Preview Round 21: Geelong vs Port Adelaide, - Saturday 5 August 7:25pm @ KP

[catempire]

I also think the out will be someone else (inj)

Dangerfield?

 

[cats_09]

Great preview.
I get your picks, but would love to see if Parf and Sav still have what it takes.

I like Parfitt, but do wonder if he'd almost be better off writing off 2023, playing out the season in the VFL and starting fresh in 2024 - whether that's with us or at a new home

As for Ratugolea, I feel like we know what we're going to get and based on reports from the VFL the past couple of weeks, he really hasn't been pushing his case for a return to the senior team

The other factor I gave consideration to was which combination of players do I think would give better balance to the team, especially considering Hawkins as an out

Regardless of the opposition last weekend, Neale kicked 3 goals and surely this presents the perfect opportunity to see what he can do playing as a focal point up forward in the senior team, and that also allows Jack Henry to remain in defence where he's clearly played his best football

If Conway is right to go, I'd almost be tempted to debut him, have Stanley play as more of a KPF rather than ruck, and then use Neale as sub off the bench - pending no injures, make the swap at halftime with Conway

 

[CHAWKTS]

Dangerfield

I am honestly not sure….but understand it is an “older player”… doesn’t narrow it down much.

I am sure we will hear with the detailed health update tomorrow - not!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Outs: Blicavs (inj), Hawkins (inj) & Bowes (inj)

Ins: Knevitt, Neale & Dempsey

Tuohy to spend more time in defence rather than further up the ground

I like neale but hes not fit enough yet.
Sav in and jack henry fwd is the safest structure option to cope with no hawkins.
Menegola in for blitz i think will happen given whats on the line.
Knevitt for bowes or oconnor.
I dont see a spot for dempsey structurally close miers and stengle are playing well-need knevitt as the extra mid.

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

Only Port's THIRD game at KP in 10 years.

How many of Port's best 22 have played at KP do you reckon?

 

[And_ROOS]

Not sure why people are wanting Esava back in to go into defense where it doesn't work with him and SDK, and if you are choosing one I know which I want.

Unless Esava comes in and SDK goes forward. But I would rather see Neale in.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

We'll probably get our pants well and truly pulled down in this one. Port by plenty, you'd think.

We started this season behind the eight-ball, and we've stayed that way all year. That should be a sign going forward that the oft-quoted line about the evenness of the competition is pretty accurate. Have a poor summer where workloads and injuries aren't managed properly - you'll be unlikely the compete at all.

Having said that, I still hope we can find a way to squeeze into the finals and give the kids some more exposure to the blowtorch of finals footy.

 

[fpm84]

Only Port's THIRD game at KP in 10 years.

How many of Port's best 22 have played at KP do you reckon?

They played there last year (remember Jezza kicking that barrel) so all of them. I just checked and they were basically full strength that day - Rozee, Butters, Wines, Houston, Aliir, Marshall, Dixon etc.

 

[Jeff76]

We'll probably get our pants well and truly pulled down in this one. Port by plenty, you'd think.

We started this season behind the eight-ball, and we've stayed that way all year. That should be a sign going forward that the oft-quoted line about the evenness of the competition is pretty accurate. Have a poor summer where workloads and injuries aren't managed properly - you'll be unlikely the compete at all.

Having said that, I still hope we can find a way to squeeze into the finals and give the kids some more exposure to the blowtorch of finals footy.

I think it’ll be the opposite, Port look very shaky and we’ll provide them their 4th loss in a row. Cats win this by 36+.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[catsfootyfan89]

I think it’ll be the opposite, Port look very shaky and we’ll provide them their 4th loss in a row. Cats win this by 36+.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Just out of curiosity, since we just lost to Fremantle at home with pretty much a full squad, and this week we're playing the second-top side without Hawkins and Blicavs, what metrics make you think we'll belt them? Or is it 'just a feeling'?

 

[Sttew]

I think it’ll be the opposite, Port look very shaky and we’ll provide them their 4th loss in a row. Cats win this by 36+.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Wouldn’t surprise. Cats owe the Geelong faithful an apology for last week, and best way is to beat Power. Unlike Dockers, Power does not like GMHBA.

 

[CHAWKTS]

I have hope largely as Port is on a 3 games losing streak (losing each game by large margins) and have its best defender out. And it is at home.

‘’but then I read a quote like this in the media which does remind us we have been living on hope all year and the facts are a little different in terms of form

“In the last five or six weeks they’ve only beaten North, Essendon and the draw against Sydney was really poor as well.”

 

[Vdubs]

I think it’ll be the opposite, Port look very shaky and we’ll provide them their 4th loss in a row. Cats win this by 36+.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

They were very good against Pies; we look shakier, losing at home again this year-twice is a rarity

 

[catsfootyfan89]

I have hope largely as Port is on a 3 games losing streak (losing each game by large margins) and have its best defender out. And it is at home.

‘’but then I read a quote like this in the media which does remind us we have been living on hope all year and the facts are a little different in terms of form

“In the last five or six weeks they’ve only beaten North, Essendon and the draw against Sydney was really poor as well.”

It's a salient quote - there could be some hidden truth in there for people to digest.

Having said that, you know there's more to this team than meets the eye. Even though there might not be any evidence on the table at this point, you have to ask yourself: Would you really be surprised if we came out and belted Port and then accounted for Collingwood?

As crazy as it sounds, it wouldn't be a huge shock for me. It'd almost be less of a shock than the fact that we lost to Fremantle on the weekend, who were paying $9 against us.

Just very hard to predict what we're going to do week-to-week at the moment. And that, in and of itself, is a bad thing.

 

[Vdubs]

Wouldn’t surprise. Cats owe the Geelong faithful an apology for last week, and best way is to beat Power. Unlike Dockers, Power does not like GMHBA.

As supporters, we've been given plenty by the team and club. An off year this year is not unexpected. It appears We are not up to it this year. Time will tell if there is a tasty twist in our season.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Port can't afford to drop this one.

Hope we wheel out Dempsey, Knevitt and Neale for full games.

Heck may as well chuck Conway into the mix (especially with Blitz out).

Port by however many they try to win by.

 

[Sire of Claude]

Selection this week will tell us a lot about how the club's longer term thinking. In other words the inclusion of Sav, Parfitt and Menegola - or even two of that trio - would be depressing.

Sav's inclusion would make some sense for structure on the day but it seems he won't be with us next year. Parfitt is a proven C-grader and also likely to be gone. Menegola has been a stalwart and very unlucky so maybe he gets a game before season's end.

Our recruiters and talent-spotters spends thousands of hours finding and selecting draftees: Dempsey and Knevitt are playing well and Neale, according to Scott, was going to play the first 3 games before his injury, so.... play them now when the team is badly faltering.

 

[Sttew]

Port can't afford to drop this one.

Hope we wheel out Dempsey, Knevitt and Neale for full games.

Heck may as well chuck Conway into the mix (especially with Blitz out).

Port by however many they try to win by.

And Parfitt in the midfield after his VFL game. Why not?

 

[Bevoman]

Only Port's THIRD game at KP in 10 years.

How many of Port's best 22 have played at KP do you reckon?

Evans & Narkle have.

 

[cats_09]

Not sure why people are wanting Esava back in to go into defense where it doesn't work with him and SDK, and if you are choosing one I know which I want.

Unless Esava comes in and SDK goes forward. But I would rather see Neale in.

It's time to be somewhat bold with selections and back in those who've been showing something in the VFL

I know Neale has had an interrupted year with injury, but he kicked 3 goals on the weekend, has likely taken some confidence from that and looks better suited to replacing Hawkins from a structure perspective then say J. Henry who I feel would be more of a Cameron replacement

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

Evans & Narkle have.

I forgot Frank the Tank went west!

 

[Johanpetro]

I forgot Frank the Tank went west!

Kicked 4 on the weekend

 

[cats_09]

I like neale but hes not fit enough yet.
Sav in and jack henry fwd is the safest structure option to cope with no hawkins.
Menegola in for blitz i think will happen given whats on the line.
Knevitt for bowes or oconnor.
I dont see a spot for dempsey structurally close miers and stengle are playing well-need knevitt as the extra mid.

Other than the endurance capabilities, I don't see how Menegola in for Blicavs works unless we also open up a a spot on the wing, and even then I'd rather give Dempsey a full game in that role based on his recent form in the VFL

Knevitt showed some good things before his omission, has continued to play well since returning to the VFL and may be more suited to playing an inside role rather than Menegola

And bugger being "safe" by selecting Ratugolea to play defence and move Henry forward - we know Jack can pinch hit up forward but he's not exactly a Hawkins replacement and he's been one our most solid defenders the last month. I know he didn't have a good game against Port in Adelaide, but he's turned it around since then

And Neale has been trusted to play as our FF in the VFL for the last 12+ months, as fans we've been looking for opportunities for him to get senior games under his belt this year and surely Hawkins out presents the best opportunity


Last year when selection was between an aging veteran and a youngster, we backed in the youngster - time to be doing that again and not just with a look to 2024, but because the excitement we see from the youth can be infectious across the board... Something we could use right now

 

[Turbocat]

Selection this week will tell us a lot about how the club's longer term thinking. In other words the inclusion of Sav, Parfitt and Menegola - or even two of that trio - would be depressing.

Sav's inclusion would make some sense for structure on the day but it seems he won't be with us next year. Parfitt is a proven C-grader and also likely to be gone. Menegola has been a stalwart and very unlucky so maybe he gets a game before season's end.

Our recruiters and talent-spotters spends thousands of hours finding and selecting draftees: Dempsey and Knevitt are playing well and Neale, according to Scott, was going to play the first 3 games before his injury, so.... play them now when the team is badly faltering.

Stock up on the prozac and have the Beyond blue number set on speed dial. I cant see them being ready to move away from those players , or at least two out the three) ...especially when Port is so banged up. Scott will be thinking ..if we win this , then we play well v pies , we beat Stk and the dogs .. and we make the finals ... and then who knows what happnes

 

[CHAWKTS]

It's a salient quote - there could be some hidden truth in there for people to digest.

Having said that, you know there's more to this team than meets the eye. Even though there might not be any evidence on the table at this point, you have to ask yourself: Would you really be surprised if we came out and belted Port and then accounted for Collingwood?

As crazy as it sounds, it wouldn't be a huge shock for me. It'd almost be less of a shock than the fact that we lost to Fremantle on the weekend, who were paying $9 against us.

Just very hard to predict what we're going to do week-to-week at the moment. And that, in and of itself, is a bad thing.

It is a really good point. They answer is no. I would not be shocked. It would make me mad about the last month but then I would switch (maybe falsely) into hope that they have clicked back. Of course they would then lose to st Kilda!

It is almost opposite for me. I now expect a response and actually think they will best Port this week. Given circumstances. If they lose this week it is just proof that they are definitely not good enough