Autopsy Geelong loses to PA in QF2 by about 6 goals.

[Poetic Justice]

I would really love the coaches to make a little statement and drop Henderson for Krueger. The backline was a big issue that Krueger won’t solve by himself but Hendo was terrible.
I assume Tuohy will come in for O’Connor which is a small gain.

Really it’s the midfield where we lost most of all and we don’t have players to come in and replace those that underperformed. We'll have to back in most of the players to perform better.

I wasn’t confident going into the game after last week. It seems like last week smashed the confidence of the group.

If we lose next week it certainly won’t be a big clean out like some are suggesting but it should be time to put games into some players like Kreuger and Dekoning.

You kinda have to make calls about O'Connor and players like Dahlhouse before you consider Henderson.

 

[Turbocat]

I don't think Hawkins really can compete in the air anymore - good at using his big body to out-position and out-muscle opponents, but he can't jump and rarely gets his arms above his head.

That'd be ok if we had a player or two who can regularly bring the ball to ground in those types of contests.

We do have one of those types, but he wasn't in the side.

I have thought that for a while. It may go back to when he was tunnelled. The indicator was when being beaten this year by McKay and the others..., he three weeks where he was thrashed by players refusing to man up on him as he would have preferred One week we even pushed Henry forward because he could add some vertical to our game. Sav has vertical and not much else.

 

[Really_]

Aww gee you had me until your last line.
Can't like.

we need someone else who can mark in defense
we cant rely on hendo or blitz

 

[Play it Sam]

we need someone else who can mark in defense
we cant rely on hendo or blitz

That doesn't mean dropping Close.
Lowest common denominator standards last night, but his first quarter was exceptional.

 

[standupand]

can't agree with you on that SU& ... my personal take is that the game plan is good enough to beat the also-rans in H&A season but does not stand up to Finals intensity against quality opposition.

I mentioned earlier Kolodjashnij's lack of dare in the 1st quarter - not to single him out, but it was a stark example of a safety-first approach that has been deeply ingrained in our team.

Our ball movement from defense has been inviting opposition in all year long; we're just good enough to pull it off throughout the H&A season, but a good quick team like Port are on high-alert to pick those predictable, slow switch kicks off come finals - then once we start going ultra-short out of defense (e.g. Guthrie's near-grubber to Henderson I think it was early on) we put ourselves under pressure by not kicking the required distance, or with enough accuracy.

I will concede not having Tom Stewart and Zac Tuohy hurts us in this regard, but you can't carry such poor users by foot as Kolodjashnij, Blicavs & Bews and then try to enact a precision-kicking defensive style.

I think that once the gameplan starts to unravel we panic, which I can understand but it doesn't make it any easier to swallow.

Respect your opinion a lot Cursed and yep, we definitely need the right mix in the back six for things to work. For me Blitz doesn't belong there, though it was Hendo who had the shocker last night. When Blitz gets too deep in defence, it slows us up and invites pressure too often. I actually thought we were forced to kick long to a contest too frequently and this was because a lack of movement and lead-up options when we had the ball. The low tackle numbers killed us. We didn't bring any pressure and that says to me lack of intensity and workrate.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Similiar to how Wells isn't now the super recruiter he was 20 years ago. Who was the last young 18 yo he picked up in the draft that turned out to be a gun.

Wells rarely gets a crack at the pointy end Whit3y - anyway, Mackie is the man with that job now isn't he?

 

[Cursed Cat]

Recidivists deserve a good psychologist.
He's trying too hard.

Rohan fronting the selectors:

 

[cats_09]

Wells rarely gets a crack at the pointy end Whit3y - anyway, Mackie is the man with that job now isn't he?

Thought Wells was back in charge after he returned following his break

 

[Play it Sam]

Rohan fronting the selectors:

Hahaha., Didn't we just tell you not to do that?
Great movie too.

 

[nohairandfair]

Scarlett next coach though, more than likely.

Doubt it; he's adequate as a line coach (this could be debated) but doesn't have all the "trimmings" to deal with the media, boards, etc.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Respect your opinion a lot Cursed and yep, we definitely need the right mix in the back six for things to work. For me Blitz doesn't belong there, though it was Hendo who had the shocker last night. When Blitz gets too deep in defence, it slows us up and invites pressure too often. I actually thought we were forced to kick long to a contest too frequently and this was because a lack of movement and lead-up options when we had the ball. The low tackle numbers killed us. We didn't bring any pressure and that says to me lack of intensity and workrate.

can't disagree with those points... I maintain that the gameplan consistently unravels under finals pressure SU&, but your point re: upfield players not providing lead-up targets is definitely fair enough and you're right that does come down to workrate.

I don't think it's a sound plan either way as we have too many who aren't good users by foot.

Thought Wells was back in charge after he returned following his break

ah...

 

[nohairandfair]

Wells rarely gets a crack at the pointy end Whit3y - anyway, Mackie is the man with that job now isn't he?

And when he did, he valued character more than kicking.

 

[Cursed Cat]

I have thought that for a while. It may go back to when he was tunnelled. The indicator was when being beaten this year by McKay and the others..., he three weeks where he was thrashed by players refusing to man up on him as he would have preferred One week we even pushed Henry forward because he could add some vertical to our game. Sav has vertical and not much else.

A Henry for each end (and one for the odd run in the ruck) would be very handy.

Hawkins has enough strings to his bow that he can compensate in other ways, but his lack of leap doesn't help bring it to ground when he has players drifting across his wrestling matches.

 

[Cursed Cat]

That doesn't mean dropping Close.
Lowest common denominator standards last night, but his first quarter was exceptional.

Thought he was one of our best, for what it was worth - not bad for his first final.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Put some speed on the game and make it chaotic, ramp up pressure, close down Geelong's space so they can't control the ball and have time in posession. Create back half turnovers.. That's how to beat Geelong. Everone knows this, so what's our plan B?

Control the ball. Control the game.
Win the contested possession battle. Win the clearances. Forward 50 pressure.
It is a very simple plan. Except when players skills, effort, timing, endeavour and decision making is down.
If you cant do those things, well at least 3 of them your plan B Plan C and Plan D don't matter too much.

 

[Partridge]

And when he did, he valued character more than kicking.

Pity the sport is called football and not feelings.

 

[cats_09]

can't disagree with those points... I maintain that the gameplan consistently unravels under finals pressure SU&, but your point re: upfield players not providing lead-up targets is definitely fair enough and you're right that does come down to workrate.

I don't think it's a sound plan either way as we have too many who aren't good users by foot.



ah...

Regarding Wells, Mackie & co - I get the impression that Mackie is more involved in the list management/current players side of things, and not as involved in the recruitment side of it

This was from one of the articles earlier this year when it was announced Wells would be taking a break. Obviously subsequent to this, Troy finished at the club to take up a position at Collingwood (one he's also walked away from), and not sure if someone has come in to replace Troy or if we've shuffled the deck chairs

*Triple premiership defender Andrew Mackie and Cats football operations and compliance manager Simon Murphy will share responsibilities managing the club's list and be overseen by head of football Simon Lloyd.

And Talent ID manager Troy Selwood and fellow recruiter Liam Woodland will take the lead on the Cats' recruiting.*

Cats list guru steps down, triple flag hero to help fill void

The man behind some of Geelong's biggest recruiting coups, Stephen Wells, is set for a new role

www.afl.com.au

 

[Chinacats]

Control the ball. Control the game.
Win the contested possession battle. Win the clearances. Forward 50 pressure.
It is a very simple plan. Except when players skills, effort, timing, endeavour and decision making is down.
If you cant do those things, well at least 3 of them your plan B Plan C and Plan D don't matter too much.

Yeah that's the point . It's hard to control the ball when the pressure is cranked up and there is no space and time. No free players available to kick to when they're manned up. So we just kick slowly down the line to Allir ...

 

[Cursed Cat]

Regarding Wells, Mackie & co - I get the impression that Mackie is more involved in the list management/current players side of things, and not as involved in the recruitment side of it

This was from one of the articles earlier this year when it was announced Wells would be taking a break. Obviously subsequent to this, Troy finished at the club to take up a position at Collingwood (one he's also walked away from), and not sure if someone has come in to replace Troy or if we've shuffled the deck chairs

*Triple premiership defender Andrew Mackie and Cats football operations and compliance manager Simon Murphy will share responsibilities managing the club's list and be overseen by head of football Simon Lloyd.

And Talent ID manager Troy Selwood and fellow recruiter Liam Woodland will take the lead on the Cats' recruiting.*

Cats list guru steps down, triple flag hero to help fill void

The man behind some of Geelong's biggest recruiting coups, Stephen Wells, is set for a new role

www.afl.com.au

Well we can afford to take the time to sort it out considering we'll have bugger all to take to the draft anyway this year ..

 

[cats_09]

One thing I found kinda funny (not necessarily haha funny) in the aftermath of last nights loss is that so often over recent years, one of the criticisms around team selection has been talking too many defenders into matches

Maybe we could have used 1 extra defender last night - we want into the match without Stewart & Tuohy, 2 guys who would have been in the 22 if fit and most likely alongside the other defenders named in last nights team. When O'Connor went off injured in the second quarter, we were suddenly missing 3 players who regularly run through our defensive unit, and based on last nights 22 there was no easily identifiable switch

I know we moved Rohan down back, and considering the lack of impact he was having up forward until they point, it wasn't the worse option and he did look better in the second half than he did in the first

If Tuohy's right to go, no doubt he'll come in next week for O'Connor, but wonder if they'll pull the trigger and maybe also bring in Zuth to have that one extra defender in the team, or has Rohan found a new home for the finals?

 

[BotsMaster]

33 pages of analysis already. Sheesh

 

[you pick one]

One thing I found kinda funny (not necessarily haha funny) in the aftermath of last nights loss is that so often over recent years, one of the criticisms around team selection has been talking too many defenders into matches

Maybe we could have used 1 extra defender last night - we want into the match without Stewart & Tuohy, 2 guys who would have been in the 22 if fit and most likely alongside the other defenders named in last nights team. When O'Connor went off injured in the second quarter, we were suddenly missing 3 players who regularly run through our defensive unit, and based on last nights 22 there was no easily identifiable switch

I know we moved Rohan down back, and considering the lack of impact he was having up forward until they point, it wasn't the worse option and he did look better in the second half than he did in the first

If Tuohy's right to go, no doubt he'll come in next week for O'Connor, but wonder if they'll pull the trigger and maybe also bring in Zuth to have that one extra defender in the team, or has Rohan found a new home for the finals?

If they bring Zuthrie in I'm loading up on the Sydney side.

 

[Spazz Cat]

If they bring Zuthrie in I'm loading up on the Sydney side.

I never thought I'd ever say this. But I think we should play Zuthrie next week.
In a final!
He was in form and building at the end. Not declining.

 

[Poetic Justice]

I never thought I'd ever say this. But I think we should play Zuthrie next week.
In a final!
He was in form and building at the end. Not declining.

Also think they could consider bringing in Sav and pushing Rohan in to that rebounding defender role they attempted in H2 last night.

Then again I said Sav wouldn't play again in 21, who knows what they're thinking.

They'll go unnamed but for MOC because "we back ourselves in"

 

[darren forssman]

We need to recruit some blokes who are good penetrating kicks! Smith stood out like a beacon with his ability to at least get distance. But some of our blokes seem to top it out at 40 metres and it's just not enough in Finals.

Yep, a big problem is the lack of depth in kicking on the team and also the ability to hit targets or kick to advantage under pressure.