Preview Prelim Final 25 - Geelong V Hawthorn Fri 19th Sept 2025 740pm @ MCG

[catsfootyfan89]

Good question.

I'm leaning towards it being a non-factor. Neither of Hawthorn's finals seemed especially bruising and the pre finals bye means sides can get through a few weeks on the spin - including travels - more easily. But I suppose we are better off getting them off a few road trips as opposed to a big run at the G like Richmond 2019.

What do you think?

Has to be a factor, I think. Sleeping in different beds, unfamiliar environments, plane trips, etc etc.

I'd much rather our position. Just have to hope that all things being equal, both sides perform as expected.

This will be the biggest game of Sam Mitchell's coaching career.

Hope we ruin it for him.

 

[Cataholic]

Is Jezza one that already walks with a different gate?

We've seen a few guys that even when they aren't injured they still walk like there's an issue

Probably.

Legs like that would wobble holding a packet of sandwiches.

 

[Munich]

Can we wait until the usual day before for injury scares. I can't take it this long out

 

[Cataholic]

Can we wait until the usual day before for injury scares. I can't take it this long out

My nerves are a little frayed already tbh.

 

[cats_09]

Jezza seemed to be moving ok yesterday - slide 4

 

[Mr Meow]

Can we wait until the usual day before for injury scares. I can't take it this long out

Apparently Dangerfield has donated a kidney and Holmes has had two hamstring transplants as a preventative measure.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

There is talk that Jezza has injured his calf at training and will not play. Any truth to this?

May I ask talk from where?

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

No he's in my hood of Richmond

Can you quickly please run down and ask him?

 

[Strange Cat]

Apparently Dangerfield has donated a kidney and Holmes has had two hamstring transplants as a preventative measure.

Happy to hand over mine if needed

 

[Mr Meow]

Happy to hand over mine if needed

I don't know you but if you're anything like me you may have a few less fast twitch fibres than Max.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Yeah not you specifically, but the fact you're not even trying and can geolocate someone on a whim is troubling

The celebrities do it to themselves by posting pics/vids on Socials

 

[Strange Cat]

I don't know you but if you're anything like me you may have a few less fast twitch fibres than Max.

Don’t think o would be the first option as a old man in his 40’s

But better than nothing if needed

 

[dudusmaximus]

Where is this "talk" coming from?

It wouldn't be Finals week in Melbourne without some hot scare like that. If it was true, Mitch Cleary would be all over it

 

[Del216647]

It wouldn't be Finals week in Melbourne without some hot scare like that. If it was true, Mitch Cleary would be all over it

Yeah agreed

 

[00VicWard001]

I have a funny feeling Shannon Neale is going to truly announce himself in this game. He got well and truly beaten by Harris Andrews, but never gave up. The reward comes here.

Barrass is really suited to play on the big wrestling forwards like Taylor Walker.

Harris is suited to play on the mobile moving forwards.

I think Neale vs Barrass is actually in our favour in terms of how awkward it is for Barrass to defend that type of player.

 

[00VicWard001]

If we had played the eagles last night we'd have beaten them by a large margin, doesn't make it a finals worthy game.
Have I seen a game with less pressure? Maybe, but not often.

Adelaide were so bad tactically.

They left themselves open to turnovers, and I've not seen it that bad often. Literally going forward turning it over and no pressure on the ball carrier whenit came back. No players acting as goal keepers. No tackles in the midfield or their forward line or even their back line. It was really poor by Adelaide last night. They played with no connection from the very beginning. They took the wrong options, they fumbled and they left their team mates hang out to dry. And it wasnt Hawthorn doing it to them. The Hawks players were almost surprised at how easy it was and they made so many errors yet werent punished. Despite this, the Hawks were not even able to really kick away until the end. Doesnt really say much about Hawthorn.

It wasnt Richmond or Collingwood like intensity when Hawthorn swarmed, it was just Adelaide not pressuring or just giving them the ball. They played themselves out of the game.

I would believe it if someone said that the AFC has some sort of viral infection going through it.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

I would believe it if someone said that the AFC has some sort of viral infection going through it.

Wasn't it reported they were all sick in week 1?

 

[iameviljez]

Dunno about 'trauma response'.

More like all the Debbie Downers popping out of the woodwork again desperately talking up us losing.

They haven't had much to shoot at recently so this is their big moment.

No, I get the caution. We were lucky to beat them in the game this year, and they have been extremely good in this last fortnight.

 

[Mr Meow]

Adelaide were so bad tactically.

They left themselves open to turnovers, and I've not seen it that bad often. Literally going forward turning it over and no pressure on the ball carrier whenit came back. No players acting as goal keepers. No tackles in the midfield or their forward line or even their back line. It was really poor by Adelaide last night. They played with no connection from the very beginning. They took the wrong options, they fumbled and they left their team mates hang out to dry. And it wasnt Hawthorn doing it to them. The Hawks players were almost surprised at how easy it was and they made so many errors yet werent punished. Despite this, the Hawks were not even able to really kick away until the end. Doesnt really say much about Hawthorn.

It wasnt Richmond or Collingwood like intensity when Hawthorn swarmed, it was just Adelaide not pressuring or just giving them the ball. They played themselves out of the game.

I would believe it if someone said that the AFC has some sort of viral infection going through it.

Spot on.

For me it's completely unsurprising that the 5 teams remaining have the 5 best coaches and tactical know-how. The Nicks and Longmuir's of the world end up exposed without a serious talent gap. Even Kingsley after a strong start is proving his gameplan and moveset is deficient against the best when it matters. It might be generous to include Fagan in the top 5, but he has generally been able to click his side into gear for the intensity of finals footy the past few years. He does have the most talent to work with though.

 

[Mr Meow]

Wasn't it reported they were all sick in week 1?

I read this on the Crows board earlier and chuckled:

"I know it only played two games but I think, given its utter dominance, that the Adelaide Crows Flu is in with a shot at the Gary Ayres Award."

 

[00VicWard001]

All I want is for our players to have no illness going into this game. It's happened in the past and it actually has a huge affect.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

All I want is for our players to have no illness going into this game. It's happened in the past and it actually has a huge affect.

It happens so annually that I'm almost convinced it's mind games.

Either that, or we send our players to South Sudan in the finals bye week for shits and giggles.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

All I want is for our players to have no illness going into this game. It's happened in the past and it actually has a huge affect.

Absolutely it does. They’re flu going around too and it’s bloody horrific. Puts you in bed for 4 - 5 days.

 

[Cataholic]

Absolutely it does. They’re flu going around too and it’s bloody horrific. Puts you in bed for 4 - 5 days.

Too right.

Every bit as bad as COVID in my experience. I actually tested myself with the belief I had COVID yet again.

Couldn't get out of bed for 5 days, was still severely fatigued, then got a cough for about 2 weeks.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

I read this on the Crows board earlier and chuckled:

"I know it only played two games but I think, given its utter dominance, that the Adelaide Crows Flu is in with a shot at the Gary Ayres Award."

But in all seriousness, there was talk around the Crows water cooler that something was ripping through the group prior to their first final, and they did very much play like a team that had some kind of illness. Similar to us in 21 vs Melbourne. Now I know Melbourne were good that year, but they weren't 'beat Geelong by 80 in a Prelim' good...