Melbourne vs. Geelong review.

[cats56]

Obviously disappointing result. Woeful kicking. The side just looked flat. Looked to be a bit of the 6 day return from Perth factor and also some players just seem to be underdone.

When Bartel went down there appeared to be a feeling of trepidation amongst the players. Without Bartel and Ling just not right, Melbourne just smashed us in the midfield. Our confidence at kicking for goal was shot to pieces and it appeared only Chappy wanted to have a ping at them.

It was one of those games were everything seemed to go right for the Dee's and nothing for us. They have had an absolutely dream draw, a full list and are playing with supreme confidence. I think things can only get tougher for them and hopefully only better for us. Cameron Bruce is an absolute gun and T.Johnstone has exquisite disposal. Although i hate losing i would not be too despondant as with everything going there way they were probably entitled to beat us by more and remember we did have 2 more scoring shots.

Now for some positives:

Josh Hunt was sensational.
Dasher had a superb game, seemed to relish more of a midfield role.
Chappy was pretty good.
I was pleased with Rooke's game although he still lack's awareness at times.
H presented well and took 8 marks some strong one grab pressure ones and had Rivers moved off him. Died out of the game partly Miller, our delivery and inexperience but is gradually improving every game.
Kel is gradually getting his confidence back and got better as the game went on.
Kingy started to show something towards the end. The good hit out will do him the world of good and feel he is not too far away.
Charlie took some good grabs and feel he is in for a big year considering how underdone he was.
Kingsley kept presenting and did take 7 marks but his kicking?
Tenace was scintillating in bursts and will become more consistent with experience.
A bit of an improvement from Gazza although i feel he can still play a lot better.
Lingy will never play that badly again.
Harley is sadly underdone and hopefully get better soon.
Moon's, S.J., Bartel and Sando will hopefully be back soon.

The Dee's can't get get any better, with luck we can.
The 8 day break will do us the world of good.
We still have the ability to get the pill , we just need to use it better.

[Cattas_21]

Kent Kingsley is garbage. He is the king of junk time goals. He never gets a goal unless the game is already over. His kicking is a disgrace. Bomber should drop him, bring back Mooney ans SJ and set up the fowrard line like this...

Have Ottens 1 out in the goalsquare for the whole game except for the last 5 mins of each quarter where he gets moved into the ruck to give Kingy a break. If Kingy needs a break earlier, then Mooney can do the job as he proved he could last year.

SJ, Chappy, GAJ and Byrnes can be the crumbers in the forward line for the whole game. All players are great at crumbing but also can get on a good lead.

Mooney should sit at CHF. I know he has struggled there in the past, but at least the bloke has a red hot crack. Henry can sit on the bench and come on when Moons or Ottens swap into the ruck.

My forward line would be:

HF: Chapman, Mooney, Ablett
F: S.Johnson, Ottens, Byrnes

BUT PLEASE GET RID OF KENT! THE BLOKE IS KILLING ME AND MANY OTHER SUPPORTERS!

[Cat_Mancini]

Hi People been a long time, anyways was very dissapointed with last night. I thought we were very lerthargic from the word go we didnt have alot of energy and pace in our game. I felt a real dissapointment was how we seem to be beaten physically around the ball and when we had the ball we were always under the pump. I think Bartel getting hurt was definitely bad for us cause he is a player that loves the contest. I was so glad he wasn't seriously injured cause Beamer certainley went for him. I think the most dissapointing thing overall was the indirect kicking and skill errors. Watching I thought i was watching Geelong of 2 maybe 3 years ago a lack of direction and atrocious delivery into the forward line. Kingsley was ok but his kicking let him and everyone down. Gazza i think is below par however he was solid and i expect to see him bust out very soon.

Anyways the positives for mine were Dasher who was teriffic Chappy was great as well as was Hunt.I thought that Playfair was really good in the first I dont think he is too faraway from being a really good player in some of the contests with Rivers and Miller he was able to bustle them out and take marks. Charlie Gardiner was really good i thought he with a bit of consistency will be a ripper. Ottens was pretty terrible but I think when he was in the ruck wasn't too bad. While it wasa extremely dissapointing last night it is early days and hopefully when Moons, Sando and SJ comeback we will begin to improve. The talent and ability is there all we got to do grow in confidence and keep at it.

[cats2rise]

Hey everyone, im new here but read the site often. straight into the kingslt issue... he can lead and at times he can mark but then will drop an easy one... His kicking is easily the thing that lets him down but when you watch him kick he doesnt look confident but actually has a nice kicking style off the boot... just not straight!!

Stevie Johnson kicked 7 in the vfl this week along with Matt McCarthy's 6 which may make some changes. IM thinking Gardiner to go. Playfair took some great marks in the 2nd quarter up forward but Ottens had little impact.

[David_0]

I dont think its fair to single Ottens out as 'not having any impact'. He along with majority of the cats had little too no impact in the game.

King had even less impact then Ottens.

[VikingCat]

What was the general feeling on Rooke getting slammed into the fence? I was sitting on the boundary line near the Melbourne cheer squad and couldn't believe that Robertson ended up with a free, then a goal, out of that farcical situation.

Perhaps if you have been paid a free, then the umpire doesn't like what comes next, it should be a ball up rather than a free to the opposition?? Because, as it stands, you end up getting penalised twice rather than just once when you have actually been wronged somehow in the first place.


Thoughts?

[David_0]

I thought it was horrible. At the very least it should have been a thrown in/ ball up... if not then it should have been a free for the cats.

It was a dog act.

[cats2rise]

Shocking decision! I thought it was a geelong free to start with!! Well come on people. Hayden Kennedy was umpiring the match!

[cats2rise]

I dont think its fair to single Ottens out as 'not having any impact'. He along with majority of the cats had little too no impact in the game.

King had even less impact then Ottens.

I said he had little impact, not no impact but your are right, too many players were underdone