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Preview Round 19: Geelong V Brisbane, Battle of the Cats - Sat 22nd July 4:35pm @ GABBA
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cats_09
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- Jun 21, 2011
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I had someone last night tell me that Kolodjashnij is nothing more than a role player and at moment there's no role for him to play, so he's basically excess to our current needs
Same person also argued that by playing both SDK & Ratugolea we have two intercept & lockdown KPD options - I get the point of being intercepting defender options as we saw that from Ratugolea earlier in the season (not as much since his return), and SDK showed that last year when averaging the second most intercepts behind Stewart (who has lead the way since 2018), but he started this year down in the regard. I don't get the part though of Ratugolea being a lock down defender - can't say that appeared a strength earlier in the season, and would rate Kolodjashnij & Bews leading the way as lockdown defenders
cats_09
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"We took the weekend as an opportunity to manage Ratugolea who advised he wasn't feeling quite right after returning from his hamstring injury, and we've decided to ease him back through the VFL to give him the best opportunity of returning to the senior side before finals"
Edit - this is a suggestion of what they could say
Kobe Gryant
'07, '09, '11, '22
Got a good feeling about this one.
Geelong by 3 goals in a finals like atmosphere, keeping our top 4 hopes alive and keeping the charge to B2B going.
Can't wait!
- The plan: The club have planned this run all year after injury struck. We said all off-season that we're going to hit our straps from July onwards, and it's happening ladies & gentlemen.
- The mental side of the game: We have the wood over this side mentally. So much so that it's caused this quasi rivalry where they seem to despise our club....where as we don't really think about them. Two prelim floggings will do that to you. As a result, I expect a lot of physicality early in this one, more of the 'faux tough guy' bulldust that's been standard with this Lions team under Fagan.
- The 4:35 timeslot: This helps us for mine, and playing there at this time of year does too. When you get the Lions up there in March-April or even September at night...it's humid as anything, there's plenty of dew on the ball, and it naturally suits a side that play in those conditions. That'll hopefully be nullified in July and with an afternoon game.
- The Venue: The Gabba holds no fears for Geelong. It was a voluntary home ground in 2020, and became a mini fortress of sorts for us. The Lions still obviously have the advantage, but there's no mental demons about playing there.
- The trio of Tommy's: Hawkins loves playing this mob, and he loves playing on Harris Andrews. Atkins was huge in the prelim last year with his physicality on Neale, and he'll be huge again this weekend. Stewart has found time and space again with the inclusion of Stanley, allowing us to go back to our 2022 setup of Stanley at CB, and Blitz around the ground while Stanley folds back...giving space for Stewart to build the wall.
Geelong by 3 goals in a finals like atmosphere, keeping our top 4 hopes alive and keeping the charge to B2B going.
Can't wait!
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Really well covered.
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Agree the lockdown part of his game is the bit that lets him down one on one especially, some of his other work has been good and I was grateful for his contributions when we were under the hammer with injuries earlier in the year he still may get another game or two this season he has friends in high places and injuries and general soreness (is that still a thing) could yet determine his fate.
Chinacats
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Are you saying Brisbane at their best beat Geelong at their best….? That’s a unique thought process…. Hmm …. Interesting!
I tend to agree with your interlocutor about Ratugolea.
It's true we only got to see him very briefly in the lockdown role earlier in the season. I don't know about others, but what I saw from Sav there was really impressive. Just playing man-on-man with a key forward, his closing speed and ability to get a spoil in in situations where you thought no defender would have a chance, was superb. It was at least a good deal better than what Kolo can produce, and that's no knock on Kolo. Just an acknowledgement of his limitations.
Having said that, I'd understand if they go with the more settled backline that we played in 2022 for the remainder of the year. Cohesion makes a big difference. Personally I'd like to see Ratugolea given the task on the deep key forward and let SDK play a little more of a creative role.
I read the Battle Cats part of the title and realise I am this old
GO Catters
Pretty sure there's a few of us here who grew up in that era... and we're not that old (yet)!
There’s plenty around. The bris German club is just opposite the gates. Always packed on game day
catempire
Premium Platinum
I don’t know about that. He’s not facing 1993 Paul Salmon.
Well if Rohan is out that is terribly dissappointing - and a massive out - against a quick team
Lions undefeated in 9 games this year at the Gabba - defeated Coll by 33 and Rich by 81 they were the scary ones
The problem for Geel is Bris from the 1st second of the game to the final bell will play and attempt to play - quick play on football - Geel dont like that at all . What the Cats have done consistently this year in games - is play one scintilating qtr ( or even a half against Coll ) and then just try to keep the opposition at arms length - thats not going to work against Bris
The danger players for Bris - Cameron - he has allways been quick - but he looks strong and explosive quick- Bews is underdone so i dont know which Geel player goes onto him - but they are in for a hell of a game . Fletcher a young player - he is also quick and a beautiful kick
I just keep coming back to that recent Rich game - Bolton couldnt get a kick - their normal reliable defenders - Bolton - Grimes - Vaustin - were under seige from the word go - and they got flogged by 14 goals
I dont think it will be quite as bad for Geel - a win would be fantastic - but even anything 3 goal or under loss would be a passable/ok effort
Lions will be stinging after that loss - where they played exceptionally well for 3.5 qtrs they are 9 from 9 at the Gabba - and i cant see Geel getting close to them
A margin - i reckon about 50-60 pts
Lions undefeated in 9 games this year at the Gabba - defeated Coll by 33 and Rich by 81 they were the scary ones
The problem for Geel is Bris from the 1st second of the game to the final bell will play and attempt to play - quick play on football - Geel dont like that at all . What the Cats have done consistently this year in games - is play one scintilating qtr ( or even a half against Coll ) and then just try to keep the opposition at arms length - thats not going to work against Bris
The danger players for Bris - Cameron - he has allways been quick - but he looks strong and explosive quick- Bews is underdone so i dont know which Geel player goes onto him - but they are in for a hell of a game . Fletcher a young player - he is also quick and a beautiful kick
I just keep coming back to that recent Rich game - Bolton couldnt get a kick - their normal reliable defenders - Bolton - Grimes - Vaustin - were under seige from the word go - and they got flogged by 14 goals
I dont think it will be quite as bad for Geel - a win would be fantastic - but even anything 3 goal or under loss would be a passable/ok effort
Lions will be stinging after that loss - where they played exceptionally well for 3.5 qtrs they are 9 from 9 at the Gabba - and i cant see Geel getting close to them
A margin - i reckon about 50-60 pts
Rightio.
We haven't lost by more than 39 points all year...and now you think we're suddenly going to drop this one by 50-60?
This is also when we're starting to look our strongest, we're getting close to having most of our list available, and we're running out games a lot stronger too, due to our conditioning.
Christ, sometimes I think we have some of the most pessimistic supporters in the league on this board. I'm not sure if we'll win given they're going to be incredibly tough at home, but I don't see a world where we get smashed by 50-60 points - especially when Collingwood didn't even put that margin on us, and they're leagues ahead of the rest of the comp.
(Also, we are far better than Richmond at our best)
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The afternoon Ablett kicked 14 goals and we lost.
catempire
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As much as I love Tommy I can’t see him emulating that either.
That is absolute total nonsense - it is a football forum and you are allowed to give you actual opinion
In last years GF Preview - i tipped the Cats by 6 goals plus - and one poster called me an over confident idiot - or words to that affect . I thought the Cats would easily beat the Swans - i gave logical reasons and they did
The Lions ( who grow a leg in Qld ) and are 9 from 9 at the Gabba - and nothing stings like a recent loss - re Melb . I think they will annihilate Geel - and the logical reason i base that on - is that recent Rich game - where the Tigers went in with decent form and got absolutely demolished
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That was the kick/mark game of early 90s Salmon would have had 1l2 a metre height on Timmy and our boy up the other end well, what more can you say.
Sttew
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Agree. Cats will go into this game with confidence. If we lose there is no reason why it would be a blowout. Too much at stake.
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'annihilate' ??
Strong language.
You've predicted we are going to be 'obliterated, totally destroyed'.
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Mullin must go to Cameron like he should’ve gone to Toby Greene.
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Prestia Lynch Martin just a few missing that night may well have been more.
Have we won an interstate game this year?
Correct, it is a football forum and we are allowed to give our opinions. You gave yours, and I gave mine. I called yours nonsense and you called mine nonsense. You've given what you perceive as logical reasons why you think we'll get 'annihilated', and I've given reasons why I think we won't.
That's kinda how free speech works on here. We disagree, we move on.
We looked very focused on Saturday night , seemed to be on a mission - didn't overly celebrate after a goal , just went back to the middle and reloaded for the next one. Song was also very muted.
There was a steely resolve about us and our forward pressure was back big time - just like the GF we pounced on the opposition immediately they took possession. When we bring that at home we're almost impossible to beat.
We seem to be building nicely , let's see what we can do against quality opposition on their home deck who will be very determined after dropping a close one.
Go Catters
There was a steely resolve about us and our forward pressure was back big time - just like the GF we pounced on the opposition immediately they took possession. When we bring that at home we're almost impossible to beat.
We seem to be building nicely , let's see what we can do against quality opposition on their home deck who will be very determined after dropping a close one.
Go Catters
catempire
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It was fun to watch, that’s for sure.
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