VFL VFL 2023 - Geelong & the greater league

[Cursed Cat]

Tim ENGLISH ​

• RUCK
• 25
• 208cm
• 107kg

Toby CONWAY​

• RUCK
• 20
• 206cm
• 101kg

Have likened for some time Toby Conway to former Geelong captain and top VFL ruckman Damian Bourke who ironically played his last game in the 1989 Grand Final when he got injured in first half of game, he was Geelong Captain on Grand Final day too!... Toby and Damian are eerily similar type of players, almost a clone of each other.

Apparently Damian Bourke debuted for the Cats on this day 40 years ago. July 16th '83.

Hopefully Conway avoids Bourke's injury curse.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You would hope by the last game or 2 top 8 is no longer precarious. And unfortunately with Brisbane choking on Friday top 4 is likely gone too.

The Dogs game in the final round is 6 weeks away. Plenty of time to build up to playing in the game to give Stanley and Blics an ready lead in to finals.

We may have to win the last 2 games to get in.

 

[dazbroncos]

I am going to say it. Even though I like him. Scratcher gets pushed out way too easily for his size. He is great on a hard lead or with a run up but not in a one on one contest. He needed to do better then at half forward

He has learnings and size to add which will help with this... but i agree he has work to do.
And thats as CEO and founder of the Shannon Neale appreciation society.

Go Catters

 

[FredLeDeux]

He has learnings and size to add which will help with this... but i agree he has work to do.
And thats as CEO and founder of the Shannon Neale appreciation society.

Go Catters

He needs to watch Mr.J.Cameron to see how he has worked around the same weakness.

 

[dazbroncos]

I haven’t been watching today but I’m very confident if his body holds up he will get a chance at AFL level in the next month. It will be up to him what he does with that.

his work rate goal post to goal post is still elite... running back and forth all day.
What I see being the issue is the one paced nature of his game.
He still has issues with decision making and then needing his same process to kick the ball... 2 steps and then kick.. and that space gets closed up under pressure and his disposal is effected.

The game has sped up and the opposition pressure from the Pies et al and even the Bombers VFL have him pause yesterday.

HE still got 31 touches and im hoping that he gets a go over the next 5 weeks but im not sure he's long for the AFL list.

IF he wanted to stick around and help develop the kids id be all for it... not sure he wants to head back West however.
Truth be told WCE could do a lot worse than putting him on their list if he wanted to go on and doesnt get a go with us next year.

GO Catters

 

[dazbroncos]

Knevitt is a terrific and safe mark of the footy.

His marking is a cross between Brad Close and Jimmy Bartel in that he regularly gets and holds on to ones that seem too contested to maintain... much like Close and Bartel.

GO Catters

 

[dazbroncos]

The Neale pickup

Phwoar!

TOOT TOOT!!

GO Catters

 

[dazbroncos]

I know nothing about him but Cousins has looked solid down back.

He has his ups and downs... but I posted several weeks ago that he needs to be a rookie pick for us this year - after having watched most games this year.

Very happy with his skills, hardness and footy brain.

He's got pace too.

GO Catters

 

[dazbroncos]

Conway, Clohesy, S. Neale, Dempsey, Knevitt

Id punt on Mace Cousins as well but I like the list.
GO Cattrs

 

[Sire of Claude]

Conway is closer than people think - he will play games next year for sure.

Neale is - what, 20? - so he can't be dismissed at this stage.

We don't need Grundy or TDK. How committed would Grundy be to our cause - third club in 4 years? TDK is taking this time to reach A-grade status.

Mace Cousins is a useful VFL player but can't see AFL potential there, though I do love a leftie.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Conway is closer than people think - he will play games next year for sure.

Neale is - what, 20? - so he can't be dismissed at this stage.

We don't need Grundy or TDK. How committed would Grundy be to our cause - third club in 4 years? TDK is taking this time to reach A-grade status.

Mace Cousins is a useful VFL player but can't see AFL potential there, though I do love a leftie.

I think people are more trying to pick a timeline for when he's playing every game rather playing a handful

 

[cats_09]

his work rate goal post to goal post is still elite... running back and forth all day.
What I see being the issue is the one paced nature of his game.
He still has issues with decision making and then needing his same process to kick the ball... 2 steps and then kick.. and that space gets closed up under pressure and his disposal is effected.

The game has sped up and the opposition pressure from the Pies et al and even the Bombers VFL have him pause yesterday.

HE still got 31 touches and im hoping that he gets a go over the next 5 weeks but im not sure he's long for the AFL list.

IF he wanted to stick around and help develop the kids id be all for it... not sure he wants to head back West however.
Truth be told WCE could do a lot worse than putting him on their list if he wanted to go on and doesnt get a go with us next year.

GO Catters

That was noticeable last year in his senior matches where he wasn't necessarily working at the same pace as teammates, so linking chains occasionally stalled when Menegola was involved

It's also why I don't think he would exactly work as more of an inside mid at senior level - yes he has the size, but not sure how he would go adapting his style of play where he'd need to be quicker & more decisive with his decision making

 

[CHAWKTS]

Conway is closer than people think - he will play games next year for sure.

Neale is - what, 20? - so he can't be dismissed at this stage.

We don't need Grundy or TDK. How committed would Grundy be to our cause - third club in 4 years? TDK is taking this time to reach A-grade status.

Mace Cousins is a useful VFL player but can't see AFL potential there, though I do love a leftie.

My head agrees….but my heart screams pick him up - I just love watching him throw his body into marking contests…In a fairly dreary year for watching VFL he, along with watching our AFL listed youngest, has been the highlight for me

 

[CHAWKTS]

He has learnings and size to add which will help with this... but i agree he has work to do.
And thats as CEO and founder of the Shannon Neale appreciation society.

Go Catters

But I should have been clear - despite my grumble (I can’t believe they lost!) I am a bit fan of Scratcher. He certainly has deficiency in the marking contest but that could simply be a strength thing or learnable tecnhique - his pace and attack on the lead is elite and harder to learn…so whilst he might end up being a slower burn, I back him in 2025 to become a regular in the post Hawkins era

 

[goyoucatters]

But I should have been clear - despite my grumble (I can’t believe they lost!) I am a bit fan of Scratcher. He certainly has deficiency in the marking contest but that could simply be a strength thing or learnable tecnhique - his pace and attack on the lead is elite and harder to learn…so whilst he might end up being a slower burn, I back him in 2025 to become a regular in the post Hawkins era

I certainly agree that both of these attributes are really encouraging. And I would add to them his extremely fluent kicking technique (and, thus, generally superior goalkicking accuracy). As Turbocat has often reminded us, there really is nothing like elite conversion to keep you consistently competitive in football games.

 

[Sire of Claude]

I'm a big Neale fan. The one area he needs to improve is hanging on to marks. In his one AFL game he got his mitts on plenty but the ball didn't stick - Wylie Buzza

13

Wylie Buzza

Age

28

Ht

199cm

Wt

103kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.1

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

3.7

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

0.7

4star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.8

4star

was the same.

If Neale develops sticky digits he'll be a very good player.

 

[Turbocat]

I'm a big Neale fan. The one area he needs to improve is hanging on to marks. In his one AFL game he got his mitts on plenty but the ball didn't stick - Wylie Buzza was the same.

If Neale develops sticky digits he'll be a very good player.

Your point is correct. I remember watching Sam Dek in the champs. He did not have to develop sticky fingers , he already had them at that level .. so I guess its a little concern going forward for Shannon if its was more than just first game hard hands.

 

[BORIS332]

his work rate goal post to goal post is still elite... running back and forth all day.
What I see being the issue is the one paced nature of his game.
He still has issues with decision making and then needing his same process to kick the ball... 2 steps and then kick.. and that space gets closed up under pressure and his disposal is effected.

The game has sped up and the opposition pressure from the Pies et al and even the Bombers VFL have him pause yesterday.

HE still got 31 touches and im hoping that he gets a go over the next 5 weeks but im not sure he's long for the AFL list.

IF he wanted to stick around and help develop the kids id be all for it... not sure he wants to head back West however.
Truth be told WCE could do a lot worse than putting him on their list if he wanted to go on and doesnt get a go with us next year.

GO Catters

Menegola has brain fades that hurt us at the wrong time. On the weekend he bumped instead of tackled and the oppo kicked a goal to put them in front. Admittedly he works hard, I just find him very frustrating and we can't rely on him in close games.

 

[goyoucatters]

Menegola has brain fades that hurt us at the wrong time. On the weekend he bumped instead of tackled and the oppo kicked a goal to put them in front. Admittedly he works hard, I just find him very frustrating and we can't rely on him in close games.

The higher the intensity, the more costly his mistakes and miscalculations become. And you wouldn't have thought his age or his potentially declining physical status are going to help with his ongoing decision-making, either.

So if the list even remains as healthy as it is now (let alone sees Guthrie return), I can't see how you play him in any of the really big games to come.

 

[Gunf]

My biggest problem with Neale on the weekend was him not taking responsibility and taking the shot he should have as a spear head.

I didn't get to watch the whole game but i recall at least twice i shouted at him to take the shot.

 

[dazbroncos]

My biggest problem with Neale on the weekend was him not taking responsibility and taking the shot he should have as a spear head.

I didn't get to watch the whole game but i recall at least twice i shouted at him to take the shot.

See you point and you want the KPF to take ownership -

Fair to remember also he trains every week and watches a bloke wearing 26 with 770 goals and some 300 assists play FF for Geelong - so its same to asume hes being taught to look at his teammates and being them into the game just as much as hes having a ping himself -

Go Catters

 

[Gunf]

See you point and you want the KPF to take ownership -

Fair to remember also he trains every week and watches a bloke wearing 26 with 770 goals and some 300 assists play FF for Geelong - so its same to asume hes being taught to look at his teammates and being them into the game just as much as hes having a ping himself -

Go Catters

That is actually a good point but i would still like him to take responsibility every now and again.

He has skills on the lead and a good kicking action as well as good below his knees.

My 2 biggest knocks on him atm are his ruck work(he isn't one) and i want to see some leadership skills from him(i am probably being greedy)

 

[Gunf]

The health update had Toby running 7k during his managed game time very impressive for his first outing this year

 

[foxdog50]

Still another 2 weeks I think. Next week at best…

Shame

Geee you might have to gives us a injury update as Geelong don't let us know anything

 

[BORIS332]

My biggest problem with Neale on the weekend was him not taking responsibility and taking the shot he should have as a spear head.

I didn't get to watch the whole game but i recall at least twice i shouted at him to take the shot.

He seems a bit out of touch at the moment. He also ran into an open goal and missed. He’s missed a lot of footy.