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

[calder_daddy]

Always nervous when the balls on the ground or he's got the ball in his hands in the back 50

It’s worse when he has ball in hand and he swings onto his left

 

[Drunkcat]

If Taylor licks Hawkins again it will be a very close game

 

[Shadow89]

Yes but the opposition backs dont respect sav enough to man him up they will still zone off at will like allir did. I get the theory but it only works if the guy you bring in is able to keep interceptors accountable.

He does crash packs though, which is something Dahl is incapable of, and something none of Rohan, Cameron or Hawk seem to do either. At least it creates chaos, like Dixon did it to us last week. He can also offer support to Stanley, which will be very handy. It's not the ideal setup, but Sav definitely offers far more than Dahl does - in both versatility and role within the team

 

[Hoops]

Didn’t someone say a month or 2 ago, that dahl was struggling with motivation, and possibly his mental health, and was going to retire at the end of the year?

Maybe it’s got too much for him?

Maybe he read this thread. Poor bloke

 

[nohairandfair]

Yes but the opposition backs dont respect sav enough to man him up they will still zone off at will like allir did. I get the theory but it only works if the guy you bring in is able to keep interceptors accountable.

Perhaps Stanley, with the extra height and speed, spends more time forward (50/50 split with Sav).

Sav, who apparently is over some sort of niggle, could be used more around the ground trying to break even with Mummy.

 

[Turbocat]

What is our strength?
Cameron, Hawkins Rohan free shooting at goal, and converting- very temperamental.
Not rebound from defence- we really mis Mackie, Wojo, Boris, Scarlo, and JHunt.
Not our MF strength- we are average, using any parameter you like.
Even if we win CC's, we bomb it forward haphazardly.

Big mature bodies. Steady mature outlook. Contested ball at times. Ability to cover ground and control the ball. Our ohead marking from our talls is average.

 

[Two Planks]

Henderson can't be an intercept if he drops chest marks.

 

[foxdog50]

So um, we're running 4 KP sized forwards?

You calling 4 KP in Hawkins Esava Cameron and Rohan?

 

[foxdog50]

3.5 tall forwards

Rohan plays taller than his height, but he's not exactly a KPF

Cameron is Key Forward, but he can play the ground ball unbelievable well for his height , so he does play like a small to in the way he reads and picks up the ball...

 

[cats_09]

Wrong


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Higgins was the medical sub - him being omitted doesn't create a spot in the 22, rather he just keeps his spot on the emergency list

 

[Overhang]

Need someone to stop the interceptors. They had Dahl playing on Allir last week - which was a nightmare waiting to happen, and it showed. Sav can at least crash packs, and provide back up ruck for Stanley, giving us better balance around the ground. Dahl on the other hand, contributes nothing lol.

Pretty sure Rohan took Allir

 

[cats_09]

That was 5 years ago.
Hasn’t played well in the backline for a long time

Blicavs All Australian squad nominations came in 2019 & 2020 - a lot more recent than 5 years ago

 

[jezza1435]

Interesting ins and outs, still think we are a good show to bottle it on the last 6 quarters of football. Will be another tough nights viewing I am tipping.

 

[Grimoz]

Kolo to kick a bag....



















... And then be a late out because said bag contained a block of concrete

 

[CatsDoItBetter]

I also think it puts a lot of pressure on Close. If we had 3 forward 50 tackles last week, it's hard to see where they are going to come from this week. There's a lot of pressure on Holmes too. Why drop him only a couple of weeks ago after impressing only to bring him back in now. Either you think he's up to the challenge of finals football or not. We're going to find out real soon. But I would have much preferred to see him backed in from the very start, not called upon with our backs to the wall.

Pressure is on them all as it’s an elimination final. And the forward pressure is an issue. But if we lose again it won’t be because of players like close. It’s been the big name players that have let us down they need to step up tomorrow and the other will follow.

 

[foxdog50]

Finally happy to see Dahlhaus get dropped..

Higgins got dropped
Happy to see Esava ( purely structural ) as we can keep our best key defender in Blitz in defence, and Sav can play as the back up ruck

I like Holmes ( lol cos his not old ) actually his speed and his hunger for the ball, and his second efforts.

Only one I don't like is Simpson got dropped, but not the end of the world.

All in all 7.5/10

 

[Pure_Ownage]

He does crash packs though, which is something Dahl is incapable of, and something none of Rohan, Cameron or Hawk seem to do either. At least it creates chaos, like Dixon did it to us last week. He can also offer support to Stanley, which will be very handy. It's not the ideal setup, but Sav definitely offers far more than Dahl does - in both versatility and role within the team

Agreed but that only works when Sav leads to the right spot to crash packs and doesnt get in hawkins and camerons way but he hasnt been doing that lately. His ruckwork has been ordinary too. I hope im wrong but i dont think it will work.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

You calling 4 KP in Hawkins Esava Cameron and Rohan?

Yeah I had Rohans height wrong. Still 4 marking targets

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Pretty sure Rohan took Allir

Rohan was playing in defence.

 

[Overhang]

Rohan was playing in defence.

Early on though?

 

[darrenmorgan]

Didn’t someone say a month or 2 ago, that dahl was struggling with motivation, and possibly his mental health, and was going to retire at the end of the year?

Maybe it’s got too much for him?

Was my first thought that maybe he’s called it himself. Strange to play all year, then be omitted in first final but not an emergency

 

[CatRiot]

I called it after the last game - Dahlhaus out, SavRat in... need to stretch their defence with the big blokes. Aerial threat.

 

[Nickoo]

Clubs have pivotal games in their history

2013 PF - that was a pivotal game in Haw history - had they lossed that ( looked likely at 3qtr time ) 12 losses in a row to one team and eliminated - Ken Judge said on the radio the next morning his mail was if Haw had lost - Clarkson was finished and he would have been appointed that week to the then vacant W/Coast coaching position

And i think Frid nights game is a pivotal game in Geel history . If the Cats lose - the media wiil put the absolute blowtorch on the club and C Scott- and spin and bullshiit answers wont cut the mustard - plus there will be a tremendous backlash from the supporters - why bother qualifying each year - and just getting bundled out

Like his brother managed at North.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[00VicWard001]

It’s oddly the most balanced team we have picked for 3 years.

Only 7 defenders. 6 proper Fwds, (1 a second ruckman) and 9 mids.

Id say Danger will be playing that mid/fwd role more than usual as Holmes has shown way more as a mid than a high half forward. A little surprised they selected him for this game as it will be a contested one on one scrap. Melb I could understand more but it’s hardly an outrageous decision. They seem to love Holmes on the MCG and big wide grounds

I do remember Holmes being confident that he would get a game in WA as the coaches had earmarked him for wider grounds. There was an interview a few weeks back.

either way - Dahlhaus and Simpson aren’t just dropped because of their performances in games. The have a look at who looks great on track too during the week. I have no doubt that Holmes is showing that he really wants it.

 

[00VicWard001]

View attachment 1224326

O’Connor is taller than Stewart? And Zuthrie is the same height as Cam?

is this right?