Preview Rd 23 - Geelong V Melbourne - Sat Aug 21 725pm @ GMHBA

[Wojcinski]

One of our big strengths in our winning performances has been our pressure on the ball carrier. The St Kilda game was a great example of how it works for us. First quarter we just let them run the ball up the ground but as soon as we started running AT the ball carrier instead of WITH the ball carrier, they started turning it over and we started scoring.

Melbourne is very susceptible to pressure which is why they've lost to some average, low skilled teams. We pressure them, we win.

 

[Baggins15]

Agree PzB - Sav out for Rohan is our best move once Rohan is fit again.
Leave Rohan alone at your peril and besides that he can actually get to an aerial contest and mark or bring it to ground - Sav can as well but trouble is he's out of position or runs under it a lot.
Bonus is Rohan's pressure and his ability to lead at the kicker and mark - he gets more scope to do that when defenders have to cover Hawk and Jezza.

Also enables us to play him or Cameron closer to goal, making it harder for opposition defences to cover ground by dropping someone out the back and intercepting deep entries. Forces them into going 1v1 with our forwards more often, where Hawkins, Cameron and Rohan are all very capable. Ratugolea doesn't give us that kind of flexibility at this stage, even though I've warmed to him a little recently.

 

[catempire]

7:25pm Saturday confirmed.

 

[catters078]

If Dogs win the Demons are guaranteed a top 2 finish ....thats the scenario i want to see for their selection. Reckon bulk late outs the morning of our game, to give themselves a bye without risk.

 

[Tuggacat]

Should not be afraid of playing Port in Adelaide if it comes to that. We beat them in Adelaide in Round 13 although we had Duncan, Stewart and Tuohy in that side. We got 12 goals from the big three up forward.

 

[BotsMaster]

Last time:

 

[allrighty]

Zuthrie is a lock until Tuohy or Duncan return IMO. Atkins will take a small forward but can't really take a mid size - taller forward. He's our attack dog Max Rooke type scrapper that all sides need in finals. Zuthrie will stay in the short term I reckon as he can play a bit taller - and is ok in the air. Another point often overlooked with him is his disposal efficiency ..... no slouch in that area. Zuthrie has also had exposure in finals - the most obvious being against Tigers a few years ago at the G - QF I recall. Had a simple shot 40m dead in front after the half time siren to put us in front. Missed the shot and I reckon it sucked the air out of the players. But I digress

Once one or both of Tuohy or Duncan return - he probably makes way as both can play that HB role, are both damaging by foot, and better overhead. Zuthrie playing (short term) also helps release Blicavs into the ruck to give Stanley a rest when needed ...... or to become Plan B when we're getting beaten around the contest.

Just my 2 cents.

Isn't it a great credit to Tommy that we are all now calling him a lock? Earlier this year he was as disposable as you know what's. But he is tough, relentless and has some skills so I salute the boy.

 

[AM]

Dees are primed to take the silverware. Few injuries and seem to have got their junk together. As CS has said there's some luck in taking the silverware and that includes having a good injury run at the pointy end. If we win it this year it'll be some effort.

 

[TheBigLeftBoot]

Assuming no injuries and the INS are right to go

INS
Rohan Atkins Miers

OUTS
Sav (Managed) Higgins (Managed) Close (Managed) Narkle (omitted)

With Atkins coming in move Blicavs to the wing/ruck and shuffle around Holmes and Simpson to cover Higgins/Close.

Close needs a rest. Has played every game since coming back from injury early in the season and is only a second year player. Freshen him up for finals.

Keep Higgins, Sav, Clark and Narkle as emergencies for flexibility. If dogs get up consider resting Selwood and Parfitt.

 

[foxdog50]

Look people want Esava out or he could even be injured from the Saints game... And they say replace him with Rohan... unfortunately we need a 2nd ruck option as in won't be Blitz as cos of Stewart he will be playing in defence. So we need to either try Fort or even Jenkins, as if Hawkins gets injured or Suspended, we have that option as well.
I havnt been the biggest fan of Esava playing, but we have to play him , purely as that 2nd ruck option..

 

[Jumping Jack]

Look people want Esava out or he could even be injured from the Saints game... And they say replace him with Rohan... unfortunately we need a 2nd ruck option as in won't be Blitz as cos of Stewart he will be playing in defence. So we need to either try Fort or even Jenkins, as if Hawkins gets injured or Suspended, we have that option as well

There’s no one size fits all solution. Particularly comes finals.

They’ll maybe run with Stanley / Blicavs where appropriate and depending on the opposition. But Sav might play if Cats think we can get the right match up for him.




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[foxdog50]

There’s no one size fits all solution. Particularly comes finals.

They’ll maybe run with Stanley / Blicavs where appropriate and depending on the opposition. But Sav might play if Cats think we can get the right match up for him.




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There is no way Blitz will play as a ruck now Stewart is gone for the season..... As they also didn't play him on the weekend anytime in the ruck..

 

[GeelongFTW]

Not 100% true.
Demons are a top 4 lock.
Lions can come in and we can go out if we lose and they win by enough, and if Doggies beat Port

I think you've taken the concept of a 8 point game too literally... Brisbane are two games behind us.

 

[Whiskers]

Not 100% true.
Demons are a top 4 lock.
Lions can come in and we can go out if we lose and they win by enough, and if Doggies beat Port

We are 8 points clear of 5th mate.
All good

 

[Vdubs]

As stated by others, I think it'll be a real bruise free game because a few of our boys are sore and tired, and neither side will want to reveal too much to the other at this point.

Good that we will know Dogs' fate before our game

 

[catscratchfever]

Rohan back would be a huge bonus, got to keep them to minimum possessions in the guts as our forwards will have a hard enough time kicking a winning score as it is without the ball being belted down their end. After the Giants debacle I'm not taking home ground advantage as a given, no crowds seems to even that side of things up.

If it wasn't for our injury list, this would be a good, tough lead-in to the finals. As is, I'm praying we stay fit and have a few ins over the next week.

The loss of Stewart isn't insurmountable, but nothing will save us if Jerry goes down again.

Having said that, I'm reasonably confident the boys will have a handle on this one.

Geelong by 17.

 

[Vdubs]

I think you've taken the concept of a 8 point game too literally... Brisbane are two games behind us.

We are 8 points clear of 5th mate.
All good

Sorry guys, don't mind me, lacking sleep recently

 

[Vdubs]

Rohan back would be a huge bonus, got to keep them to minimum possessions in the guts as our forwards will have a hard enough time kicking a winning score as it is without the ball being belted down their end. After the Giants debacle I'm not taking home ground advantage as a given, no crowds seems to even that side of things up.

If it wasn't for our injury list, this would be a good, tough lead-in to the finals. As is, I'm praying we stay fit and have a few ins over the next week.

The loss of Stewart isn't insurmountable, but nothing will save us if Jerry goes down again.

Having said that, I'm reasonably confident the boys will have a handle on this one.

Geelong by 17.

Could Rohan become our dasher from HBF, or keep him starved in the forward line? Their defence is brilliant.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

One of our big strengths in our winning performances has been our pressure on the ball carrier. The St Kilda game was a great example of how it works for us. First quarter

Melbourne is very susceptible to pressure which is why they've lost to some average, low skilled teams. We pressure them, we win.

If this weeks game is a fair dinkum contest - which im highly doubtful about - because its a dead rubber basically - and no player will be risked on either side if they have even the slightest injury

But StKildas 1st qtr - and i didnt think Geel were asleep - some times you just have to give the opposition credit ( and they did towel up the red hot Swans by 5 goals the week before ) - but the Saints crisp ball movement - it reminded me of when Melb beat us earlier in the year . Yes Geel were underdone that day - Duncan was missing - but he is missing again - i dont think Cameron had made his debut yet

But how StK moved the ball in the 1st qtr - is exactly how Melb moved /transitioned the ball when they beat us earlier in the year - because i can remember at the time thinking - why cant Geel move the ball like this into their forward line

The big difference is - Melb is a more talented version of StkILDA .

 

[TEDDY24INC]

There is no way Blitz will play as a ruck now Stewart is gone for the season..... As they also didn't play him on the weekend anytime in the ruck..

Yeah I think blitz has to play back so Henry can play the Stewart role

 

[Pollywaffle]

However it will be the biggest non event since Muhammad Ali fought that Japanese Wrestler back in the 1970s

That was such a joke. Antonio Inoki was his name. Spent most of the match on his back trying to kick.
Maybe Dahlhouse can play his part.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

That was such a joke. Antonio Inoki was his name. Spent most of the match on his back trying to kick.
Maybe Dahlhouse can play his part.

Ali threw 6 punches for the entire fight - and didnt throw his 1st punch to round 7

 

[My Tilly]

Should not be afraid of playing Port in Adelaide if it comes to that. We beat them in Adelaide in Round 13 although we had Duncan, Stewart and Tuohy in that side. We got 12 goals from the big three up forward.

And they were missing Fantasia, Butters, Duusrma, Clurey, Marshall & Lycett.

 

[Wojcinski]

If this weeks game is a fair dinkum contest - which im highly doubtful about - because its a dead rubber basically - and no player will be risked on either side if they have even the slightest injury

But StKildas 1st qtr - and i didnt think Geel were asleep - some times you just have to give the opposition credit ( and they did towel up the red hot Swans by 5 goals the week before ) - but the Saints crisp ball movement - it reminded me of when Melb beat us earlier in the year . Yes Geel were underdone that day - Duncan was missing - but he is missing again - i dont think Cameron had made his debut yet

But how StK moved the ball in the 1st qtr - is exactly how Melb moved /transitioned the ball when they beat us earlier in the year - because i can remember at the time thinking - why cant Geel move the ball like this into their forward line

The big difference is - Melb is a more talented version of StkILDA .

yeah but as I said pressure is what makes them come undone. It used to happen to us, remember the games we'd lose in 17-19? Often to bad teams? We were more talented but couldn't handle the pressure. Melbourne is a super talented team but how can they lose to teams like Adelaide, Collingwood and Hawthorn? Pressure.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

yeah but as I said pressure is what makes them come undone. It used to happen to us, remember the games we'd lose in 17-19? Often to bad teams? We were more talented but couldn't handle the pressure. Melbourne is a super talented team but how can they lose to teams like Adelaide, Collingwood and Hawthorn? Pressure.

Its a very unusual year as you know - who are the best teams - well who knows

But re the bolded - they lost to the Crows - because i reckon they were bored - they were 12 zip - and they did get a couple of rough umpiring calls at the death . Their lost to Coll was Bucks last game so that is fair enough

Their Haw loss ive got no idea what happened their - and GWS also beat them at the MCG

From a Geel perspective this year ive allways thought this year that Port and the Dogs are the easybeats - i reckon the Cats have got them covered -however Melb and Bris are alot harder - given their style of play - and i reckon Melb would fancy their chances against Geel

Id rather play Port and the Dogs than even the Swans and GWS