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

[Kobe Gryant]

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.

It's clear the club are aware of this though, and the steadying influence of a consummate professional in Clayton Oliver should have us back on track in no time.

 

[Mr Meow]

True.

Well you don’t have to agree with my opinion, it’s just an opinion after all, but I said it could be a reason and it would be very ignorant to completely ignore it.

But what is your theory for the breakdown among the teammates?

I think Stewart has been very disappointing as a leader and stand-in captain. The defence has become one of the worst in the league over the past 8 or so weeks, after a stellar start. He should be the main organiser. Last year he was great but we had stacks of injuries at inopportune times and an awful pre-season following the flag. So I see 2023 and 2024 as separate issues.

Cameron has failed to carry the side outside of a purple patch for each of the past two seasons. When he is "on" and has his mojo, it seems to spark the whole team. So I'd file him in the disappointing camp too, given he is still in his prime and his best is "best in the league".

Our other leaders have all been struggling to maintain form and so are not that solid core either. So many veterans are just keeping their heads above water.

Of course losing Selwood has hurt and I have no doubt our poor close game record since he retired is not random. But I don't think Dangerfield is a rotten leader. It simply hurt to lose the stalwart, as it would for any club in that situation.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I think Stewart has been very disappointing as a leader and stand-in captain. The defence has become one of the worst in the league over the past 8 or so weeks, after a stellar start. He should be the main organiser. Last year he was great but we had stacks of injuries at inopportune times and an awful pre-season following the flag. So I see 2023 and 2024 as separate issues.

Cameron has failed to carry the side outside of a purple patch for each of the past two seasons. When he is "on" and has his mojo, it seems to spark the whole team. So I'd file him in the disappointing camp too, given he is still in his prime and his best is "best in the league".

Our other leaders have all been struggling to maintain form and so are not that solid core either. So many veterans are just keeping their heads above water.

Of course losing Selwood has hurt and I have no doubt our poor close game record since he retired is not random. But I don't think Dangerfield is a rotten leader. It simply hurt to lose the stalwart, as it would for any club in that situation.

Could be onto something with Stewart.
He got smashed running full tilt into a marking contest close to the boundary , inspirational spoil.
However there were Cats players close to him and not one went and helped him to his feet.
This may not necessarily be a Stewart thing but we don't do the little acts of encouragement that you see with connected teams like the Blues, Swans and even the Hawks Something is NQR.

I am an optimist so that part of me thinks we have played this years Grand Finalists at the top of their game over the last 2 weeks. We jumped the Swans in first 1/4 but from then on we have faced and wilted under 7 quarters of high pressure , intense footy. Our pressure hasn't been poor - we've just been schooled by superior opposition.
I'd elevate Conway , Neale and Knevitt as a minimum this week and debut Humphries if Duncan or Tuohy are sore.
I don't think the Dons are close to Swans or Blues so hoping we can bounce back this week.....

 

[Romeoh1]

True.

Well you don’t have to agree with my opinion, it’s just an opinion after all, but I said it could be a reason and it would be very ignorant to completely ignore it.

But what is your theory for the breakdown among the teammates?

Your comment re ‘breakdown among the team’ - I’m not seeing any basis for it.
Yes- we lost the irreplaceable Joel and smith went as well(he’s been a loss). Guthrie then missed the entire year, Dangerfield missed quite a bit too. Some of our classiest players (Tom and Duncan) are older and not impacting in the same way. Stewart and Cameron have had interesting reactions to their concussions and aren’t playing as well.
SDK had a terrible injury and hasn’t quite recovered his confidence. Close/ blix in a bit of indifferent form, Miers not quite as on song for mine. We are playing a number of mids who are either not quite ready, or will only ever be B graders. We desperately need a couple of A grade mids. We need a decent and consistent ruckman. Nobody on our forward line seems capable of making a lead and we are pretty dysfunctional down there.
Sometimes you just don’t have the cattle- and that’s where we are at.
To attribute our decline to Dangerfield’s leadership seems rather a stretch.

 

[CHAWKTS]

It's clear the club are aware of this though, and the steadying influence of a consummate professional in Clayton Oliver should have us back on track in no time.

Your profile picture perfectly suits the tone of your posts - I can actually hear him saying the words!

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Your profile picture perfectly suits the tone of your posts - I can actually hear him saying the words!

Haha! Take a lot of inspiration from Kevin Wildes, would love if we had someone like him in the footy world.

Fellow First things first fan, CHAWKTS?

 

[unfollowed]

But I don't think Dangerfield is a rotten leader. It simply hurt to lose the stalwart, as it would for any club in that situation.

I don’t think he’s a rotten leader either but as captain he does not have the luxury of avoiding scrutiny because he’s injured.

Stewart seems to be copping the brunt of it all here simply because he’s out there, which to me seems rather unfair.

 

[unfollowed]

To attribute our decline to Dangerfield’s leadership seems rather a stretch.

I realize this but as has already been mentioned the guys aren’t playing for each other as a team, I might be old school but to me the buck for that stops with the captain and coach. Tom Stewart cannot be the scapegoat imho.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

How i see it , The Dons are nearly as bigger frauds as us re being a top team

This is a winnable game , obviously if Dangerfield is available that is a huge plus for Geel , because i thought he moved nicely against Carlton

Clark he could be a good player who knows , but at the moment he is not up to senior level , in that last qtr he had 2 horrendous fumbles , i suppose we just put them down to bad luck , fumblers aernt a good sign for footballers

Rohan starts on the ground , Mannagh has to come in for O Henry , who in a struggling side is no use whatsoever , and that is exactly what Geel are at present , and he was dismal on Frid night

This is a bizzare thought , but what about putting Zach Guthrie

39

Zach Guthrie

Age

26

Ht

188cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

5.2

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

90.0

1star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

1.0

1star

T

1.0

2star

MG

90.0

2star

D

10.4

3star

K

3.8

2star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.6

4star

into that pathetic , dead set hopeless Geel midfield . Zach is playing tremendous football , and if i had been at the game Frid night , i would have patted him and Kolo on the back , because in the 3rd qtr they held the dam wall and prevented Carlton winning by about 15-16 goals

 

[Romeoh1]

I realize this but as has already been mentioned the guys aren’t playing for each other as a team, I might be old school but to me the buck for that stops with the captain and coach. Tom Stewart cannot be the scapegoat imho.

I don’t see what you are basing this theory that they aren’t playing for each other on? That we aren’t winning games?
If we had Cripps and Walsh we’d probably be winning games.

 

[unfollowed]

I don’t see what you are basing this theory that they aren’t playing for each other on? That we aren’t winning games?

They’re not encouraging each other as usual, they’re not remonstrating anything and there just seems to be no care or cohesion or trust.
Maybe I’m being too critical and judging it too harshly but that’s what I’m seeing."

 

[unfollowed]

If we had Cripps and Walsh we’d probably be winning games.

When/if we get Reid it will be a massive bonus for sure.

 

[cats_09]

I realize this but as has already been mentioned the guys aren’t playing for each other as a team, I might be old school but to me the buck for that stops with the captain and coach. Tom Stewart cannot be the scapegoat imho.

No one's making Stewart the scapegoat though - the talk has been about the lack of leadership from the senior players

And by the same token, Dangerfield shouldn't be made the scapegoat for actions on field, when he's in the stands

But, if they're (the team) is not playing for each other - how is the guy sitting in the stands meant to change that compared with the players out on the field, which includes the acting captain & other senior players/leaders?

 

[Romeoh1]

They’re not encouraging each other as usual, they’re not remonstrating anything and there just seems to be no care or cohesion or trust.
Maybe I’m being too critical and judging it too harshly but that’s what I’m seeing."

Yep- I think you are overanalysing things- I’m not seeing that. I just see a team that isn’t strong and is a bit weary. A team on the way down has less excitement about it than a team on the way up. No care/cohesion or trust- crikey. We just aren’t playing well because we aren’t really good atm. We won 4 flags in 17 years-only 2 years since the last one- you might just have to accept that we had an incredible run, but we aren’t winning one for a few more years.

 

[unfollowed]

But, if they're (the team) is not playing for each other - how is the guy sitting in the stands meant to change that compared with the players out on the field, which includes the acting captain & other senior players/leaders?

Because being captain means you’re influence extends further than just on-field and we all understand team unity doesn’t come down to only game day.

I mean, surely it can’t all be looking tip top at training if it’s looking this diabolical in a match.

 

[unfollowed]

We won 4 flags in 17 years-only 2 years since the last one- you might just have to accept that we had an incredible run, but we aren’t winning one for a few more years.

Yeah I’ve been through the tough decades previous to this winning run and I accept that we’re gonna be mediocre at best for a while now, none of that affects how I feel currently though.

For instance, if we’re terrible again for another 44 years I certainly won’t be resting on laurels & saying “oh we’ll just remember how we smashed port in 07”.

 

[tommy2011]

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.

I'm very ignorant.

 

[Romeoh1]

Yeah I’ve been through the tough decades previous to this winning run and I accept that we’re gonna be mediocre at best for a while now, none of that affects how I feel currently though.

For instance, if we’re terrible again for another 44 years I certainly won’t be resting on laurels & saying “oh we’ll just remember how we smashed port in 07”.

Yep- fine-nobody wants to see a 44 year drought again- let’s check back in 44 years then, rather than 18 months.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Yeah I’ve been through the tough decades previous to this winning run and I accept that we’re gonna be mediocre at best for a while now, none of that affects how I feel currently though.

For instance, if we’re terrible again for another 44 years I certainly won’t be resting on laurels & saying “oh we’ll just remember how we smashed port in 07”.

Of course not, but it's about perspective and how you're treating the game as a footy fan.

Following sport passionately is unique to other instances in which you're heavily emotionally invested, and there needs to some perspective with that being the case.

For instance, just about anything else you're passionate about is by and large within your control.

If you want to improve your life, your job, your relationships, your fitness etc etc...what do you do?

You work harder, you work smarter, you try new things, and you make plans to get there.

Following sport isn't like that. We have SFA control over what's going on out there, what direction the club is taking, or what's going right & wrong within the four walls.

That "resting on my laurels" mentality implies that YOU can make a difference. You can't. None of us can, so it's pointless adopting that line of thinking.

It's why it's important to approach sport with a healthy mindset, and it's why you'll see supporters saying "Oh well, we had a great run. It's time to enjoy watching the next generation develop".

It's not a cop-out for those supporters, or them not being ruthless in the chase for success.

They just have a healthy perspective that we've had it better than anybody now for 20 years, in a situation we have zero control over.

If it's another forty years between drinks, you might very well be right, and people probably will start to lose their shit, or fall out of love with the game.

I know dozens of Melbourne, Carlton, St Kilda, & Richmond supporting mates who have done just that.

Luckily, with a club as well run as ours, it's highly, highly unlikely it's going to take that long.

 

[bombersboy]

I realize this but as has already been mentioned the guys aren’t playing for each other as a team, I might be old school but to me the buck for that stops with the captain and coach. Tom Stewart cannot be the scapegoat imho.

Before Danger got injured we were playing team football. My issue with Stewart is that he seems to offer little onfield leadership. Part of this may be that it is far easier for a midfielder to influence a game than a defender when a team is being overrun. Danger when he is going does have the ability to lift the side but obviously no where near the extent that Joel did. We have been spoiled by having potentially the best leader of the modern era. What we do not know is how much of Stewart's issues are due to the concussion vs teams having worked him out vs loss of form or a combination of all.

 

[allrighty]

IN: Knevitt, Conway, Neale

Mannagh for Close

 

[allrighty]

It's clear the club are aware of this though, and the steadying influence of a consummate professional in Clayton Oliver should have us back on track in no time.

Ha, so what's your alternative fix?

 

[unfollowed]

I'm very ignorant.

Seems a lot of people are but I try to look at it without the rose coloured glasses, analyze all possibilities no matter how uncomfortable they can be and not just contribute to an echo chamber. Honestly, we all do but some have a harder time expressing it imho.

 

[allrighty]

I don’t think he’s a rotten leader either but as captain he does not have the luxury of avoiding scrutiny because he’s injured.

Stewart seems to be copping the brunt of it all here simply because he’s out there, which to me seems rather unfair.

Stewart's body language is not great. Don't get me wrong I love him as a player, but IMO as a leader he is being exposed sadly. It's not entirely his fault mind you as he has been thrown to the wolves a few times.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Ha, so what's your alternative fix?

Think it was pretty clear I was taking the pi55..