Geelong "arrogant" or fearful?

[Lunchlady Doris]

The only team playing shithouse football on Friday night was the Cats. Our third quarter was sensational, five goals for the quarter in wet conditions whilst keeping Geelong scoreless.

It's obvious your just bitter because we didn't allow you to play the free running downhill skiing football you like to play. When you finally come up against some decent opposition that makes you look ordinary you bitch and moan and say we play shithouse anti football.

I think you'll find it's not just me. It's woeful. Flood 16-17-18 men into the opposition forwardline, then try and do it in your own forwardline. Can't imagine what it's like for you to have to watch that every weekend.

 

[Hybrid7]

Hybrid is partially right, Taylor does beat Riewoldt whenever they play on a wet track like the one on Friday night when no tall forward could do anything.

Ha ha, thanks for the partially

Nah, I am not bagging out the saints, they did play the better game on friday night - and they deserved to win - dont get me wrong.

But saying that Riewoldt is a bigger out than 4 Geelong all australians is just crap.

 

[fpm84]

St Kilda was missing its captain/best player and one of its most important players in Gram.

Geelong was missing two of its best performed players of the year in Chapman and Kelly, both likely to make the AA squad/team. Geelong was also missing Ottens, Hawkins, Corey and Rooke, all of whom had a postive influence in the grand final.

There's no point arguing over which team's outs were worse - we should just acknowledge that neither team was at full strength and if we meet again in the finals both teams will be significantly different. For example, Steven kicked 3 against us, but do any Saints fans think he's a walk up start in the finals?

Both teams have reason to be confident when facing each other, which can only lead to another classic grand final if we both make it that far.

 

[MinerBoy]

I think you'll find it's not just me. It's woeful. Flood 16-17-18 men into the opposition forwardline, then try and do it in your own forwardline. Can't imagine what it's like for you to have to watch that every weekend.

Correct. Your description as anti-football is perfect.

 

[fpm84]

Hybrid is partially right, Taylor does beat Riewoldt whenever they play on a wet track like the one on Friday night when no tall forward could do anything.

It annoys me whenever the conditions are used as a way to justify how good Harry T was in the grand final.

The fact is that Harry has played on Riewoldt four times and has a better record on him than most other defenders.

In four games v Geelong/Taylor since 2008, Riewoldt has kicked 8 goals. Two of these games have been at Etihad and two have been finals at the MCG. Taylor matches up well on Riewoldt, and an average of 2 goals a game v Geelong over the past two years is nothing special for Riewoldt given what a great player he is.

 

[The Punter]

We were missing Riewoldt and Gram. Also missing were Dawson and Clarke, but the way the defence played on Friday night rendered that pretty ineffectual.

What are Rooke's chances of coming back? At a Kelly level or Egan level? Any player unlikely to return should not be listed as missing.

Ross Lyon said something on Saturday night (on Before The Game) to the effect that Jack Steven almost played in the Grand Final. He senses something I have sensed: Steven has the Big Game Performer DNA. He almost debuted in a final in 2008.

Just remember guys, if Steven Baker was deciding Steven Johnson's penalty for Friday night, Johnson would be playing next week. While I don't defend Baker's attempts to hit Johnson in the hand away from the ball (trying to smash the shit out of it when going for a marking contest is fair game), Baker neither asks or gives any quarter. His off the ball tactics are a matter for the umpires, who remain a f**king mystery as to how they'll adjudicate anything.

On FPM's point, Taylor has clearly won the two MCG battles with Riewoldt, but Riewoldt has at least 10 marks and 3 goals in both games at Etihad. What I really want to see is a dry deck at the MCG in September for the deciding fifth battle.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

On FPM's point, Taylor has clearly won the two MCG battles with Riewoldt, but Riewoldt has at least 10 marks and 3 goals in both games at Etihad. What I really want to see is a dry deck at the MCG in September for the deciding fifth battle.

Taylor was also very good on Riewoldt early 2008 (Rd 4?) after Roo smashed Harley in the first quarter. Beautiful sunny day form memory.

 

[The Punter]

I can't dispute you on that observation, Doris. A look at the stats indicates that Riewoldt had a reasonable day by his standards (11 marks, 3 goals), and a very good day by just about anyone else's.

I think the Taylor/Riewoldt judgement is incomplete until they play on a dry day (Riewoldt's preference) away from the Docklands (Taylor's preference).

 

[Hybrid7]

What are Rooke's chances of coming back? At a Kelly level or Egan level? Any player unlikely to return should not be listed as missing.

I agree, I dont know why it keeps getting bought up because its doubtful he will play again this season, and he had good tackling impact but has nowhere the impact of Chappy, Kelly, Ottens and Corey.

And it would be very interesting to see a dry grand final against these two sides both with fully fit lists, although I just keep getting this feeling that its going to be a hawks cats grand final. Dont know why....

 

[witsend]

I agree, I dont know why it keeps getting bought up because its doubtful he will play again this season, and he had good tackling impact but has nowhere the impact of Chappy, Kelly, Ottens and Corey.

And it would be very interesting to see a dry grand final against these two sides both with fully fit lists, although I just keep getting this feeling that its going to be a hawks cats grand final. Dont know why....

Rooke is being managed very careful in the hope of getting him ready for September. I can understand other teams not recognising his importance but I would have put him in our top 5-6 on GF day. Kicked the 1st and last goals as a defensive forward, and while being arguably our "hardest" player, is very fair and skilful. For an example of his value, watch his attack on the marking contest that led to Chapman's match-winning goal.
Unlike you, I still see a Cats v Saints GF as most likely.

 

[The Punter]

I just want to state for the record that I believe Rooke to be a very valuable member of any team he plays in. Would love him at St Kilda.

But after last year hearing Hawthorn supporters talk about "Croad missing" when he was indisputedly never going to play again from the moment he walked off the MCG on Grand Final Day 2008, when a player suffers a career ending injury you need to put a line through him and start planning for life after he's gone.

I had heard some bad stuff about Rooke's injury, and his bruising style and previous history made me ask the question. I've heard better news about Ottens, but would also not be surprised if his return never eventuated.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

I can't dispute you on that observation, Doris. A look at the stats indicates that Riewoldt had a reasonable day by his standards (11 marks, 3 goals), and a very good day by just about anyone else's.

I think the Taylor/Riewoldt judgement is incomplete until they play on a dry day (Riewoldt's preference) away from the Docklands (Taylor's preference).

Yeah, I believe all 3 goals came in the first quarter, Harley couldn't get near him.

 

[Hybrid7]

Rooke is being managed very careful in the hope of getting him ready for September. I can understand other teams not recognising his importance but I would have put him in our top 5-6 on GF day. Kicked the 1st and last goals as a defensive forward, and while being arguably our "hardest" player, is very fair and skilful. For an example of his value, watch his attack on the marking contest that led to Chapman's match-winning goal.
Unlike you, I still see a Cats v Saints GF as most likely.

Oh I agree totally, and I hope he can get back in time for finals and be in good form.
But I dunno if he will get there and for the sake of forming a basis of a solid arguement with saints supporters about who is more valuable I think he should be left out.

And yeah, Sants Cats is most likely, just saying that I have this strange feeling that the Hawks may be there come finals time. Dunno why though.

 

[dymmot]

The only team playing shithouse football on Friday night was the Cats. Our third quarter was sensational, five goals for the quarter in wet conditions whilst keeping Geelong scoreless.

Your 4th quarter in your last game of last year was even better

 

[winty]

We're also missing Gram from our best 22, who was arguably BOG in last years GF.

I think the outs from Friday night were just about even in terms of impact.

Like I said in a thread on the Geelong board, we had the following players missing on Friday night (with the equivalent St.Kilda player in brackets):

- our number one ruckman (Gardiner)
- key forward/back up ruckman (Kosi)
- best clearance player (Hayes)
- best small forward (Milne)
- a player capable of playing forward, back or through the middle (Montagna)
- a defensive forward (Dempster).

To think missing six players playing those roles was even in impact on the Saints to be without a centre half forward who dives at the slightest hint of contact and a half back flanker who is proficient at kicking helicopter punts is delusional to say the least.

 

[Plugger35]

I think you'll find it's not just me. It's woeful. Flood 16-17-18 men into the opposition forwardline, then try and do it in your own forwardline. Can't imagine what it's like for you to have to watch that every weekend.

I think you might be exaggerating the amount of flooding we do. I don't have any problem watching our style of football either, I love the way we play under Lyon - tough, committed and generally winning football.

St Kilda has 40,000 members now, regularly draws big crowds to our games and we rate very well on TV so we can't be that bad to watch.

I'm thinking it's more a case of

 

[Hybrid7]

Get serious mate, you cant tell me that was a fantastic competitive game to watch friday night?
I havent seen that much flooding since New Orleans went under, it was bloody terrible and is lucky/fortunate no team has won a premiership playing that shit brand of football.

I dont care who they play that brand of football against, its still crappy and boring to watch.

 

[stats]

Get serious mate, you cant tell me that was a fantastic competitive game to watch friday night?
I havent seen that much flooding since New Orleans went under, it was bloody terrible and is lucky/fortunate no team has won a premiership playing that shit brand of football.

I dont care who they play that brand of football against, its still crappy and boring to watch.

And watching Geelongs brand of FreekickFootball is better...pffft

 

[Hybrid7]

And watching Geelongs brand of FreekickFootball is better...pffft

Last time I checked the umpires awarded free kicks, not the team.

And do you think the reason why they get free kicks is because they play contested football? No, surely not, you would have to take your saints eye patch off then wouldnt you

 

[mustafish]

And watching Geelongs brand of FreekickFootball is better...pffft

ummmmmmm.... yes!!!!!!!

 

[DangerHere]

And watching Geelongs brand of FreekickFootball is better...pffft

Watching Fast flowing / Attacking football >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Aints Anti Football

 

[MinerBoy]

Watching Geelong is infinitely better than watching St.Kilda.

They have no shortage of hard, tough, committed footballers either.

However, they don't need to resort to Chinese water torture in order to eek out a win. As much as I love to beat Geelong and enjoyed 2008 no end, I thank god for them that they arrived and ended the days of WCE and Sydney and the snooze fest AFL was turning into.

Hopefully St.Kilda never prevail in bringing that football back.

 

[Hybrid7]

Watching Geelong is infinitely better than watching St.Kilda.

They have no shortage of hard, tough, committed footballers either.

However, they don't need to resort to Chinese water torture in order to eek out a win. As much as I love to beat Geelong and enjoyed 2008 no end, I thank god for them that they arrived and ended the days of WCE and Sydney and the snooze fest AFL was turning into.

Hopefully St.Kilda never prevail in bringing that football back.

Its great to hear that from a supporter of another team.

I dont care who plays against what team or if it were another team that played the saints friday night, its still boring crap football that they play.

Its actually reassuring to see up and coming teams like Melbourne playing a Geelong brand of football instead of a StKilda brand - It means when my team gets past it there will still be exciting, flowing high scoring games to watch.

And chinese water torture about sums it up.

 

[STC]

I also noticed Neil Balme saying that what happens on the field stays on the field and he isn't fussed by Baker or Fisher's conduct. I also noticed Jimmy Bartel ignored questions about what Fisher did to his arm.

What's arrogant exactly about Bomber saying he doesn't approve of players targeting injured players? He's just defending his players, which any good coach should do.

Again, what seems in MT's mind fair treatment for Nick Riewoldt isn't ok when you're on the receiving end of it.

When did he say that?

 

[STC]

Yeah, I believe all 3 goals came in the first quarter, Harley couldn't get near him.

I also think he did a very reasonable job on him in round 14 last year. I realise Riewoldt had a great day but one on one Taylor had his measure - it seemed mostly that Riewoldt on the lead was too quick for him and he was slotting goals from outside 50. Not much a key defender can do if his opponent is taking marks outside 50 and kicking goals from there.