Autopsy Cats lose to GWS* AFL trust fund babies by 26 points.

[thegerman]

Cadman after a slow start to his career is starting to blossom

Nealea improvement hopefully following a similar track
Has 27 goals for the season which is solid for a second tall

Especially when he has danger and Ollie in there getting in his way.

 

[Cataholic]

I don’t understand the coaching. It’s obvious Cameron was injured.

WTF would you sub a healthy kid, leave Cameron on and be exploited by his opponent every single time the ball left the forward line.

Can anyone make sense?

Given Dangerfield was awful also, why wouldn’t you sub Cameron and replace with Henry then at least you have another player who can play in mid rotation.

Very strange coaching behaviour.

I'm going to guess the medics told Scott he was good to play on, and he deferred to them.

But the vision was damning.

It was a moment where Scott needed to overrule them imo.

 

[MisterMarcus]

I don’t understand the coaching. It’s obvious Cameron was injured.

WTF would you sub a healthy kid, leave Cameron on and be exploited by his opponent every single time the ball left the forward line.

Can anyone make sense?

Given Dangerfield was awful also, why wouldn’t you sub Cameron and replace with Henry then at least you have another player who can play in mid rotation.

Very strange coaching behaviour.

With an experienced team, I imagine there's an element of loyalty and "We'll keep backing this bloke to come good"

It's probably one of those things that if you win it looks like genius, if you lose it looks like favouritism and bloody-mindedness.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Last 2 tests against Lions & GWS we’ve failed miserably, just not good enough. 4 of our 6 losses have been against them.

I’d like to think we can still win it but if I’m being honest, don’t think this year we’re good enough, too many holes, especially in midfield.

It all depends on the draw. If we can avoid gws/Brisbane on the other side of the draw is absolutely think we can beat coll/Adelaide and then a prelim against whatever average opponent (hawthorn suns etc). But I can't see us beating Brisbane and gws would be a big ask.

 

[hoopla]

Beaten by the better team but seriously, some of the umpiring was awful. Most of the poor decisions went the giants way. After quarter time, the ball bounced sideways and every way except straight, and always landed in the hands of a gws player. You’d have to accept it just wasn’t the cats day.

Some of the troubling signs were in the midfield though. They seemed slow and most of them fumbled or ran past the ball. Once again, it’s the cats’ Achilles heal for this season…just like last year.

Danger was nqr and Cameron was seriously affected by the groin. Neale played very well in the end after the run of perplexing free kicks to Aleer stopped.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'm going to guess the medics told Scott he was good to play on, and he deferred to them.

But the vision was damning.

It was a moment where Scott needed to overrule them imo.

Scott never overrules medical staff though he doesnt believe in telling them what to do he's said this numerous times. I agree we should have subbed him though.

 

[thegerman]

With an experienced team, I imagine there's an element of loyalty and "We'll keep backing this bloke to come good"

It's probably one of those things that if you win it looks like genius, if you lose it looks like favouritism and bloody-mindedness.

The issue I have is the selfishness. If I was that injured, I’d make the decision myself.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

He tries hard but if I was an opposition forward I'd be happy with a COS match up. Not convinced on him as a defender. Good at intercept and general play but gives the opponent too many easy marks. Wish we had Kolo.

Otherwise the mids really were ordinary

Kolo won't be back this year and any other talls are too raw. We have no option but to persist with COS. In his first year cadman looked this bad too and barely touched it. COS has the talent and will get there he's just a couple of years behind.

 

[Catman]

Getting the feeling 2025 is going the same way as 2024. We're good, but not good enough, with still too many weaknesses that get exposed badly against the top sides.

Have we been worked out over the past month?

- The impact of Holmes and Smith has been well down. Sides are either exposing them defensively or clamping down on them.

- OD has had a putrid month, with his aversion to the hard stuff becoming far more noticeable than the anything he's doing with the ball.

- Our skills have dropped alarmingly. I don't put it down to pressure entirely either. The first quarter from Brisbane was the start and to be honest it hasn't improved, even last week against Richmond wasn't flash. Sides are feasting on our turnovers, which we seem to be committing in terrible spots on the field, exposing our defence badly.

Is it our first real bad patch of the year? Possibly, but it's at the worst possible time when spots for top 4 are up for grabs and we're starting to flounder.

 

[Cataholic]

Scott never overrules medical staff though he doesnt believe in telling them what to do he's said this numerous times. I agree we should have subbed him though.

He's the coach.

Yes, he's not a medic but sometimes a coach has to lead. He should've recognised that moment as the time to do just that.

 

[Catman]

He tries hard but if I was an opposition forward I'd be happy with a COS match up. Not convinced on him as a defender. Good at intercept and general play but gives the opponent too many easy marks. Wish we had Kolo.

Otherwise the mids really were ordinary

Combine that with SDK's injury and it's forced us to step him up as a KPD when we would probably have preferred to have rested him at some point. It'll be good for his development, but it's not helping us in the short term.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Be dissapointed but don't be a f*ckwit View attachment 2366067

No need to post your faux-Cats burner accounts here, mate.....

 

[Schmegg]

I just don’t look forward to playing GWS, they have our number and they know it.

We started off great, but as soon as they switched on that was it, we were playing for time.

I hope we don’t meet them in the finals.

Props to Neale, did really well, and also thought it showed a bit of heart by Stew to come back on after the initial injury.

Like others have said, Ollie Henry is the young man’s version of Mitch Duncan as a sub, zero impact player.

 

[Mr Meow]

Well that was fun. Yelled at the tv more than I have for sometime.
They were vg and we were very ordinary. Maybe they are finally finding some convincing form? We didn’t play well enough, didn’t apply nearly enough pressure, poor decisions and poor execution. And can’t understand why- we are a much better team than that. Think it’s in our heads now. Ah well. Annoying. Some of our guys tried hard all night but to no real effect.
How did they pick up Cadman in the draft? Number 1?
Congrats to Whitfield - been a wonderful player for a long time.

It shouldn't be discounted that GWS' best is top 2 level. They came in to today's game with recent wins against the Queensland teams, having also beaten Collingwood and then of course Geelong at GMHBA. They and Brisbane probably have the most talented lists with fewest weaknesses. Their bad is really bad but we never force it out of them. We threatened to for 10 minutes in the first quarter.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

10 mins into the 2Q I could see the game wasn't be played on our terms and was likely going to end in a loss.
Took a more backseat approach after that. Game on mute on one screen, doing other things on the 2nd screen.

Can understand Cameron having an off day given he had a niggle. It happens.
Been a stalwart, a player everyone at some point in the last decade would have screamed at but today showed what happens when Stanley is well beaten.

We have a defence that can hold the dam wall up for a period if we are getting beaten in the midfield and around the ground but not for a whole game. Hogan 6 last time out. Cadman the same this time. Stringer a handful to deal with. Not for the first time this season COS well and truly demolished.

I get he was poor but quite an overly strong focus on Dangerfield. The guy has carried us for years, and should be a forward role player as other take up the slack. To that end Smith and Holmes with their worst games of 2025.

Giants under Kingsley and Brisbane both have our measure. Meet either or both in finals and we're bubkis.

Neale clearly was frustrated for a 15 min period and the poor discipline with free kicks cost us, maybe someone had a word with him. Who knows. But he buttered up well for the rest of the game. Strong presentation as a focal point and reliable kicking at goal.

A few comments during the game about Bowes offering nothing as a player, and Mullin not being best 22 without a tag role. Both spot on. Hawthorn do it with Maginness. When there's no role for him as a tagger he plays VFL. Henry looks devoid of confidence and Polkinghorne is putting enough pressure on from below. Stevens came crashing back to earth but has time on his side.

I'd drop Bowes and Henry, give Polkinghorne a taste of AFL football. Hopefully Stengle is an inclusion as well.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Anyone seriously trying to pot COS is either a tryhard troll or has shizen for brains.

A guy who's barely turned 20 and played a handful of games.....he's far from the finished product and of course a KPF will get hold of him every so often.

To be basically holding down KPD at his level of age and experience is more than we could ever have dreamed of. A few inevitable down games doesn't remotely change that.

 

[Mr Meow]

10 mins into the 2Q I could see the game wasn't be played on our terms and was likely going to end in a loss.
Took a more backseat approach after that. Game on mute on one screen, doing other things on the 2nd screen.

Can understand Cameron having an off day given he had a niggle. It happens.
Been a stalwart, a player everyone at some point in the last decade would have screamed at but today showed what happens when Stanley is well beaten.

We have a defence that can hold the dam wall up for a period if we are getting beaten in the midfield and around the ground but not for a whole game. Hogan 6 last time out. Cadman the same this time. Stringer a handful to deal with. Not for the first time this season COS well and truly demolished.

I get he was poor but quite an overly strong focus on Dangerfield. The guy has carried us for years, and should be a forward role player as other take up the slack. To that end Smith and Holmes with their worst games of 2025.

Giants under Kingsley and Brisbane both have our measure. Meet either or both in finals and we're bubkis.

Neale clearly was frustrated for a 15 min period and the poor discipline with free kicks cost us, maybe someone had a word with him. Who knows. But he buttered up well for the rest of the game. Strong presentation as a focal point and reliable kicking at goal.

A few comments during the game about Bowes offering nothing as a player, and Mullin not being best 22 without a tag role. Both spot on. Hawthorn do it with Maginness. When there's no role for him as a tagger he plays VFL. Henry looks devoid of confidence and Polkinghorne is putting enough pressure on from below. Stevens came crashing back to earth but has time on his side.

I'd drop Bowes and Henry, give Polkinghorne a taste of AFL football. Hopefully Stengle is an inclusion as well.

Fully agreed on all points.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Anyone from 1st - 9th (current) could win it on the day. Ridiculously close season. Pies and Lions are the teams to beat. GWS to the team to dodge for us Cats. Most of the sides around us are all having to play each other. We clearly need to win every game from here for top two - it’s doable.

Our draw is still our biggest asset but we need to click. What are the wildcards between now and finals.

SDK will be a big in. No way Cadman kicks 6 on him tonight. COS is ok as the 3rd banana - not strong enough to hold the big blokes. Cadman is a big unit now.

My other wildcard is Conway - hear me out. I’ve always had a sneaky idea that they’d go very slow this year and hope that he’s got 8-10 games in him at the back end into finals. Hasn’t gone completely to plan obviously but it looks like he’ll play VFL next week. If he stays upright and puts together 4-5 games then I seriously think they’ll play him.

Stanley looked cooked tonight. He’s given everything this year and really helped the club but he just looked every bit like a 35-36 year old bloke tonight. I don’t think he’s got much left in the tank. He was towelled and our mids were second to the ball as a result. Conway - if fit - creates an interesting question come finals - but will he stay upright.

 

[Vdubs]

He's the coach.

Yes, he's not a medic but sometimes a coach has to lead. He should've recognised that moment as the time to do just that.

How do we know what the conversations were on ground and in the rooms?
Cameron often looks a bit ginger. If he tells them he's right to go, and if the medical staff clear him, we are all jumping at shadows.

 

[Cataholic]

Getting the feeling 2025 is going the same way as 2024. We're good, but not good enough, with still too many weaknesses that get exposed badly against the top sides.

Have we been worked out over the past month?

- The impact of Holmes and Smith has been well down. Sides are either exposing them defensively or clamping down on them.

- OD has had a putrid month, with his aversion to the hard stuff becoming far more noticeable than the anything he's doing with the ball.

- Our skills have dropped alarmingly. I don't put it down to pressure entirely either. The first quarter from Brisbane was the start and to be honest it hasn't improved, even last week against Richmond wasn't flash. Sides are feasting on our turnovers, which we seem to be committing in terrible spots on the field, exposing our defence badly.

Is it our first real bad patch of the year? Possibly, but it's at the worst possible time when spots for top 4 are up for grabs and we're starting to flounder.

Agreed - the decline in our ball skills has been shocking. We couldn't hit a wine barrel at 3 paces with a blunderbuss right now.

What is it we practice at training??

And OD..... he's so gun-shy. I'm not sure he's coping with the realisation that footy involves far more physical contact than junior basketball.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Some notes

Cant stay on our feet - still slipping over all the time
Cant control the ball and skills were pretty low.
Low pressure exerted on them

Needed the 4 points and too many put there diint do any where near enough to help get that done.


Neale kicked 5 which was good
Stewy was good but hobbled by an ankle
Jezza hurt a groin and limped thru
PFD really didnt lead but got some me me me moments in during the game
Zuth, COS, Atkins, Mullin, MOC all tried hard
Stevens back to earth with a thud - hard day for him but hardly alone there.

Close, Humpries, Blitz, Stanely all kind there.

Biggest issue is both GWS and Lions have ogtten a hold of us the same way more than once this year.

Will ahv eot recharge and go again next week..

but its not gonna be easy

Need to find a way, reset and comeback better next week

some really interesting umps calls but they didnt make a difference at the end... we just not good enough.


* at least we arent Carlton**

Go Catters

Has anyone got a comparison of the geelong team by draft compared to GWS??

 

[MacStradbroke]

Deserved lovefest last week but I’ll ask, is Geaorge Stevens really any better than Clohesy, Clark & Knevitt?

 

[fpm84]

It's as simple as a difference in class. I mean, imagine having the luxury of Josh Kelly being your third or fourth best midfielder, or Coniglio having to bide his time in the VFL.

GWS's team is littered with top draft picks, our team is cobbled together with rookies, cat-B players and Irishmen.

We look great when everybody is playing their role. When things break down, a number of players have their limitations exposed. Frustratingly for us, GWS and Brisbane seem to do this with regularity.

On the flipside, it's hard to imagine another game where we get a net zero contribution from all of Jezza, Smith, Holmes and Danger.

Random thoughts.

* huge fan of O'Sullivan's potential but we are asking for trouble taking him into finals. Would send him back to the VFL once SDK is ready. He's carried a huge burden for essentially a first year player.

* Holmes off half back, why? I thought we were done with this experimentation. Get our A grade midfielders in the midfield especially when up against Green, Callaghan and co.

* Neale is really stating to break out, his sticky hands were a real highlight tonight. To step up when Jez was poor/injured is a great sign.

* despite Stewart's injury scare that was maybe his best game all year. 29 touches at 97% efficiency, 13 intercepts. Hopefully a good sign for the back half of the year.

* Mullin attended 20 centre bounces so I assume he had some type of role, but I couldn't tell what, and all of their mids were good. If he isn't playing a tight lock down role, what he offers offensively (12 touches at 58% today) isn't enough.

* Stengle hugely missed, had been in excellent form of late. Hopefully all is ok with his family and he's back soon.

 

[ADA23]

I reckon you’re only as good as your bottom 6. And our bottom 6 aren’t good.
O Henry
Steven
MoC
Mullin
Stanley
Martin

Plus replacements are Clarke Knevitt Clohesy

Deckchairs on the Titanic

 

[Cataholic]

How do we know what the conversations were on ground and in the rooms?
Cameron often looks a bit ginger. If he tells them he's right to go, and if the medical staff clear him, we are all jumping at shadows.

He was on the sidelines, having his upper left leg massaged. He was sore, grimacing.

He was holding it out on the ground, and struggled to accelerate badly.

How much more visual evidence did they need?

Of course we don't know what the conversations were. We're speculating in a forum is all.