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

[Vdubs]

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

good points, unless Atkins, Danger, and Blicavs have a day out.


pity about Blicavs...

 

[Vdubs]

There's no way we can be favourites.

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

Port has had some awesome wins this year, yet our % is about 10 higher

 

[Cataholic]

Port has had some awesome wins this year, yet our % is about 10 higher

Port is second in the ladder, and 4.5 games clear of us.

We also rolled over without a whimper last week.

 

[cats_09]

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

I think it’s because we’re only on a 2 game losing streak versus their 3 game losing streak and this match happens to be on our home deck

 

[Cataholic]

I think it’s because we’re only on a 2 game losing streak versus their 3 game losing streak and this match happens to be on our home deck

Our home deck doesn't frighten any reasonable side anymore I'd suggest.

 

[Vdubs]

Port is second in the ladder, and 4.5 games clear of us.

We also rolled over without a whimper last week.

Don't worry, I rate Port highly; just their last 3 weeks has been below par, and the timing for us to get them this week is not ideal- can't see them losing 4 in a row. But can we see us losing 2 in a row at home?
What a bizarre season...

maybe we get another draw?

 

[Cataholic]

Don't worry, I rate Port highly; just their last 3 weeks has been below par, and the timing for us to get them this week is not ideal- can't see them losing 4 in a row. But can we see us losing 2 in a row at home?
What a bizarre season...

Yeah, they're going through a lean spot, but it's still hard to see them capitulating here.

Their midfield should outwork ours comfortably, and we've lost Blitz and Hawkins.........

 

[cats_09]

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

I’d be more inclined to lean towards the conservative approach if we were secure within the top 4, knew we were finals bound and wanted to keep things ticking along heading into September

But with where we find ourselves where we need to win & keep winning to play finals, while also wanting to have something of a look to the future, this seems to the perfect time to try something a less conservative and just see what happens from here - it’ll also tell us a bit more about where our youngsters are and how they go under the pressure situation we currently find ourselves in

I just feel that the next gen of Neale, Knevitt & Dempsey aren’t going to die wondering, and I’d rather lose with them in the team knowing that we took a chance, compared with playing it safe & potentially another ’meh’ performance like the past few weeks

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Re the injured players

Blicavs is the massive out - and whatever tiny chance - flickering light the Cats had for the finals - well with his serious injury - its all over red rover

With Hawkins and he has been a tremendous player and all the rest of it - however i am quite looking forward this week with an eye to the future - in having a much more mobile FF . And as good as Hawkins has been - one thing which has annoyed me - maybe because he is a touch lazy - he continually plays from behind

So in summary - i think the Cats can cover for Hawkins - and there might be a surprise their - someone new in the position might bob up and kick a big bag of goals - lets hope so

However Blicavs - his loss is irreplaceable - Geel have got a rat shiit midfield and now it is even worse

On face value - given the ladder positions - Pt Ade should be winning by 5-6 goals - and also given Geelongs pathetic effort in losing to Frem

The only positive form line you can give on that loss to Frem at KP - is 2 things Freo did beat Geel at KP last year in a flag winning year - and Freo ( and they have put in some shockers ) but they have done exactly the same thing in the last 2 years to Melb at the MCG - beat them - and beat them comfortably

So maybe they just match up well on the Demons and the Cats - that is the only positive slant i can put on last weeks loss at home to that perennial rabble

 

[bulletproof]

Menegola will play as a big body to replace Blicavs in midfield.

Bews in for Bowes.

Neale is a straight swap for Hawk.

Esava into the backline and extra ruck support for maybe Tuohy or Smith.

The young ones Knevitt and Dempsey will struggle to get a game I think, which I think is unfortunate.

O’Connor will stay in 23.

 

[Vdubs]

Re the injured players

Blicavs is the massive out - and whatever tiny chance - flickering light the Cats had for the finals - well with his serious injury - its all over red rover

With Hawkins and he has been a tremendous player and all the rest of it - however i am quite looking forward this week with an eye to the future - in having a much more mobile FF . And as good as Hawkins has been - one thing which has annoyed me - maybe because he is a touch lazy - he continually plays from behind

So in summary - i think the Cats can cover for Hawkins - and there might be a surprise their - someone new in the position might bob up and kick a big bag of goals - lets hope so

However Blicavs - his loss is irreplaceable - Geel have got a rat shiit midfield and now it is even worse

On face value - given the ladder positions - Pt Ade should be winning by 5-6 goals - and also given Geelongs pathetic effort in losing to Frem

The only positive form line you can give on that loss to Frem at KP - is 2 things Freo did beat Geel at KP last year in a flag winning year - and Freo ( and they have put in some shockers ) but they have done exactly the same thing in the last 2 years to Melb at the MCG - beat them - and beat them comfortably

So maybe they just match up well on the Demons and the Cats - that is the only positive slant i can put on last weeks loss at home to that perennial rabble

You nail your posts so well.
Agree with all that

 

[Vdubs]

Menegola will play as a big body to replace Blicavs in midfield.

Bews in for Bowes.

Neale is a straight swap for Hawk.

Esava into the backline and extra ruck support for maybe Tuohy or Smith.

The young ones Knevitt and Dempsey will struggle to get a game I think, which I think is unfortunate.

O’Connor will stay in 23.

Nice, but I favour Parfitt over Menegola

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Menegola will play as a big body to replace Blicavs in midfield.

Bews in for Bowes.

Neale is a straight swap for Hawk.

Esava into the backline and extra ruck support for maybe Tuohy or Smith.

The young ones Knevitt and Dempsey will struggle to get a game I think, which I think is unfortunate.

O’Connor will stay in 23.

Bews was horrendous in the vfl put knevitt in and reshuffle the backs.

Agree with the rest.

 

[Interdimensional Bigfoot]

I hope we kill port (in Minecraft)

 

[Chinacats]

Baggers beat power & woods to be in the eight…. Over to you cats…..
And is it time to peak now….? Been hearing all year it’s about peaking at the right time of the year…
Now?

 

[catsfootyfan89]

Nice, but I favour Parfitt over Menegola

Line ball for me, but both are bad and I don't want either to be a permanent fixture.

Menegola - there's no room in the modern game for slow plodders. Lance Whitnall would give him a run for his money.

Parfitt - just doesn't impact games well enough, often enough. Pops up here and there, sometimes plays a good pressure game, but you can't count on him. Never been a reliable week-in, week-out player.

If it's a choice between the two, I'd go with Parfitt purely because he's younger and maybe he can get more out of himself in the next year or two. Menegola is 31, so it's all downhill from here. The prospect of him getting even slower on the footy field scares me. Bloke would get tackled at an opening bounce and wouldn't know about it until the start of the second quarter.

 

[Vdubs]

Baggers beat power & woods to be in the eight…. Over to you cats…..
And is it time to peak now….? Been hearing all year it’s about peaking at the right time of the year…
Now?

too late, that can not include losing Hawkins and Blicavs, and not having CGuthrie most of the year. Perfect last year. Peaking includes luck, not our 23 bad type, more the 22 good type.

 

[you pick one]

If we want something better than a packet of chips from Port at the end of the season we need to play Sav this week if Sav wants to go to Port on good bread he needs to perform against Port this week,as for who wins after last week results I'll keep that to myself

 

[numbwombat]

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’d be happy with 4, but you’ve left out the option where they play the 3 with the most recent good AFL form - Ratugolea, Knevitt and Dempsey.


Also think there’s a chance we keep Jack Henry in the backline and Chris Scott refers to Ratugolea as a ‘fantastic utility’ and plonks him in his 2021 forward-ruck role.

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

What idiot headbutts Jezza from behind in a pub? This campaigner better lay low for a while to avoid angry Cats supporters.

 

[No Quarter]

Havin a good trot in regards to his noggin' lately

 

[fpm84]

When's the last time we lost two games in a row at KP?

Would have to be pre-2007 wouldn't it?

 

[catters_28]

When's the last time we lost two games in a row at KP?

Would have to be pre-2007 wouldn't it?

Rounds 4 and 12 2015. Lost to North in round 4 and Melbourne in 12.

 

[Cataholic]

What idiot headbutts Jezza from behind in a pub? This campaigner better lay low for a while to avoid angry Cats supporters.

Bloody moron

 

[fpm84]

Rounds 4 and 12 2015. Lost to North in round 4 and Melbourne in 12.

Thanks! I can't remember those games, or why there was such a big gap between home games.