Geelong's strategy?

[The 747]

I think the Elimination Final showed that Geelong needs to rest more of their older players during the season than they did in 2012.

For the Cats to be a flag contender they'll need to get off to a good start in 2013 and rest some guns every time they play bottom 6 sides

I certainly don't want to see Roughy, Hodgey Mitchell, Sewell etc playing 20+ H&A games next year either

Just when i thought this thread was unreadable thanks to our Hawthorn friends shitting all over it like they do with every main board thread about Geelong, along comes quite a good post. Cheers.

Difference between 2011 and 2012 - in 2011 we won a lot of close games early and were able to rest our veterans throughout the year with a finals berth sewn up. In 2012 we lost a lot of close games and had to spend too much energy to get to the finals. The GFC team this year wasnt as strong but neither was the competition. Those early wins are vital.

 

[Doss]

The Elimination Final scoreboard flattered Geelong. A lot like the 2010 PF, a lot of junk time goals didn't show the true dominance Fremantle held that night.

Not exactly an apt comparison. Geelong were at one stage 81 points behind in 2010.

Freo got a fright or two in the last quarter, nothing serious, but a small fright. Collingwood did not.

 

[The 747]

The Elimination Final scoreboard flattered Geelong. A lot like the 2010 PF, a lot of junk time goals didn't show the true dominance Fremantle held that night.

Could this be our old friend Necromancer Beth? Whose troll alias are you because its pretty obvious what you are here to do, troll the GFC......

 

[livnixon9]

I'm sure when we got within a whisker of getting in front and almost snatching the win in the last quarter that really flattered us.. talk about Grasping for straws...

What's a whisker? Fremantle were up by 38 points at 3/4 time. Geelong kicked the first 2 goals of the final quarter, then Ballantyne responded. Geelong got within 20 points and then Pavlich kicked the sealer. That is one big whisker.

 

[JunkyardDog33]

What's a whisker? Fremantle were up by 38 points at 3/4 time. Geelong kicked the first 2 goals of the final quarter, then Ballantyne responded. Geelong got within 20 points and then Pavlich kicked the sealer. That is one big whisker.

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the final margin 16pts? In contrast to the 1/4 time margin that's hardly one big whisker.

 

[iameviljez]

I have to say I am a tad worried about the age distribution of our list. We didn't really need to skew it with another two 28 year old players unless we're a genuine premiership threat - which I don't think that we are. No doubt Rivers and HMac will really add to the side for the next two years, but I can see that being compensated for by the decline of our class of 99/2001 (basically put, Bartel and older).

The Bulldogs of 2010 really provide the object lesson here. So many good players were around the same age (Johnson, R Smith, West, Gilbee, Gia, Murphy, Cross...), and the addition of Aker, Hall and Eagleton didn't help in that regard. In fairness to them, they needed to go hell-for-leather for their first flag in so long, and the injuries to Cooney haven't helped, but the fallout has been horrible to watch.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I'm cautiously optimistic about these moves. Realistically, the cost is Stephenson (who is surely gone now) and perhaps Brown or Gillies (assuming Stephenson is gone, we still need to cut one more player at least), along with the draft picks, to get McIntosh, Caddy and Rivers, who are all immediately first choice players (let's not kid ourselves here). It also creates a few issues with regards to our ruck department and what this means for Simpson, West and Vardy (with room for only one of them, at best, in our first-choice side). Still, despite being extremely keen for Simpson to get an extended look at AFL football, I'd rather this than having one fit ruckman (well, until he busted his hand during the game) taking on Cox and Naitanui at Subiaco.

The strategy is clear: to have another serious crack at premiership glory before the Bartel, Johnson, Kelly gang have to hang them up. Time will eventually tell, if it's the right move. But I credit our footy department for swinging for the fences. It seems the overwhelming majority of neutrals do too.

 

[AM]

Wells said today part of the thinking was to provide some on-field mentoring for the up-n-comers in the areas where we lack on-field leadership.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

What's a whisker? Fremantle were up by 38 points at 3/4 time. Geelong kicked the first 2 goals of the final quarter, then Ballantyne responded. Geelong got within 20 points and then Pavlich kicked the sealer. That is one big whisker.

Pav kicked that in the last 5 mins.. we where under 3 goals at that time and had momentum.. from 44 or so points down and we kicked 2 "junk time goals " as you say..

 

[Doss]

Could this be our old friend Necromancer Beth? Whose troll alias are you because its pretty obvious what you are here to do, troll the GFC......

Different posting styles, though.

I wouldn't put it completely beyond whichever person is behind HAD/NB to change his style to avoid detection, however.

 

[Gavin Excell]

HodgePodge et al raise fair points which raise the question whether all future Geeloing trading and drafting decisions should be run by the Hawthorn board before making any commitments

 

[thejester]

I don't think it's about having one last crack, it's just making sure we stay competitive. West is a good player but desperately needed support; getting McIntosh in will allow him to play as he did in 2011, as a second ruck who can rest forward. At the same time I hope he'll only play 15-20 games for the season, meaning Simpson and Vardy still get games. Rivers I'm not as sold on, but Scarlett has retired, Enright is getting older and the next KPD in the pipeline (Hamling) is a long way off. Finally Caddy helps address the biggest need going forward, in midfield.

We've managed to get games into virtually everyone on the list the last two years whilst winning a flag and then playing finals. Confident the club can keep up the balancing act, and hopefully by the end of the year a couple of the senior players are being displaced by youngsters coming through.

 

[The 747]

Different posting styles, though.

I wouldn't put it completely beyond whichever person is behind HAD/NB to change his style to avoid detection, however.

Yeah the style is different but it joined end July, obviously has posted here before from the post quantity, pretends to support Adelaide but doesnt post about Adelaide.........its an alias of someone.

 

[The 747]

HodgePodge et al raise fair points which raise the question whether all future Geeloing trading and drafting decisions should be run by the Hawthorn board before making any commitments

If only we followed the Hawthorn model, then we too could have a dynasty in our dreams....

 

[Forward Press]

Yeah the style is different but it joined end July, obviously has posted here before from the post quantity, pretends to support Adelaide but doesnt post about Adelaide.........its an alias of someone.

He or she's a Collingwood supporter.

 

[Doss]

He or she's a Collingwood supporter.

Kiss Stephanie?

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Yeah the style is different but it joined end July, obviously has posted here before from the post quantity, pretends to support Adelaide but doesnt post about Adelaide.........its an alias of someone.

Seems awfully complimentary of Collingwood, don't you think?

 

[David the Cat]

Yes, Rivers often played that role at Melbourne and did it well. It still doesn't address any particular need, and it probably makes their defence too tall, with Taylor, Lonergan, Mackie and Rivers.



He may very well be better than West, but that would mean that West doesn't play. So it's a trade for depth.

Why wont West play? He will be 2nd ruck, rotating off the bench. And he can take a grab, so is a marking option up forward if needed. He may in fact be much more productive now he doesnt have to carry the burden of first ruck any longer. Dawson Simpson can continue to develop in the VFL, with some more games in the top flight to build his experience. I suspect, unfortunately, Big "O" is on the way out.

Rivers is a tremendous acquisition for Geelong and will play 3rd tall in a Scarlett type role. If necessary Mackie can play on a wing, but there's numerous options, depending on the opposition's structure.

No matter which way you look at it, Geelong have done well here.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Why wont West play? He will be 2nd ruck, rotating off the bench. And he can take a grab, so is a marking option up forward if needed. He may in fact be much more productive now he doesnt have to carry the burden of first ruck any longer. Dawson Simpson can continue to develop in the VFL, with some more games in the top flight to build his experience. I suspect, unfortunately, Big "O" is on the way out.

I probably see it as a Vardy or West proposition as the second ruckman and with Hawkins, Podsiadly, Walker, Brown (?) and now Kersten coming on, it's going to be difficult for West or Vardy to get a gig as a permanent forward. It's certainly not a bad thing for the club, as both are very well suited to the second ruck role and both are capable of kicking 25 goals in a season. It's just that I don't think you can fit them both into a relatively healthy sqaud.

 

[David the Cat]

Yes...I guess we differ because I see Vardy as a KPF.....subject to fitness and endurance. He's a stronger candidate than Brown or Walker IMO, and will eventually pressure Pods ...

 

[The King!]

They are a contender and they can afford to go for it in a way because recent success buys paitence with the supporter base surely.

 

[LongBomb]

What's a whisker? Fremantle were up by 38 points at 3/4 time. Geelong kicked the first 2 goals of the final quarter, then Ballantyne responded. Geelong got within 20 points and then Pavlich kicked the sealer. That is one big whisker.

Geelong were 17 points down with 8 minutes to go.

It's not like they were playing Hawthorn, but they still had a chance to steal it by kicking 3 goals in 8 minutes.

 

[supahoops]

Bit rich coming from Hawthorn, a club that has mastered the art of recycling. Surprised that Visy isn't a sponsor of Hawthorn.

Good call sttew, was going to bite back but couldn't be arsed. Still sulking you think?

 

[supahoops]

The thing is neither Rivers nor McIntosh will address any particular need in Geelong's list.

Rivers isn't needed when you have Lonergan and Taylor. In a way he's very similar to Harry Taylor, although not as good.

McIntosh will have to share ruck duties with West, who has shown he is capable of shouldering the ruck on his own. So will he simply replace West or will he try and share ruck duties?

Just seems that they are recruited for depth more than anything else.

It's a close call but I'll take Wells/Balme over you. Just.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Yes...I guess we differ because I see Vardy as a KPF.....subject to fitness and endurance. He's a stronger candidate than Brown or Walker IMO, and will eventually pressure Pods ...

No doubt, with regards to Pods being under pressure and eventually that may be where Vardy fits in. But next year, it seems pretty clear that the Cats are going all out and I think Pods, his 40-50 goals and the pressure he takes off Hawkins will be an integral part, as opposed to a forward line of Vardy, West/McIntosh and Hawkins. Absolutely no doubt that if I had to bank on one player out of Walker/Brown/Vardy at this stage to have the best career, it would be Vardy. It's quite possible that Brown will be gone, but then Kersten is waiting in the wings and will surely debut in 2013...whichever way you look at it, a number of senior-calibre players will have to suck it up and earn their stripes in 2013.