Preview Geelong V Essendon - The Scott Cup - Sat 15th July 725pm @ GMHBA

[catempire]

Trivia: this is the first match since round 8 2004 where Essendon has been ahead of Geelong on the ladder when we've met. We actually havn't finished ahead of Geelong on the ladder at the end of the season since 2003 - 21 years ago. And that's despite having the same salary cap. How can one team with the same salary cap finish below another for 21 years consecutively??

We also havn't won a designated away game against Geelong since round 1 2002.

It's bloody embarrassing and I'm so sick of it. Looking forward to the game but I just know you'll beat us again like always.

It’s just one of those phenomena science can’t explain but we must accept.

Like gravity.

And how Jed Bews manages to kick it out on the full so often.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

We have the best ruck in the VFL coming in. In fact most people on our board are getting frustrated that he's not playing ahead of Phillips/Weideman most weeks.

It's gunna be cold and maybe wet on Saturday night, maybe give him a rest and bring him in next week...

 

[eth-dog]

It's gunna be cold and maybe wet on Saturday night, maybe give him a rest and bring him in next week...

I'd rather play our only available ruck who's dominating the second best league in the country.

 

[Turbocat]

We have the best ruck in the VFL coming in. In fact most people on our board are getting frustrated that he's not playing ahead of Phillips/Weideman most weeks.

Bryan?

 

[Mattttty]

footyhead....

I'm loving the amount of credit Miers is getting from Cats fans and commentators this year. It's so well deserved. He's obviously a real craftsman who is passionate about his footy and who has worked hard to hone his skills to elite level and find a niche in an exceptional team. And you can just tell he won't rest on his laurels - he'll be keen to keep improving. Props to him for this milestone and for his re-signing. For a long time people couldn't see what he brought to the team but the club's faith in him has been wonderfully repaid with his effort and commitment. It's a real good news story.

 

[Vdubs]

Hopefully just scuttlebutt given he was subbed early last week..

Or that's why he was subbed. Whatever the truth, time will tell, and they will do the right thing

 

[catempire]

Blitz has missed only two games since the start of 2018. He’s a marvel. We will miss him more than we appreciate both this week (if true) and when he hangs up the boots.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Hopefully Blitz plays as he is a super important cog in our side.

When we played the Dons earlier in the year our mids (especially Danger) just proved to big and strong from them.

Stringer is just about the only guy with size that can give us issue when he goes into the guts for them.

So seeing it’s looking like being wet and Danger looked like a monster when he was on the ground last week, I can see us once again having too much size (if Blitz plays) in the guts.

Dons have hardly stepped foot on GMHBA and we clearly love playing our home ground.

Minimal excuses here and we should be winning.

If we can’t win this one then it’s only gonna get harder next week.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Hopefully Blitz plays as he is a super important cog in our side.

When we played the Dons earlier in the year our mids (especially Danger) just proved to big and strong from them.

Stringer is just about the only guy with size that can give us issue when he goes into the guts for them.

So seeing it’s looking like being wet and Danger looked like a monster when he was on the ground last week, I can see us once again having too much size (if Blitz plays) in the guts.

Dons have hardly stepped foot on GMHBA and we clearly love playing our home ground.

Minimal excuses here and we should be winning.

If we can’t win this one then it’s only gonna get harder next week.

Just for a bit of opposition context, we’ve subtlety changed our midfield make up a fair bit since then.

Stringer barely features (at least the last few weeks) but Perkins, who has a bit of size, has been playing a bit of a pseudo run-with role at least at stoppages with certain guys. Caldwell and Hobbs are probably the other two big differences, neither of who are overly big but both are very physical.

But you’re right, that’s basically where we need to get you guys. If our midfield can get on top, we’re a fairly dangerous, or at least competitive side. If your midfield gets on top of ours, our backline doesn’t have the capability of holding your forward line.

 

[eth-dog]

Bryan?

Yep. I'm convinced that someone will give him a crack at the #1 spot next season, whether that be Brisbane, Carlton, you guys, North (if Goldy retires) or Port. He's ready for AFL

 

[Shadow89]

I'm loving the amount of credit Miers is getting from Cats fans and commentators this year. It's so well deserved. He's obviously a real craftsman who is passionate about his footy and who has worked hard to hone his skills to elite level and find a niche in an exceptional team. And you can just tell he won't rest on his laurels - he'll be keen to keep improving. Props to him for this milestone and for his re-signing. For a long time people couldn't see what he brought to the team but the club's faith in him has been wonderfully repaid with his effort and commitment. It's a real good news story.

Only 16 off Aker's all time record of 44 in a season. Not outside the realms of possibility that he does it if he keeps up this pace. Probably falls short, but should pass Moons on 36 to move into outright second - which would make him the club record holder.

Absolutely incredible effort to get to the level he has now

 

[Turbocat]

I'm loving the amount of credit Miers is getting from Cats fans and commentators this year. It's so well deserved. He's obviously a real craftsman who is passionate about his footy and who has worked hard to hone his skills to elite level and find a niche in an exceptional team. And you can just tell he won't rest on his laurels - he'll be keen to keep improving. Props to him for this milestone and for his re-signing. For a long time people couldn't see what he brought to the team but the club's faith in him has been wonderfully repaid with his effort and commitment. It's a real good news story.

The irony is he was a goal kicker in the TAC whos value probably lessened based on his quirky goal kicking action yet its probably that action that gives him an advanatge when kicking to our forwards.

 

[Turbocat]

Yep. I'm convinced that someone will give him a crack at the #1 spot next season, whether that be Brisbane, Carlton, you guys, North (if Goldy retires) or Port. He's ready for AFL

OOC. He would fit our needs. Liked him in the u18's . Probably ready for a chance that he will not get at Ess with Draper.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

I mean, you’ll probably beat us, but literally zero of the complaining about the ground is coming from Essendon haha. We’re happy to play you down there and it’s fair enough.

Has someone edited my post? I never typed that lol.

 

[4quarter_cat]

The irony is he was a goal kicker in the TAC whos value probably lessened based on his quirky goal kicking action yet its probably that action that gives him an advanatge when kicking to our forwards.

He's like the pitcher in "Moneyball" he wasn't picked up by competitors because he threw funny.

 

[4quarter_cat]

Trivia: this is the first match since round 8 2004 where Essendon has been ahead of Geelong on the ladder when we've met. We actually havn't finished ahead of Geelong on the ladder at the end of the season since 2003 - 21 years ago. And that's despite having the same salary cap. How can one team with the same salary cap finish below another for 21 years consecutively??

We also havn't won a designated away game against Geelong since round 1 2002.

It's bloody embarrassing and I'm so sick of it. Looking forward to the game but I just know you'll beat us again like always.

You wouldn't be the only club on that list for a significant period of time.

Saints since 09' (though played in 2xGF the following year)
Gold Coast, and GWS have literally never finished the H&A season above us on the ladder. (though GWS played in a GF in 2016)
Carlton haven't finished above us on the ladder since 2001.

Essendon fans probably don't like being included in a list like that though.

 

[bulletproof]

Maybe being picky but i’d like Miers to take on more shots inside 35. He seems to have no idea where the goals are at the moment, always looking for another option.

He can be a great finisher, I remember a thrilling goal he kicked at Adelaide Oval early in his career.

You would like a goal a game out of him.

 

[Turbocat]

Trivia: this is the first match since round 8 2004 where Essendon has been ahead of Geelong on the ladder when we've met. We actually havn't finished ahead of Geelong on the ladder at the end of the season since 2003 - 21 years ago. And that's despite having the same salary cap. How can one team with the same salary cap finish below another for 21 years consecutively??

We also havn't won a designated away game against Geelong since round 1 2002.

It's bloody embarrassing and I'm so sick of it. Looking forward to the game but I just know you'll beat us again like always.

I guess it shows that there is more to than just sal cap. How does it work in comps without a sal cap. Do the Yankees or Manchester United always win.

 

[Mattttty]

Maybe being picky but i’d like Miers to take on more shots inside 35. He seems to have no idea where the goals are at the moment, always looking for another option.

He can be a great finisher, I remember a thrilling goal he kicked at Adelaide Oval early in his career.

You would like a goal a game out of him.

I don't personally mind whether he kicks any goals at all but I agree that when he's the best person, he should take the shot. Listening to interviews with him it sounds like he's pretty aware of this and is keen to find the right balance.

 

[Ari]

Sure. And it's also an absolute mockery of the fundamental concept of a home game if you make it all about the number of tickets that can be sold for the match.

How would you go as a Bombers fan if you were told that your home match was now going to be played at a neutral venue (at best), because the great and glorious game deserved to be attended by stacks more paying patrons?

Yeah, that's what I thought as well.

I 100% agree with you. Cats home game should be played at their home ground. It's good the AFL are sticking on this.

 

[Ari]

Christ - this Kardinia Park debate just continues to rage on through the ages, doesn't it?

At the end of the day, your stance on the issue will likely be informed by what kind of person you are. Do you value fairness? Or do you value what's financially lucrative? I've always been on one side of this argument, and I think it comes down to who I am as a person, rather than which team I support.

When I was a kid, I worked in a bakery and my shifts started at 4am. One day, I got up at 3:30, got ready for work, walked there (too young to drive) and arrived for my shift. When I got there, my boss told me that he made a mistake and accidentally scheduled me on a day when he already had the position covered. Instead of just sending me home, he told me he'd pay me for the time I'd spent getting ready and getting to work, plus a little extra for my troubles. Not because he had to, but because he felt it was the right thing to do. A choice between what's right - and what's easy.

Teams should play their home games at their home ground. End of discussion.

If we were a bottom-feeder team, nobody else would give a toss about this issue. But because we've spent almost 20 years reliably finishing top 4 and winning flags, every flog from Geelong to Gibraltar (including that one-eyed, seething wench from The Age) lusts for any possible way to impose disadvantage upon us.

As a Bomber, 100% agree with this.

I wasn't coming out after the AFL or the location. I completely agree that this game should be at KP. The two teams played in front of an Essendon heavy crowd at the MCG earlier in the year, I think it's great that Geelong get to play in their heartland against a decent size Melbourne club this weekend.

We're living in Geelong now and my Geelong supporting wife and kid are over the moon to watch a game 5 minutes down the road. I feel like the Cats are my second team now, being local. Cannot wait!

 

[PzBlinky]

Taking a look at Weidemann's stats. He's kicked 13 goals for the year and 5 of them were against us. Surely he doesn't do that again (but Tommy probably doesn't kick 8 either).

Actually, he hasn't scored a goal since round 10 - is he playing in a different role? His last 6 games have netted 5 behinds so he's obviously spending some time up forward, but perhaps not all the time?

 

[eth-dog]

Taking a look at Weidemann's stats. He's kicked 13 goals for the year and 5 of them were against us. Surely he doesn't do that again (but Tommy probably doesn't kick 8 either).

Actually, he hasn't scored a goal since round 10 - is he playing in a different role? His last 6 games have netted 5 behinds so he's obviously spending some time up forward, but perhaps not all the time?

He's just been shit.

 

[And_ROOS]

Wonder what sports fans from other professional competitions around the world would think when they hear about fans whinging that their team have to play away games at venues with smaller capacities than normal. Hell, teams like Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea will have to travel to the likes of Luton Town and Bournemouth this upcoming EPL season - both clubs have a home ground with a capacity of less than 15,000 which is about a fifth of the capacity of some of the bigger grounds in the league.

Luton Town currently have a 10k seater stadium and typically allocate 1500 seats to away fans.

Bournemouth last year had about an 11k seater stadium and the standard allocation of away fans tickets in the EPL was 1500 on average.

For context, Man Uniteds ground holds 76k. On average they get 62k there and average away fan ticket allocation is about 3k. Imagine if Carlton was hosting Collingwood at the MCG and the Pies were told they could only send 3000 of their, ahem, best and brightest.

 

[standupand]

Maybe being picky but i’d like Miers to take on more shots inside 35. He seems to have no idea where the goals are at the moment, always looking for another option.

He can be a great finisher, I remember a thrilling goal he kicked at Adelaide Oval early in his career.

You would like a goal a game out of him.

We're not short of good finishers though. If Miers can get it into the hands of Hawk, Jez, Stengle, Rohan, even OHenry, the way he's been doing, it's job done.