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

[CaptainWorpedo]

Barrass is 194cm

I was going off AFL stats on afl.com.au … So maybe.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Sad case ruminating at 2.30am about another team. Seek help.

Ha ha. So naive.
Thinking AP could get help.

52 of his last 60 main board posts are in Geelong threads ragging on the cats.

 

[catpremier 07]

Ha ha. So naive.
Thinking AP could get help.

52 of his last 60 main board posts are in Geelong threads ragging on the cats.

That's wild, kind of feel sorry for him.

 

[GlenMiddlemissed]

Barrass is 194cm

Hawthorn's AFL site list him as 197 cm, so who nows. Regardless, he is right in that they have a number of tallish backs, while we are playing quite a short fwd line with OHenry and Blitz not there atm for various reasons. They also have Sicily who is 188 but plays tall. After Jez and Shannon, our next tallest marking targets are Danger and then probably Martin, who is only 186 cm.

I would not be surprised if either Knevitt or OHenry replace Clark as the sub this week because Haw are a stronger aerial team than Brisbane. One poster here said that OHenry kicked 7 goals in the VFL practice match against Coll 2 weeks ago, but that was never corroborated.

 

[dont stop me meow]

That's wild, kind of feel sorry for him.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

That's wild, kind of feel sorry for him.

When did the hatred for Geelong start over at Tigerland? Prior to 2017 you never really heard anything out of them. Then they won some flags, started spewing hatred, and a lot of that hatred was aimed at the Cats for some reason? They beat us in a Grand Final (albeit a Grand Final with an asterisk on it). Hard to know where the hatred came from.

 

[Stokey]

Man if I went to the Richmond board and did the same, I'd be banned until the heat-death of the universe.

**** me...

I reckon Aristotle would as well. He's as wanted as black mould.

 

[Stokey]

When did the hatred for Geelong start over at Tigerland? Prior to 2017 you never really heard anything out of them. Then they won some flags, started spewing hatred, and a lot of that hatred was aimed at the Cats for some reason? They beat us in a Grand Final (albeit a Grand Final with an asterisk on it). Hard to know where the hatred came from.

Its not really.

 

[dangerwood]

Man if I went to the Richmond board and did the same, I'd be banned until the heat-death of the universe.

**** me...

Yeah but we're better than that.

 

[00VicWard001]

I don't get the Addy and have no knowledge of what he allegedly said.

It happened, he apologised, the apology was accepted and the dust settled.

But then just a few days later Smith had his run in with another reporter.

Both incidents involved a high profile Geelong identity and a female.

Right or wrong the media has wanted to make as much noise as they can about it just because they can, and they want to tear us down.

If it was a storm in a teacup with Scott (which it appears to be), and he felt justified in what he said, but apologised because of how he said it (and that someones feelings were hurt), then I'm sure he has moved on and doesnt really care about it or lie awake at night.

For example if he told the reporter to "Hurry up and move out of the way"; or "Could you get please take your seat as I have things to do", and their feelings were hurt as he appeared to be abrupt or snide, then it's not that big of a deal.

I doubt he said anything that was truely offensive. It was likely his tone and someones feelings being hurt as they thought they were doing things the right way.

The fact that the media report that someones feelings got hurt is fine, as it is an interesting topic because it is the coach of a finals team. No big deal. It's salacious and that's it. You cant really interpret more from it and CW isnt really going beyond surface level as she knows it's not that big an issue.

 

[00VicWard001]

The media just a rabid pack feeding off each other- notice no one asked what her motive was in photographing Bailey getting treatment. She was after an injury scoop. Rubbed him the wrong way, paid the price, and he looked childish. Red flag to a bull. Fell all over his mental health admission, but failed to give him any added empathy about privacy, like all media hounds.

I suggest victimsation, perceived or otherwise, fuels him, and he'll run amok like last we played them.
The downside to that is, the difficulty learning boundaries when you don't feel at fault.

People are always able to change the narrative based on their feelings or how the incident was perceived. Even if in the moment, he knew what she was doing, and she knew she was chasing an injury scoop; later, she would be able to make of it what she wanted and he really doesnt have a right or reply as he is trapped by his role as a professional footballer in an media attended training session. Even if he felt justified at the time of saying it, context is no longer even considered as the story can be painted any way that she/the media choose to make it.

The good thing is that the photographer didnt want to make it a further issue, which they were probably being goaded to by other reporters - because why not make a story out of anything....

 

[Munich]

I think the Cats will crap the bed early and fail to catch up.
Either one of these teams making the Grand Final is not good for AFL in general imo.

Oh God now he's posting on our board.

 

[Stokey]

I found it interesting reading the presser from Blicavs that if the Cats win this week and he doesn't get injured and plays in the GF he would have played as many finals as Leigh Matthews.

For a Cat B rookie who was going to get snapped in half in his first game that's quite the feat.

 

[goyoucatters]

3, 2, 1... before the Hawfies say "we've got nothing to lose"

Pretty true, though. Coming from eighth, through two interstate finals, and into a PF against a team they truly love to get after.

Whether it actually emboldens them to bring their best or not is another thing, of course.

 

[goyoucatters]

I found it interesting reading the presser from Blicavs that if the Cats win this week and he doesn't get injured and plays in the GF he would have played as many finals as Leigh Matthews.

For a Cat B rookie who was going to get snapped in half in his first game that's quite the feat.

And underlines (for the 293rd time) the gigantically disproportionate value of elite running patterns in modern footy.

#thegamesgone

 

[goyoucatters]

Anyone know when/if open training sessions are being held this week?

Probably not, I'd imagine.

Although if you front up with your media accreditation and your ultra-zoom camera, I'm sure you'll be welcomed with open arms.

 

[iameviljez]

I think the Cats will crap the bed early and fail to catch up.
Either one of these teams making the Grand Final is not good for AFL in general imo.

Someone get the plumber, Bay 13 has sprung a leak.

 

[goyoucatters]

I reckon this thread could be a fascinating exercise in trauma response. Some of us are so clearly spooked by the colours and the history and not looking at the reality of the two teams rationally.

Thank God our players couldn't give a shit about Trevor Poole's torpedo in the 1991 Semi, let alone remember Jordan Murdoch putting us up by four goals in 2013.

Have a little faith here, folks. At least to my mind, we've generally beaten them when we are better and sometimes when we weren't.

This has more 2011 Qualifying Final vibes to me than 2013 Prelim/2008 Granny.

If we beat them Friday night, it will be the first time since the '63 GF that we've actually eliminated them from a finals series. They've eliminated us from three finals series since then. So even though it's all ancient history, I'm quite sure they'll be trying to play the 'when it matters' card in pumping up their self-belief for this match.

#bringitcatters

 

[goyoucatters]

Stengles due a big one I'm putting him down for a handful of sausage rolls bookmark it.

Shane Mumford likes this.

Oh, wait...

 

[Seeds]

It'd be considerably worse than last year. Last year we lost to the premiers in a coin-toss, after leading them.

Losing to 8th-placed Hawthorn (despite ladder position meaning less this season) would be a huge banana-peel moment for the footy club.

Personally, I feel like the boys simply wont allow this one to slip away. After last season, these guys all know the drill, and they know what's required.

But stranger things have happened on a footy field...

Last year wasnt a coin toss. Geelong were massive favourites playing a team who only even made it to the prelim due to a freak choke by gws who were regarded the better side. The confidence on here going into last years prelim was higher than it is now going into this one.

Hawks finished 8th. But if they were three goals better in their last home and away game they would of finished 3rd. Basically no difference between 3rd and 8th this season.

 

[iameviljez]

Losing this game will be as big a fumble as the prelim last year. Won't happpen. One hand on the cup

I think we are better placed this year than last. Bailey Smith makes a massive difference, Neale and Mannagh are distinctly better, and Atkins is about 10% better than last year too.

I reckon this thread could be a fascinating exercise in trauma response. Some of us are so clearly spooked by the colours and the history and not looking at the reality of the two teams rationally.

Thank God our players couldn't give a shit about Trevor Poole's torpedo in the 1991 Semi, let alone remember Jordan Murdoch putting us up by four goals in 2013.

Have a little faith here, folks. At least to my mind, we've generally beaten them when we are better and sometimes when we weren't.

This has more 2011 Qualifying Final vibes to me than 2013 Prelim/2008 Granny.

I agree. I think we forget that when that game was played, Max Holmes was eleven.

 

[dazbroncos]

Someone get the plumber, Bay 13 has sprung a leak.

already gone.

Go Catters

 

[cats_09]

 

[Philhawk]

These games have a core memory-esque place in my life. For the longest time I have respected the Cats more than any other rival club, which is why I love the games the most.

Let’s hope it’s another exceptional game that only adds to the rich tapestry of the fixture.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

These games have a core memory-esque place in my life. For the longest time I have respected the Cats more than any other rival club, which is why I love the games the most.

Let’s hope it’s another exceptional game that only adds to the rich tapestry of the fixture.

The feeling is already electric and it's Tuesday

Hope the game lives up to the billing