Review Cats defeat Saints by 31 points

[Live in hope]

1. Rhys Stanley - I reckon big Rhys might have finally hit the wall. His ruckwork opposed to Rowan Marshall was more than acceptable, but he struggled to get involved around the ground. He's definitely due a management break. Next week will be a great opportunity for Neale and Blicavs and Conway to beat up on a Xerri-less Norf ruck division, so the perfect time to give Stanley that break.

3. Bailey Smith - With "only" 23 touches you might think it was a quiet day for Bailey. I disagree. I reckon Scotty was using him a little bit more as an outside distributor today, as evidenced by his excellent DE, and I appreciated his willingness to pressure the Stains mids running the other way, which was glaringly missing last week.

5. Jeremy Cameron - What a luxury it is to have a full forward who kicks a bag every game and is an accurate shot for goal. He's definitely better staying in F50 than derping around in the midfield or on a HBF. He deserves his big lead in the Coleman and let's hope it continues.

7. Shaun Mannagh - Okay, so when a player has had 23 touches, 3 goals, 500m gained, and more tackles than Tom Atkins he has had a good game. Could have finished with 5. I had him BOG.

9. Max Holmes - He got a heap of the footy and 810m gained, at good disposal efficiency, but it felt like he was more quiet than that. Maybe we've come to judge him to a higher standard, which is the mark of a genuine star. He needs to get some protection from the umps, because some of the treatment he got was pretty filthy, but good luck with that when you wear the horizontal blue and white.

12. Jack Bowes - Pretty good coming on as the sub. Knew how to exploit St Kilda's tiring legs, and that goal was chefs kiss.

14. Connor O'Sullivan - I didn't mind his game today. A few turnovers let him down, but competed well all day. He keeps getting blatantly shoved in the back too, and if his opponent then takes the mark I can't grade him too harshly. Umps need to be watching the play and not their Sportsbet accounts.

16. Sam De Koning - It wasn't the right time to bring him back IMO. We had enough tall defenders even without him- Blitz, JHenry, and COS had it sorted- and he didn't really play well. Getting him some AFL touch going into the finale of the season was probably the correct strategic call though.

17. Lawson Humphries - What's happened to his kicking? Since his concussion he hasn't been quite right. He still reads the ball at ground level as well as he always did, tackles for keeps, and patrols his set zone correctly. But he needs to start hitting targets again PDQ.

18. Tyson Stengle - Great to have him back after the last two weeks, and two goals is a fine return. I expect him to build in form going into the serious part of the season.

19. Jack Martin - I reckon that first half is the best he's played in years, and showed how potent he can be as a forward option. Second half was very, very quiet. Still, I'd have him in the 22 for now but with Bews, Stevens, Knevitt, and Conway all banging the door down in the VFL I expect he'll be the one to get squeezed out.

28. Ollie Dempsey - Lively all day, and that goal was a work of art. Running so hard from the wing to FF and back, all day long, whether he gets involved in that particular play or not, must make him a nightmare for the opposition coach. I think at times he can be a bit precious about going for a hard ball get, but when your best work is done cashing in on the stray bobbling ball it might be a coach's directive. And I worry that if he puts on the extra kilo or or three of muscle to let him compete like Atkins does that he'll lose some of his pace. Still, when it's your turn to go, you go, and he often doesn't.

30. Tom Atkins - Another pile of possessions and a gajillion tackles. We don't even question it these days, just like we don't question our car's engine rumbling to life when we turn the key. And Axe is Geelong's engine.

32. Gryan Miers - Probably our best, I thought. Once again his disposal was sublime. And for a guy with a somewhat light frame he does burrow in pretty hard when he has to. Ollie Dempsey needs to take notice.

33. Shannon Neale - It sort of didn't come together for him today, but I admire his second and third efforts. He never seems to get discouraged, even when things aren't going his way, and when it's not sticking in his hands he can usually get it to fall to the advantage of our crumbers.

34. Oisin Mullin - Quiet day possessionwise, but I thought he was OK tagging McRae. He should have been on Wanganeen-Milera though. Puzzling coaching. One thing I like is how quickly he reads the ball off the boot. His eye is as quick as Jack Henry's in that regard. He'll develop into an intercepting tagger, one who can drag his opponent away from the play by using his pace offensively, but we're not quite there yet. It'll click soon though, I can feel it.

35. Patrick F. Dangerfield - He had to lift after last week's stinker, and did. Two goals and 20 touches in the forward line is a good return. Two hideous shanks, less so. Still, I think the mix is right, 75% up forward and 25% in the centre square for the genuinely important centre bounces.

38. Jack Henry - There's not a lot to fault in Henry's game today. He reads the ball well in the air, kicks competently, and the one time I saw him beaten it was by Rowan Marshall who is about eleven feet tall and built like that angry zombie guy from Game of Thrones.

39. Zach Guthrie - Yet another solid game for us. I often find it hard to write anything about Zuth in these little reports, because all he does all day is do his job with no pomp or flamboyance.

42. Mark O'Connor- Touch-wise a very quiet game, but unlike last week where I thought he had a stinker I reckon he was passable today. Playing as a deep small defender, he seemed to be minding Hill and Henry, whichever of the two was snaeking forward at the time, and kept the screws on pretty tightly. Aside from one clumsy high fend-off when Stewart sold him up the creek with a reprehensible kickin. I like him better upfield though. A couple of times he beat Hill in a 1-on-1 on the wing, then delivered perfectly to a teamate at half forward- he's better doing that than skulking about in the back pocket.

44. Tom Stewart - The intercept marking is back! Two major stuffups blotted his game though, getting done HTB trying to take on too many tacklers and then selling Merrick into all sorts of trouble with a hideous kickin. Getting subbed off was purely strategic. It was the correct time for cotton wool, and I don't think his knees copped any real injury, just an accumulation of little knocks.

45. Brad Close - He's always creative, but these days Scotty seems to be using him as a defensive forward, keeping the oppo HBF rebounding players accountable and hopefully making them play deep in the back pocket. Last week it didn't work, At all. Today it did.

46. Mark Blicavs - Another decent day out for Blitz. I thought he was decent as the second ruck but a bit surplus to requirements as another tall defender with so many of St Kilda's forwards being smalls and SDK back. So no surprise to see him sneak forward a bit, where his marking was a handful. Set up one of Jezza's goals and unlucky not to get on the scoreboard himself.

Excellent work as usual, Generalissimo. Your post game summaries are something to look forward to.

 

[ShaunWDT]

Didnt think we even particularly played well but surged for long enough to get the job done.

 

[juzcat]

I think today was the first time Martin felt he could trust his body to go 100% and not hold himself back. There is no doubting his class but he is a hard watch with his injury history, and there is a lot of football to play yet.

He is worth the gamble. We are not good enough to play it safe and pick the next best.

Martins frame is similar to Camerons and you would think that wireiness woukd be similarly durable. But Cameron is like a Landcruiser and Martin a Alfasud

 

[you pick one]

Its his 1st game back from injury. Let's see how his going in 4 weeks time to judge on how his playing ... give him time

SDK imo is critical down back for team balance I'm not worried to much by his game or stats and it's fair to say that they can look ordinary at times but he allows us to play blokes like Blitz, Henry and others in roles where they are either more suited or more damaging so I agree let's just keep him going it will pay off.

 

[joe444]

We'd be better off with Parfitt atm.
He wasn't great but at least he's not a passenger to carry.

Still not kicking goals, but has definitely enjoyed the step down in class.

 

[Frank Bunn]

Just a random observation. 25 goals were scored at the Players Stand end and 15 at the Joel Selwood end. It wasn't an especially windy day.

 

[Play it Sam]

Just a random observation. 25 goals were scored at the Players Stand end and 15 at the Joel Selwood end. It wasn't an especially windy day.

That's really interesting-makes the coin toss and winning call interesting too, if yesterday wasn't a (home game) outlier in favourable direction. So more data required I guess, to see if it's a meaningful stat overall.
Normally barrack for the first quarter end to be going the opposite way if seated in those stands, so you get the last quarter of play your goal end.
Once upon a time, it would be first call to kick with the wind, but with the development of the ground that's almost a non factor now. Food for thought, thank you.

 

[catempire]

Just a random observation. 25 goals were scored at the Players Stand end and 15 at the Joel Selwood end. It wasn't an especially windy day.

It looked like a two goal wind to that end to my eye sitting in the Brownlow stand so not far off a 10 goal discrepancy.

 

[catempire]

SDK imo is critical down back for team balance I'm not worried to much by his game or stats and it's fair to say that they can look ordinary at times be he allows us to play blokes like Blitz, Henry and others in roles where they are either more suited or more damaging so I agree let's just keep him going it will pay off.

That is extraordinarily optimistic.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

SDK imo is critical down back for team balance I'm not worried to much by his game or stats and it's fair to say that they can look ordinary at times be he allows us to play blokes like Blitz, Henry and others in roles where they are either more suited or more damaging so I agree let's just keep him going it will pay off.

I agree in the sense that this year I think we're a team that looks shaky when 1-2 important back men are injured. Even yesterday we wobbled a touch once Stewart went off. So SDK in allows O'Sullivan to play a role he's better suited to, and that flows on to others as well.

Granted, yesterday was an experimentation day. Humphries further afield, Blicavs up forward. We can't have both MOC and Mullin in defence imo.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Of course stats don't tell the whole story and the eye test showed NWM as better. But he still had 9 turnovers (8 to Holmes) and 9 score involvements (8 to Holmes). Both had 23 effective disposals. Somehow Holmes had decisively better disposal efficiency! NWM had twice as many clearances, but Holmes had more metres gained and rebound 50s.

So yeah, all of that suggests Holmes was pretty good but just had a bunch of frustrating moments that made it feel like hard work.

Moving house so didn't watch the game live and had to settle for a replay yesterday.
Caught the game day thread at various stages during the game and was prepared to watch a true horror show from the tone and content of some posts ( not you Mr M)
At various points SDK , Miers, Humphries , Danger, Mullin and Neale copped it - however on watching the replay they did have some ordinary moments but nowhere near as bad as the commentary on the match day thread.
Bit of a lesson there - Things are never as good or as bad as they seem and footy is an emotional game....

Also liking the Scott change ups - Blitz to nullify Wilke , Martin forward ( OH needs to watch the Marin tape) , Humphries to the wing and Mullin to Higgins ( our bogey man ) Not sure who went to Sinclair but he was unusually quiet this game.

 

[you pick one]

Sinclair and Close.

 

[Jumping Jack]

That is extraordinarily optimistic.

SDK is fine. can't honestly comprehend that some people carry on to the extent that he's not in our best 22.

Critical piece in the puzzle come September. Think of the sides we'll need to beat to make a GF and they have tall forward threats. The other factor with him is versatility and the fact if required, could be moved into the ruck.

We all see things through a different lens and I get that, but if I was to be really critical, I think our biggest concern right now is Stewart. Playing ok in patches but he's not the player he was. Clearly hampered by a problem with that knee that C Scott is trying to play down. He's such an important player and if less than 100% heading into finals, I'm not sure we can challenge.

Right now the premiership odds are about right. Cat's about 4th on the line of betting behind Pies Lions and Crows. If Stanley and Stewart stay upright then I think we've got another gear in big games. Cameron, Holmes Smith and Danger are clearly important, but if we can't nurse the other two blokes through I think we'll be found out.

 

[you pick one]

SDK is fine. can't honestly comprehend that some people carry on to the extent that he's not in our best 22.

Critical piece in the puzzle come September. Think of the sides we'll need to beat to make a GF and they have tall forward threats. The other factor with him is versatility and the fact if required, could be moved into the ruck.

We all see things through a different lens and I get that, but if I was to be really critical, I think our biggest concern right now is Stewart. Playing ok in patches but he's not the player he was. Clearly hampered by a problem with that knee that C Scott is trying to play down. He's such an important player and if less than 100% heading into finals, I'm not sure we can challenge.

Right now the premiership odds are about right. Cat's about 4th on the line of betting behind Pies Lions and Crows. If Stanley and Stewart stay upright then I think we've got another gear in big games. Cameron, Holmes Smith and Danger are clearly important, but if we can't nurse the other two blokes through I think we'll be found out.

Reshuffle the backline this week with Bews back in and rest Stewart we need to find a way to spell Stanley too that's not Blitz his work load again this year has been through the roof.We might have to risk breaking Conway or Edwards in a game or two over the coming weeks the idea might not be popular but there is a flag up for grabs time to be ruthless.

 

[catempire]

SDK is fine. can't honestly comprehend that some people carry on to the extent that he's not in our best 22.

Critical piece in the puzzle come September. Think of the sides we'll need to beat to make a GF and they have tall forward threats. The other factor with him is versatility and the fact if required, could be moved into the ruck.

We all see things through a different lens and I get that, but if I was to be really critical, I think our biggest concern right now is Stewart. Playing ok in patches but he's not the player he was. Clearly hampered by a problem with that knee that C Scott is trying to play down. He's such an important player and if less than 100% heading into finals, I'm not sure we can challenge.

Right now the premiership odds are about right. Cat's about 4th on the line of betting behind Pies Lions and Crows. If Stanley and Stewart stay upright then I think we've got another gear in big games. Cameron, Holmes Smith and Danger are clearly important, but if we can't nurse the other two blokes through I think we'll be found out.

You are half right: he is critical given the role he plays but the form he has demonstrated over the past three seasons and particularly recently are extremely concerning and give us no basis he will successfully play the role in September that we need.

I agree with you on Stewart. Best case is we can attribute this to his knee and he finds a way to get on top of it. Worst case he is just not the player he used to be.

 

[Sttew]

It was not our best game this year. First half of first quarter was excellent, with fast, slick ball movement and incredible accuracy in front of goal. Apart from 10 or so minutes in 3Q when we slammed on 3 or 4 quick goals we seemed to go into cruise mode for rest of the game. Maybe that is doing a disservice to St Kilda, but it was their 5th loss in succession and they are a rabble IMO. Saints may pick up TDK but look likely to lose Wanganeen-Milera.

SDK looked underdone, but will get better. Cameron is a maestro. Best game from Dangerfield in weeks, and really liked the games of Holmes, Aitkens, Dempsey, Mannagh, Stengle and Martin

 

[fpm84]

Maybe that is doing a disservice to St Kilda, but it was their 5th loss in succession and they are a rabble IMO.

Fine to call them a rabble, but the result was almost identical to their most recent games against top 8 sides, all in the last few weeks:

• lost by 34 to Collingwood, after trailing by 2-4 goals at every change (almost identical to yesterday)
• lost by 12 to Freo away, having led at 3/4 time
• lost by 20 to Hawthorn, with the same number of scoring shots, and more inside 50s than the Hawks.

So us having a comfortable lead all game and winning by 5-6 goals was absolutely par based on how the Saints have been playing of late.

 

[Sttew]

Fine to call them a rabble, but the result was almost identical to their most recent games against top 8 sides, all in the last few weeks:

• lost by 34 to Collingwood, after trailing by 2-4 goals at every change (almost identical to yesterday)
• lost by 12 to Freo away, having led at 3/4 time
• lost by 20 to Hawthorn, with the same number of scoring shots, and more inside 50s than the Hawks.

So us having a comfortable lead all game and winning by 5-6 goals was absolutely par based on how the Saints have been playing of late.

All true, but they have won same number of games as Richmond`

 

[fpm84]

All true, but they have won same number of games as Richmond`

Yeah, I'm not defending them, they are in no-man's land. Just pointing out that they've been competitive - but outclassed - most weeks for a couple of months. In fact, since round 9, they've only lost three games by 30+ points, and one of them was yesterday (the other two v Collingwood and Bulldogs).

 

[And_ROOS]

View attachment 2373528
View attachment 2373530


Still not kicking goals, but has definitely enjoyed the step down in class.

From what I have seen he is having a great season and I was surprised a team like Richmond/WCE/North/Carlton didn't take a punt on him.

 

[jim boy]

I put $100 on he will play a game this year... # gamble responsible

Easy money. If he plays a whole match this weekend coming up, then it is a near certainty that Conway will play this campaign. When Martin played his first half-match the VFL, a number of people on this board were saying it was promising, but he was a long way off being AFL fit. Guess what, two weeks later he was debuting in the seniors and hasn't looked back.

 

[STPer18]

Geelong v St Kilda​

9 Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera STK
7 Max Holmes GEEL
6 Shaun Mannagh GEEL
5 Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

32

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

GEEL
2 Oisin Mullin GEEL
1 Oliver Dempsey GEEL

 

[Jumping Jack]

Great to see Mullin get some coaches votes. I thought he was very good yesterday.

He blanketed Higgins and really put some good physical pressure on him at every opportunity - which Higgins did not like. Very similar to the way he worked Nick Daicos over V Pies.

 

[Gunf]

Geelong v St Kilda​

9 Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera STK
7 Max Holmes GEEL
6 Shaun Mannagh GEEL
5 Jeremy Cameron GEEL
2 Oisin Mullin GEEL
1 Oliver Dempsey GEEL

Deserved by Mullin

Multiple times during this match he read the play really well and came off his man to either spoil or affect a contest perfectly.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Fine to call them a rabble, but the result was almost identical to their most recent games against top 8 sides, all in the last few weeks:

• lost by 34 to Collingwood, after trailing by 2-4 goals at every change (almost identical to yesterday)
• lost by 12 to Freo away, having led at 3/4 time
• lost by 20 to Hawthorn, with the same number of scoring shots, and more inside 50s than the Hawks.

So us having a comfortable lead all game and winning by 5-6 goals was absolutely par based on how the Saints have been playing of late.

IIRC the pressure factor for both teams was > 200 in the first 1/4 - so to take a 6 goal to 2 lead at 1/4 time isn't too shabby.
Also to put the lead out to 39 late in the 3rd is also a fair effort all things considered.