ghastly thought given how poor his ruckwork is, but post Blicavs we'll need another option.

I think we'll see COS end up as the one who replaces Blitz a bit.

A bit like Blitz where he's got one clear best position, but we'll use him as swiss army knife wherever he's needed.

I don't think it's a coincidence that the two players we wanted most last year where COS & Curtin.

Finding another Blitz is close to impossible, but those two have the talent and similar flexibility as 200cm players who can play anywhere, so it's clear that we're going to try our best find the next unicorn.

 

[cats_09]

It took forever to get through the city and out to the highway after the game last week, more so than ive ever experienced. I put this down to the increased volume of traffic due to the new capacity but might have missed some other reason for the traffic issues.

They’re in the process of duplicating the train line between South Geelong & Waurn Ponds - our Rnd 1 match against St Kilda coincided with the Swanston St rail crossing being closed which would have seen additional traffic utilising Yarra St for those trying to get through the city. The traffic on Fyans St & roads leading into it was also crazy

The other thing that’s going to be having a significant impact on street traffc & where people are able to park is that the bulk of South Geelong Station carpark is closed - it’s only the extension which is opened, and with the reconfiguration of that it also feels like it holds less vehicles than previously

And also last time was no parking at the Footy ground either - so when you close 2 main carparking options, it’ll see an increase in vehicles trying to park on the surrounding streets, and after matches that will mean increasing traffic trying to utilise the minimal available streets

 

[cats_09]

Re the upcoming Vline disruption:

Due to V/Line annual maintenance and infrastructure works, coaches replace trains on the Geelong Line for all or part of the journey from Saturday 13 to Sunday 21 April.

Geelong v North Melbourne​

14/04/2024 1:00:00 PM, GMHBA​

Geelong Line

Before the game:

Coaches replace all trains between Wyndham Vale and Waurn Ponds. Trains will run between Southern Cross and Wyndham Vale.

Extra train - departs Southern Cross at 10.45am. This train will stop at Footscray, Sunshine, Deer Park, Tarneit, arriving at Wyndham Vale at 11.19am.

Express coaches - will depart from the Southern Cross coach bay at 10am. Coaches will run express to South Geelong Station.

After the game:

Coaches replace all trains between Waurn Ponds and Wyndham Vale. Trains will run between Wyndham Vale and Southern Cross.

Extra train - departs Wyndham Vale at 5pm. This train will stop at Tarneit, Deep Park, Sunshine, Footscray, arriving at Southern Cross at 5.37pm.

Express coaches - will depart from the South Geelong coach bay at 3.45pm. Coaches will run express to Southern Cross Station.

Please note, express coach services will not appear in the journey planner.

What to expect at South Geelong Station

Please be aware that due to construction work at South Geelong Station, there will be changes to pedestrian pathways and road access.

While coaches will run as usual to and from South Geelong, detours will be in place and the temporary coach pick up/drop off zone is expected to be very busy.

If travelling home from South Geelong after the game, please allow extra time for your journey home.
Traffic management and customer service staff will be on site to assist passengers.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

You know who I miss?

That North guy who baked snakes. I remember how adamant he was that we were finished in like 2019 and that North was the future.

Fun times

 

[CatRiot]

I’d like to see Oisin back, I know he’s still learning the game but his speed off half back is juicy and something we missed in the last quarter verse the Dogs & he’s going to be a Hell of a player

I thought he was very good last week, surprised he was omitted actually.

 

[SkittleCats]

V/Line usually plan shutdowns around the footy, so you'll find they don't have much of a say in this one as it's a Rail Projects Victoria decision and generally these things are planned months and months in advance, well before the fixture is released.

The fixture was released in October (i think), it is now April, im sorry but this shouldnt have happened. They have had the last 3 weeks to do it, and the next 3 weeks after to do it as well (never mind the fact that this weekend no footy was played in Victoria, which wouldve been a perfect time to do it). Instead they pick the 1 weekend when 40,000 people are trying to work out how to get to South Geelong...It needs to be better than this now.

I guarantee they wont have enough buses for the crowd, wait times will be huge, and especially after the game, the bus pick up zone will be a nightmare. All issues that couldve been avoided if some thought had actually gone into this.

 

[CatRiot]

If PFD is ready, do we bring him back this week or hold him back in the knowledge of the tough stretch following this week? Brisbane, Carlton, Melbourne, Port and Gold Coast are all difficult matchups.

Surely he doesn't play this week.

Rest.

Btw, those 5 games are tough indeed. We could go from 5-0 to 5-5.

 

[cats_09]

The fixture was released in October (i think), it is now April, im sorry but this shouldnt have happened. They have had the last 3 weeks to do it, and the next 3 weeks after to do it as well (never mind the fact that this weekend no footy was played in Victoria, which wouldve been a perfect time to do it). Instead they pick the 1 weekend when 40,000 people are trying to work out how to get to South Geelong...It needs to be better than this now.

I guarantee they wont have enough buses for the crowd, wait times will be huge, and especially after the game, the bus pick up zone will be a nightmare. All issues that couldve been avoided if some thought had actually gone into this.

Even if they started this weekend it would impact the match next weekend - it’s 8 days of work

They couldn’t have started last weekend due to the public holidays around Easter, and the preference would be to minimise the number of work days impacted they there’d be more people commuting each day for work than there would be for catching the train from Melbourne for 1 football match

Trust me I totally get the frustration around it - last year it was reverse where Geelong was playing in Melbourne during the annual maintenance period of work. But there would have been a lot more trying to catch buses from the various Geelong stations trying to get to Wyndham to catch the train to Melbourne, than we’ll see trying to head down from Melbourne on Sunday

There’s never a time of conducting these works that won’t cause interruptions to something

 

[Turbocat]

Games into kids ..probably more important if we are to try to maintain the highest health for the key players on our list.

The funny thing about rotation policy is that ist has never applied to Hawk who is our oldest player.

After North ... our next games are Lions, Blues, Dees , Port.. I suspect someone gets rested this week

 

[catempire]

Don’t really mind who misses but we need to find a way to play Neale and Conway. I’d probably try to get Mannagh in too.

 

[SkittleCats]

Trust me I totally get the frustration around it - last year it was reverse where Geelong was playing in Melbourne during the annual maintenance period of work. But there would have been a lot more trying to catch buses from the various Geelong stations trying to get to Wyndham to catch the train to Melbourne, than we’ll see trying to head down from Melbourne on Sunday

Ideally theyd do it when we play interstate, but that apparently is beyond our capacity to do for some reason...

My concern is that with the new capacity, they wont have planned for that either. So getting from Wyndham Vale to Geelong and vice versa is going to be an extra hassle ontop of what it normally would be, as there will be way more people waiting for the buses. I hope im wrong there though.

I get that there are mitigating factors for this, but im so ****ing tired of works getting in the way of easily predictable things like this. It wouldnt take much to avoid this kind of thing affecting anybody, i.e doing the works this week and opening the line back up on Sunday. It was Gather Round so no footy in Melbourne this weekend, and it's still school holidays.

 

[bulletproof]

Don’t really mind who misses but we need to find a way to play Neale and Conway. I’d probably try to get Mannagh in too.

But there are no easy games in the AFL. Do you not believe Chris Scott?

 

[you pick one]

IMO alternating Stanley/Conway would be ideal, give 100% knowing you’ve got a week off given where they are both at. No VFL. Can’t play together, this would have them both cherry ripe for September.

Sounds good in principle but nothing has you performing at your best more than someone hot on your tail wanting your job, let the big fellowes fight it out for the honor of number 1 ruck, spell stanley when he needs it physically or form drops off. The odd game to Conway like this week I'd be on board with I think that is beneficial to all involved given the opposition this week and the week after against Lions with Stanley back.