Unofficial Preview Round 18 - Geelong v Melbourne @ GHMHBAHBADAHBADAH, Sat 7:25pm

[cynical]

If Taylor isnt going to play I'd give Abbott a go and play Stanley as ruck/forward.

Would like to see if Abbott is worth keeping or not and yeah going against Gawn isn't great but if he does ok then maybe he should be kept on the list over Smith.

Regardless of what we do we are going to be slow up forward, with the narrowness of KP I don't think it matters as much.

Our season is over anyway so the result isn't important.

 

[Chinacats]

Its clear Geelong's approach to the season has changed. Previously Scott has said that banking wins early and setting up a top 4 position was the strategy, yet we have wilted and tired out in the finals the last 5-6 years. This year the messaging has been to peak come finals time and to be playing your best football at the end of the year and that it doesn't matter if you finish 7th or 8th or whatever. This change has come about by the dogs and tigers winning the last two flags. Someone has forgotten to tell Scott that you have to actually make it! If we lose this I doubt we can make it, so no more experimenting settle on the best 22 and go with it to the end of the year and try to win every game from now. Time to start winning and stop worrying about peaking for September, because we might not be there! No more Buzza, slow forward line and too many kids in the one game. Go Cats!

 

[Chinacats]

Taylor plays in defence or not at all IMO.

Menzel needs to play deep forward and stay there where he's most influential.

Yes agree on Menzel deep forward. Don't move out of inside 40 otherwise exposed around the half forward area when opposition transition out.

 

[Down at K Park]

You won't get any defensive pressure from Cunico. He's almost as subdued as Guthrie.

Where did i say anything about cunico and defensive pressure?

Fog is the defensive pressure up forward.

 

[The Bandwagon]

Where did i say anything about cunico and defensive pressure?

Fog is the defensive pressure up forward.

Well I guess I misinterpreted this part of your post given Simpson replace Fogarty.

If menzel is in the forward line we need extra defensive pressure. Simpson out for cunico.

 

[Cronin]

If Taylor isnt going to play I'd give Abbott a go and play Stanley as ruck/forward.

Would like to see if Abbott is worth keeping or not and yeah going against Gawn isn't great but if he does ok then maybe he should be kept on the list over Smith.[/B]

Regardless of what we do we are going to be slow up forward, with the narrowness of KP I don't think it matters as much.

Our season is over anyway so the result isn't important.

I'd be happy to see this setup too.

 

[Down at K Park]

Well I guess I misinterpreted this part of your post given Simpson replace Fogarty.

I can see how you could have interpreted it that way. Play on.

 

[MacStradbroke]

Melbourne only need to be ferocious at the contest and apply manic pressure this week. Teams are slowly starting to figure out that we wilt under pressure.

Geelong win a hell of a lot of close games for a team that wilt under pressure.

 

[Frappe]

Geelong win a hell of a lot of close games for a team that wilt under pressure.

Not so much this season.

 

[Spazz Cat]

Melbourne only need to be ferocious at the contest and apply manic pressure this week. Teams are slowly starting to figure out that we wilt under pressure.

Teams figured that out ages ago.
Its different at KP though. They can apply all the pressure they want, we'll just set up behind the ball and shut down the corridor.
The crowd is so quiet it takes any sting or adrenaline boost out of the game to keep that manic pressure going.
We've been doing it for years. Wouldn't even surprise me if we bought in an extra tall defender.

 

[YOTC]

Teams figured that out ages ago.
Its different at KP though. They can apply all the pressure they want, we'll just set up behind the ball and shut down the corridor.
The crowd is so quiet it takes any sting or adrenaline boost out of the game to keep that manic pressure going.
We've been doing it for years. Wouldn't even surprise me if we bought in an extra tall defender.

God it's like living in a recurring nightmare.

 

[The Bandwagon]

Geelong win a hell of a lot of close games for a team that wilt under pressure.

Geelong were once renowned for their ability to fight their way back from a deficit and win the close games. These days we fight our way back and stop once the pressure goes back up. We lose more close games than we win these days because we don't have enough battle hardened players who are prepared to put their body on the line.

There was a moment just before half time against the dogs where all Guthrie needed to do was provide a contest. He stopped, and Schache (I think) marked the ball and kicked the goal to put them in front. We're not physical enough or hard enough for long enough. We have far too many players who don't cope well with physicality. It costs nothing to make an effort.

 

[foxdog50]

Agree with you. Menzel will improve with more games, it worked for Stanley. Menzel offers good marking, goals + goal assists. We have enough other small Forwards to provide the tackling that people seem to think Menzel should offer. Crameri is a good foil for the opposition defenders to allow Hawkins to flourish.

I'd kind of like GHS to play, surely he deserves some reward for his efforts? Then the school that says play the team that's the future will disagree.

What's the bet that Parsons + Murdoch return?

Ha I bet you Parsons will come in.
I agree on GHS, the poor guy hasn't really plays a continuous spot. He is good footballer, finds the ball and can kick a goal. A lot of people don't like him cos he doesn't look like a fast player.
He deserves a good run at it. Lol if we give players eg like Murdoch and Parsons a fair run then GHS should

 

[TheYid]

As usual this year, I don't care who's in or out- our problems are always either tactical or between the ears. Bringing in Hendo or Taylor won't be the solution.

Here's the thing- every week we seem to fix a problem only to have another one fire up. For example, for weeks we were getting hammered in the midfield, with clearances a massive problem. We had no functioning ruck. We fixed that. Our defense was undermanned. We fixed that. We couldn't keep the ball in the forward line. We fixed that. But here's the point- it seems like the wheels fall off in one part of the field every week. for example: our forwards can't kick straight one week, or they can't stick tackles up there. Or another week our backline will struggle (Kolo's two horror weeks). It seems like the team never clicks at the same time.

Also, I agreed with what I read in the Herald yesterday- our young guys aren't consistent enough. Maybe's that's why we aren't clicking together at the same time.

So to me it doesn't really matter with selection at this point. Perhaps we're really not up to finals standard with an inconsistent young contingent. By the time they are good, our best seniors may well be gone. We may have an extended time in the middle of the ladder ahead of us.

 

[TheYid]

outs kolo, henry, buzza, simpson, menegola, menzel
ins henderson, thurlow, taylor, cunico, ghs, crameri

wont happen but its what id do

most likely henry, simpson, buzza are the outs

I don't think any team plays well with massive changes. Plus GHS is struggling with an injury anyway. I'd love to see him in the side but where to put him I don't know. He's a very good footballer.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

Taylor forward , Menzel forward and Hawkins forward too slow?

Maybe. But you need a second key tall forward. That ain’t Menzel.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

With 6 games to go we can't afford to take players into games who are underdone or not match fit. Time is running out for Cockatoo. He needs 4 games at the lower level before he's even considered. I'd also be dropping Kolo before Henry. He's lost confidence. Henderson to take his place.

Is that you mate?

Yep cockatoo just did a hammy in the vfl. He’s done for the year.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

It’s more the prospect of listening to the endless fawning over Gary, tbh.

Here’s the thing. your pitiful club haven’t had a player of Gary’s quality since Fred fanning. And that’s not me trying to belittle or troll you. It’s actually a fact. So
If and when you get a genuine superstar of The game wear a demons jumper, at that point you’ll probably understand the fawning. Until that point, enjoy your list cloggers.

 

[Strange Cat]

No buzza.... that is all

 

[Kingsfoil]

Geez, Cockatoo again. His body is as brittle as they come. Can't see his career being a lengthy one.

 

[Kingsfoil]

OK, we're still in the top 8. Thanks Swannies.

Coming over for this game, hoping to see a belter.

 

[steady2]

This team has never felt or played as a cohesive unit in years. Constant selection changes and a lack of purpose driven by a coach who is too stubborn to see reality.

What has this got to do with the Melbourne game? You should take your negativity to the "Chris Scott" thread?

 

[steady2]

I'd be happy to see this setup too.

I preferred your earlier suggestion of Smith in, I'm just worried over Stanley playing a lot on the forward line. May not have much choice I hope and pray they keep Buzza away (I hope he makes it - one day). Abbott could well be smashed by Gawn, Smith would get a chance at redemption we know Smith's upside, we don't know Abbott's. Of course the downside to this is; just as Stanley finally establishes himself as a solid competitive ruck he gets shifted

 

[00VicWard001]

Geez, Cockatoo again. His body is as brittle as they come. Can't see his career being a lengthy one.

Wasn’t it a ‘lingering tackle’ that caused this? That could happen to any player, nothing to do with being brittle.

 

[Stocks_go_Up]

Wasn’t it a ‘lingering tackle’ that caused this? That could happen to any player, nothing to do with being brittle.

Yer right, just like all Menzels ACLs were unrelated. People need to get off the fumes and look at reality in here.