Preview Round 22: Collingwood vs Geelong, Friday 11 August 7:50pm @ MCG

[Play it Sam]

I can absolutely imagine it. Both teams have an air of vulnerability.

Port lost 4 on the trot, while Brisbane went really close to coming out of the GC and Freo games with 0 points. Few are convincing right now.

Any of 10 sides can be "The Danger" if they peak over the next month.

The other thing, it's not a given they all approach or cruise through heavy finals injury free. Not that we'd wish that hell on anybody. Daicos makes a big dent in their superiority, and Ports stars too.
We're just cranking some of ours along, and I'm not sure they're given enough patience to come up to speed again (i.e. Duncan). If Jack wasn't forced to ruck, maybe he evades that injury. Timing really is everything, as Holmes knows, and boy are we sweating on it it this year.

 

[dazbroncos]

Get Neale up forward and tell him to lead and compete if he cant mark it.
Make the Pies defenders account for him in the air and keep Moore busy as their 3rd man up and dropping off his opponent.
Makes Jezza and Rohan 1 on 1.

And we need that.

GO Catters

 

[Mr Meow]

The other thing, it's not a given they all approach or cruise through heavy finals injury free. Not that we'd wish that hell on anybody. Daicos makes a big dent in their superiority, and Ports stars too.
We're just cranking some of ours along, and I'm not sure they're given enough patience to come up to speed again (i.e. Duncan). If Jack wasn't forced to ruck, maybe he evades that injury. Timing really is everything, as Holmes knows, and boy are we sweating on it it this year.

As I know not all are able to view the Instagram photos

View attachment 1769439

He at least has a little bit more hair it seems. This is promising.

 

[dazbroncos]

Interesting betting market - avalanche of money for Geel - dont ask me why - considering the Magpies are $3.40 flag faves - where as the Cats are a 16-1 pop

They opened the market on this game prior to the previous round results - and they put up Coll at $1.40 and Geel at $3

Its now Coll $1.77 and the Cats are right into $2.05

nothing in my right mind... or any other mind for that matterd suggests we are that close.

Go Catters

 

[Mr Meow]

Get Neale up forward and tell him to lead and compete if he cant mark it.
Make the Pies defenders account for him in the air and keep Moore busy as their 3rd man up and dropping off his opponent.
Makes Jezza and Rohan 1 on 1.

And we need that.

GO Catters

Who would we drop though?

I still think this set up is pretty dynamic.

HF: Close Cameron Miers
FF: Rohan O.Henry Stengle

Rotation: Duncan (HFF)

3 good targets, 3 lively smalls and a few excellent field kicks.

 

[Mr Meow]

nothing in my right mind... or any other mind for that matterd suggests we are that close.

Go Catters

Geelong

Essendon (home): 77 point win
Brisbane (away): 11 point loss
Fremantle (home): 7 point loss
Port Adelaide (home): 12 point win

Average result: 18 point win

Collingwood

Fremantle (home): 46 point win
Port Adelaide (away): 2 point win
Carlton (home): 17 point loss
Hawthorn (neutral): 32 point loss

Average result: 1 point loss

Injured

Geelong: C.Guthrie, Hawkins, Blicavs, J.Henry
Collingwood: N.Daicos, N.Murphy

Fair enough Geelong have more injuries (even if N.Daicos is the biggest of the lot), but based on the past month Collingwood as marginal favourites rather than unbackable ones makes sense. The Carlton and Hawthorn games at one stage were both blowouts.

 

[catempire]

Who would we drop though?

I still think this set up is pretty dynamic.

HF: Close Cameron Miers
FF: Rohan O.Henry Stengle

Rotation: Duncan (HFF)

3 good targets, 3 lively smalls and a few excellent field kicks.

No drop. J.Henry.

 

[Mr Meow]

No drop. J.Henry.

Actually a fair point.

What are your thoughts on bringing Bews in though? Miles off the pace in VFL so not worth it? Or we need to pull the trigger, and if so, who makes way?

 

[catempire]

Actually a fair point.

What are your thoughts on bringing Bews in though? Miles off the pace in VFL so not worth it? Or we need to pull the trigger, and if so, who makes way?

A bit torn on it. Don’t think we can continue to pretend the current mix is the answer to dangerous small forwards. Not excited by Bews returning though.

 

[TheCatStevensExperience]

I reckon what Stevie means when he says "harder" is that it's harder to overcome the desire to kick the goal yourself and selflessly pass it off

But seriously, that's high praise for Gryan the Lion. He'll kick "100" going by this metric!

 

[dazbroncos]

Who would we drop though?

I still think this set up is pretty dynamic.

HF: Close Cameron Miers
FF: Rohan O.Henry Stengle

Rotation: Duncan (HFF)

3 good targets, 3 lively smalls and a few excellent field kicks.

J Henry was up forward and goes out.

And if it goes pair shaped sub Neale and bring Bowes on.

All im getting at is we need to try a variance in F50 and the Pies will be looking to do their team defence thing - making their defenders accountable helps break that down.

Of course, asking a 3rd gamer to be the variance is unfair - and a big ask to be a difference maker.

GO Catters

 

[Mr Meow]

J Henry was up forward and goes out.

And if it goes pair shaped sub Neale and bring Bowes on.

All im getting at is we need to try a variance in F50 and the Pies will be looking to do their team defence thing - making their defenders accountable helps break that down.

Of course, asking a 3rd gamer to be the variance is unfair - and a big ask to be a difference maker.

GO Catters

Yeah fair enough. I'm open to it but have other priorities. Rolling the dice on Parfitt in midfield and Bews as a small lockdown defender are what I see as most pressing.

I admit this is somewhat unlikely, but I'd like to see:

FB: Bews De Koning Stewart

HB: Z.Guthrie Ratugolea Bowes

C: Duncan Dangerfield Holmes

HF: Close Cameron Miers

FF: Rohan O.Henry Stengle

FOL: Stanley Atkins Bruhn

IC: Smith Kolo Parfitt O'Connor Tuohy(sub)

Duncan and Smith sharing the wing/half forward rotation. Kolo the defensive rotation. Parfitt and O'Connor as midfield reinforcements for Dangerfield and Bruhn respectively. Holmes a bit more around stoppages as the game goes on, especially once Tuohy comes on as sub (to a wing).

 

[Play it Sam]

Now that Issie is retiring he might go even harder for one last finals series?. Had to come.

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

Now that Issie is retiring he might go even harder for one last finals series?. Had to come.

Yep, Issie will go in hard. Just like he did in the 2022 premiership.

 

[00VicWard001]

Agree, but there are some very harsh judges on this board. Ollie is an exceptional talent playing in a difficult position, and has exceeded most peoples' expectations.

Imagine Olly in his mid-20s? He will be the pick of the bunch. He demonstrates some unbelievably clutch performances and takes control of moments in the game. Right now, he's got so much physical improvement in him to go.

 

[00VicWard001]

It's pretty clear it can still be our year if we make it our year.

Defeatism is not a GFC or Scott quality. We will be fielding a pretty competitive side and going for 4 wins to finish the H&A season.

Given little chance against PA and Collingwood a few weeks ago, it will be interesting to see the reactions if the boys get up this week.

Generally, every team is aiming to peak for the finals. And usually two teams do peak. But what happens when no team has form? ANd every team has injuries? Then it just ends up as who can stick it out on the day. Simple as that, one game at a time and just limp across the line as everyone else is also limping, it's just that they are slightly slower than you.

I'd say this year, based on how the competition is looking right at this moment, its an opportunity for any team in the 8 to win this year, more than any other time Ive seen it.

 

[Cattery]

Now that Issie is retiring he might go even harder for one last finals series?. Had to come.

Pardon my ignorance, but who the heck is Issie?
I'm thinking it may be Smith, and if so has he officially announced his retirement?

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Pardon my ignorance, but who the heck is Issie?
I'm thinking it may be Smith, and if so has he officially announced his retirement?

Yes Isaac Smith. Announced his retirement this morning.

Premiership Cat calls time on illustrious AFL career

Isaac Smith will hang up the boots at the end of the Cats' 2023 season

www.geelongcats.com.au

 

[moond0g]

A bit torn on it. Don’t think we can continue to pretend the current mix is the answer to dangerous small forwards. Not excited by Bews returning though.

I think it will be much easier to defend dangerous small forwards - whether that's Bews or someone already in the side - if we are able to compete better in the midfield.

I agree though that if we think Bews is going to be the saviour for us this year, we're likely going to be disappointed.

 

[Cattery]

Yes Isaac Smith. Announced his retirement this morning.

Premiership Cat calls time on illustrious AFL career

Isaac Smith will hang up the boots at the end of the Cats' 2023 season

www.geelongcats.com.au

Thanks.

 

[Play it Sam]

Pardon my ignorance, but who the heck is Issie?
I'm thinking it may be Smith, and if so has he officially announced his retirement?

Correct on all counts. Could mean Trent Cotchin, but no, it's Isaac "Issie" Smith.

 

[bulletproof]

Would love a small defender who could defend and rebound, but failing that, this week I would go defence first.

So Bews in.

Parfitt to stay sub.

Dekoning might float between, forward, defence and ruck.

I would like Neale in for Bowes, but can’t see it happening.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Neale is in!!!

 

[Strange Cat]

Neale is in!!!

dazbroncos is going to be in a very good mood tonight

 

[iameviljez]

Neale is in!!!

Thank God for that