PRELIMINARY FINAL 1: GEELONG vs WEST.BULLDOGS, MCG, FRI NIGHT

[Alan_87]

I have the odd sensation that this game will go down to the wire.

Geelong by 1pt

 

[sante]

The Cats are just awesome, 5 goals at least.

 

[cats2rise]

Hey the game is 7:40 yeh?

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Hey the game is 7:40 yeh?

Not good that Chapman is out, he is allways a big contributor against the dogs and would stretch their defense considerably.

I have a feeling we will dump Kelly in the forward pocket and select Wojack for the wing/half back. Kelly will be a handfull for anybody and along with Varcoe expect some significant forward 50 pressure as those two are about the best tacklers going around.

Even if we go with Gamble, i would expect some serious grunt in that 50, and we should cover Chapman ok.

Can't see the Dogs midfield matching it with any of our guys - no disrespect, but Cooney and co just simply don't have the runs on the board in the last two months too be serious challengers to a red hot Bartel, Corey, Ablett and Selwood. As somebody said before, beating an out of form Sydney and the Bombers over the last 9 rounds is not the ideal way to step up to the competition heavyweights.

But, it is a two horse race and anything can happen, who knows?

 

[PoidaCat]

 

[PUSSIES_07_FLAG]

Geelong by 67 points.

Bulldogs KPP's exposed.

Geelong too tough physically, mentally and across the 3x superior. Winning all but a handful of the 22 match-ups.

Scarlett, Bartel, Ablett, S.Johnson, Otto amongst the Pussy-cats best.

(Side note; Rocket Eade to have a dummy spit at QTR time. He will rant and rave and point at various Bulldog players, it shall be amusing. I shall have the VCR ready to tape the game for laughs at a later date.)

 

[cats2rise]

Whats the weather supposed to be?

Geelong 18.16 (we have been inaccurate of late) to defeat the Bulldogs 13.10.

Lonergon 4, Mooney 3, S Johnson 2, Bartel 2.
Johnson 4, Minson 2.

A good contest, with Geelong always keeping a 4 or so goal buffer after half time. Dogs are not disgraced at all, but couldn't take it up a gear.

Hopefully no injuries!

 

[I_Am_The_Lid]

Getting very nervous. Expect Dogs to come at us with everything. For them to win B. Johnson and Murphy need to fire, Johnson in particular has been a problem for us in the past.

I do not think this will be as easy as some suggest (mainly non geelong supporters, but unfortunately a few of our own - don't jinx us!!). I have sat through to many close finals losses that are still vivid in the memory.
Cats by 17.

 

[Ant_]

Aww poor Poida

 

[Tyler Durden007]

Pussies, mate, that is a shyte picture of a gay cat... scrub it please.

 

[Lions1993]

Cats by 27 points

 

[SonOfScray]

Dogs by 3, SOS to go nuts and stick it right up his mates who have written us off and have been giving me grief all week.

 

[PoidaCat]

Geelong by 67 points.

Bulldogs KPP's exposed.

Geelong too tough physically, mentally and across the 3x superior. Winning all but a handful of the 22 match-ups.

Scarlett, Bartel, Ablett, S.Johnson, Otto amongst the Pussy-cats best.

(Side note; Rocket Eade to have a dummy spit at QTR time. He will rant and rave and point at various Bulldog players, it shall be amusing. I shall have the VCR ready to tape the game for laughs at a later date.)

you get a red card too because a Doggies Mod didn't like your opinion?

 

[chokewood1]

hoping for a similiar game to last years epic a close game which we eventually win by a little more than 5 points to ease the tension amongst supporters but head says we will absolutely flog them they have beaten nothing since round 10 ( hawks on a windy day in launceston ) they are spent and geelong's week off will hold them in good stead. Geelong will be about 20-30 points up at half time then kill them off and win by plenty.
Cats by 75

 

[whoknows]

Dogs at $6.50 are so far over the odds it's not funny. Hell, that's what St Kilda were paying...

If I weren't a Cats supporter, I'd risk my $20 on 'em. Then again, as a Cats supporter, I'm allowed to be as bloody pessimistic as I see fit.

 

[whythelongface]

It is now game day. All week I have been confident that the boys will get over the line. Nothing has changed, however it will be an absolute thriller with the boys getting home by 4 points.

Go the Dogs.

 

[Kibbo]

For many it seems Mission Impossible, beating Geelong during season 2008. On Friday night the Western Bulldogs have their opportunity to shock the world, but it seems a monumental task in facing up to the red hot Cats who arguably are in better form than they are last year.

On the injury front, the Dogs have a relatively clean bill of health with Higgins and Johnson recovered from knocks. Their biggest decision will be on whether they decide to bring in some extra defensive cover. At least they have the luxury of watching Williamstown go around in both grades in the VFL to help work that out. As for Geelong, either James Kelly or David Wojcinski will replace Brent Prismall, whose trade week value seems to have diminished after his knee injury. There's a doubt on Chapman but I expect him to play with the week off last week.

These sides have met twice previously in Preliminary Finals. A few would remember the 1992 Prelim where the Cats ran away with it in the 2nd half to win by 10 goals (Brownless kicked 5, Ablett and Russell Merriman nabbed 4 for the winners, Doug Hawkins kicked 3 for the Dogs). Not so many would remember a simillar event happening in 1953, with a 6 goal to 2 run after the long break giving Geelong a win by 26 points (Bill McMaster kicked 4 for the winners, whilst Harvey Stevens and Alan Trusler got 2 each for the Dogs). A not so good omen though for the Cats was that they lost the next week in the Grand Final (12 points to Collingwood in 1953, 28 points to the Eagles in 1992).

Their only meeting was a much anticipated Saturday Afternoon clash where over 24000 crammed into the Cattery. Scores were level at quarter and half time, but 13 goals to 3 following the main interval saw Geelong cruise to a 61 point win. With no Ablett or Cameron Ling in the side, Ryan Gamble surprised with 4, Steve Johnson kicked 3, Cam Mooney added 13 marks to his 3 goals and no cat had less than 11 touches (Bartel [31], Milburn [32] and Scarlett [32] all had it over 30 times). Giansiracusa's 3 and Eagleton's 2 the only multiples for the Dogs, who had no-one over 25 touches and 4 with less than 10.


TIP: Here's hoping....Dogs by 2 points!

Cats comfortably unfortunately, to many match winners to stop, combined with Mackie and Wojo off halfback the doggies have a situation they can't control.

Cats into Hawks at $1.48, easy coin for a celebratory drink!!

 

[Catfish Alley]

It's the big day I'm really looking forward to this game and I'm starting to get a little nervous. Like last year, I'm nervous about the Prelim but if we win I'm confident of going back-to-back. I think last years experience will help the Cats out. The first 10 minutes will be crucial and I think you'll almost be able to pick the result halfway through the 1st quarter. To win, the Dogs need to jump early and get out to a 3-4 goal lead at quarter time.

Most finals are won with defensive pressure. The Dogs have to try and replicate what Collingwood did and break the record for tackles. They also have to be very effecient by foot because Geelong will hurt them like no other team on the rebound. I think the Bulldogs need to beat our midfield fairly comprehensively in order to kick enough goals because the Cats backline is tight. I can't see that happening, especially if it rains.

It will be an enteraining game and I expect the Dogs to take Geelong on and attack. They have to. However, I think it will be similar to the Round 16 game. No more than 3 goals iin it until halfway through the 3rd when Geelong start to wear them down. Cats by 50.

 

[SR32]

Mighty Cats by 30pts!

Hopefully Cam fires up for this one! (not in a bad way though!)

 

[Whit3y]

the futures bright, the futures blue and white

 

[grenwolf2684]

The problem with the Dogs. The last time they met Geelong or Hawthorn. They have lost by 10 goals and eight goals. They were utterly broken and didn't fight through to the end. Track record is important. You have to show something before the prelim. I don't think they are quite ready. Once they are broken. It could get very ugly very quickly.

The Dogs come across as a team with things to address, and a prelim is not the place to do it.

 

[G.F.C]

Cats by abour 4-6 goals i reckon.

 

[adelaide_40]

Cats 50+

 

[gs17]

The problem with the Dogs. The last time they met Geelong or Hawthorn. They have lost by 10 goals and eight goals. They were utterly broken and didn't fight through to the end. Track record is important. You have to show something before the prelim. I don't think they are quite ready. Once they are broken. It could get very ugly very quickly.

The Dogs come across as a team with things to address, and a prelim is not the place to do it.

How many threads are you going to post this in?

 

[BenF]

Game day! Excited. Good luck. Not really