Game Day Geelong V Doggies Fri Aug 28 750 pm @ Metricon

[cats_09]

Terry Wallace believes Geelong’s forward line functions better without Ratugolea in the side.

“I think most of us really like Esava Ratugolea’s potential, but is he in their best side? I don’t think he’s in their best side at the moment,” Wallace told SEN’s The Match Committee.

“I think that they work and play better when he’s not in the side at the moment.

“He just can’t find the footy. When he’s not playing, I think Hawkins gets more space and becomes a better player.

“You’re more inclined to get Dangerfield going through there, more room for (Gary) Rohan and I just think that the dynamic of it is better when he’s not in the side than when he actually is in the side.

“Now, that doesn’t mean you’re throwing him out of your footy club. You keep developing him and you keep hoping that he can become the player that obviously Geelong believe that he can.

“But right where we stand at the moment – you’re trying to win a premiership, so you’re picking the best side to give you an opportunity to win this year’s flag.

“And at the moment I just don’t think that Esava Ratugolea is in their best team.”

Why Geelong’s forward line functions better without big man

"I don’t think he’s in their best side at the moment."

www.sen.com.au

 

[Moggy]

Feeling pretty confident about today. Reckon we can stifle their attack and leave them a bit toothless.
Wallace has been great, but unless he kicks 5, we win - and I think we have the defence to keep him, and the young big bloke pretty quiet.

 

[Sttew]

Why Geelong’s forward line functions better without big man

"I don’t think he’s in their best side at the moment."

www.sen.com.au

A bit like Hawkins in 07 - 2010.

 

[CabWesty]

Is this on Free to Air tonight?

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

I heard Sav went for more scans this week so he is battling an injury at the moment, so we should cut him some slack.

 

[cats_09]

Is this on Free to Air tonight?

Yep - on channel 7 tonight, pregame coverage starts at 7:30

 

[Live in hope]

Expect -

• Easton Wood as third man on Hawkins or cutting across leads.
• Pressure on Geelong’s switching and usual Dogs swarming and the quick direct attack from half back.
• Parfitt on the Bont
• Bont, Dunkley, Smith and Naughton to cause problems

Don’t be surprised to see -

- semi tag on Cuthrie and Blitz​

• Tag team (more than one, given his fitness) on Menegola

Doggies are a massive challenge- IMO they are a Tigers0.2 in terms of game style with talent, pressure and contested ball, with added speed. One more good draft/trade and another year’s more experience in the younger players away from being a powerhouse. (Their top NAG pick (Ugle-Hagan) is meant to be an absolute gun, so half the equation maybe already be in train).

Wouldn’t be surprised if if we have to win tough, relying on fitness to get us over the line.

 

[Down at K Park]

Is this on Free to Air tonight?

Yes.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Don’t agree on that. We just turned up for a clash with a winless bottom of the ladder team after a tough stretch of games and found it hard To become motivated. If it was Richmond the mentality would have been drastically more different so I don’t think you can draw comparisons like that.

Crows mates of mine both reckon that's the best 4 quarter pressure effort they had put in all season - TV "pressure index" seemed to back that up when they flashed it on the screen.
Good tune up for tonight I reckon

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I heard Sav went for more scans this week so he is battling an injury at the moment, so we should cut him some slack.

Jenkins a late change???

 

[Sttew]

I heard Sav went for more scans this week so he is battling an injury at the moment, so we should cut him some slack.

Even if he’s not injured his time will come. He’s a keeper

 

[Sttew]

Jenkins a late change???

As emergency?

 

[Cataholic]

Don’t agree on that. We just turned up for a clash with a winless bottom of the ladder team after a tough stretch of games and found it hard To become motivated. If it was Richmond the mentality would have been drastically more different so I don’t think you can draw comparisons like that.

The comparison is that Adelaide brought pressure, and once again we looked a bit fragile.

The point of difference is that Adelaide didn't have the skill to capitilse on our vulnerability, whereas I reckon Richmond would've.

Fair call I reckon.

But I also take your point about attitude. Fair enough.

But I'm still to be convinced that we won't crack quickly under genuine pressure, which has been a continuing flaw with our team for a few years now. Other teams know it, and the good ones have used it to good effect come finals.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

This we may drop this unfortunately.

 

[JohnZ]

Yep - on channel 7 tonight, pregame coverage starts at 7:30

Well technically 7pm on 7mate, first half hour isn't on 7 coz of BH+G

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Expect -

• Easton Wood as third man on Hawkins or cutting across leads.
• Pressure on Geelong’s switching and usual Dogs swarming and the quick direct attack from half back.
• Parfitt on the Bont
• Bont, Dunkley, Smith and Naughton to cause problems

Don’t be surprised to see -

- semi tag on Cuthrie and Blitz​

• Tag team (more than one, given his fitness) on Menegola

Doggies are a massive challenge- IMO they are a Tigers.2 in terms of talent, pressure and contested ball, with added speed. One more good draft and another year’s more experience in the younger players away from being a powerhouse. (Their top NAG pick (Ugle-Hagan)is meant to be an absolute gun, so half the equation maybe already be in train).

Wouldn’t be surprised if if we have to win tough, relying on fitness to get us over the line.

In all due respect - that is absolute crapp in my opinion

Carlton beat them fair and square by about 7 goals - i think the Blues are well placed going forward but are a long way off being a powerhouse

Doesnt mean Geel are certain to win tonight - but im hoping like hell that the Cats win - and win well

My only worry with Geel - is the bottom 4-5 players they have got in tonight Atkins ( lucky lucky boy ) Close Dallhouse Steven - you know if some of the better Geel players have down nights - those bottom 4-5 Geel players give Footscray a winning chance

 

[Chinacats]

Cats got an x on the back. Beverage would’ve went to school on how to stop stop us. Will Hayes in- maybe for a tag? Interesting that one.
We’ll get a good idea of what tricks teams have in stall for us.
Good test!

 

[gaz love x]

This is where we see if Steven is going to be good enough for us this season I think. Decent last week but in a drab performance against 18th. We'll see how good we really are around the ball tonight. My gut says we go down here but if we do come out with a strong performance through the midfield we'll be looking the goods.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Virgin Dog]

Their midfield is stacked and they are now all available and primed for pretty much the first time all year. We always seem to struggle against teams that have stacked and deep midfields. Collingwood, GWS, Rich, Syd.

Bont, Dunkley, Libber, MacRea, B, Smith and Hunter is an Agrade lineup. Better than ours tonight on paper. Need huge games again from Menegola, Guthrie, Steven and Parfitt with the usual from Danger and Duncs.

Having said that they are flat track bullies since 2016. They absolutely pig out against the garbage teams without doubt and historically struggle against the better ones

Trick is will they kick enough goals or stop enough. If we can break even in the middle we have the advantage at either end.

Yeah gotta disagree with that flat track bullies point. We always stick it up to sides like Geelong, Richmond, GWS, etc. but completely roll over to sides like Carlton, Gold Coast and Saints

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Huge game, cant wait!
If we continue on the form of the games against Saints and Port then I'm all for continuing with this structure, enough teams have seen it now so we will get to see what "plan B" might be if the dogs double team or play loose man in the hole.
Hoping for a big game from another forward option to help show what that might look like
Also keen to see Stanley put his stamp on this one

 

[BIGANT]

Only until Port smash the Swans.

I think I'd prefer 3rd with Brisbane in second anyway. A QF at the Gabba would beat playing Port in Adelaide or the Eagles in Perth

If the strong happens and we're undefeated after the final round *fingers crossed it would only need Collingwood to beat PA away from AO to snatch top spot

 

[cats_09]

Teams as named

 

[My Tilly]

Hopefully the coach plays Blicavs on Naughton. He's the one player who may kick 5 goals on either one of Taylor or Henderson if not.

 

[mouncey2franklin]

With Esava out and Taylor in, what does this do to the ruck and forward setup?

Taylor to go forward, or Taylor to stay back and allow Blicavs to spend more time in ruck?

I want to believe that Stanley will be given quality time up forward and kick a few goals.