Prediction How Will The Cats Fare in 2025?

[CatToTheFuture]

But sometimes you need "linebreaking speed" and when you have Max who gets the ball, bursts out of congestion for 20m and then kicks it 40m into the f50 thats just as valuable as a quick 40m kick to a target from Humphries.

Yeah but i would prefer him in the middle. We'll be fine in the backline

 

[FootyLad0]

Yeah but i would prefer him in the middle. We'll be fine in the backline

Exactly, with Humphries and Zuthrie down back im not worried about linebreaking play from out of the backhalf.
Holmes in the midfield is a must.

 

[iameviljez]

I think the revelation that is Lawson Humphries at half back gives us a lot to work with moving the ball. He can kick faster than Max can run

Yes, but running is what breaks a zone open because it turns a 40 metre play into a 60, 70 metre play.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yes, but running is what breaks a zone open because it turns a 40 metre play into a 60, 70 metre play.

Sure, I'm just looking for a way to move Max into the midfield on a more full time basis

 

[And_ROOS]

Yeah but i would prefer him in the middle. We'll be fine in the backline

Do we actually have a good solid read on Holmes in midfield since he spent most of last season running off half back and was incredible.

We have Smith now in midfield, another year into a lot of players like Bruhn etc, but do we have stats that show Max potential in the middle or is this gut feel people are going off.

 

[Mr Meow]

Do we actually have a good solid read on Holmes in midfield since he spent most of last season running off half back and was incredible.

We have Smith now in midfield, another year into a lot of players like Bruhn etc, but do we have stats that show Max potential in the middle or is this gut feel people are going off.

Midfield isn't a role where he's been ready to excel at consistently (IMO), so it's been better for him to develop on the wing and then half back. Although last year he could confidently be called a utility.

Once Humphries settled into the side we did see Holmes in or around midfield more often, especially in two finals where he was our best player while playing as a permanent midfielder. One where he was easily the best player on the ground and another where he was in the top few.

So it's something we should see more and more of. After the long layoff it wouldn't actually surprise me to see Smith on the wing and on back or forward flanks a bit more. And then maybe closer to midfield permanency in 2026. I also expect we'll see Danger go to his forward flank a bit more (where he was very effective, more so than a lead up full forward).

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

But sometimes you need "linebreaking speed" and when you have Max who gets the ball, bursts out of congestion for 20m and then kicks it 40m into the f50 thats just as valuable as a quick 40m kick to a target from Humphries.

Amazing debut season from Lawson , first class.
In his draft highlights we see him run with the footy - similar to what he did in the PF where he took a number of bounces and found a target by foot some 40 metres away - a true 70 metre play.
I think we will see more dash from him in 2025 now that he has found his feet and is confident at this level.
He has the potential to be very special....

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Do we actually have a good solid read on Holmes in midfield since he spent most of last season running off half back and was incredible.

We have Smith now in midfield, another year into a lot of players like Bruhn etc, but do we have stats that show Max potential in the middle or is this gut feel people are going off.

He ran through the midfield a bit last year and I thought he was tracking well. His work from half back was good but we need mids more imo

 

[And_ROOS]

He ran through the midfield a bit last year and I thought he was tracking well. His work from half back was good but we need mids more imo

Hopefully they track well, and with others stepping up we can alternate Holmes and Smith in the middle as our pace merchants, see Bruhn step up as a bit of a bull and learn a bit more from Danger before he retires, plus I feel like someone in the VFL will come through just as how we have seen others do it the last few seasons and force their way in (someone like a Clark or Stevens) or maybe we see more of Mannagh in there.

At times our midfield was extremely weak last season and I am actually really excited to see how it goes this season. Ruck is the only position that scares me.
I don't want Blicavs anywhere near ruck or mid, he needs to be in defence and let SDK develop as a ruck or tall mid. Stanley will just be Stanley, can't expect more or less out of him. But if Neale struggles or gets injured, and Conway/SDK are our 1st ruck I would be very open to Stanley to FF where he started his career and pinch hit in the ruck.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Hopefully they track well, and with others stepping up we can alternate Holmes and Smith in the middle as our pace merchants, see Bruhn step up as a bit of a bull and learn a bit more from Danger before he retires, plus I feel like someone in the VFL will come through just as how we have seen others do it the last few seasons and force their way in (someone like a Clark or Stevens) or maybe we see more of Mannagh in there.

At times our midfield was extremely weak last season and I am actually really excited to see how it goes this season. Ruck is the only position that scares me.
I don't want Blicavs anywhere near ruck or mid, he needs to be in defence and let SDK develop as a ruck or tall mid. Stanley will just be Stanley, can't expect more or less out of him. But if Neale struggles or gets injured, and Conway/SDK are our 1st ruck I would be very open to Stanley to FF where he started his career and pinch hit in the ruck.

I finally got around to listening to the cat attack podcasts pre Christmas episode the other day. They mentioned Knevitt has put on some size. I'll be watching him in the preseason matches. A #bigboi running through the middle might be a handy balance to the handful of pacey and nuggety types.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Yes, but running is what breaks a zone open because it turns a 40 metre play into a 60, 70 metre play.

There's no doubt there's much merit in what you say iameviljez: and the coaches and MC would be fully aware. If we could have two Max's then our problems would be easily solved and as good as Max is going to be in the middle, him coming off half-back is a major, major weapon.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Amazing debut season from Lawson , first class.
In his draft highlights we see him run with the footy - similar to what he did in the PF where he took a number of bounces and found a target by foot some 40 metres away - a true 70 metre play.
I think we will see more dash from him in 2025 now that he has found his feet and is confident at this level.
He has the potential to be very special....

I've probably been Lawson Humphries number one fan ever since we drafted him and with the attached below YouTube video at 37 seconds (in which you speak of) you will see one of the best bits of play ever by a unknown player. If you count the number of opposition players that tried to nail him, I counted NINE. It was effening unbelievable what he did and I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for Lawson to take the game on in the AFL, which in the prelim as you described, that is exactly what he did and I was so 'thrilled' to see it..... this kid is UNTAPPED.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Neale is going to be a drag on our forward line, too inconsistent and doesn't have the "it" factor. We are pretty good across most other positions except ruck.

Cross out Neale and replace it with Mooney or Hawkins…
Both showed very little “It” factor in their respective early years.
Don’t agree with the drag part on our forward line.
But we all have opinions…
FWIW I think he’ll kick a lazy 40-50 this year which is a nice return.

 

[iameviljez]

There's no doubt there's much merit in what you say iameviljez: and the coaches and MC would be fully aware. If we could have two Max's then our problems would be easily solved and as good as Max is going to be in the middle, him coming off half-back is a major, major weapon.

I’d like to have eight of him, personally