Review Geelong + Chris Scott make another Prelim at Ports expense

[year of the cat]

Yeah, maybe I'm a little harsh but I just don't see how and where his moniker comes from.

He was labelled it by Cal Twomey off the back of his u18 form. Seems it’s stuck. The guy has a lot of swagger and is as cocky as they come. With Ginni they will be despised by opposition fan bases for years! But appeal to the teens who love that sort of shit these days.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Sportsbet Sydney 4.00, Cats 4.20

Wish I had of screen shot only 24 hours before the odds of Cats going out in straight sets

 

[CHAWKTS]

I actually said that Watson would get a wizard's hat by the end of it. I thought he might even grab one during a goal celebration.

To be honest they are arrogant but I do think the whole fun police routine can get tiresome too. The players make themselves pantomime villains to opposition supporters when they do it, the individuals likely understand that, so as long as everything is done in good humour (including them copping it in a non-toxic way when they lose/stuff up) then it's fine.

Yep. I am trying not to be that grumpy old man…but they make it hard. And I hate the fact that the definitely grumpy old commentators are falling over themselves to say how great it is.

I actually don’t mind the celebration stuff - although glad our guys first thank their team mates when we celebrate… I just think unchecked it is becoming disrespectful. I am old school I know. But history tells me that this kind of behaviour isn’t in the end winning behaviour.

Can’t argue that it isn’t working for them now but…

Anyway I am not overly angry about it - but it makes me appreciate our young kids much much more.

 

[Cataholic]

He was labelled it by Cal Twomey off the back of his u18 form. Seems it’s stuck. The guy has a lot of swagger and is as cocky as they come. With Ginni they will be despised by opposition fan bases for years! But appeal to the teens who love that sort of shit these days.

It's a fine line to showboating.

I'm glad we're a little more humble and respectful.

That's classier.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Thought Bergman was their best player by a country mile, Ollie definitely needs to work on not allowing his man just to zone off and do as he pleases all night

I agree but to be fair Bergman is IMO a very under rated player. Other than a couple of Blitz kicks we look like we were avoiding kicking to Alir so a fair amount when Bergman and Ollie’s way. I think we as fans remember the ones that the opposition took but Ollie did contest a few that did lead to some goals (Jezza first). Not saying he won the position but just recognising that Bergman is good a little more advanced than Ollie right now.

In the same vain I don’t think Cats could have done anymore on JHF but at times he is just unstoppable. If he ended up in a good team he could easily do what Dusty did (In fact if he staying at North I reckon he would be contesting in a few years - at Port I think he will never be able to show his grand finals skills)

 

[BIGANT]

Any idea when our prelim will be scheduled? Friday or Saturday? Day or Night?

Who is our likely opponent ? I'm lost in the cross over.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Who is our likely opponent ? I'm lost in the cross over.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

It will come from the Sydney/GWS or Brisbane/Carlton side of the draw. If favourites win then it will be GWS…but of course favourites never win!

In terms of Saturday vs Friday that depends on who wins today in Sydney

If Sydney win we play Saturday. If GWS win we play Friday night (against Sydney/Brisbane/Carlton)

 

[Cataholic]

Who is our likely opponent ? I'm lost in the cross over.

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

We play the winner from the game played by the loser from Syd / GWS and the winner of Bris / Carlton

 

[maxy87]

Took me a little while to warm to him, but 100% agree now. I've been surprised how much I've liked him as captain.

I agree. He is one hundred percent leadership by example. I said to a few friends before the game that Danger would need to go ballistic for the Cats to be a chance. While I don’t think he went “ballistic” per se, he certainly wound the clock back about seven years. Some of his first and second efforts at the contest were elite and had a huge influence on the play.

As for the result - remarkable, really. Hard to tell how much of it was down to us or Port being mentally weak and having an unsophisticated game plan, but I really enjoyed the game. I thought that the defence held up really well early to block several forward forays where Port had players goal side ready to Joe the goose. From there I thought that Humphries and Duncan were instrumental in setting us up from half back and Holmes’ pace and long kicking was a game changer. Once we started playing through the smalls and getting it deeper inside 50 Port had no answer. But perhaps the lack of midfield pressure from Port facilitated this.

Another superb coaching effort from Chris Scott and we are now unbelievably playing off in another preliminary final..

 

[Cataholic]

I agree. He is one hundred percent leadership by example. I said to a few friends before the game that Danger would need to go ballistic for the Cats to be a chance. While I don’t think he went “ballistic” per se, he certainly wound the clock back about seven years. Some of his first and second efforts at the contest were elite and had a huge influence on the play.

As for the result - remarkable, really. Hard to tell how much of it was down to us or Port being mentally weak and having an unsophisticated game plan, but I really enjoyed the game. I thought that the defence held up really well early to block several forward forays where Port had players goal side ready to Joe the goose. From there I thought that Humphries and Duncan were instrumental in setting us up from half back and Holmes’ pace and long kicking was a game changer. Once we started playing through the smalls and getting it deeper inside 50 Port had no answer. But perhaps the lack of midfield pressure from Port facilitated this.

Another superb coaching effort from Chris Scott and we are now unbelievably playing off in another preliminary final..

Yeah, it's really hard to weight the merit of a win when you play witches hats.

Same with Hawthorn last night.

But I'll take it

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Doesn’t have to be covid - was reported the flu

Vaxxed friends who’ve had Covid, said Influenza A was far worse

 

[FootyLad0]

We play the winner from the game played by the loser from Syd / GWS and the winner of Bris / Carlton

At the MCG no less.
We want Blues to lose so we get a MCG Final against a non Vic team.

If one of Swans, Giants or Lions can travel to the MCG after playing two consecutive tough matchups in a row and beat us then hell they deserve to win the whole thing.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Sorry - going on a posting spree after reading fun things on X

Please, no apology cats09, loving all of them + finding Twitterers to follow

 

[cats_09]

It’s only his first season. To kick 4 in a final is a fair effort. Pretty confident though if we meet them in a few weeks he won’t get the same looks as he did last night.

Gets Bews to clamp down on him and he won't be having a happy night

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Aww Gryan was shy

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

Just watching the replay, great passage of play that included Dempsey's hanger.
Mullin wins the ground ball, gives to Guthrie, gives to Humphries, Dempsey mark, handball to Humphries, delivers to Neale for a shot on goal.

Just great stuff by the younger players in the team. They really took ownership on Thursday night and there was great synergy with the older players.

Also, Neale is a mountain, I'm pretty bullish on what he can achieve

 

[supahoops]

Sportsbet Sydney 4.00, Cats 4.20

We should be favourites based off Thursday night, no injuries and Swans possibly playing two games before facing us away in a Prelim. Crazy that we were what, $15 not that long ago..

 

[cats_09]

 

[Mr Meow]

Yep. I am trying not to be that grumpy old man…but they make it hard. And I hate the fact that the definitely grumpy old commentators are falling over themselves to say how great it is.

I actually don’t mind the celebration stuff - although glad our guys first thank their team mates when we celebrate… I just think unchecked it is becoming disrespectful. I am old school I know. But history tells me that this kind of behaviour isn’t in the end winning behaviour.

Can’t argue that it isn’t working for them now but…

Anyway I am not overly angry about it - but it makes me appreciate our young kids much much more.

Yeah I'm with you.

If that's their thing then go for it.

But I'm glad it isn't our thing. Very happy with the way our boys approach it.

 

[cats_09]

Yep. I am trying not to be that grumpy old man…but they make it hard. And I hate the fact that the definitely grumpy old commentators are falling over themselves to say how great it is.

I actually don’t mind the celebration stuff - although glad our guys first thank their team mates when we celebrate… I just think unchecked it is becoming disrespectful. I am old school I know. But history tells me that this kind of behaviour isn’t in the end winning behaviour.

Can’t argue that it isn’t working for them now but…

Anyway I am not overly angry about it - but it makes me appreciate our young kids much much more.

This is a copy & paste of an earlier comment I made in this thread:

"It's something that became very noticeable in 2022 & again last night compared with 2023 - when the team is happy, when the players are smiling & enjoying themselves is when they play their best football. **** being robots, being straight faced & emotionless all match - smile & be happy, as that's when our best football is played"

Watching the Holmes dancing in the rooms before the match, the guys celebrating the goals kicked & the win on Thursday night was great - but I also love that we seem to know how far to push the fun, in that we are seeing them being themselves, but they aren't crossing that imaginary line of that raises questions with some of their celebrations. Not sure I would have been totally sold on things if our guys were jumping onto the fence to celebrate with the fans on Thursday night, and instead would wonder if they were content with winning the QF and that whatever happens from here is a bonus type thing

I didn't watch much of the finals series last year, but watching it in 2022 there was a few things that stood out to me during that period:
- We had fun & enjoyed ourselves during the game, but as soon as that final siren sounded it was back to serious & business mode. I remember some complaining that our boys weren't singing the song loud enough after our wins, but you could see this determination that they had unfinished business

- Brisbane got that surprise win over Melbourne in the semi-final at the MCG, and post match the 2nd gamer Darcy Wilmot went on almost a lap around the MCG celerbrating the win. Could see the emotion after a well fought out win, and it was almost like that was their grand final win

- Similar with Sydney in their Prelim win over Collingwood in which they held on by 1 point and the emotions on display when that final siren sounded

In both those cases, the thing from there is reigning in that emotion & having to reset for the Prelim or the Grand Final the next week, and i just don't think either Brisbane or Sydney really got that focus back after such emotional wins, while we seemed fully focused on the job at hand


Both Port & Hawthorn will have something to prove for different reasons next week - can Port reset, refocus & play the way we've seen them play throughout the later periods of the season. Or can Hawthorn continue on the emotional charge that they're clearly playing on, or will it catch up with them in finals?

 

[Pollywaffle]

When I talk about another gun midfielder I'm still thinking of the post Dangerfield landscape. Also that Smith isn't over the line yet. So if he was the first...one more to take over once Dangerfield is gone.

I haven't completely given up on Guthrie but am not counting him in any plans until evidence to the contrary. Plus he's still near the end anyway.

I agree that the weakness in our midfield has been overstated though. At least since Dangerfield returned and we moved Stewart in there.

I reckon we have 2 midfields. That is our secret weapon.
We have the usual centre square type guys you mentioned but also a highly skilled and mobile secondary midfield composed of Stengle, Miers, Mannagh and Close who cover ground, pressurise, create and act as outlets as well as kicking goals. A nightmare for other sides to counter. I cannot think of another team off the top of my head that has that luxury..

 

[Mr Meow]

Thought Bergman was their best player by a country mile, Ollie definitely needs to work on not allowing his man just to zone off and do as he pleases all night

I rewatched the game yesterday and always look more carefully at match ups through the game.

It's wrong to say that Henry/Bergman was a 100% match up. Port were going with a rolling defence and Bergman was the one they were trying to use as a spare. The closest we had to complete 1v1 battles were BZT/Neale and Allir/Cameron but even they weren't consistent.

Now of course there were still a number of Henry/Bergman 1v1s. From those Henry was outmarked in a contest only a couple of times. There were a couple where the kick was simply awful and Bergman took it uncontested. Then he had two intercept marks on other players.

Was Bergman good? I'd say he was, although he was the one tracking a number of players when they had scoring shots. Henry, Stengle, Cameron etc. Defensively he offered nothing.

Henry himself could've had a bag of 3 or 4 goals on another night. He had 2 that just barely missed and then 1 that pushed wide and didn't make the distance. He also handed off a soda goal for Close who missed with his snap. Ollie had 7 score involvements and with how deep he plays, score involvements are usually the direct ones - either a shot by him, or a shot by a team mate. 1 goal and 1 goal assist doesn't look overly impressive but he was in a position to have 3 goals and 3 goal assists. If our forwards are doing that then the opposition spare having a lot of non-damaging rebounding is something I can live with.

If you look at the Port defenders quite a few racked them up. They lost the battle though as our forwards all got off the chain, found plenty of the ball but actually created a shit tonne of good chances.

 

[Mr Meow]

I reckon we have 2 midfields. That is our secret weapon.
We have the usual centre square type guys you mentioned but also a highly skilled and mobile secondary midfield composed of Stengle, Miers, Mannagh and Close who cover ground, pressurise, create and act as outlets as well as kicking goals. A nightmare for other sides to counter. I cannot think of another team off the top of my head that has that luxury..

Yeah it was even more obvious on a replay that we were supplying one or sometimes two forward flankers to the around the ground stoppages. Which is exactly what we need to be doing as they are elite at what they do. Also they really help with our pressure game to stop clean opposition breakaways.

I find it kind of interesting that we weren't doing this mid year, and I'm not sure we had ever done it as heavily as on Thursday night. Is Scott really wily enough to have had this as our secret weapon, ready for finals? Either that or they simply saw how we were getting destroyed at the source and crafted a solution.

Hawthorn did similar last night and Footscray couldn't deal with it. Harassed into mistakes or scrappy disposals when they had it. Then unable to stop the quick hands and damaging possession chains without it. Their small forwards/utilities aren't as elite as ours but they are fully on board with the team hunting mentality. If the Hawks bring that against Port, it's hard to see the Power having a solution.

 

[Maydok]

Greetings fellow Cat’s fans. Here’s my experiece from Thursday night, for those who might be interested, or can relate…

With a mixture of loosely held optimism and blind faith I decided to fly from NZ to see the game on Thursday. On the surface, surely a fool’s errand. My son had work, so I would be attending solo. And my last experiences at AO (both in 2017) are far from cherished memories.

I was buoyed by seeing the great man himself, Joel Selwood, on my connecting flight from Melbourne, but by the time I arrived at the hotel the Tom Stewart news had be wondering why I put myself through these things.

Nonetheless, I transformed myself from an average looking middle aged male to a resplendent human, full of both good taste and high intelligence, with the simple donning of a Cats cap, and the draping of a Geelong scarf around my neck. Chef’s kiss.

Out the window I saw a young family – Mum, Dad, and two daughters – walking along the footpath head to toe in blue and white, and I thought to myself, ‘at least there’s five of us.’

Out on the street I spotted more. Far more than I expected. Strangers swapped looks of recognition and appreciation to see we were out in some kind of force in enemy territory. A kid of about twenty in a Geelong jumper gave me the thumbs up, a beaming smile, and directions to the ground. Thanks son.

As I stood in line for a beer a group of three Port supporters were harping on about their midfield. ‘Nah mate, our midfield will be too good.’ They almost sounded like they were trying convince themselves, I thought. Like they were the nervous ones.

I made my way up to Bay 332 and took my seat amongst a decent scattering of blue and white. The faithful. The crazy ones. The ones that could get two days off work.

Within 30 seconds I sensed something was up. Not something special, or as incredible as what transpired, but at least that we might throw a punch. A punch or two is all a fan can ask for, right?

However, the night turned into a collection of memories I will not soon forget. I spent as much of the game off my feet as I did with ass on my seat; my hands on my head in disbelief, as often as my fist was pumping holes in the Adelaide air.

As soon as the ball left Cameron’s foot the sound came from the Cats fan’s behind the goals telegraphing genius. Surely not, I thought, but the sound only got louder and louder until it was all around me.

I counted three contests in the first half that looked like a certain Port mark or F50 turnover, that Humphries sprinted to and turned into a stoppage, or a behind. Yes, he’s a stunning kick, yes he’s composed, but he knows his first job is to defend.

By quarter time, I was proud, but worried. Had we missed too many chances? But instantly, Max Holmes took Zac Butters on a run around the wing that was almost laughable. I laughed anyway.

We turned Port into what I’ve seen lesser Geelong sides become in high pressure finals of yesteryear. Lost and nervous. We sucked them of all confidence. By the end, we had a party. Dempsey took a speccy on the wing. Stengle stole the ball out of someone’s pocket. Mannagh dominated. Our defence was rock solid. Max Holmes took a run from full back and took four bounces. Oh, okay, is that what we’re doing now?

I went down to join two bays of Cats fans by the race to cheer the boys off. Geelong teams keep it pretty low key when it comes to celebrations, and the club song, but these players faces were beaming. They knew what they’d done. And what might come. Six of them said, if this if final’s football, give me more.

I walked back to the hotel counting my lucky stars I barrack for the best club in the AFL. The next day a guy that looked a helluva lot like Jed Bews

24

Jed Bews

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.9

3star

K

6.1

2star

HB

4.8

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

MG

178.2

3star

D

9.5

2star

K

7.5

3star

HB

2.0

1star

M

2.3

2star

T

1.7

3star

MG

205.8

3star

D

8.8

3star

K

3.8

2star

HB

5.0

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

3.2

5star

walked past me in the airport. Then I saw Jack Henry

38

Jack Henry

Age

26

Ht

192cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

10.3

3star

K

7.3

3star

HB

2.9

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.2

4star

MG

142.6

2star

D

8.6

2star

K

6.7

3star

HB

1.9

1star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.1

3star

MG

142.6

3star

D

9.6

3star

K

7.0

3star

HB

2.6

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

4star

waiting for a coffee. Then one after the other they all piled out of the Virgin lounge, one legend after another, and I thought to myself, you know Adelaide’s not such a bad place after all.

 

[No Quarter]

Little respect will be paid to Port this week and I think that is a dangerous thing.

Conversely, I hope that Geelong don't get too confident either.