Unofficial Preview Qualifying Final 2025 v Cats @MCG.

[braddsey]

I just realised my train line is partially down with bus replacements this week. Terrible timing for me personally.

Our line was down for the Collingwood game. Was going in with less than mobile dad, and brother with a broken foot, so had to get an Uber. We live 6km from the MCG, but it took 1 hour to get in, 30 minutes to get home, and cost $120!

 

[braddsey]

Adam Simpson has us far and away ahead of every other club, in his analytics model, per his discussion on SEN this morning.

He also has the Suns beating Freo as well.

I heard the same... but whatever his numbers were he couldn't explain it. Very funny listening.

 

[thedigger]

Go back and look at last year prelim,and just look at the goals they kicked ,you could say they were "Arsey".

 

[M Malice]

My 2 worries with the Cats are the run of Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

and Max Holmes.

I'm very curious to see what team we name tonight, the obvious/standard ins and outs would be Berry/Neale for Marshall/Reville. So tough on those guys but I can not imagine anyone else going out unless it is Gallop but would we go that small.

 

[MSB ROYS]

My 2 worries with the Cats are the run of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes.

I'm very curious to see what team we name tonight, the obvious/standard ins and outs would be Berry/Neale for Marshall/Reville. So tough on those guys but I can not imagine anyone else going out unless it is Gallop but would we go that small.

Agree. Bailey Smith also turned the ball over a lot in our previous two games. Not sure he will be so generous this time.

 

[Toffee Lion]

Heard today they are expecting a crowd in the 80’s.

We got 77k for the Prelim in 2022, that was also a Friday night. So anything in the 80's is quite amazing for a QF.

 

[twhowler]

I have been fretting most of the season about our btb and top 4 chances. It has constantly seemed on a knife-edge
.
Now we are here - i feel oddly calm. It just reminds me we actually got there last year. So many false starts. And such an incredible finals series.

I suspect the players are much more forward-focused than i am. But it does make me wonder if maybe some sides are a bit hungrier.

I subscribe to the theory that it can be a fine line between hunger and nerves for teams in September. Geelong might have the perfect combo - plenty of players that don't have a flag, but plenty who do. Collingwood as well. But they are in genuinely poor form.

Giants the monkey is well and truly on their backs. But they have a 2024 lions vibe - struggled in season. I think they will get motivated now

Hawks i think that final round loss hurt. This year feels a lot harder than 2023 for them

Crows will be all about that first final. Have a good in there and they can roll on to the granny. BUT if we made it there against them i think there will be so much pressure on them. Adelaide is going absolutely mental this year. nearly 30 years since the crows have won. Huge test of what the coaches can do to keep them focused.

AS TO FRIDAY NIGHT - Stanley looms as an out. It means they need Blicavs or SDK in the ruck. I think that helps us quite a lot given we have an iffy collection of KPFs. And surely means we won't play Oscar and Fort.

Good to have Neale and Berry back. Just hope they are really fit. I loved the run of Marshall in the side.

 

[Nathan Barley]

My 2 worries with the Cats are the run of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes.

I'm very curious to see what team we name tonight, the obvious/standard ins and outs would be Berry/Neale for Marshall/Reville. So tough on those guys but I can not imagine anyone else going out unless it is Gallop but would we go that small.

As long as we get the ball going our way they'll be nowhere to be seen

 

[dlanod]

Agree. Bailey Smith also turned the ball over a lot in our previous two games. Not sure he will be so generous this time.

To be fair, we put a lot of time into assisting him to do so.

 

[KissKiss]

Step 1: no white shirts

Maybe all the Lions fans should go to the game in a white shirt

I still have my unworn Danger white shirt from the game. Definitely saving it for my Geelong mates after the game. Will be a sweet piece of memorabilia for them

 

[dlanod]

Heard today they are expecting a crowd in the 80’s.

Excellent, I'll dig out my Van Halen shirt.

 

[KissKiss]

Agree. Bailey Smith also turned the ball over a lot in our previous two games. Not sure he will be so generous this time.

Thats just standard Smith. Is the epitome of quick 10m burst and then blindly kick forward. Could go completely anywhere. Sometimes the chaos pays off, other times its intercept city.

Holmes is the much better and more dangerous player. He will be desperate to play in a GF after the multiple hamstrings in finals

 

[M Malice]

Pre game presser from Chris Fagan today.

 

[Sproj]

I would imagine Geelong may not say it or even think it but in the back of their minds, they would know they are up against it. They will compete well but we are the better side. Our injuries have made it closer than it should be but I would still expect us to get up relatively comfortably. We are the best team in it and we tend to stand up more the bigger the moments get, so I expect us to show it tomorrow night.

 

[mpal6]

My 2 worries with the Cats are the run of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes.

I'm very curious to see what team we name tonight, the obvious/standard ins and outs would be Berry/Neale for Marshall/Reville. So tough on those guys but I can not imagine anyone else going out unless it is Gallop but would we go that small.

After how we played them in GMHBA, I am quite positive taking them on. GMHBA is like the last frontier if you want to break Cats mental edge. If you manage to conquer them over there, like GWS have done in the past - it's equivalent to breaking through the final line of resistance from Geelong.

 

[M Malice]

I just got a private message that Fort and O will both play?? Shirley not.

Fort, O and Day in the one side, NOOO! Unless it's Day out and O in??

 

[mpal6]

I just got a private message that Fort and O will both play?? Shirley not.

Fort, O and Day in the one side, NOOO! Unless it's Day out and O in??

Nah it'll be 2 of those, always. We won't sacrifice our run so has to be injury related stuff if that change happens.

 

[Nathan Barley]

Pre game presser from Chris Fagan today.

Ok, who was it who shouted 'I love you Fages'?

 

[Lets Roar like '44]

I just got a private message that Fort and O will both play?? Shirley not.

Fort, O and Day in the one side, NOOO! Unless it's Day out and O in??

We can only hope.

 

[3KZ is Football]

BRISBANE

In: L.Neale, J.Berry
Out: B.Reville (omitted), J.Tunstill (omitted)

R24 sub: James Tunstill

 

[Section 5]

 

[Section 5]

So Marshall chosen over Reville.
Marshall most likely sub

 

[Thomasno]

Interesting that MOC coming in for them. Who do they hope to tag? Surely our midfield has proved untaggable now. Go on Chris, tag Neale if you want - clearly didn’t make a difference to us the last couple weeks.

 

[3KZ is Football]

 

[Nathan Barley]

Would've dropped Marshall instead of Reville but mostly as expected