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

[Cataholic]

Id play Esava full forward - one out in the goal square - hes good overhead mark - he has improved this year as a footballer - evidenced by the 10 coaches votes he received in a game earlier in the year

I know in previous seasons he couldnt hold down CHF - but Hawkins is out for a couple of weeks so Geel need someone to play FF - theres no guarntee that Jack Henry will do any better - and that unsettles the defence

SDK should be ok for Dixon -Marshall is a big unit - but Kolo seems to do allright against them - eg Jack Reiwoldt

I expect a big game from Dangerfield - after having his colours lowered last week - blooody Joel Corey - i heard Longmuir - boasting that Corey told him to put Young into the midfield on PD because he plays midfield and forward

If Geel can somehow cover Blicavs absence - then they did beat Melb down their - if they play like that - they have to be some chance - as long as they play with a bit of spirit - then ones who have paid to watch have got their moneys worth

Sav is useless as a forward. Has no idea how to play the position at all.

 

[Cataholic]

Hasn't played as a forward for over 12 months, didn't seem to play forward during last weeks VFL though he did spend time in the ruck

And his one shot on goal this year went out on the full - looked like he hadn't really been practising his goal kicking

He demonstrated his inability to play forward, and was shuffled to the backline in an attempt to find a spot for him

Hard to believe Scott wants to revisit him up front.

 

[terry_bright]

Sav in. Bews, Menegola as 2 of the emergencies?

So effing beige.

As others have said, where's the spark, the reward for form?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Hasn't played as a forward for over 12 months, didn't seem to play forward during last weeks VFL though he did spend time in the ruck

And his one shot on goal this year went out on the full - looked like he hadn't really been practising his goal kicking

If he was ever going to get an opportunity is aerially against this port backline. But more likely we just advertise his limitations

 

[cats_09]

If he was ever going to get an opportunity is aerially against this port backline. But more likely we just advertise his limitations

If he lines up on Dixon (who seems to have been playing a bit banged up lately), I wouldn't be surprised to see Dixon take him straight to the goal square and isolate him deep in one out contests for most of the night

Can Ratugolea play smart enough to not get caught up in wrestling matches for the night, because with Dixon's experience, I see him taking the edge in that contest

 

[Samason]

Would love to know what Knevitt has done wrong.

Played the best game of his young career and hasn't been seen in the senior team since. Not even an emergency either.

Knevitt must be the only player to be in his teams best then dropped. It's ordunary treatment by cats. Wouldn't be surprised if he asks for a trade

 

[terry_bright]

Id play Esava full forward - one out in the goal square - hes good overhead mark - he has improved this year as a footballer - evidenced by the 10 coaches votes he received in a game earlier in the year

I know in previous seasons he couldnt hold down CHF - but Hawkins is out for a couple of weeks so Geel need someone to play FF - theres no guarntee that Jack Henry will do any better - and that unsettles the defence

SDK should be ok for Dixon -Marshall is a big unit - but Kolo seems to do allright against them - eg Jack Reiwoldt

I expect a big game from Dangerfield - after having his colours lowered last week - blooody Joel Corey - i heard Longmuir - boasting that Corey told him to put Young into the midfield on PD because he plays midfield and forward

If Geel can somehow cover Blicavs absence - then they did beat Melb down their - if they play like that - they have to be some chance - as long as they play with a bit of spirit - then ones who have paid to watch have got their moneys worth

We have played Sav down back all year and now we are going to throw him forward? The could of tried him in the two's up forward last week after seeing Hawk go down but nope.

Reminds me when a few years ago, late in the season they tried to turn Henderson into a forward after playing down back all year. That was a hot mess.

 

[Cataholic]

If he lines up on Dixon (who seems to have been playing a bit banged up lately), I wouldn't be surprised to see Dixon take him straight to the goal square and isolate him deep in one out contests for most of the night

Can Ratugolea play smart enough to not get caught up in wrestling matches for the night, Benatar with Dixon's experience, I see him taking the edge in that contest

My money would be on Dixon.

 

[moond0g]

This is probably the most underwhelmed I’ve been with selection in a while.

2 very average games in a row and not a single person gets dropped. And the kids playing well in the 2’s don’t even do enough to make the emergencies.

The only explanation I can think of is the club still think we’re good enough to make finals and do some damage. So they’re sticking with what they know. If that’s the case, it’s about time they pull their fingers out and show it on the park

 

[Vdubs]

That sounds like a reasonable comment if you ignore his entire 2023 to date

Ports changes - and I know we're scratching our heads at our selections, but imaging kicking 4 goals one week, the next opponent is your former team and you get omitted



IN: T Jonas, W Rioli

OUT: A Aliir, L Jones (concussion protocols), F Evans (omitted)

LAST WEEK’S SUB: T Boak


Round 21 Team Selection
B: D Williams 23, T McKenzie 12, D Houston 5
HB: K Farrell 6, T Jonas 1-C, R Burton 3
C: M Bergman 14, W Drew 28, X Duursma 7
HF: Z Butters 9, T Marshall 4, J McEntee 41
F: D Byrne-Jones 33, C Dixon 22, S Powell-Pepper 2
Foll: D Visentini 38, O Wines 16, C Rozee 20
I/C: T Boak 10, J Finlayson 11, W Rioli 15, J Horne-Francis 18

Emergencies: R Bonner 26, O Lord 30, F Evans 31, J Mead 44

Evans will likely play.
At least Sparkle is not named.
Who should Knevitt replace this week?

 

[Cataholic]

This is probably the most underwhelmed I’ve been with selection in a while.

2 very average games in a row and not a single person gets dropped. And the kids playing well in the 2’s don’t even do enough to make the emergencies.

The only explanation I can think of is the club still think we’re good enough to make finals and do some damage. So they’re sticking with what they know. If that’s the case, it’s about time they pull their fingers out and show it on the park

Yep.

Our midfield is being beaten regularly, and now we've lost Blitz.

We're also struggling to kick enough goals, and we've lost Hawkins.

So what do we do? We stick with the same, tired team, and bring in a guy who hasn't impressed forward or back.

Hard to see how we now suddenly flick the switch and become dangerous.

 

[Stokey]

 

[Cataholic]

Evans will likely play.
At least Sparkle is not named.
Who should Knevitt replace this week?

Smith

 

[CatToTheFuture]

If he lines up on Dixon (who seems to have been playing a bit banged up lately), I wouldn't be surprised to see Dixon take him straight to the goal square and isolate him deep in one out contests for most of the night

Can Ratugolea play smart enough to not get caught up in wrestling matches for the night, because with Dixon's experience, I see him taking the edge in that contest

I see Dixon doing a fair bit of ruck though

 

[cats_09]

Evans will likely play.
At least Sparkle is not named.
Who should Knevitt replace this week?

Neale & Knevitt instead of Ratugolea & O'Connor

Reward the recent good form that's been shown at VFL level

And for a kick up the butt as we haven't been getting enough from our senior players, Dempsey in with Smith omitted or if Bowes finger isn't 100%, he gets a rest and Tuohy plays more in defence - let Dempsey play on the wing & sneak forward. We know he can find the goals at VFL level and be repeatedly been in our VFL bests over the past month, be good to see what he can do with a full match

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Late change i reckon with menegola in.

Not sure what bews did to deserve being in the 26 ahead of knevitt.

Ports key defenders are weak..mckenzie is undersized and jonas is finished..hopefullt both henrys (jack will play fwd) can exploit it.

As always its all on our midfield.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Sav isn't without redeeming features, but I don't think he can share a backline with sdk. I can see the logic, I just think we lose more upsetting the backline than we get out of playing Henry forward when we have a 200cm+ sprinter coming off 20+ disposals, 11 marks, and 3 goals on the 2s.

Neale was gassed at 3/4 time hes not fit enough yet or we would have. Jack henry can apply more defensive pressure thats why they did it.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Sav is useless as a forward. Has no idea how to play the position at all.

Sav also cant kick for goal.

Sav back and henry boys fwd.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Not sure what more Knevitt or Dempsey need to do to at least get on the emergency list, if not a proper recall

They are backing the fact that dempsey and Knevitt have no choice but to suck it up and wait and just keep getting better. Which i assume they will. I assume both of them got told how close they were to being selected…. At least we saw Neale selected as emergency which must be due to some residual risk over Rohan getting up?

They are backing the “old blokes”. My issue now is that if they beat (a depleted) Port Adelaide it will reinforce going back to the 2022 players - but I think that will be a false dawn. If they lose they will know Collingwood is true elimination so back the old guys again (maybe shuffle a couple in and out) to capture form…. We may not see change

 

[Cataholic]

Sav also cant kick for goal.

Sav back and henry boys fwd.

Can't say I like it, but given they've brought Sav in, that's the best positioning.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Would love to know what Knevitt has done wrong.

Played the best game of his young career and hasn't been seen in the senior team since. Not even an emergency either.

I think the answer is honestly nothing. They are just fixated by the names on the page in terms of what they have done in the past - more than Knevitt. Club thinks they are looking forward but in selection they are stuck backing the team that got it done last year. Somewhat understandable but I think they will look back in hindsight and say they missed opportunity to try Knevitt and maybe Dempsey on the big stage - for learning and maybe even for a better chance to win.

For now I assume the next two weeks they are going to shuffle the deckchairs on the titanic and lets see where that goes

 

[CHAWKTS]

Dempsey played his best game as well. Giving the current underperforming players yet another chance to redeem themselves. After recent weeks I've lost my enthusiasm. Port would have to play very badly for us to get a win, even at Geelong's home ground.

I agree

But Port played very badly last week and have more injuries. Not out of the question we win - but I think we would have same chance with a couple of fresh faces and then we couldn’t lose either way

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Yep.

Our midfield is being beaten regularly, and now we've lost Blitz.

We're also struggling to kick enough goals, and we've lost Hawkins.

So what do we do? We stick with the same, tired team, and bring in a guy who hasn't impressed forward or back.

Hard to see how we now suddenly flick the switch and become dangerous.

I can understand your frustrations

However you can only select from who is on your list - and at this stage i dont think the young players who aernt playing senior football for Geelong are anywhere near as good as alot of supporters think they are

Knevitt might make it - i dont think Dempsey will - and Parfitt is finished

So in a must win game - i think the Geel match commitee have brought in the obvious 2 - im comfortable with the ins

I think re this game - there will be a decent response from Geel this week

 

[CHAWKTS]

Knevitt must be the only player to be in his teams best then dropped. It's ordunary treatment by cats. Wouldn't be surprised if he asks for a trade

i agree with first bit. But I think we underestimate that bond that has formed in that younger group - so that will stop any trade thoughts (unless this continues into 2024). Mitch, Toby, Dempsey, Bruhn, Max, SDK are all very tight…they want to stay and build to take over in a few years…but club needs to reward form to make sure that happens

 

[Cataholic]

I think the answer is honestly nothing. They are just fixated by the names on the page in terms of what they have done in the past - more than Knevitt. Club thinks they are looking forward but in selection they are stuck backing the team that got it done last year. Somewhat understandable but I think they will look back in hindsight and say they missed opportunity to try Knevitt and maybe Dempsey on the big stage - for learning and maybe even for a better chance to win.

For now I assume the next two weeks they are going to shuffle the deckchairs on the titanic and lets see where that goes

I was saying the other day that it seems harder to be dropped from the Best 24 than it is to get in.......

Almost cliquey.