Preview Changes vs Cats in the Semi Final

Remove this Banner Ad

Glad to hear we’re chartering a flight to Melbourne. Hopefully they leave a couple of seats free for the kelly family on the return.
Makes sense. What I don't understand is why West Coast and Freo don't lease a plane between them and take a chartered flight for every away game. They've got the financial resources to do so.
 

Log in to remove this ad.

Damn pay wall.

Cats fans hoping their team will earn a second-week reprieve by being granted a home final in Geelong are set to be disappointed, with the AFL to schedule the cut-throat semi-final at the MCG.
Sam Landsberger, Herald Sun
Subscriber only
|
September 7, 2019 11:30am
Close

similars

Geelong’s hopes of hosting West Coast at GMHBA Stadium are dead in the water with the AFL expected to lock in Friday night’s semi-final at the MCG.
While the semi-final venues and exact timeslots won’t be confirmed by the AFL until after tonight’s qualifying final between Brisbane Lions and Richmond, a bumper crowd of 80,000 would be expected to watch the Cats and Eagles play off for a place in the preliminary final.
While West Coast’s cross-town rival Fremantle travelled to GMHBA Stadium for the 2013 qualifying final, the Cats’ hierarchy has since been left infuriated at being forced to host finals at the MCG.

Cats coach Chris Scott said after last night’s qualifying loss to Collingwood: “We’ve said our piece (on home finals). It’s clear and I’m not going to say it again”.
Geelong hosted West Coast in the 2011 preliminary final at the MCG, prevailing by 48 points in front of 59,455 fans on a sunny Saturday afternoon.
The two teams have not met at the MCG since. The Cats have won their past six meetings at Kardinia Park while the Eagles have won five of their past six meetings in Perth.
Joel Selwood’s Cats thumped West Coast at GMHBA Stadium earlier this year — but will have to face the Eagles at the MCG next week. Pic: AFL Photos


The Cats are in danger of becoming the first minor premier to be bundled out in straight sets since North Melbourne all the way back in 1983.
Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond star Nathan Brown said Cats players were defending the MCG as if it was the skinnier Geelong venue, hurting the team’s structures against Collingwood.

But dual All-Australian defender Tom Stewart was excited at the prospect of meeting the Eagles at the ground they won last year’s premiership.

“I would put a lot of money saying we’d be playing here (MCG),” Stewart said.

“I can’t speak for the other boys but I couldn’t care less.

“This is where you have to win games of footy, it’s an hour drive to get up to here, it’s the best ground in Australia so I love playing up here.”
 
Game was never moving away from the G, as wrong as that is for the #1 team.

Looking forward to the match, my arrogance and chest thumping has abated somewhat as Geelong will be keen to make amends after another shocking finals performance.

Lads need to be on from the first bounce!
 
I'm not sure Allen will be fit and even if he is, I'm not sure whether I'd want him displacing Waterman who at least seems to know how to play his role. As much as I love Allen. And from what RE said I'm doubting that Duggan will be good to go either.

So if Nelson is out, then I guess Rotham or maybe Cole. I've been one of Nelson's biggest defenders and you get some leeway for a first final but I thought he was garbage last night.

Would love to have Cameron back in the team somehow, just don't know who to drop for him.

Probably end up going with no changes.
I feel Cameron adds some class and x factor but we dont want too many changes
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Probable match-ups:

Hawkins-Barrass

Schofield has done the job previously but Barrass has the size to go with Hawkins. Watch the way Jordan Roughead nullified him last night - he gave him very little space and played it like an old-school one on one, focusing mostly on negating and leaving it to Howe and Moore to zone off and take intercept marks. Don’t think Barrass can afford to get too cute here. Give Hawkins the respect he deserves and be prepared to spoil rather than launch for the marks.

McGovern takes Ratugolea and Hurn takes Rohan. Ablett is the interesting one. Nelson definitely has the aggression and doggedness but does he have the size and smarts? I worry about him getting bullied by Ablett’s old man strength. Schofield might be a better option when Ablett is forward, with one of Redden or Shuey to pay him attention at stoppages.

Kennedy-Blicavs

Stanley comes back into the ruck to take on Nic Nat and Hickey, so Blicavs goes down back (which they should have done last night anyway). Can’t see them deviating from the Kennedy-Blicavs matchup after it worked for them last time. Kolodjashnij probably takes Darling, Taylor the resting ruck and Henry on Waterman. They’ll do their best to free up Tom Stewart but he’ll be responsible for either of Rioli or Ryan (probably more likely Ryan).

Dangerfield-Yeo

As has been said by others, Yeo and Danger head to head is our only real chance of quelling his influence. He was huge last night and almost dragged them over the line. He and Pendlebury played head to head for most of the night and were both influential. If Yeo can at least reduce his impact, that’s a great outcome. Hutchings should get the job on Kelly given he doesn’t have the size to go with Danger. Geelong tend not to really tag and with Duncan out, it’s a good chance for Shuey to have a big game
 
The AFL used to have an agreement with the MCG that, if there are finals in Victoria on any weekend, at least one of them has to be at the MCG.

If that is still in play, seeing as they won’t know whether Richmond will be playing next week, the AFL would contractually have to schedule the West Coast/Geelong game at the MCG.


The agreement initially was that at least 1 finals game had to be played at the MCG in each week of the finals. It was the reason we were robbed of a home final in both 1996 & 1999.

They then altered the agreement to a system where game credits can be banked, i.e. if additional games are played this year they can be used as credits for the future. But I don't think that lasted long.

The only contractual requirement at the moment is the Grand Final.
 
I'd be happy with no changes to be honest. Unlucky for Allen but I thought we looked well balanced. Why are people saying Masten out? He had a really solid game. Nelson could probably think himself lucky to stay in but the only one I'd bring in for him would be Rotham, not Duggan or Cole.
 
Happy for Allen to stay on the outer if Nic N’ Hick are working well together and Waterman is playing his role.

No coincidence that Josh Kennedy was able to get a bit more of a clear run at it without Allen there.
I don't think it's Allen's fault that JK has been getting hands to balls and dropping marks as well as missing set shots. The only thing that happened was that we had better deliver i50 thanks to Rioli and Shuey and JK got some confidence back.
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Preview Changes vs Cats in the Semi Final

Remove this Banner Ad

Back
Top