Review Cats into ANOTHER PRELIM (14 of 18) after beating Lions by 38 points

[thegerman]

In watching the game again, geez Mannagh was great. Hard at it and split the pack open a number of times by bursting through.

 

[Mr Meow]

In watching the game again, geez Mannagh was great. Hard at it and split the pack open a number of times by bursting through.

He and Dempsey had somewhat struggled agains the Lions the previous few encounters. They absolutely torched them on Friday night. In completely different ways. Mannagh was a terrier who wouldn't say die, Dempsey was a relentless running machine full of creative touches and capacity to finish off our plays.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

In watching the game again, geez Mannagh was great. Hard at it and split the pack open a number of times by bursting through.

There were some Mannagh passages where I just thought he looked like a Richmond 2017 hff Dan Rioli type. Just would not be contained.

 

[Pollywaffle]

MOC and Atkins can win their own ball and hurt you on the rebound.
Mullin is learning that as well.

The next generation of Cameron Lings.

If you can bring a 100% player down to 60% effectiveness while you're a 50%-70% player yourself, that's a massive win for the team. Please note, all three of those guys are 100% committed, but what I'm saying is that they are B-tier players who are negating A-Grade stars like a Daicos or a McLuggage.

Mullin and OConnor are champion exponents of their Irish football skills. I always maintain that guys like that who are so good at the Irish game should ultimately be able to parlay their sporting excellence into ours. I think that O'Connor, up until recently, has been playing within himself. May be a personality thing, but glad to see him really open up in recent times. Both hopefully can carve careers beyond just ‘tagging’

 

[Pollywaffle]

I have been trying to understand the Brisbane style of play recently. They almost play a netball style at times which is very boring.

Then they can switch into a zig zagging handball game which can open up teams and frees up a player or two. That part of their game is impressive and good to watch. The cats managed to spoil their handball game somehow.

Going back to the netball comparison, I am not trying to disparage netball at all. And I am not saying the flopping was anyway related to that either. Netballers are much tougher than that and don’t flop.

They have/had quite a few stagers and floppers in that team. We forget Daniher was a master flopper. Hipwood, Loman Rayner, Zorko and Charlie C continue the tradition. Needs to be called out.
The umpires have clearly rewarded them over the journey

 

[Lingsface]

Weekend highlights.

 

[Lingsface]

Weekend highlights.

Kane Cornes called Josh Weddle the best athlete in the game.... out of screen against max!

 

[Mangy Carl]

Jack Bowes

12

Jack Bowes

Age

27

Ht

189cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.3

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

6.6

4star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.5

4star

MG

318.1

4star

D

18.0

4star

K

11.8

5star

HB

6.3

4star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.1

2star

MG

318.1

4star

D

11.6

3star

K

6.4

3star

HB

5.2

4star

M

2.8

3star

T

2.4

4star

performance flew under the radar on Friday.
Did some really impressive things.
Loved his intercept, hot step, dinky kick-pass that resulted in Bailey Smiths long goal..

just stood tallin all contests all night. Brilliant kick at goal also. Very reliable with 15-4 for the year..

 

[year of the cat]

He and Dempsey had somewhat struggled agains the Lions the previous few encounters. They absolutely torched them on Friday night. In completely different ways. Mannagh was a terrier who wouldn't say die, Dempsey was a relentless running machine full of creative touches and capacity to finish off our plays.

Those two benefited from the game being played on the G. Dempsey in particular.

 

[Mr Meow]

Those two benefited from the game being played on the G. Dempsey in particular.

True, but a year ago on the same ground they struggled. However the 2024 prelim was only their 2nd AFL final. I get that Mannagh is older, but nothing can make up for the actual experience of an AFL final. He has starred in 2 of his first 3 now, while Dempsey has had his breakout final on the 3rd attempt. I'm delighted for both of them.

I also thought it was one of Close's best finals. Underrated player is Bradley.

 

[year of the cat]

True, but a year ago on the same ground they struggled. However the 2024 prelim was only their 2nd AFL final. I get that Mannagh is older, but nothing can make up for the actual experience of an AFL final. He has starred in 2 of his first 3 now, while Dempsey has had his breakout final on the 3rd attempt. I'm delighted for both of them.

I also thought it was one of Close's best finals. Underrated player is Bradley.

Close ran hard to space all game. Was terrific. We look a really well balanced outfit. Particularly with Danger spending more time in the midfield. To say I was thrilled when he started in the centre at the opening bounce was an understatement.

 

[fpm84]

Close ran hard to space all game. Was terrific. We look a really well balanced outfit. Particularly with Danger spending more time in the midfield. To say I was thrilled when he started in the centre at the opening bounce was an understatement.

At the opening bounce I saw Danger in the middle and MOC on Rayner. Immediate sense of calm.

 

[year of the cat]

At the opening bounce I saw Danger in the middle and MOC on Rayner. Immediate sense of calm.

To me it made a statement, "The real stuff starts now. The big boys are ready to play".

 

[canny30]

In watching the game again, geez Mannagh was great. Hard at it and split the pack open a number of times by bursting through.

His kicking inside 50 was elite too.

Can't believe how far he's come from a bloke that looked like he was off the pace in his first couple of games last year.

 

[canny30]

True, but a year ago on the same ground they struggled. However the 2024 prelim was only their 2nd AFL final. I get that Mannagh is older, but nothing can make up for the actual experience of an AFL final. He has starred in 2 of his first 3 now, while Dempsey has had his breakout final on the 3rd attempt. I'm delighted for both of them.

I also thought it was one of Close's best finals. Underrated player is Bradley.

Close is massively underrated. Unless you're at the game you can't really appreciate the amount of defensive and attacking running he does every game. His off the ball work is vital to how we play as a team.

Some idiots on some Geelong Facebook groups were calling for him to be dropped earlier this year.

You cant judge Close off the stats sheet.

Mind you, same idiots were calling for Neale and Mullin to be dropped.

 

[STPer18]

Gary Ayres Award: Two perfect 10s in week one of finals

Who impressed the coaches in week one of finals?

www.afl.com.au

Geelong v Brisbane​

9 Oliver Dempsey (GEEL)
7 Tom Stewart (GEEL)
5 Mark Blicavs

46

Mark Blicavs

Age

34

Ht

198cm

Wt

101kg

Pos.

D/M

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.5

4star

K

6.6

3star

HB

7.9

5star

M

4.1

4star

T

4.2

5star

MG

114.1

2star

D

11.1

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

4.0

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

1.9

3star

MG

114.1

2star

D

8.6

3star

K

2.0

1star

HB

6.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.6

4star

(GEEL)
4 Tom Atkins

30

Tom Atkins

Age

30

Ht

180cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.5

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

4.3

5star

CL

1.3

3star

D

6.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.5

2star

M

0.8

1star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.5

3star

D

11.6

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

(GEEL)
4 Max Holmes (GEEL)
1 Josh Dunkley

5

Josh Dunkley

Age

28

Ht

191cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.8

5star

K

10.4

4star

HB

11.3

5star

M

4.3

4star

T

5.8

5star

CL

3.2

5star

D

20.7

5star

K

7.0

3star

HB

13.7

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

5.3

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

14.2

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

7.0

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

4.0

5star

CL

1.4

4star

(BL)

 

[Commando]

Gary Ayres Award: Two perfect 10s in week one of finals

Who impressed the coaches in week one of finals?

www.afl.com.au

Geelong v Brisbane​

9 Oliver Dempsey (GEEL)
7 Tom Stewart (GEEL)
5 Mark Blicavs (GEEL)
4 Tom Atkins (GEEL)
4 Max Holmes (GEEL)
1 Josh Dunkley (BL)

And I noticed Blicavs wasn't in SEN team of the week....

 

[thegerman]

And I noticed Blicavs wasn't in SEN team of the week....

Absolutely bonkers

 

[Mr Meow]

And I noticed Blicavs wasn't in SEN team of the week....

Seeds said he was destroyed in the ruck battle too. Luckily most people saw he was one of the best players on the ground.

 

[thegerman]

What I noticed out of Neale’s game is that he tried to out mark Andrews in the air early on, which is not the way to do it. He made adjustments in the last quarter to either put the knee in or get Andrews off balance prior to launching which resulted in wins for him.

 

[Mr Meow]

Gary Ayres Award: Two perfect 10s in week one of finals

Who impressed the coaches in week one of finals?

www.afl.com.au

Geelong v Brisbane​

9 Oliver Dempsey (GEEL)
7 Tom Stewart (GEEL)
5 Mark Blicavs (GEEL)
4 Tom Atkins (GEEL)
4 Max Holmes (GEEL)
1 Josh Dunkley (BL)

A nice reward for Stewart, who has actually been good since returning against the Bulldogs (yes there was the odd fumble, but he was back to his intercepting/rebounding self). I reckon about 6 weeks in a row people on this board have said "it's great to see Stewart back to his best". He's number 1 in the comp for generating scores off intercepts over the past 11 weeks. Not bad for a "poor season by his standards".

 

[Commando]

Did we get an expected score chart for this one?
Not sure if it's been posted

 

[cats_09]

Did we get an expected score chart for this one?
Not sure if it's been posted

It's a pretty boring one to be honest

 

[winty]

View attachment 2419855

This is probably an unpopular opinion but it's a hill I'm prepared to die on - Blicavs is the best player in the league for all the reasons outlined above. No other player in the league can do what Blitz does. Some are better at one or two of the roles we use Blitz in, but no-one is as good as all the roles Blitz can play.

 

[iameviljez]

This is probably an unpopular opinion but it's a hill I'm prepared to die on - Blicavs is the best player in the league for all the reasons outlined above. No other player in the league can do what Blitz does. Some are better at one or two of the roles we use Blitz in, but no-one is as good as all the roles Blitz can play.

Yeah even I might suggest you put the Go-Go Juice down at that one