Autopsy Cats lose to Lions by 9 points.

[Pure_Ownage]

Bruhn won’t play for us again I’d say. So he needs to get to that level quickly

We do need jhye to get there but tank often takes 2-3 pre seasons. We just need him to make incremental gains.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

it also stopped raining.

It’s hard to defend uncontested marks when you have to give up a spare to help defend as your mids are getting flogged along with rolling up your high half fwds.

The uncontested marks are a symptom of a different issue. It was the same last week. Getting dated early at the contest and conceding huge inside 50 numbers which allows teams to chip it around when we inevitably cough it back up. The HFs need to find away to half those contests. When we break even our pressure and shape look terrific. Dominated the Freo game, absolutely dominated last half last week and first half this week.

They do but that's also why mannagh is critical because he's usually the extra HF pushing up to cover the defensive side stoppage exit but then also has the tackle pressure to keep it on the inside if we lose first possession.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I know George is unlikely, just using his name as an example as not sure we'll see many changes outside the obvious of Mannagh, Stewart & Kolodjashnij being the key returns over the coming weeks - and most likely at the expense of a Clohesy, Clark, Knevitt or maybe O'Connor

We'll likely see Duncan & Stanley at times, but not sure they're exactly long term answers and not sure their selections would really be seen as shaking things up

Duncan and Stanley may get a game here or there to rotate (around the 6 day breaks) but they are clearly not in the 23
Mannagh will be straight in as will kolo and Stewart. This leaves kids like clohesy (I think will drop out for Mannagh) Clark knevitt and osullivan (although I personally would keep osullivan all year he has star quality to My eye) plus moc mullin and Bowes battling for the last few spots in the 23.

The issue is none of this solves the ruck or big inside mid problems as the solutions to both are either injured (conway) or not on our list yet.

 

[Munich]

We have some great ins to come, as the above poster mentioned Stewart, Kolo and Mannagh.

That's a pretty big inclusion.

 

[iameviljez]

I think everyone understands he is a confidence player, the problem is he has played with none for two (and its looking like three) seasons.

No intensity and limited impact.

For how he looked in 2022 he is nowhere near it, he's had enough time to turn it around and he just hasn't.

Not sure how much longer we are supposed to dance around the issue. It's a big problem, not kicking on and gone backwards.

I thought SDK's intensity last night was decent, especially in the first half.

People overstated how good he was in 2022, and now they understate how good he is in 2025.

 

[cats_09]

Duncan and Stanley may get a game here or there to rotate (around the 6 day breaks) but they are clearly not in the 23
Mannagh will be straight in as will kolo and Stewart. This leaves kids like clohesy (I think will drop out for Mannagh) Clark knevitt and osullivan (although I personally would keep osullivan all year he has star quality to My eye) plus moc mullin and Bowes battling for the last few spots in the 23.

The issue is none of this solves the ruck or big inside mid problems as the solutions to both are either injured (conway) or not on our list yet.

I think Duncan plays this week - first of his 4 needed games, Stanley may also get a call up depending how Neale and/or SDK pull up after last night

I'd keep O'Sullivan in the team alongside Henry & JK, even if that means playing Blicavs a bit further up the ground, as right now he's probably been our most impactful ruck around the ground so I think we can balance the other 3 defence

I can also see benefit to keeping at least one of Clark, Clohesy and Knevitt in the team - even rotating them through the seniors to build their experience

O'Connor is one who could be vulnerable, and it may be more of a horses for courses selection for him - many thought he'd be the one lining up on Neale from the opening bounce, but instead that was Atkins. In the first half, Atkins kept Neale to 8 disposals but for some reason we swapped at halftime with O'Connor taking over and Neale had 7 disposals in the 3rd. Unless there's a specific role for him, I can see O'Connor on the outer, and if Mullin has more games like last night that he'd be the preferred Irishman

Bowes I just don't know

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think Duncan plays this week - first of his 4 needed games, Stanley may also get a call up depending how Neale and/or SDK pull up after last night

I'd keep O'Sullivan in the team alongside Henry & JK, even if that means playing Blicavs a bit further up the ground, as right now he's probably been our most impactful ruck around the ground so I think we can balance the other 3 defence

I can also see benefit to keeping at least one of Clark, Clohesy and Knevitt in the team - even rotating them through the seniors to build their experience

O'Connor is one who could be vulnerable, and it may be more of a horses for courses selection for him - many thought he'd be the one lining up on Neale from the opening bounce, but instead that was Atkins. In the first half, Atkins kept Neale to 8 disposals but for some reason we swapped at halftime with O'Connor taking over and Neale had 7 disposals in the 3rd. Unless there's a specific role for him, I can see O'Connor on the outer, and if Mullin has more games like last night that he'd be the preferred Irishman

Bowes I just don't know

The fact that they held Duncan over indicates yes this will be one of his 4 games (hopefully sub) and if neale doesn't get up then you probably bring Stanley in and sdk plays forward (otherwise I think Stanley is out). Stewart and mannagh will be back.

Bowes is a funny one at times he's awful when played in backline roles but in his actual inside mid role he can be good. And he is a bigger body which you may want against Oliver and viney etc.

I'd say mannagh Stewart and Duncan for clohesy occonor and clark/knevitt if I had to guess.

 

[Catman]

Are we ignoring one critical factor - that the Lions' ball movement in the third quarter clearly went up several gears, and we could just not go with it?

In the first half, it kept raining and the inability of either side to be clean clearly favoured us in the scrap.

In the second, it dried right up, and it felt as though the better ball handlers in Brisbane's midfield took full advantage.

It also seemed like from the TV that every second ball was won by Brisbane - they were getting more numbers at the contest than us and were able to rebound and retain possession much easier. In the first half it was the opposite.

 

[Gee Class Loco]

I know George is unlikely, just using his name as an example as not sure we'll see many changes outside the obvious of Mannagh, Stewart & Kolodjashnij being the key returns over the coming weeks - and most likely at the expense of a Clohesy, Clark, Knevitt or maybe O'Connor

We'll likely see Duncan & Stanley at times, but not sure they're exactly long term answers and not sure their selections would really be seen as shaking things up

he as in KOLO is the key that allows us to do a lot of different things with our back 6.
The UNSUNG HERO IMO

 

[Play it Sam]

I'm going to update & repost something I said halfway through the last quarter

Ollie Henry needs to find a way to get involved and compete when things aren't easy out there

He had 9 disposals for the match, with only 2 in the second half - 1 in the third, with his only other second half disposal being the last kick of the match. I know the ball movement to our forwards wasn't the cleanest in the second half, but that's where as a player you've got to find other ways to have an impact

5th year in the system with 72 games under his belt, he just needs to start finding ways of maintaining a higher level of involvement in games - whether it's trying to halve aerial contests where he's not in the best position, pressuring the opposition, working up the ground to present etc

Has a huge problem playing from behind. May be an overconfidence issue when you’ve taken a few speccies. But those pack marks are different to one on ones. He is being caught out and his inability to move and limited defence nous sticks out like a sore thumb.

 

[allrighty]

Just an observation of mine.
Our strengths in the previous 4-5-6 years has been our half forwards.
Stengle Close Miers and of late Dempsey being damaging both in defending and in attacking modes.
Opposition clubs are now putting more time and effort into them.
Once u quell Miers and let’s say Stengle our struggles become more glaring ImO. Especially Miers as his influence is off the charts when he is on and has time and space.
I see they the opposition have put in a bit of effort into Ollie Dempsey lately.
Gonna be interesting how we adapt and change to the special attention opposing teams are giving them.
As for my special whipping boy in Ollie Henry.
A young man with an abundance of athleticism, talent and that polarising word potential.
At almost 23 years old and 70 odd games under his belt he's become my most frustrating player to watch.
How he keeps getting a game has got me fookd.
No wonder we went after Jack Martin and the young fella from SA in the draft.
Well.... hopefully adding Mannagh into the mix with maybe a sprinkling of Wiltshire things might turnaround.
Cheers & Go Catters!!

Yes I have thought for some time that Miers is a barometer. When he is on we are on, when not we struggle.

 

[you pick one]

Duncan and Stanley may get a game here or there to rotate (around the 6 day breaks) but they are clearly not in the 23
Mannagh will be straight in as will kolo and Stewart. This leaves kids like clohesy (I think will drop out for Mannagh) Clark knevitt and osullivan (although I personally would keep osullivan all year he has star quality to My eye) plus moc mullin and Bowes battling for the last few spots in the 23.

The issue is none of this solves the ruck or big inside mid problems as the solutions to both are either injured (conway) or not on our list yet.

If we get back Kolo and Stewart I'd be tempted to give O'Sullivan a game forward in O Henry's spot that would do a couple of things 1st put O H on notice and 2 give us a better understanding of just what a talent we have on our hands with Connor.

 

[joe444]

Watching Duncan organise the defence in the VFL last week meant I was surprised he wasn't in the team given yesterday's conditions.

 

[terry_bright]

Has a huge problem playing from behind. May be an overconfidence issue when you’ve taken a few speccies. But those pack marks are different to one on ones. He is being caught out and his inability to move and limited defence nous sticks out like a sore thumb.

Outside a couple of cheap goals late on against Freo, he's been ordinary so far this year.

Totally agree with your assessment on him playing from behind. If he's not marking it, he's a liability at times with the ball rebounding too easily out of our F50.

With Neale clearly impaired, and SDK having to go off at 3qtr time, he had a chance to step up and couldn't. Not saying he had to take big mark after big mark, but at worst split the contest and make it a 50/50 ball. Got outpointed nearly everytime. Delivery after 1/2 time to the forwards was limited, and that's mostly on the midfield and another topic for conversation, but when you're getting slim pickings you have to make the most of it.

He does play a position and a style that when things aren't going your way you can look really bad, but he's 70 odd games in and nedds to show more consistency both within games and from week to week. For me, the most frustrating player to watch in the team.

 

[Strange Cat]

I may never calm down again

You’ll be fine once Ken is sacked

 

[CatToTheFuture]

You’ll be fine once Ken is sacked

I'll be our of the dogs house

 

[Strange Cat]

I'll be our of the dogs house

Were you two together in 07 by any chance ?

 

[Finknottle]

Wiltshire maybe but I would not be picking George

I watched the VFL game. Geelong struggled against one of the worst teams in the comp. The only player who stood out was Mannah. The rest are nowhere near AFL level.

 

[King Cat]

Ollie Henry needs a reality check. He pays from behind. His forward pressure is non existent. Aside from his cheap [emoji639] goals v Freo he has done little.

I think he can play. He needs to add work rate and defensive pressure to his game. Just work hard. Run. Lead up and back. Then chase and tackle. You find when you work hard like that all the other good stuff comes your way.

But at the moment that’s not there. He gets beaten in one on one contests then add little after that. Look at his tackle count.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[terry_bright]

he as in KOLO is the key that allows us to do a lot of different things with our back 6.
The UNSUNG HERO IMO

I think people are starting to understand his importance to the team, but still greatly under appreciated in some quarters.
If we can have a settled back 6/7, and in particular kpds (whether it be Henry, COS, SDK or Blicavs) he can do his thing as the 3rd tall / utility defender.
Has his limitations, but understand our systems and team defence as well anyone in the team.

 

[Finknottle]

Game sucked to watch but the young brigade will be better for it.

Mullins was genuinely so good. Finally put it together and was clean.

He needs to trust himself to run with the ball. He is quick. His first inclination is to give the ball off to the nearest person. He needs to get that out of his system.

 

[Live in hope]

I haven’t had chance to see the game yet but (aside from other things) just wondering what different things did Mullen do (aside from getting more possessions) to be much more effective than other games (?)

 

[z547043]

The thing that frustrates me the most with Cameron is his reluctance to take the 1st option, ever.
There are times when he'll hold onto the pill, scan around and actually execute an incisive kick to our advantage.
However there are way too many other times when he passes up perfectly good options in the hope of pulling off something clever. It's low percentage stuff a lot of the time.

Add Miers to that list at times. It’s the balance between giving them license, because they can create outside the norm and execute difficult kicks and also the balance of fitting the team structure and surging forward with pace. Right now, there needs to be some words exchanged to both about keeping it simple and moving it on quickly IMO, especially Cameron.

 

[Finknottle]

Doesn't anyone remember 07.

We were shit in the first 5 or 6 games, troubled player/s. Maybe we are just finding our way with the kids but Scott could look at doing something similar to what the club did back then to get us on track.

I think Cameron, Henry and Stengle need a rocket at least.

Stengle is a lot better when Cameron and OHenry are not twiddling their thumbs. One forward having a stinker hurts but two stinking is a killer.

 

[Finknottle]

It takes time.

Some of Knevitt, Clark, Clohesy etc will come good - but it takes time.

Clark was a top 10 draft pick. He is a lemon at the moment. An average of 10 disposals per game of footy is terrible. Mannah should replace him and Clark should remain in the VFL until he's tearing games apart.