Preview Semi Final - Geelong vs GWS, Fri 3 Sept @ 1950 (AEST), Optus Oval

[bulletproof]

In: Touhy, Z Guthrie
Out: O’Connor, Simpson, Higgins (sub)

Few positional tweaks from last week.

Henderson back to his preferred role as loose. That was a mess last week starting him on Dixon after he was so dominant for a half loose v Demons.

Blicavs to full back on Hogan who he will comfortably handle and Henderson can also handle him when Stanley needs a rest. Henry on Himmleberg.

Duncan to midfield, not behind the ball. He is at his best when we ask him to get his hands dirty. Not getting cheap ball in defensive 50.

Rohan to be played out of goal square and asked to kick goals not defend or drag away rebound defenders. Felt he was slaughtered last week by terrible coaching and delivery to forward line.

Zac Guthrie will tighten up on small forwards and can mark the ball, which is sadly lacking in defence now Stewart is not there.

Touhy to drift back as extra defensive kicker and take kick outs.

If they have lost faith in Rohan, then Esava comes in.

Miers and Dahlhaus lucky to survive but they seem structurally important to coaches.

 

[00VicWard001]

Maybe because they were down 7 goals and then ran through us like we didn't exist?

They were 7 goals down though. And really, should have lost that game were it not for some inept play by our team in the last minute.

 

[gaz love x]

Narkle to come in and give a Darcy Lang

16

Darcy Lang

Age

29

Ht

183cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.1

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.7

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.7

4star

D

4.0

1star

K

2.0

1star

HB

2.0

1star

M

0.0

1star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.0

4star

D

11.2

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.0

5star

G

0.4

3star

vs Sydney 2017 performance before getting traded and never being heard from again

 

[Falconx]

In: Ratugolea, Holmes, Evans, Tuohy
Out: Rohan, Higgins, Dahlhaus, O’Connor

I know for a fact this isn’t happening but I would be really happy if it did. We cannot take a contested mark up forward to save our lives and it is almost impossible for Ratugolea to be a worse finals performer than what Rohan is. Higgins has been a dreadful pickup and I am sick of seeing him. Dahlhaus playing 21 games this season is disgraceful and I can’t think of any other club where it would have happened.

 

[bulletproof]

The other option would be to get rid of the loose man strategy all together and go man on man in back 6.

Giants actually forced this on us last time but maybe we can proactively do it this time and see if that throws them out, and creates more 1-1s for our key forwards.

 

[bellpark]

Out : MOC, Myers, Dal, Rohan (assuming Toohey will be too iffy to play or we get another MOC)
In : Holmes, Zuthie, Sav, Narkle

Biltz full time back on Hogan - settle back structure with Zuthrie helping Jack out intercepting and Duncan sweeping. Like him or not the backline looked a heap better with Zuthrie in it lately. Solid midfield rotation time for Holmes and Narkle. Sav plays smash and bash up front and rucks for a good third of the game, especially in Mummy is in - told to jump all over Mummy and slow him down so he gasses quicker. Also told to be first in to smash Mummy if he ''accidently'' falls on any of our players - his knee into one of the Swans heads on the weekend was classic Mummy. Tell all players that if the quick play on is there, pull the trigger. if you are going to hold and pass it/switch play dont try stupid high risk kicks (Danger, Hendo, Kolo). If Hawk gets the first shot of the game in front and misses a sitter again (certainty), DONT LET THEM RUN IT COSAT TO COAST FOR A GOAL.
Holmes and Zuthrie have to play at a minimum.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Decisions decisions. Obviously O'Connor misses. Of the others that have been criticised from last week:

Henderson - Was awful but he's been excellent this year. Playing Krueger or De Koning would be putting up the white flag in a final. He's got to stay.

Rohan - The biggest question mark for mine. Completely uncompetitive up forward being outmarked multiple times. Been awful for a couple of months now.

Kolo - Copping way more criticism than deserved. Defended well. A couple of bad moments but no more than almost every other player. Our defence actually stood up well apart from really bad individual moments (mainly Henderson).

Small forwards - there was just no ground level ball up forward especially in the first half when they were intercepting lots and we marked quite a few. Our ball use has to be better so we can bring it to ground and give our smalls the chance to actually apply pressure. No change here for mine.

Potential ins:

Tuohy - in if fit.

Higgins - didn't show enough and too similar to our other mids. Maybe sub again.

Holmes - we looked slow in midfield and he's anything but. Would prefer him to have had more experience but not a bad option.

Zuthrie - was playing well and we might need another defender.

Ratugolea - competes in the air. I don't think we can bring him in for Rohan. Stanley didn't do a lot wrong although didn't have much impact either. Blics did well in his time in the ruck. I'd be picking Sav to ruck then drift forward with Blics as backup like we did earlier in the year. Stanley would be a bit stiff though.

For mine
In - Tuohy, Ratugolea, Holmes
Out - O'Connor, Stanley, Rohan

Holmes lets Danger play up forward more. If Danger's finger would be better with a week off give Rohan one more chance to show something. If Duncan is ready to go into midfield we could go Zuthrie instead of Holmes.

 

[Down at K Park]

I wouldn't care if Rohan was dropped for Sav. Most likely get nothing from either of them, but Rohan has been horrid for weeks now. He was really good in the first half of the season, and equally as bad in the 2nd half. He's literally contributing nothing out there.

Why must Scott continually hold onto players in horrible form ffs?

 

[Turkey Tom]

To the players and coaches:-

 

[moond0g]

Look, no one enjoyed last Friday night. But the formula is still the same. We need to win 3 games to win the flag.
Now those 3 teams are likely GWS, Melbourne, Port. Rather than Port, Brisbane, Melbourne. So in actual fact it's more or less the same.

The fact we have a pattern of not showing up for week 1 of the finals, and it is a pattern no matter what Scott wants to say publicly, needs to be addressed.

BUT, for the next 3 weeks (hopefully) the focus is on doing everything we can to win the flag. Fortunately, we've been good enough to earn the double chance, so we get to go again. People will (probably rightly so) say we are cooked. But at the end of the day it's 3 games, and whoever plays best on the day. we've been down on form the last month, not just last week, and it looks like we're still working out how to cover the loss of Stewart.

But at our best I still think we contend. We just need to make sure we're at our best.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

3 changes for me

In Holmes ( should have played against Port ) Toohey ( great to have him back ) and Sav

Out Dahlhaus OConnor Simpson

That Optus oval in Perth is a big spacious ground - id play Sav as CHF - with Rohan and Cameron on the flanks - and those latter 2 players are a hell of alot quicker than the 2 who are going out Dahl and Sam - Geel have still got enough small forwards in the team in Miers Close and Higgins

Dont want Blicavs near FB - i want him him as that roaming midfielder on that big spacious ground - thus re the defence - Geel have got as key defenders Henry Kolo and Henderson - back those 3 in because GWS havent got a Gorilla forward

I will be excited to see Holmes play on that big ground with his pace etc

Really if Geel are half decent - then with the GWS outs then the Cats should win by 10 goals

 

[bulletproof]

For mine
In - Tuohy, Ratugolea, Holmes
Out - O'Connor, Stanley, Rohan

Holmes lets Danger play up forward more. If Danger's finger would be better with a week off give Rohan one more chance to show something. If Duncan is ready to go into midfield we could go Zuthrie instead of Holmes.

Dropping the one guy who won his position last week? No.

 

[rolling01]

Hi guys, any kind cat member here willing to give me there barcode so i can go and support you guys on fri nite? cheers

 

[Poetic Justice]

I wouldn't care if Rohan was dropped for Sav. Most likely get nothing from either of them, but Rohan has been horrid for weeks now. He was really good in the first half of the season, and equally as bad in the 2nd half. He's literally contributing nothing out there.

Why must Scott continually hold onto players in horrible form ffs?

But you would have to accept that Rohan is more likely to come out and dominate than Sav is.

 

[Tony Barber]

Agree with this, with Touhy also to be added.

Danger shouldn't be playing with a smashed hand, but I guess an injured, not-quite-right Danger is seen as better than nothing. If so, then we need to play him as a goal-kicking forward, close to goal. He's just a liability with the ball in the midfield, dropping sitters and kicking bombs in hope.

I'd bring in Narkle to replace Danger, who moves forward for Rohan, who is either dropped, or moves to the backline for the dropped Henderson. rather he be dropped, but I doubt it'll happen.

Would also like to see Miers expressly told to stay closer to goal and just go for it. Don't give damn about his endurance and running ability - we're not kicking goals and lack a dedicated small forward. He needs to be the kid to just let rip and take shots from anywhere.

Yes I left out touhy because I'm just not sure what's going on there.
And gee we have enough underdone players as it it is.

I don't want Rohan back. Sydney made him go back a lot. And his impact was crap.

Guthrie can replace Henderson. And with more speed he won't get turned around so easily.

Get Duncan out of the backline. That did not work. If he can't play wing then get out.

Mids need to step up and belt it into Esava, Hawkins, Rohan, Cameron.

 

[Ricky Vaughn]

Out: O'Connor, Rohan
In: Tuohy, Esava

Higgins stays the sub.

I'd drop Dahlhaus for Evans, but understand that won't happen.

 

[00VicWard001]

The other option would be to get rid of the loose man strategy all together and go man on man in back 6.

Giants actually forced this on us last time but maybe we can proactively do it this time and see if that throws them out, and creates more 1-1s for our key forwards.

If they forced this on us last time, then they'd be chuffed if we did it ourselves. The reason they forced it onto us is because they don't want us to play to our game plan, because when we do, we win. The way we win is by imposing the way we want to play on them. Our forwards then end up getting 1-1's on our terms.

 

[thecatattack]

Not as hype for this after Friday. But I'm still excited I guess?

 

[bulletproof]

If they forced this on us last time, then they'd be chuffed if we did it ourselves. The reason they forced it onto us is because they don't want us to play to our game plan, because when we do, we win. The way we win is by imposing the way we want to play on them. Our forwards then end up getting 1-1's on our terms.

Fair call, I kinda knew it was a stupid thing to say but went with it anyway….

 

[Jumping Jack]

I don't think there will be too many unforced changes. Touhy for O'Connor the glaringly obvious one.

Out side of that, there's a couple of blokes who are sailing very close to the wind. Dalhaus the interesting one - interesting that he plays all year and could well find himself out of this weeks team.

Do we play Sav and go with him and Stanley in the ruck? That would allow them to station Blicavs deep all night and just settle his role down now that Stewart is out. That then leaves Henderson - apart from Jesse Hogan

23

Jesse Hogan

Age

29

Ht

196cm

Wt

100kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

15.0

4star

K

9.3

4star

HB

5.7

4star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

10.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

4.3

3star

M

5.3

5star

T

0.0

1star

G

0.0

1star

D

13.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

4.0

3star

M

6.4

5star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.8

5star

and Harry Himmelberg, there's not much tall timber in the Giants F50. They'll be reluctant to assign Henry, and with Stewart out, Henry becomes the floating quarterback type. That might save Henderson - but after Friday night he must be on thin ice if he serves up that garbage again.

Has anyone heard further on that alleged and very flaky story someone posted about his partner and the matter that occurred Friday - and apparently became a pretty big distraction for he and a few other players? I stress its rumour only and I'm not even sure who posted it in here? Not sure any of us should treat it seriously - but it would at least go some way to explaining nearly his worst game for Geelong in 2-3 years. Funny when you're winning and playing well that these stories never seem to make it into the daylight.

Either way - you'd back the experience of our blokes to re-group and move on from last week pretty quickly - as well as dealing with any distractions that supposedly occurred. No Greene / Green / Reid / De Boer / Mumford would help our cause ...... but then again we thought that at home a few weeks ago. We were without Dangerfield and Rohan in the second half - and went in without Henderson as well from memory. Greene was pivotal and kicked 4, and we got within a kick late after playing fairly average footy (yes Jordan Clark

6

Jordan Clark

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.7

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.5

2star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.2

3star

K

10.4

4star

HB

1.8

2star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.4

4star

I'm looking at you).

 

[bellpark]

Forgot to add to my post - the coaching group to leave the players alone with any motivational/game attitude prep stuff - more than enough evidence they CANNOT do this reliably, so strongly suggest this week they let the 22 who are running out there sort that out on their own - win or lose at least they will have clear ownership of their effort - must break the current approach before its too late this year, because it does not work. Leave it to the players please as any coaching value add in this department is a negative - peak performance for the actual event is a critical part of elite coaching and we don't have it - anyone denying this cannot read the evidence. We can't restructure the coaching group now, its too late, so how about we back 'em off and let the players run that bit this week?

 

[Sire of Claude]

Rohan has figured in every scintillating quarter we've played in recent seasons. The problem is in finals he's like the critically endangered ground parrot - never seen and only captured in a grainy photo.

Dal has to go - what message are you sending otherwise, to fans, members, the other players?

Higgins did nothing. Kolo may have quelled Fritsch but undid that by otherwise leaking goals and is the most static footballer I've seen. Mieirs doesn't kick sausages any more. Atkins and Bews were what they are - B- graders. Guthrie has dropped off (should he be traded?).

The only ones who did OK were Close, Duncan, Stanley and one other whose name eludes me. But you can't drop the lot. Hendo stays for structural reasons, albeit he played a shocker.

Holmes, Clark and Krueger come in - the selectors need to stop dreaming and recognise the need for speed and youth. if we lose we lose; it's not as if we're change for the flag.

Tuohy comes in. And I'd also bring in Esava as a wrecking ball and in the hope he can take a few marks down the line. Zac Guthrie could be considered too. Narkle couldn't do worse than many last Friday but he's obviously no longer in the mix.

That's at least 4 ins. Drop anyone you like, bar the skipper, Danger (at least he tried, like R. P. McMurphy) and the other 3 or 4 who were OK last week.

( RE Scott, in addition to all the opening and qualifying finals he's lost, it should not be forgotten that we lost a PF when we were comfortably up at half-time and GF when we had a decent lead at half time. This is record of finals failure that would take some topping. At least the Pies made al those GFs.)

 

[My Tilly]

( RE Scott, in addition to all the opening and qualifying finals he's lost, it should not be forgotten that we lost a PF when we were comfortably up at half-time and GF when we had a decent lead at half time. This is record of finals failure that would take some topping. At least the Pies made al those GFs.)

Collingwood have a 45% record in finals history. Geelong are now down to 43.7% and that has been due to the last 6 or so years of continual finals failures.

We are quickly becoming the new Colliwobbles of the competition.

 

[Sire of Claude]

Now JJ, it's time you got over the Jordan Clark

6

Jordan Clark

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.7

4star

K

9.4

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

4.2

4star

T

2.6

4star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.5

3star

K

8.5

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

1.5

2star

MG

172.0

3star

D

12.2

3star

K

10.4

4star

HB

1.8

2star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.4

4star

shank.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

As long as the captain doesn’t come out with a smirk again and say “the real stuff starts next week” or the coach doesn’t say “we are galvinised, we are ready”.
Like they both did after the Melbourne game.
Talking yourselves up then producing what they did against Port is nothing short of embarrassing.

Should win this but either way we won’t be making the GF.
Please just show some mental strength.