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

[Scottland2007]

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!

He also doesn’t seem to be as defensive based. Seems much more about balance.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

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

Haha, fair call.

 

[Stan The Caddy]

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.

Every team wilts under pressure Nakia. That's the whole point of it.

 

[TEDDY24INC]

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

Menzel’s ACL’s were a flaw in his genetics, this is well known...

 

[Larry Donohue]

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

Don't take the fumes away too Emu.
I thought you were an Austalian Bird
You are just Jealous of Cockatoos wings

 

[Marcus DuQuesne]

I'm glad you've established what injury prone means and it doesn't count knee recos, groin injuries or reactions to injections that no other players get.

LOL.

 

[Marcus DuQuesne]

Great discussion......But how are we going to beat Melbourne form says we can't. We get beat by an improving Dog outfit and the Dees just smacked The Pups. The only reason any sane person would pick Geelong is that we are on our home deck and our bottom 6 can hide down at KP whilst our top 6 can maybe get us over the line. As far as Menzel is concerned I think he will improve this week so like any player with a bit of class I will give him another chance. The only groin injury I know that needs cortisone Injections is the one where the muscle comes off the bone at the top of leg. A lot of footballers (myself included) have had this injury over the years and it is debilitating and usually leads to an op at season end. Can cause hamstrings to pop also so hopefully the medical staff are on top of it if not he is all but finished. I am sure in the last 40 years they have improved treatment for this injury haha. We are still in 8 with all to play for and where as I ticked the Lions as a win I am not so sure. Every game a final from here no matter who they put on the park and there are players playing for their careers in my view.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

.But how are we going to beat Melbourne form says we can't.

Why?

They've lost to 8th, 10th, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th.
Beaten 16th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 11th, 14th, 13th, 14th.

If anything their form line says they can't beat teams that are decent, and they still have 4 games v top 8 to go.
At GMHBA helps us too.

 

[goyoucatters]

Every game a final from here...

Agreed.

With none bigger than this Saturday's encounter.

If we get up, I could still see us winning all the rest and giving top four a shake.

If we go down, I certainly think missing the finals becomes a distinct possibility. It really is that much of a pivot point for our season.

Having the Dees as one of the few teams that has managed a win at the Cattery in recent memory also isn't a bad thing in my view. Hopefully has our boys well and truly free of any sense of complacency or an 'easy kill'.

Massive opportunity for Rhys to put down a marker re the #1 ruck spot against the best in the business. And hopefully Menz will bounce back from a truly forgettable return to the team last game as well.

I'd go...

Bews Blicavs Kolo
Tuohy Hendo Stewart
Cunico Selwood Duncan
Parfitt Taylor Menzel
Narkle Hawkins Kelly
Stanley Dangerfield Ablett
Int: Scoot Henry Guthrie Menegola

In: Hendo, Cunico, Taylor*
Out: Simpson, Jones, Buzza

* If Harry doesn't come up, I would give Crameri a run. Or even consider Gardner (yes, really) for the KPF role. In any event, Wylie's inability to grasp his opportunity in any way last game means he should not be considered for seniors again this season.

Based on current availability, I believe that is clearly the best 22 we can put out there right now. And we can afford no passengers in a must-win game like this one.

I actually have a strong sense that we can win. And that could set up a really galvanising run to the finals.

So, rather than fearing what transpires if we drop this game, I'm actually excited by the prospect of what happens if we bring close to our best and get the four points. Could be just what is required to kickstart some strong form and hopefully some continuity in personnel in the run to September.

Bring it, Catters!

 

[00VicWard001]

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

Tell me more about these fumes.

 

[goyoucatters]

Why?

They've lost to 8th, 10th, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th.
Beaten 16th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 11th, 14th, 13th, 14th.

If anything their form line says they can't beat teams that are decent, and they still have 4 games v top 8 to go.
At GMHBA helps us too.

Staggering really that they're still talked up by some as a real flag threat when you see those numbers.

They would want to take some scalps against top 8 sides in the run-in to show that they're not the next-best approximation of FTB's.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Staggering really that they're still talked up by some as a real flag threat when you see those numbers.

They would want to take some scalps against top 8 sides in the run-in to show that they're not the next-best approximation of FTB's.

The Pies:

Beaten: 18th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 15th, 14th, 13th, 5th, 18th, 17th, 12th.
Lost to: 10th, 7th, 1st, 8th, 2nd.

To come: 9th, 1st, 6th, 16th, 3rd, 13th.

So on trend you'd say 2 more wins to come and hovering around top 8 purely off the weakness of their draw.

 

[goyoucatters]

The Pies:

Beaten: 18th, 11th, 12th, 16th, 15th, 14th, 13th, 5th, 18th, 17th, 12th.
Lost to: 10th, 7th, 1st, 8th, 2nd.

To come: 9th, 1st, 6th, 16th, 3rd, 13th.

So on trend you'd say 2 more wins to come and hovering around top 8 purely off the weakness of their draw.

Great stats, Doc.

Although, unlike the Dees, nothing ever surprises me about the overhyping of the Pies in the media.

So many column inches. So little substance to the outlandish claims.

 

[STPer18]

Just bloody win. Massive game this one.

 

[Marcus DuQuesne]

Why?

They've lost to 8th, 10th, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th.
Beaten 16th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 11th, 14th, 13th, 14th.

If anything their form line says they can't beat teams that are decent, and they still have 4 games v top 8 to go.
At GMHBA helps us too.

Hope u r right...my form line was most recent i.e dogs beat us..dees thrash dogs..we all know that the closeness off the comp means that form may or may not hold up...just sayin

 

[schmuttt]

Why?

They've lost to 8th, 10th, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 15th.
Beaten 16th, 9th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 11th, 14th, 13th, 14th.

If anything their form line says they can't beat teams that are decent, and they still have 4 games v top 8 to go.
At GMHBA helps us too.

We do pretty well against bottom 10 sides....

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.

We’ve already got one thanks, he wears #13. Keep an eye out on Saturday night

In all seriousness I think you’ll bounce back and beat us, this is imo the hardest away game in footy and unless you’re the Sydney swans you’re going to be at a massive disadvantage from the opening bounce due to how well you guys play the ground and how unfamiliar we might find it. Not having Viney either will really hurt our inside brigade in a game that will likely be stoppage heavy.

 

[iameviljez]

We’ve already got one thanks, he wears #13. Keep an eye out on Saturday night

There is a difference between a really good player, a star, and a genuine Martin/Franklin/Dangerfield/Ablett/Judd superstar. Oliver is probably in the star category, but he's not anywhere near best-in-league discussions.

 

[schmuttt]

There is a difference between a really good player, a star, and a genuine Martin/Franklin/Dangerfield/Ablett/Judd superstar. Oliver is probably in the star category, but he's not anywhere near best-in-league discussions.

I would have thought the winking face would indicate I’m just joking.

 

[iameviljez]

I would have thought the winking face would indicate I’m just joking.

Ah, sorry - I missed the details. Plus... Poe's Law.

 

[hokee]

In: Hendo, Crameri, Horlo
Out: Buzza, Menz, Simpson

B: Henry, Blicavs Bews
HB: Tuohy Kolo Stewart
C: Duncan JSelwood SSelwood
HF: Kelly Hendo Crameri
F: Narkle Hawkins JJ
Fol: Stanley Danger Ablett
Int: Menegola, Parfitt, Guthrie Horlo

 

[iameviljez]

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

Do you? Not every side plays with two talls. I mean, if you've got em, great - but it is possible to kick a winning score in other ways.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

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

So true

 

[FredLeDeux]

Do you? Not every side plays with two talls. I mean, if you've got em, great - but it is possible to kick a winning score in other ways.

That's true, but it gets increasingly difficult if you have neither a 2nd tall nor any effective small forwards.

 

[catempire]

Do you? Not every side plays with two talls. I mean, if you've got em, great - but it is possible to kick a winning score in other ways.

Our whole game is built around kicking long inside 50. We can’t just abandon it and play without a key component of that style and expect it to work.

 

[Scythe94]

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.

What an unnecessarily sensitive response. I only hope that if/when we have a player of that calibre, he doesn’t piss off chasing money for half of his career.