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

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

If we win this week and I get tickets in ballot that are down the bottom which is unlikely but if I do, hopefully I’m better by Grand Final Day or else I’ll have to let someone else go and I’ll be disappointed.

Have RSV

 

[standupand]

I think they have 119 reasons to never cheer for us.

Or maybe 120 reasons to cheer for us to annihilate whoever we play.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I think they have 119 reasons to never cheer for us.

Nearly 20 years on and a bloke calls his crows fan mate to have a dig, what is the immediate response?

 

[Stucky]

I rewatched Easter Monday so you don’t have to….

* Newcombe did as he pleased and was the dominant mid on the ground. Mullin was a late out and Atkins went H2H with him. Atkins was also very good, but Newk more influential. Mullin to Newk this week is not negotiable.

* This was COS’s 7th (?) senior game and was burnt on the lead multiple times by both Gunston and Chol. Did some nice things but was a bit fish out of water. The return of J Henry who missed this game plus an extra 15+ games into COS will help. I still hope to see COS on their weakest tall who should be Lewis/Dear, with SDK on Chol and Henry on Gunston.

* They had no answer to the running power of Smith (28 touches), Holmes (20 - relatively quiet by his standards) and Dempsey (19 and 2 goals).

* O Henry played the whole game on Sicily and had very little impact. Six touches and no score. Confident we will get more than that out of Martin who has effectively taken his role.

* Stewart was waaaaaaay out of sorts. This was when he was struggling with his knee and he’d missed the previous week’s game v the Crows with ‘gastro’. Stew directly cost us at least two goals by getting caught HTB by Chol and misjudging a ball in flight and letting it get out the back. Goes without saying he is in far better health now.

* Danger played one of his more effective games up forward (3 goals), and only attended one centre bounce all game. Seems pretty clear he’ll spend more time in the middle this week - he attended 14 centre bounces in the QF, just one less than Holmes and two less than Smith.

* Our pressure across the ground was great at points but then dropped right off. At one point in the first half the commentators mentioned Hawks transitioning from D50 to F50 is at their season low due to our pressure. But we had a couple of poor 10 minute patches where they were able to score 2-3 goals quickly and stay in the game.

* Miers getting KO’d really turned the game in their favour. We had to move Stengle up the field to replace him and then didn’t have a crumber up forward.

* Interestingly a couple of their good players on the day in Morrison (26 touches) and Mackenzie (14 but had a good first half) haven’t been selected for their two finals so unlikely to play this week.

EDIT: assuming both teams are unchanged from their most recent finals, changes from Easter Monday to the prelim are:

Geelong
In: J Henry, Mullin, Martin, Clark
Out: Stanley, Knevitt, O Henry, Clohesy

Hawthorn:
In: Butler, Ginnivan, Lewis
Out: Morrison, Mackenzie, Breust

Nice post mate.

 

[Del216647]

As I said on the main thread, it will be funny to watch the "Proxy War" between opposition supporters coming into this game.

Obviously every Richmond and Bulldogs fan will be desperately hoping for a Geelong loss, whereas Essendon will no doubt be cheering hard for a Hawthorn capitulation.

Who else will be involved? Maybe Pies/Lions would cheer for Hawks as an 'easier' GF opponent than us?

I reckon you could bank on Pies hoping for us rather than the Hawks. Hawks flogged them by 64 points in round 22.

Based on this, you'd think they would prefer us given our tight game this year. Funnily enough though, results from the H&A season have been flipped in finals.

I think us and Hawks would start clear favourites against the Pies - but given the recent Hawks game against them, I'd expect they would be worried about the Hawks and would prefer us.

But no doubting they will still consider us a big threat if we get there, as they should.

 

[Munich]

Collingwood board is hating us at the moment. Taking glee at any distraction we're facing due to Baz etc.

They must be pissing their pants about meeting us on GF day.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Collingwood board is hating us at the moment. Taking glee at any distraction we're facing due to Baz etc.

They must be pissing their pants about meeting us on GF day.

I don't think there's a risk of any distraction as a result of the Bailey Smith incident and the Chris Scott non-incident.

Personally I see the Steven King appointment as MFC coach as a bigger distraction. He's been pivotal in devising a plan for how we go in "under-manned" most weeks in midfield match-ups, yet still seem to find a way to break even or get our noses in front with midfield clearance and possession. With Stanley most likely out this week and the form of Newcombe and Meek, I think we'll need to be at our strategic best to devise a break-even approach to the midfield match-ups.

Hopefully the club was prepared for King's potential appointment. Whilst he's still with the club for the next 2 weeks - it does serve as a distraction.

 

[Reg Hickey]

I don't understand the suggestion that MOC should go into the midfield as a "better match up" for Newcombe than Mullin.

I think MOC in defence and Mullin in the midfield has been working well for us in recent weeks, and there's no reason to get too clever about it now.

As for Mullin not being a good match up size-wise with Newcombe, I'd say Mullin did a pretty good job against a player who is the same height and similar weight in McCluggage.

 

[Jumping Jack]

I don't understand the suggestion that MOC should go into the midfield as a "better match up" for Newcombe than Mullin.

I think MOC in defence and Mullin in the midfield has been working well for us in recent weeks, and there's no reason to get too clever about it now.

As for Mullin not being a good match up size-wise with Newcombe, I'd say Mullin did a pretty good job against a player who is the same height and similar weight in McCluggage.

Mullin gets Newcombe every day of the week.

I think MOC is a better match-up for Weddle around the ground and then the Cats employ a "switchover" when Weddle is forward where MOC / Henry and Stewart help out given Weddle has some strength overhead.

Easy to get caught up in what we need to do to disarm Hawthorn. But the same applies for them, and most "balanced" Hawks fans I've spoken to are very worried about Geelong's leg speed and how they shut down all of Smith Holmes Miers Dempsey and Mannagh.

 

[Tony Barber]

I dont know the answer to this.
How much game time does Newcombe spend in the middle?

I dont want Mullin taking up one of our midfield spots too often.

A midfield of something like Atkins, Smith, Holmes, and Blicavs is fine.
And Mullin can start on the wing and then roll onto Newcombe.

And additionally, Mullin played the first 7 games in defence. He'll be fine if Newcombe rolls forward.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

I dont know the answer to this.
How much game time does Newcombe spend in the middle?

I dont want Mullin taking up one of our midfield spots too often.

A midfield of something like Atkins, Smith, Holmes, and Blicavs is fine.
And Mullin can start on the wing and then roll onto Newcombe.

And additionally, Mullin played the first 7 games in defence. He'll be fine if Newcombe rolls forward.

You want Mullin to stick to him like a glove no matter where he goes.

If we limit Newcombe's impact, it goes a long way to us winning.

 

[Tony Barber]

You want Mullin to stick to him like a glove no matter where he goes.

If we limit Newcombe's impact, it goes a long way to us winning.

You might find it's O'connor. He's played 1 game in a month. But I just dont think he'll be on him at the centre bounce.
They have saved him for something.

 

[fpm84]

Mullin gets Newcombe every day of the week.

I think MOC is a better match-up for Weddle around the ground and then the Cats employ a "switchover" when Weddle is forward where MOC / Henry and Stewart help out given Weddle has some strength overhead.

Easy to get caught up in what we need to do to disarm Hawthorn. But the same applies for them, and most "balanced" Hawks fans I've spoken to are very worried about Geelong's leg speed and how they shut down all of Smith Holmes Miers Dempsey and Mannagh.

Agree re Mullin on Newcombe but would rather MOC on Moore. Weddle is a really good player but I think Moore is more pivotal to them switching between mid and forward like Miers does for us, plus he's a similar type to Heeney/Rayner (minus the overhead marking ability) who MOC's recently played on.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

You might find it's O'connor. He's played 1 game in a month. But I just dont think he'll be on him at the centre bounce.
They have saved him for something.

I think MOC will go to someone like Moore that plays that forward/mid role like Rayner.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Today on our episode of 'Incredibly astute and valuable opinions from the Hawthorn board:'

"Smith is the biggest attention whore since Capper, the biggest **** up since Fevola on Brownlow night, the nastiest player since Akermanis at the death of Jim Stynes, but hides behind the skirt of mental health when he's called out. He's a gutless coward who deserves to be seen as such."

Ooh boy do I hope he tears them a new one

Tickled all the wrong boxes. S/he added "skirt" and made it sexist as well

 

[Jumping Jack]

I don't think we'll see much (if any) change from the side that defeated Brisbane.

Stanley sounds like he's less than 50/50 and some even saying he's waved the white flag on returning even if we made a GF. Bews has been mentioned a few times but I think we would have seen more of him if the club really saw him as a plug and play option against the likes of Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

or another Lions small forward.

Clark was a horses for courses sub against the Lions. Knevitt was an emergency for that game but I wouldn't be surprised if he got the gig as a sub this week as he is a potential run with option (if we needed one) for Weddle.

Hawthorn generate a lot of ball inside 50 from players like Impey, Moore and Amon. Mullin will sit on Newcombe but ask any Hawks supporter and they'll point to the other 3 as the one's that set up most of their attacking play going forward. Moore and Amon were named on the wings Vs Adelaide - that might be interesting if Mitchell just backs them to go head to head with Holmes and Smith.

 

[year of the cat]

I don't think we'll see much (if any) change from the side that defeated Brisbane.

Stanley sounds like he's less than 50/50 and some even saying he's waved the white flag on returning even if we made a GF. Bews has been mentioned a few times but I think we would have seen more of him if the club really saw him as a plug and play option against the likes of Charlie Cameron or another Lions small forward.

Clark was a horses for courses sub against the Lions. Knevitt was an emergency for that game but I wouldn't be surprised if he got the gig as a sub this week as he is a potential run with option (if we needed one) for Weddle.

Hawthorn generate a lot of ball inside 50 from players like Impey, Moore and Amon. Mullin will sit on Newcombe but ask any Hawks supporter and they'll point to the other 3 as the one's that set up most of their attacking play going forward. Moore and Amon were named on the wings Vs Adelaide - that might be interesting if Mitchell just backs them to go head to head with Holmes and Smith.

Need to make Impey and Amon accountable. We can exploit their weaknesses if we are smart. Hawks give you plenty of turnover opportunities. Get the ball back into our F50 quickly should see us with multiple forward hit up options.

 

[small 4wards]

McLuggage on Mullin

"Full credit to Oisin, he did a great job. Sometimes you get beaten by a better player and that’s what happened last week."

Mullin > McLuggage confirmed

 

[thegerman]

Then my prayers have been answered

I’ll leave the pins in the voodoo doll then

 

[Warhorse]

In all honesty. We should beat them by 6-8 goals

 

[Mr Meow]

I dont know the answer to this.
How much game time does Newcombe spend in the middle?

I dont want Mullin taking up one of our midfield spots too often.

A midfield of something like Atkins, Smith, Holmes, and Blicavs is fine.
And Mullin can start on the wing and then roll onto Newcombe.

And additionally, Mullin played the first 7 games in defence. He'll be fine if Newcombe rolls forward.

The only reason you tag Newcombe is to interfere with his clearances/first possessions at stoppages. Around the ground he isn't a Daicos, Butters, Gulden or McCluggage type so the wing-style tag is unnecessary. With the above players Mullin followed them at stoppages anyway. At CBA you will have Smith or Holmes coming in from the wing. At ball ups/throw ins you will have them + Mannagh as extras.

 

[Tony Barber]

The only reason you tag Newcombe is to interfere with his clearances/first possessions at stoppages. Around the ground he isn't a Daicos, Butters, Gulden or McCluggage type so the wing-style tag is unnecessary. With the above players Mullin followed them at stoppages anyway. At CBA you will have Smith or Holmes coming in from the wing. At ball ups/throw ins you will have them + Mannagh as extras.

There were only 28 centre bounces in Hawthorns last game.
Newcombe did way more damage than those bounces. Theres a lot of ball ups where he is effective.

Thats where Mullin needs to find him.

 

[Mr Meow]

There were only 28 centre bounces in Hawthorns last game.
Newcombe did way more damage than those bounces. Theres a lot of ball ups where he is effective.

Thats where Mullin needs to find him.

I was talking about all stoppages which includes CBs and around the ground ones. He had 5 centre clearances in the first quarter and they were all damaging ones. It would be madness to not have Mullin on him at centrebounces. I strongly disagree that he should start on the wing for those.

 

[Tony Barber]

I was talking about all stoppages which includes CBs and around the ground ones. He had 5 centre clearances in the first quarter and they were all damaging ones. It would be madness to not have Mullin on him at centrebounces. I strongly disagree that he should start on the wing for those.

I only posed that I wouldn't want Mullin at all centre bounces. And therefor he could start on a wing and then get to him.
I do not want Smith, Holmes, or Atkins missing too many centre bounces because of Newcombe's movement.

 

[Mr Meow]

I only posed that I wouldn't want Mullin at all centre bounces. And therefor he could start on a wing and then get to him.
I do not want Smith, Holmes, or Atkins missing too many centre bounces because of Newcombe's movement.

I'm not trying to censor your opinion. I'm merely explaining my view on Newcombe's stoppage threat and where I would have Mullin: the exact place he was for Daicos, Butters and McCluggage. What you are suggesting would be quite a radical redesign of how he has been tagging midfielders but there's no issue with you putting it out there.