Preview AFL Round 16 - Geelong v Western Bulldogs, Simonds Stadium, 4:40PM Sunday 6 July

[Zouz Kitty]

Just my usual whinge - it's not on FTA in Sydney

 

[Turbocat]

We can never believe anything Chris Scott says again if Selwood misses.

Why is that CE?
He is a coach and his tongue was moving so you know he is only going to tell the truth isn't he?
My approach , a coach is either spinning the truth ...at min , or outright giving the truth a good flagellation.
Think Sel said himself on the NON footy show he was good to go. More spin?

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Simple question CE. Is he a ruckman? If he is, he gets judged as a ruckman. He's had 30 plus games smashed into him, so whatever you do, don't claim lack of experience as an excuse.

Think you're both underselling Blicavs. In Partridge's case, that's not surprising!

Couldn't agree more, Blicavs hasn't been a star performer, but he is a solid contributor... Who is clearly best 22

Also has the flexibility to add value in the back half when called upon. Much underrated quality by some is flexibility CE.

I also like the flexibility he adds by being able to play in defence when required

Also flexibility in abilities is important, considering the interchange cap and subs vest... You never know when you may need to play someone in a different position, I agree some underrate this aspect.

Why do you judge him as anything other than a BEST 22 footballer in our team?
He is unique, a utility, and try as you like, you can not successfully classify hiM as anything other than a very vital cog in our team, and CS has not yet worked out what his best role is, suffice it to say he is BEST 22 EVERY WEEK.

No excuses required. He's one of our most exciting prospects.

agree. best 22

If he is best 22 then one of McIntosh and Simpson isn't. Which one isn't? Until it becomes clear, or Blicavs takes over as a key forward or defender then I wouldn't say Blicavs is guaranteed best 22.

I'll play along, providing all are fit... If I had to choose, for me it would be Simpson (who is clearly the best tap ruckmen of the 3) and Blicavs

Pretty much sums it up.

Who do I prefer as a player? Smedts.
Who do I prefer as a defender? Bews. Easily.

Is there anyone other than Chris Scott who thinks Smedts should be playing in defence, especially if Bews is not playing In defence? Also I'm a bit disappointed to see Bews has been dropped.

I'll spew if they play all 3 and drop Kersten.

There'll be a communal spew going on.

Might just copy my avatar.

Same.

It'll be a bewildering decision, and I'm uneasy seeing he hasn't been named on the ground.

Surely they won't drop a guy who has suddenly injected a spark, some nous, into our F50???

You're safe, sanity has prevailed and Kersten has been named.

 

[Turbocat]

Just my usual whinge - it's not on FTA in Sydney

What do you get FTA? Not even on 72 or 73 or something? Isn't that where 9 plays the Nothern states game down here on the alt channels?

 

[Turbocat]

Blitz is not a ruckman or KPB or a wing. He is a role player that may actually change within a game. I think he gets picked on his flexibility or at least his potential , because he will be a lot better with another 20/30 games. Too much focus on his mistakes I think.

 

[winty]

Just my usual whinge - it's not on FTA in Sydney

Not on FTA in Victoria either.

 

[Teriyakicat]

We can never believe anything Chris Scott says again if Selwood misses.

Do you STILL believe in what he says?? I think I stopped years ago
Seriously though, he does speak a very stretched truth. I don't know if he has said that Selwood will DEFINITELY play- I understood that he just said he was FIT ENOUGH to play... which doesn't preclude resting him....

 

[winty]

heraldsun online saying Bartel, SJ and Selwood all to miss.

They probably read this thread, saw this post....

Cue Selwood, Bartel and SJ being rested.

...and put 2 and 2 together and came up with 5.

 

[Teriyakicat]

heraldsun online saying Bartel, SJ and Selwood all to miss.

how reliable is that info, CMIA? I would hope that not all 3 miss the one game... Guess we'll know for sure on Sun.

 

[manboob]

They probably read this thread, saw this post....



...and put 2 and 2 together and came up with 5.

Come one Winty what are you insinuating about the HUN?

 

[winty]

Come one Winty what are you insinuating about the HUN?

Just questioning their sources.

I think someone experimented on here once (might've been on the main board) by posting a false rumour about something and seeing which news outlet or outlets saw it and ran it as a story. Can't remember how many bites they got and who they were, but it was rather funny.

 

[catempire]

Why is that CE?
He is a coach and his tongue was moving so you know he is only going to tell the truth isn't he?
My approach , a coach is either spinning the truth ...at min , or outright giving the truth a good flagellation.
Think Sel said himself on the NON footy show he was good to go. More spin?

Do you STILL believe in what he says?? I think I stopped years ago
Seriously though, he does speak a very stretched truth. I don't know if he has said that Selwood will DEFINITELY play- I understood that he just said he was FIT ENOUGH to play... which doesn't preclude resting him....

I take no notice of the cliche talk and talking around issues, but when he says "Selwood will play", I don't think we can take that any other way than a statement of truth.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Cue Selwood, Bartel and SJ being rested.

Oh ****... now I'm going to be shitting bricks all weekend, to see if they end up playing....I'm playing my best mate in SC... and there is a cash wager involved, and he's undefeated.... If those 3 are out.... Along with Dangerfield who the HUN say is in doubt, I might as well withdraw the money for the wager now...FML

We all know CS reads bf so if they miss.. I'm holding you responsible booby

 

[Baudolino]

If one of our key defenders went down on the eve of the finals, as it stands this year, we literally do not have a player in reserve who has played a minute in defence in the AFL team this year to come in. Yet we have multiple options to try there and ease them into the lineup, surrounded by 3-4 other AA/premiership/150+ game players. It's unbelievable.

It's absolutely staggering when you think about it. Prior to the season, I was convinced that by this stage of the year, the main topic of contention on the forum would be whether or not we were unnecessarily resting or rotating too many of our veterans, but as it turns out what has transpired has been the exact opposite. As you alluded to, our defence is both the area of the ground in which we are most stacked with experienced heads able to guide and protect inexperienced players, and the area of the ground in which - owing to the age profile of our defensive unit - it is most urgently incumbent upon the MC to facilitate an injection of youth. And yet, despite all that - and it would be remiss of me not to mention, as well, how unnecessary it is to go in so tall all the time when many AFL clubs don't even have one dangerous KPF on their list, much less two or three - Rivers, Taylor, Lonergan and Mackie are, for some inexplicable reason, out there every single week.

 

[manboob]

Just questioning their sources.

I think someone experimented on here once (might've been on the main board) by posting a false rumour about something and seeing which news outlet or outlets saw it and ran it as a story. Can't remember how many bites they got and who they were, but it was rather funny.

Why would you say such things. You are a mod!

 

[catempire]

Hand up. I thought I heard Scott say Selwood will play this week but turns out it was this journo's interpretation:

GEELONG won't be resting Joel Selwood from Sunday's clash with the Western Bulldogs, even though the Cats skipper has carried soreness into his recent games.

Selwood looked troubled by a hamstring problem at times during the win over Essendon on Friday night.

But with a nine-day break between that match and the meeting with the Dogs at Simonds Stadium, Cats coach Chris Scott is adamant that Selwood will play.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-07-01/sore-selwood-will-play-scott

Scott's actual words were "I don't think there'll be too many troubles there" (in reference to whether Selwood will play.

 

[Baudolino]

Does Steve Johnson really need a rest? He missed the St Kilda game only a couple of weeks ago. Again, I would much rather that we rotate a defender or two.

 

[Teriyakicat]

It's absolutely staggering when you think about it. Prior to the season, I was convinced that by this stage of the year, the main topic of contention on the forum would be whether or not we were unnecessarily resting or rotating too many of our veterans, but as it turns out what has transpired has been the exact opposite. As you alluded to, our defence is both the area of the ground in which we are most stacked with experienced heads able to guide and protect inexperienced players, and the area of the ground in which - owing to the age profile of our defensive unit - it is most urgently incumbent upon the MC to facilitate an injection of youth. And yet, despite all that - and it would be remiss of not to mention, as well, how unnecessary it is to go in so tall all the time when many AFL clubs don't even have one dangerous KPF on their list, much less two or three - Rivers, Taylor, Lonergan and Mackie are, for some inexplicable reason, out there every single week.

Do you remember at the beginning of last season, Baudolino, when we had the 4x 6 day breaks? We were told that the club would be rotating players during that time- I am pretty sure that there was no resting of players at all in those 4 games. None. Nor was there any player rested the following week, either. And I think it was Chris Scott who said there would be ....

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Does Steve Johnson really need a rest? He missed the St Kilda game only a couple of weeks ago. Again, I would much rather that we rest a defender or two.

This is a comment I made in the Essendon game day thread

My brother brought a mate to the game tonight, and he went out at 1/2 time for a smoke.

While he was out there he ran into SJ's dad who told him that SJ is undergoing almost daily injections for a back injury, not exactly the same as Hawkins last year but similar.

He asked his old man whether he could just play forward, his response was SJ is seriously contemplating hanging up the boots, possibly next year.

Definitely explains SJ's output recently... I knew there had to be something wrong with him

Also the HUN article which has sparked this discussion backs this up by mentioning he had an epidural recently for his back.

 

[winty]

Don't know why anyone needs a rest to be honest. It'll be a 9 day break from the Essendon game last week, and we have the week off after the Giants game in a fortnight. They can all have a week off then.

 

[catempire]

"Rest" is code for someone is sore enough to benefit from a week off.

 

[Baudolino]

Don't know why anyone needs a rest to be honest. It'll be a 9 day break from the Essendon game last week, and we have the week off after the Giants game in a fortnight. They can all have a week off then.

I'm in favour of player rotation - I would like to see them implement a general policy of one or two every week - but the matter of who should be rotated is a different issue altogether. Against a Bulldogs outfit known for having an outstanding midfield and not much else, it makes much more sense to rest a defender than a mid.

 

[sarah.13]

When we have played two proper ruckmen - Simpson and McIntosh - we're 7-2.
When we have played 1 ruckman + Blicavs - we're 3-2.

When we play top 4 sides we're 1-3. Perhaps that is relevant !

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

It's absolutely staggering when you think about it. Prior to the season, I was convinced that by this stage of the year, the main topic of contention on the forum would be whether or not we were unnecessarily resting or rotating too many of our veterans, but as it turns out what has transpired has been the exact opposite. As you alluded to, our defence is both the area of the ground in which we are most stacked with experienced heads able to guide and protect inexperienced players, and the area of the ground in which - owing to the age profile of our defensive unit - it is most urgently incumbent upon the MC to facilitate an injection of youth. And yet, despite all that - and it would be remiss of me not to mention, as well, how unnecessary it is to go in so tall all the time when many AFL clubs don't even have one dangerous KPF on their list, much less two or three - Rivers, Taylor, Lonergan and Mackie are, for some inexplicable reason, out there every single week.

Yep. Plus, assuming the team remains as named (I'm not expecting it to, incidentally), they've got Bews and Thurlow running around in the scoobies as well. Chris Scott's job is probably one of the safest in the league right now. If he won't expose the kids to AFL footy now, how's he going to go in a couple of years, if it gets to the point that he needs that extra win or two to keep his job? Put it this way: if it gets to that stage down the track where CS finds himself on the hot seat, right now he's not exactly giving me a lot of confidence that he'll be able to put the long-term future of the team ahead of the short-term employment of himself.

 

[Baudolino]

Do you remember at the beginning of last season, Baudolino, when we had the 4x 6 day breaks? We were told that the club would be rotating players during that time- I am pretty sure that there was no resting of players at all in those 4 games. None. Nor was there any player rested the following week, either. And I think it was Chris Scott who said there would be ....

It's ridiculous that we're at Round 16 of the 2014 season and yet Jackson Thurlow still has only 5 career games to his name when we know our backline is going to be savaged by retirements sooner rather than later. The time to start preparing for a post-Enright/post-Kelly/post-Mackie/post-Rivers/post-Lonergan Geelong is now.