VFL VFL 2024 - Geelong & the greater league

[Cataholic]

How did Hawkins go in the VFL?

Poorly

 

[kcattatac]

That was so stupid knevitt should have had the shot. Too hawkins centric.

He was kicking straight into wind so not that stupid and hard to ignore big tomahawk

 

[supahoops]

Knevitt will receive offers from other club and if cats trade in established players he should move cause cats always prioritise their traded in players over their draftees

It’s not often we trade in players to have them playing VFL unless it’s the end a la Dahlhaus. Very few yo-yo up and down. We do however have a recent history of working on players deficiencies in the VFL until they’re ready to consistently perform in the firsts. Knevitt is almost in the talks category waiting for his frame to build out.

 

[Lunchtime]

Poorly

So no goals?

 

[Cataholic]

So no goals?

Yeah, got a goal but struggled otherwise.

 

[kcattatac]

Some of us expect better than the loser culture that infested this club during the time your shit truck display pic represented us.

We've had a reasonably manageable I jury list all year leading to strong AFL representation at VFL level. Straight sets is unacceptable.

We all wish VFL won but seems you've thrown your toys out of the cot. Hard to win with such a slow forward line. Rohan was the hope for speed but didn't play. Hawk and foster in same forward line made us to slow to compete

 

[Lunchtime]

Yeah, got a goal but struggled otherwise.

 

[Lunchtime]

Yeah, got a goal but struggled otherwise.

Looks like he may not be able to get back into the 1s then?

 

[CHAWKTS]

So I stayed over in Adelaide and went to a winery after the 1st qtr. So relied on BF update and a family member who was at GMHBA…

By the sounds of it…

Knevitte had a beast of a game…not likely to squeeze back in this year but very promising for 2025
We have a third Ollie (ok. First Ollie to join the other Oliver’s) to complete the chant…

Hawk only break glass in emergency?
Rohan not even breaking glass back up now?
Both of them played last hoops game?

Guthrie numbers looked ok but maybe wasn’t enough to squeeze in? Could he replace Bews to give more flexibility? Thoughts?

SDK seems like depends on match up dependent (which makes me sad as I really want him in!)

Anything else as an update from those who watched?

Shame we couldn’t get one more round out of the VFL

 

[Cataholic]

Looks like he may not be able to get back into the 1s then?

Nope.

Would have to be a significant injury to even consider him.

 

[Cataholic]

So I stayed over in Adelaide and went to a winery after the 1st qtr. So relied on BF update and a family member who was at GMHBA…

By the sounds of it…

Knevitte had a beast of a game…not likely to squeeze back in this year but very promising for 2025
We have a third Ollie (ok. First Ollie to join the other Oliver’s) to complete the chant…

Hawk only break glass in emergency?
Rohan not even breaking glass back up now?
Both of them played last hoops game?

Guthrie numbers looked ok but maybe wasn’t enough to squeeze in? Could he replace Bews to give more flexibility? Thoughts?

SDK seems like depends on match up dependent (which makes me sad as I really want him in!)

Anything else as an update from those who watched?

Shame we couldn’t get one more round out of the VFL

Hawkins and Guthrie did nowhere near enough to be considered imo.

SDK was ok, but didn't put his name up in lights either.

 

[Lunchtime]

Nope.

Would have to be a significant injury to even consider him.

Looks like it's over then at AFL level for Hawkins. A shame.

 

[Cataholic]

Looks like it's over then at AFL level for Hawkins. A shame.

Yes, would say so sadly.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Rohan zero stats…how early did he get concussed?

 

[Lunchtime]

Yes, would say so sadly.

Purely from a club point of view, the team is playing well so no need to pick him

 

[Cataholic]

Purely from a a club point of view, the team is playing well so no need to pick him

Agree wholeheartedly.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Knevitt will receive offers from other club and if cats trade in established players he should move cause cats always prioritise their traded in players over their draftees

Its possible and i can see that happening but i would hope the fact that hes close with henry bruhn clark conway etc from his junior days will make him want to stay. We have a lot of retirements coming he will be b22 soon if hes patient. At least hes contracted so it will be our call.

 

[PzBlinky]

Rohan zero stats…how early did he get concussed?

In the first quarter, I think...maybe 15 minutes in?

 

[strauchnyy]

He could play well against kids because he was tougher than them, but I never saw anything other than a guy with a dip in him.

Very limited... not many tricks, size, speed, scoring ability, class or as much upside and that was my observations from the get-go with him prior to the draft.

If he wasn't from Geelong I doubt we would have taken him.

I really want him to prove me wrong.

Agree and I was the same pre-draft. Our obsession with drafting falcons has led to a few mistakes… Clark and knevitt both underwhelming but Clark hurts more given he was a top 10

 

[cats_09]

How did Hawkins go in the VFL?

Walking to my car after the match, I asked myself the following in regards to Hawkins,

"Would we have been better off getting to the end of the season asking 'What-IF', compared with playing today and confirming 'What-IS'...

I'm pretty comfortable suggesting that all Geelong fans love Tom, but removing emotion & sentiment from the decision, I don't see Hawkins wearing the hoops again

 

[cats_09]

Rohan zero stats…how early did he get concussed?

Sometime just after someone posted this...

Good to see we've already outscored our first half efforts from last week

Looks like a rocket was put up Rohan's ass after last week we there's much better intent and attack

 

[CHAWKTS]

Its possible and i can see that happening but i would hope the fact that hes close with henry bruhn clark conway etc from his junior days will make him want to stay. We have a lot of retirements coming he will be b22 soon if hes patient. At least hes contracted so it will be our call.

He is part of a very tight knit group of young players (dempsey, bruhn, Conway, SDK, Holmes, Knevitt, o henry)…Humprhies has now joined that small group…. And beyond that the younger guys love a lot of the other players…

If Mitch thinks he is a chance of securing a spot in 22 he will stay. But with Smith coming next year and Holmes/Bruhn/Bowes/Atkins all good inside mids along with Danger and Guthrie it is hard to see how he plays his best role in AFL next year?

I hope they manage it well as I have been a massive fan…and the last few VFL games were Dempsey like from 12 months ago

 

[bombersboy]

Walking to my car after the match, I asked myself the following in regards to Hawkins,

"Would we have been better off getting to the end of the season asking 'What-IF', compared with playing today and confirming 'What-IS'...

I'm pretty comfortable suggesting that all Geelong fans love Tom, but removing emotion & sentiment from the decision, I don't see Hawkins wearing the hoops again

Looking at Tom coming off the ground it looked like he knew himself as well.

 

[thejester]

He is part of a very tight knit group of young players (dempsey, bruhn, Conway, SDK, Holmes, Knevitt, o henry)…Humprhies has now joined that small group…. And beyond that the younger guys love a lot of the other players…

If Mitch thinks he is a chance of securing a spot in 22 he will stay. But with Smith coming next year and Holmes/Bruhn/Bowes/Atkins all good inside mids along with Danger and Guthrie it is hard to see how he plays his best role in AFL next year?

I hope they manage it well as I have been a massive fan…and the last few VFL games were Dempsey like from 12 months ago

I think the answer is he will play wing in the seniors (initially) with bursts through the middle. Given Tuohy's retirement there's a spot.

 

[CHAWKTS]

From Geelong Addy​

​

CATS IN CONTENTION - SCOUTING NOTES​

Tom Hawkins

Wowed Cats fans with two big moments in the first quarter. His first touch of the footy was a big contested mark in front of his opponent on the wing. Then a few minutes later, he pulled out a classic Hawkins manoeuvre at a forward 50 ruck contest, swatting the big frame of Brayden Crossley

Brayden Crossley

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.4

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

4.9

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.2

4star

G

0.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

G

0.6

3star

away and snapping through a brilliant goal that had the crowd in raptures. From there he had limited impact, but a lot of that was the fault of his teammates who delivered the ball poorly inside 50. He could have had a few goals, missing two tough set shots from the boundary and a gettable left foot snap in the last quarter, also setting up Mitch Hardie for a goal with a nice pick-up and deft handball. Perhaps the most encouraging sign for Hawkins was his movement around the ground, appearing unaffected by his foot injury, ducking and weaving around an opponent in the third term. Hawkins was better than his numbers suggest, but, unfortunately, it may be the final time we see him in the hoops.

Verdict: Unlikely


Cam Guthrie

Guthrie started his first game since May off halfback but played more through the midfield as the game went on. His third quarter stood out, where he won more of the ball and slotted a set shot after taking a mark on the lead. Guthrie showed some impressive bursts – encouraging considering his achilles issues. However, his legspeed was exposed on one occasion by Jay Lockart in the second quarter when he blitzed away from him into goal. Guthrie’s disposal was poor at times but he had an impact on the inside and outside, laying eight tackles, and also took an eye-catching mark back with the flight in the last quarter. Geelong’s midfield was strong against the Power, but don’t be surprised if Guthrie gets a call-up given their issues throughout the year. There was enough signs there to warrant his selection in an area Geelong has struggled in across the season.

Verdict: 50-50 call


Sam De Koning

Spent most of his time in the ruck and was well beaten in the hitouts by former AFL ruckman Brayden Crossley

Brayden Crossley

Age

25

Ht

198cm

Wt

102kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.4

2star

K

4.5

2star

HB

4.9

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.2

4star

G

0.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

9.2

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

2.2

4star

G

0.6

3star

, but around the ground was impressive. Some of his best moment came when he pushed behind the ball, taking a few intercept marks, and he showed courage to take a one-handed grab back with the flight on the wing. He displayed some good tapwork and followed up well at ground level, as he has done at AFL level when thrust into the middle. Expect him to come in, but will that be as a ruckman, a key defender, or both?

Verdict: Certain inclusion


Mitch Knevitt

Knevitt needed a mammoth performance to put himself in selection contention and he did just that. The 193cm midfielder did it all - even jumping over the fence to retrieve the ball on the stroke of halftime – with his defensive intent, contested ball-winning, ability to spread and work in traffic standing out. Knevitt was up to 23 disposals, 10 clearances and eight tackles at halftime and finished with a triple double. The 21-year-old played in their loss to St Kilda in round 23 so it is not out of the question for him to earn an unlikely preliminary berth.

Verdict: Outside chance