Preview RD 16 Geelong v Essendon Sat Jun 29 730pm @ MCG

[dazbroncos]

Still in the 8 hanging on.

Dropped 7 of 8 I think it is and PFD got a bung MRO decision 35 secs into the game and a 1 week offered and Hawkins got a bung foot and could be done for the year.

So when the wheels come off.... man do they come off.

VFL dropped a game to Port Melb too by 2 points.

There is a real whiff around the Cats in general at the moment. Lots of Swanny style "what about me" and not a lot of all about the team.

i noticed it most in the VFL game and when players kicked goals there was no real encouragement or congratulations. Mannagh was left alone like he was leppar.

I hope the club stomps this out and gets the moral moving in the right direction - wins will come eventually but the overall attitude needs to improve from all areas as we play a fired up Bombers this week and they will be looking for a kill.

We are struggling and they are 3rd - we have given them plenty over the decades so expect some payback here.

Neale, Clohesy, Knevitt and Mannagh all pressed cases hard for selection and have earned the call up - whether they get it who knows.

Form suggests yes but CS and MC say?!?!?!!

We will see

GO Catters

 

[unfollowed]

There is a real whiff around the Cats in general at the moment. Lots of Swanny style "what about me" and not a lot of all about the team.

I’m really starting to think seriously that Danger’s way of captaining the team now is a reason for the CBF attitude and “me me me” type of selfishness going through the group at the moment.

There, I said it.

Since Joel retired the only major difference to the club has been Paddy taking the reigns. We’ve always known he’s been a bit of a ‘FIGJAM’ in his own right so to say it has absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on would be very ignorant.

 

[FootyLad0]

We are at a crossroads, i would expect there will be meetings held at the club to go over this stuff.

SURELY you can't ignore some of these VFL performances? Right?....

Neale is a sure in for Hawk
Chilli Conway HAS to be in after we got killed in the ruck and his VFL performance.

Others i would hope get a look in.

Knevitt
Humphries
COS

Guy i assume has pictures of someone and won't get a shot

Mitch Hardie....

 

[cats_09]

I’m really starting to think seriously that Danger’s way of captaining the team now is a reason for the CBF attitude and “me me me” type of selfishness going through the group at the moment.

There, I said it.

Since Joel retired the only major difference to the club has been Paddy taking the reigns. We’ve always known he’s been a bit of a ‘FIGJAM’ in his own right so to say it has absolutely nothing to do with what’s going on would be very ignorant.

4 of our 7 wins came with Dangerfield out on the field

6 of the 7 losses came with him sitting in the stands or coaches box - if there's questions about our attitude during that time, wouldn't that be on the then acting captain Tom Stewart?

 

[FootyLad0]

4 of our 7 wins came with Dangerfield out on the field

6 of the 7 losses came with him sitting in the stands or coaches box - if there's questions about our attitude during that time, wouldn't that be on the then acting captain Tom Stewart?

Don't bring logic here....

 

[cats_09]

Don't bring logic here....

 

[Cataholic]

Still in the 8 hanging on.

Dropped 7 of 8 I think it is and PFD got a bung MRO decision 35 secs into the game and a 1 week offered and Hawkins got a bung foot and could be done for the year.

So when the wheels come off.... man do they come off.

VFL dropped a game to Port Melb too by 2 points.

There is a real whiff around the Cats in general at the moment. Lots of Swanny style "what about me" and not a lot of all about the team.

i noticed it most in the VFL game and when players kicked goals there was no real encouragement or congratulations. Mannagh was left alone like he was leppar.

I hope the club stomps this out and gets the moral moving in the right direction - wins will come eventually but the overall attitude needs to improve from all areas as we play a fired up Bombers this week and they will be looking for a kill.

We are struggling and they are 3rd - we have given them plenty over the decades so expect some payback here.

Neale, Clohesy, Knevitt and Mannagh all pressed cases hard for selection and have earned the call up - whether they get it who knows.

Form suggests yes but CS and MC say?!?!?!!

We will see

GO Catters

Yep, something doesn't seem quite right in Cat Land.

I speculated a week or two ago that the guys weren't playing for each other, and then I saw the same as you in yesterday's VFL game - little excitement, little enthusiasm, and a team going through the motions.

I'm not sure how or where it started, but I hope the coaches, MC and players have a real frank discussion real soon. Maybe they should have Mr Chapman chair it.......

 

[goyoucatters]

Since Joel retired the only major difference to the club has been Paddy taking the reigns.

That's one difference. The really major difference has actually been the absence of the greatest captain the club has ever seen. The void left without him, both on and off the field, has simply not come close to being filled.

And, given he was a one in 150 year player and leader for the club, that is hardly surprising.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Catman]

All well and good to keep on backing players in based on past history. But we've won 1 in 7 and look a shell of the team we did earlier in the season. I'll be filthy if that don't make significant changes after the garbage served up on Friday. Expect quite a few "managed" players on Thursday night.

As for the game, Essendon have a good midfield, and that's usually more than enough to beat us lately.

 

[Catman]

4 of our 7 wins came with Dangerfield out on the field

6 of the 7 losses came with him sitting in the stands or coaches box - if there's questions about our attitude during that time, wouldn't that be on the then acting captain Tom Stewart?

Without any disrespect to PFD or Stewy, the hole left by Selwood is Grand Canyon sized. Having said that, Stewart in particular has hardly left a glowing recommendation as next captain over the past seven weeks, which does make you wonder who our next skipper will be once Paddy retires.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Going to go a bit left field in my inclusions this week.

Bar Chilli Conway coming in which is a lay down misere.

Knevitt comes in for Clark.
Neale comes in for Hawkins.
Willis comes in for OHenry/Rohan.
Bews comes in for Mullin.

Fingers crossed Danger gets a downgrade from medium to low impact and plays.

 

[Strange Cat]

I agree I really hope Stewart VC is taken off him next year he really doesn’t seem to have the right temperament to lead the group when they are under pressure and the culture is also being affected at the club judging by the players behaviour.

Next year if Danger doesn’t go around we need to find new leaders

 

[Gee Class Loco]

I agree I really hope Stewart VC is taken off him next year he really doesn’t seem to have the right temperament to lead the group when they are under pressure and the culture is also being affected at the club judging by the players behaviour.

Next year if Danger doesn’t go around we need to find new leaders

Zac Guthrie.
Young. But has smarts, talks well and has some standing within the locker room.

 

[JuniorWatch]

Do you stick with SDK in the ruck?

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Do you stick with SDK in the ruck?

Why not... wasn't setting things on fire down back.
His mojo was lost somewhere in the last 18 months.
Scotty trying to light a switch in the young fella.

 

[JuniorWatch]

Why not... wasn't setting things on fire down back.
His mojo was lost somewhere in the last 18 months.
Scotty trying to light a switch in the young fella.

Yeah probably not doing any worse than Conway and Stanley.
If he can do half of what his brother is doing on the run home that'll be a positive.

 

[cats_09]

Going to go a bit left field in my inclusions this week.

Bar Chilli Conway coming in which is a lay down misere.

Knevitt comes in for Clark.
Neale comes in for Hawkins.
Willis comes in for OHenry/Rohan.
Bews comes in for Mullin.

Fingers crossed Danger gets a downgrade from medium to low impact and plays.

Humphries instead of Bews please

 

[Footy Smarts]

Knevitt comes in for Clark.
Neale comes in for Hawkins.
Willis comes in for OHenry/Rohan.
Bews comes in for Mullin.

It would be immensely disappointing to drop a bunch of young players and go back to Bews who looks well off the pace in the VFL.

I'd be tapping Tuohy and Rohan on the shoulder. Not that they're even playing that badly but they're not moving the needle and we need to find better players.

I'd go Conway, Neale and Knevitt for Hawkins, Tuohy and Rohan. Then Humphries for Danger if he doesn't get off.

Any of Mullin, O'Connor and Bowes as sub. SDK down back and playing 2nd ruck. Can look to sub Conway and ruck Blicavs and SDK at some point.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

It would be immensely disappointing to drop a bunch of young players and go back to Bews who looks well off the pace in the VFL.

I'd be tapping Tuohy and Rohan on the shoulder. Not that they're even playing that badly but they're not moving the needle and we need to find better players.

I'd go Conway, Neale and Knevitt for Hawkins, Tuohy and Rohan. Then Humphries for Danger if he doesn't get off.

Any of Mullin, O'Connor and Bowes as sub. SDK down back and playing 2nd ruck. Can look to sub Conway and ruck Blicavs and SDK at some point.

Yep... missed him. I'd do Bews for Tuohy TBH.
If we want to win some games bring in Bews.
If we want to put some games into youngsters then we go another way indeed.
Just not sure where we see ourselves yet.
Renovation, rebuild or just a bump in the long road to September??

 

[Footy Smarts]

Yep... missed him. I'd do Bews for Tuohy TBH.
If we want to win some games bring in Bews.
If we want to put some games into youngsters then we go another way indeed.
Just not sure where we see ourselves yet.
Renovation, rebuild or just a bump in the long road to September??

Bews looks nowhere near it at VFL level. I can't see us going back to him.

 

[cats_09]

BTW,

 

[Spearman]

Why not... wasn't setting things on fire down back.
His mojo was lost somewhere in the last 18 months.
Scotty trying to light a switch in the young fella.

Actually this thought occurred to me during the game. The old tactic of throwing a player on the ball to get them involved thing. He's seemed a little off since his injuries, maybe a little tentative. Maybe the crash and bash of rucking gave him confidence in his body and his competitive spirit. Hope it works out that way as I would prefer him to be the FB stalwart.

 

[catters05]

Yep, something doesn't seem quite right in Cat Land.

I speculated a week or two ago that the guys weren't playing for each other, and then I saw the same as you in yesterday's VFL game - little excitement, little enthusiasm, and a team going through the motions.

I'm not sure how or where it started, but I hope the coaches, MC and players have a real frank discussion real soon. Maybe they should have Mr Chapman chair it.......

Leading teams needs to come back to the club

 

[Footy Smarts]

Leading teams needs to come back to the club

Leading teams was great for 23-26 year olds to jolt them into realising how good they could be if they upped their work rate. It's not much use for 21 year olds who can't compete physically or 32 year olds whose bodies are cooked.

I think looking through our team compared to Carlton and thinking our issue was effort is delusional. Carlton look like a team that's realising just how good they can be while our age demographic should have us bottom 4.