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

[catempire]

Selection options appear to be:

1. Ultra conservative (most likely)

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt, Menegola

J Henry goes forward some

2. Mid conservative

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt/Menegola and Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry goes forward some

3. Aggressive

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Neale, Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry stays back and we play taller

4. Crazy Vossy style but so crazy it just might work

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Neale, Knevitt, Dempsey

Ruck support from SDK/Neale/Knevitt/Rohan

 

[Mr Meow]

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.”

Creative accounting. Past 6 weeks includes a win against the second favourites Melbourne. Past 8 includes a win against the Dogs away from home with more injuries than we have now.

Also, Essendon were 5th when we played them and Sydney are very much in the finals race.

 

[Mr Meow]

Selection options appear to be:

1. Ultra conservative (most likely)

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt, Menegola

J Henry goes forward some

2. Mid conservative

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt/Menegola and Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry goes forward some

3. Aggressive

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Neale, Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry stays back and we play taller

4. Crazy Vossy style but so crazy it just might work

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Neale, Knevitt, Dempsey

Ruck support from SDK/Neale/Knevitt/Rohan

Aggressive with Knevitt is probably the best option here

 

[catempire]

Aggressive with Knevitt is probably the best option here

My two non-negotiables would be Neale and Dempsey must play. If we are not going to play Neale when Hawkins doesn’t play, what’s the point of him? Dempsey has beaten the door down for a while now so deserves his chance as much as any VFL player I can think of in years.

Knevitt I think deserves selection too but I don’t feel as strongly and think his future is assured anyway.

I am ambivalent about the rest, largely because I’ve given up on the season anyway.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Creative accounting. Past 6 weeks includes a win against the second favourites Melbourne. Past 8 includes a win against the Dogs away from home with more injuries than we have now.

Also, Essendon were 5th when we played them and Sydney are very much in the finals race.

Have always hated accounting…

your point is right in terms of it does depend on when you stop and start data points…

in the end the only one that matters is wins and losses in a few weeks time I suppose

 

[Mr Meow]

My two non-negotiables would be Neale and Dempsey must play. If we are not going to play Neale when Hawkins doesn’t play, what’s the point of him? Dempsey has beaten the door down for a while now so deserves his chance as much as any VFL player I can think of in years.

Knevitt I think deserves selection too but I don’t feel as strongly and think his future is assured anyway.

I am ambivalent about the rest, largely because I’ve given up on the season anyway.

I just think Knevitt has shown more at AFL level and we need another midfielder who can go into the coal face or play on the wing when Holmes is on ball.

I'd be looking to give Dempsey his chance a week later when we rest a senior player but give him a chance to hold onto his spot.

Port have Marshall, Dixon and Finlayson so I don't think playing with a few tall defenders matters - especially at GMHBA. And I'd rather Sav help out as ruck so Neale can focus purely on forward craft.

As for your last sentence I'm waiting one more week for that. If we win we would still have Bulldogs, Melbourne, Essendon and Port as fairly recent scalps. Add St Kilda and Bulldogs again and it would be a decent form line.

Lose this week and I'm ready to call it.

 

[moond0g]

Selection options appear to be:

1. Ultra conservative (most likely)

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt, Menegola

J Henry goes forward some

2. Mid conservative

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt/Menegola and Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry goes forward some

3. Aggressive

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Neale, Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry stays back and we play taller

4. Crazy Vossy style but so crazy it just might work

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Neale, Knevitt, Dempsey

Ruck support from SDK/Neale/Knevitt/Rohan

I think given our past month that someone needs to be 'omitted'.

We can't just 'inj/managed' people forever when we're getting beaten. They need to actually drop someone to make it clear that what we've been dishing up isn't acceptable.

 

[gypsy_1]

Got some feedback from Freo players about Geelong. I know a Freo player personally. The Freo player mentioned after the game that it was "relatively easy" playing on Danger. He won some contests but didn't run on to compete to a secondary contest and seemed to be sitting back on the play. Freo scouts discovered Danger hangs out the back of stoppages, anticipates a clearance win and sneaks off out the back. Danger had a sweeper role and Freo just had to be aware where he was rather than close check him. Then walks off after the stoppage. I am a huge Danger fan and Paddy is a competitive beast. Danger is a ball winner and I was surprised by the analysis. The GF showed his power and strength. There was sense Paddy may be careful to preserve himself and not to get a soft tissue injury. Also Geelong players didn't put massive pressure on Freo players. Im just reporting on what the players said. Also Guthrie told a Freo player the season may be over after the siren. I wouldn't reveal that even if I believed it.

 

[Samason]

I think given our past month that someone needs to be 'omitted'.

We can't just 'inj/managed' people forever when we're getting beaten. They need to actually drop someone to make it clear that what we've been dishing up isn't acceptable.

Your right. Players need to feel selection pressure not protected with this managed bs!

 

[Turbocat]

Selection options appear to be:

1. Ultra conservative (most likely)

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt, Menegola

J Henry goes forward some

2. Mid conservative

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt/Menegola and Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry goes forward some

3. Aggressive

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Neale, Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry stays back and we play taller

4. Crazy Vossy style but so crazy it just might work

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Neale, Knevitt, Dempsey

Ruck support from SDK/Neale/Knevitt/Rohan

where do you see Neale in his readiness. I beginning to get this feeling that the club don't see the type of control of game a key forward creates ... or else he would be an auto straight in with Haw being out. Port backline is not like playing against GWS Taylor. Hawkins or Blitz out .. Neale should/could be for either of them. If they don not select him now (if he is fit etc) then that starts to create a doubt in my mind about how the club see him. He probably isn't ready to be the main #1, and as I have said before, I had reservations about play Cameron when unfit. He looks a bit better against Freo but im not sure he feels good. He is not happy , and he is missing too many shots he normally nails. ...but now Hawkins is out we probably have a reduced set of options.

Cameron, Neale and JHerny forward is what Id like to see stretch them , in an area of weakness. We probably play Sav back as Port do have two tall forwards.

On ball ... Menegola and Parfit at least present mature bodies ... but as much as anything we lack run. Bring in Knevitt and keep him in. Its questionable that he was dropped , and after the way we were flogged ..if there is any value to Hardie on our list he should be seriously considered.

 

[Lana]

Selection options appear to be:

1. Ultra conservative (most likely)

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt, Menegola

J Henry goes forward some

2. Mid conservative

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Parfitt/Menegola and Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry goes forward some

3. Aggressive

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Ratugolea (ruck/back), Neale, Knevitt/Dempsey

J Henry stays back and we play taller

4. Crazy Vossy style but so crazy it just might work

Out: Blicavs, Hawkins + 1 utility/mid inj/managed
In: Neale, Knevitt, Dempsey

Ruck support from SDK/Neale/Knevitt/Rohan

That isn't what I would call a Crazy Vossy, but I'm all in on option 4

 

[And_ROOS]

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'?

To be fair, we beat Melbourne when we were light on AND lost Cameron early. This season has been probably the most unpredictable as a Geelong supporter for a long time.

I won't be surprised if we lose by 30. I also won't be surprised if Stengle and Cameron kick 4 each and we win by 30.

 

[catempire]

I think given our past month that someone needs to be 'omitted'.

We can't just 'inj/managed' people forever when we're getting beaten. They need to actually drop someone to make it clear that what we've been dishing up isn't acceptable.

I’ve been on that soapbox for years. Can’t see them changing now though. Particularly with 2-3 forced outs.

 

[catempire]

where do you see Neale in his readiness.

At some point you have to be tested at the level. If he’s not picked this week I’ll be worried about how they see him.

 

[Cataholic]

I’ve been on that soapbox for years. Can’t see them changing now though. Particularly with 2-3 forced outs.

It's harder to be dropped than it is to get there in the first place.

Has almost created a sense of 'clique'.

 

[Sire of Claude]

Yes our selection policy is akin to the Oz cricket selectors; it's harder to get dropped than to be selected.

Resting and managing makes a certain amount of sense given our age profile, but are there no sections dictated by form - whether a player below their best being dropped or a player in hot form (think Dempsey and Knevitt) being promoted?

 

[cats_09]

At some point you have to be tested at the level. If he’s not picked this week I’ll be worried about how they see him.

This just seems like the perfect opportunity to play him:

- Neale kicked 3.4 on the weekend, his best return this VFL season and makes it back to back 3 goal matches

- Hawkins looks out for at least a week or 2, which gives Neale the opportunity for at least a couple of games. So it kinda reduces the pressure to perform first up to keep his spot the next week

- He's recently re-signed for two further seasons. If we trust him enough to re-sign him, then let him play and let's see what he can do... Useless re-signing players if you aren't going to play them

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

Kicked 4 on the weekend

I always like seeing former Geelong players doing well (except when it's against us, which they inevitably do)

 

[cats_09]

The chance to build a little bit of anticipation before 2023 senior debut?

 

[Turbocat]

At some point you have to be tested at the level. If he’s not picked this week I’ll be worried about how they see him.

Pretty much .. just as I said. Something is wrong here.. we agree.

 

[foxdog50]

The chance to build a little bit of anticipation before 2023 senior debut?

Who was the silly person on this forum saying he doesn't take overhead marks and only does chest marks

 

[cats_09]

Who was the silly person on this forum saying he doesn't take overhead marks and only does chest marks

There was a few nice pack marks in there, he was strong on the lead and he also looks to have an easy & repeatable kicking action when going for goal

I also liked the passage at approx 20 seconds where he takes the ball cleanly from a forward 50 throw in, pushes through the pack and looks for a teammate with a handball - kinda like what we see from Hawkins with forward 50 ruck contests

I know it's only a 60 second highlights reel but it's exciting to see that from a youngster and it could be fun to see what he brings to the senior team


I made mention of it my opening post but we want to see the players having fun out there, see them smiling & enjoying themselves - anyone who's seen Neale kick a goal in the VFL knows he loves a celebration & brings some excitement. To me, that's the sort of thing we need at the moment, especially after recent weeks - and we never know how infectious the excitement & fun that some youngsters bring could be for our senior players

 

[foxdog50]

There was a few nice pack marks in there, he was strong on the lead and he also looks to have an easy & repeatable kicking action when going for goal

I also liked the passage at approx 20 seconds where he takes the ball cleanly from a forward 50 throw in, pushes through the pack and looks for a teammate with a handball - kinda like what we see from Hawkins with forward 50 ruck contests

I know it's only a 60 second highlights reel but it's exciting to see that from a youngster and it could be fun to see what he brings to the senior team


I made mention of it my opening post but we want to see the players having fun out there, see them smiling & enjoying themselves - anyone who's seem Neale kick a goal in the VFL knows he loves a celebration & brings some excitement. To me, that's the sort of thing we need at the moment, especially after recent weeks - and we never know how infectious the excitement & fun that some youngsters could be for our senior players

It's time cats 09... its time to play Neale

 

[calder_daddy]

How we are favorites for this game is beyond me.
Our issue is our midfield and everytime PA beat us it’s because of just that.

Lycett will be back
Butters, Rozee and Wines are going to have an absolute field day

 

[Cataholic]

How we are favorites for this game is beyond me.
Our issue is our midfield and everytime PA beat us it’s because of just that.

Lycett will be back
Butters, Rozee and Wines are going to have an absolute field day

There's no way we can be favourites.

Someone's math ain't too good.......