Preview Geelong v West Coast Sunday Apr 28 @ GMHBA

[Seeds]

Get them in: Three quarters in the VFL on Saturday has Zach Tuohy's hand up for a recall. Quinton Narkle and James Parsons were both busy, while Zach Guthrie remains in the frame. If there was ever a week to play two rucks, a clash with West Coast would be it, but it appears a raffle among three. Ryan Abbott was best afield, with Darcy Fortdangerous and Zac Smith the carryover emergency. Charlie Constable will slot back in after being rested.

Under the pump: Esava Ratugolea copped a corkie late against the Hawks, and coinciding with a six-day break, could be a good time for a rest. Like Constable last week, the Cats are proactive with resting youngsters and 18-year-old Jordan Clark could be in for a spell.

Medical room: Brandan Parfitt's quad strain is expected to keep him out. Chris Scott almost rested Gary Ablett off a five-day break in round three, could this be the week?

Verdict: Constable for Parfitt and Tuohy for Clark. Potentially Narkle for Ablett and Abbott for Ratugolea. If the latter happens, Stanley to play more forward. - Mitch Cleary

Last year we played no rucks against west coast. There is buckleys chance of us taking two rucks. More chance of us dropping esava and having blicavs ruck half a game again (or atleast stand next to the ruckman and not jump) whilst stanley rests forward.

 

[Seeds]

I still think that the Geelong-Collingwood-StKilda triumverate of 2009-2011 were the best set of quality sides at the top I've ever seen. That StKilda side would have won pretty much any flag between 2001 and 2006 inclusive IMO.

Agree. Those grand finals were really super grand finals.

 

[Seeds]

Not dropping them just wondering if they're getting sore.

Honestly Menegola is the one I've got question marks over of those forward/mid players. He does some good things I just don't really see what his current role is and when he's bad he's utterly horrendous. Like 2 turnovers yesterday under no pressure going inside 50 that hit Hawks lace out and allowed them to immediately rebound.

2 is pretty low for our midfield

 

[romeohwho]

I still think that the Geelong-Collingwood-StKilda triumverate of 2009-2011 were the best set of quality sides at the top I've ever seen. That StKilda side would have won pretty much any flag between 2001 and 2006 inclusive IMO.

Agreed! Saints were a bit unlucky.

 

[Cattery]

I still think that the Geelong-Collingwood-StKilda triumverate of 2009-2011 were the best set of quality sides at the top I've ever seen. That StKilda side would have won pretty much any flag between 2001 and 2006 inclusive IMO.

Reckon I'd mortgage the house to get on Brisbane myself.

 

[Max Milburn]

Reckon I'd mortgage the house to get on Brisbane myself.

Especially since many of the Saints would have been around 12-16 years old.

 

[Turbocat]

My boss who is a diehard Pies supporter, likes to bring up that they were the best team in 2011 and they were more deserving premiers than us. I also remind him we were 3/3 against them and clearly had their measure that year.

Credit will certainly come if we keep beating good sides, although I suspect real recognition won't come until we beat these good sides when it matters most, something we haven't done in a few years. But we can only keep beating who we come up against, that's all we can control at this point in time. Right now we are doing a very good job of that and I'm pleased we have been able to do it whilst blooding the future at the same time.

Exactly .. I didnt want to go down that path again.. as plenty like yourself and CE enjoy the week to week stuff more than I... finals are when you earn real reputation... pretty much you can lose reputation any time but can never really gain till when it counts.The indicators about how we have played at the G so far are good.. Im not getting the feeling we are stuggling on the bigger ground..in fact Id say Rohan and Ablett probably enjoy more space. Our backline being slight different has gained more wheels with Clark and MOC.

Winning most games at KP ..will not get us much credit.. is nearly always put down as HGA. Go back a couple of years and we built a fear factor.. side got nervous about playing us.. when we really put some sides away maybe that will start to build again..as its helpful to have sides have that shadow in the back of their mind

Yeah Collingwood livein som sort of denial about that year.. but they abdicated any fear we may have had by what they did late in the year.. and as I have said to a Collingwood mate.. how many GF's are won by a team who doesn't score a goal in the last.

 

[cynical]

Should win this game comfortably.

The Eagles are playing overly tall, their rucks and inside mids aren't doing very well and their ball movement is too slow.

They would have to change things up a fair bit to be competitive, cos their game doesn't suit a smaller ground. Think they will drop one of the rucks or Oscar Allen.

outs Clark (rested for the Bombers), Parfitt, Sav
ins Tuohy, Abbott, Constable

 

[iameviljez]

Reckon I'd mortgage the house to get on Brisbane myself.

Really? Maybe in 2002, but in the other two years, they went in as underdogs.

Brisbane were nowhere near as dominant as the Saints were in '09. They were excellent in September, but greatly assisted by the fact that the best H&A team in two of those years (Port Adelaide) crapped their pants in the QF.

 

[iameviljez]

The Eagles are playing overly tall, their rucks and inside mids aren't doing very well and their ball movement is too slow.

The thing is... they aren't that tall, especially forward of the ball.

 

[Max Milburn]

Really? Maybe in 2002, but in the other two years, they went in as underdogs.

Brisbane were nowhere near as dominant as the Saints were in '09. They were excellent in September, but greatly assisted by the fact that the best H&A team in two of those years (Port Adelaide) crapped their pants in the QF.

You just know the Saints would have found a way to fail.
It was destiny.

 

[The Bandwagon]

Unless he's injured I can't see how Ratagolea needs a rest? He probably runs less distance than anyone else in our team. I just think he needs games. And more games. Those marks will eventually start to stick more often and hopefully the impact on the scoreboard will follow.

He's just coming back from a significant leg injury off the back of a 6 day break having also suffered a corkie. And his form at the moment is below par anyway. Fort has been kicking goals in the VFL and can also ruck. He's the one who should come into the side If they see fit that Sav needs a rest. Abbott and Smith haven't shown they can play forward at all and be effective. I'm a big believer in structure.

And weren't you the same person that said Constable needed a rest after one game in 18 days?

 

[cynical]

The thing is... they aren't that tall, especially forward of the ball.

2 rucks in Vardy and Hickey
3 KPFs in Kennedy, Darling and Allen

You might say Allen and Darling aren't that tall but they both play like KPFs.

 

[year of the cat]

He's just coming back from a significant leg injury off the back of a 6 day break having also suffered a corkie. And his form at the moment is below par anyway. Fort has been kicking goals in the VFL and can also ruck. He's the one who should come into the side If they see fit that Sav needs a rest. Abbott and Smith haven't shown they can play forward at all and be effective. I'm a big believer in structure.

And weren't you the same person that said Constable needed a rest after one game in 18 days?

Fair enough points. But to me, unless he's injured, he doesn't need a spell. He doesn't look tired.

As for Constable, plays a completely different position and is a completely different build. He will need ongoing management at least this season. He looked absolutely stuffed the two weeks prior to this weeks game. Which is why he was rested.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Last year we played no rucks against west coast. There is buckleys chance of us taking two rucks. More chance of us dropping esava and having blicavs ruck half a game again (or atleast stand next to the ruckman and not jump) whilst stanley rests forward.

We wont ruck Blicavs and I think on the smaller ground we might bring in a ruck for Sav.

 

[Seeds]

We wont ruck Blicavs and I think on the smaller ground we might bring in a ruck for Sav.

I said that before round 3 last year. Yet it happened.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Fort and Abbott in the mix, I saw about an hr ago on GFC FB!

 

[Seeds]

Fort and Abbott in the mix, I saw about an hr ago on GFC FB!

Seems unfair to smith given he was the emergency and not allowed to play vfl this week.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Seems unfair to smith given he was the emergency and not allowed to play vfl this week.

Apparently it said Fort has 5 goals from his last two matches and Abbott was best afield against Werribee..

Haven’t heard about Smith at all, only what you said now..

 

[allrighty]

Our forward pressure will be pivotal in deciding this one.
The Eagles are the best at switching the footy in defence and using the width of Optus and MCG to move the ball precisely forward by foot , their turnover rate is low and they hit up their tall forwards well and have the crumbers at their feet.
The narrow GMHBA should help us , also the Eagles won't run in waves through the corridor like the Giants did to us.
If our forwards can stop the switch and trap it in F50 or force a rushed exit kick we can have the game on our terms.
Talk around the coffee machine this morning was that the Eagles were lethargic and didn't come to play like Port did - that won't happen 2 games in a row so this one should be a cracker

This is a worry cos I thought the Hawks walzed out of defense and around us way too easily at times

 

[allrighty]

Not dropping them just wondering if they're getting sore.

Honestly Menegola is the one I've got question marks over of those forward/mid players. He does some good things I just don't really see what his current role is and when he's bad he's utterly horrendous. Like 2 turnovers yesterday under no pressure going inside 50 that hit Hawks lace out and allowed them to immediately rebound.

It looks to me like he has all of the goods but does not always give 100%. That may seem harsh but i reckon he doesn't always go instinctively but tires to (over)think his way through. Hence the stupid short pass into F50 straight to the opposition. More than once. I think he just needs a kick up the bum and a rev talk.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I said that before round 3 last year. Yet it happened.

Bigger ground that was though easier to have rucks on a smaller ground.

 

[steady2]

...Collingwood.. Should have won and were underdone...

No more underdone than we were, no reason to believe they should have won, we played better most of the night and we won.

Thats one way of saying I guess.. im pretty sure there are some sides that would be tough to play no matter what but Pies may well be harder to play now ...

So are we. Round one we had four debutants playing their first AFL game plus two other players playing their first games for the club. The team is much more relaxed and confident, I would say we are far more dangerous now than Round One.

 

[Larry Donohue]

I hope they play all the kids in this one
Last years premiers is a great experience for them
Parfitt for Constable for mine
I think Atkins may rest If Tuohy gets a game

 

[The Casey Cat]

Reckon I'd mortgage the house to get on Brisbane myself.

Port very good in 04 too. They would definitely have taken 05/06 though. As would Dogs 09 side. They were seriously good too.