Preview AFL GF 2025: Geelong V Brisbane Sat 27th Sept MCG 2:30 pm

[cats_09]

Resource Post - I'll endeavour to update this post with info and links relevant to what's happening over the coming week

- Meet Up, Live Sites & Viewing Party discussion

Meet Up - 2025 Meet Up Thread - Grand Final Edition... including Live Sites info

https://gardenstatehotel.com.au/ 101 Flinders Lane. It opens at noon on Sunday.

www.bigfooty.com

- Grand Final Ticket discussion (please don't start separate threads for ticket sales)

Resource - 2025 Finals Ticket Discussion - Grand Final ticket discussion

Where can I find my Cats Membership Barcodes? OR When do we get Cats Membership Barcodes? Checked online : geelongcats.com.au website and Cats Mobile App

www.bigfooty.com

 

[Is that you Jimmy?]

It started with 6 more wins.....

Now its 1.

1 more win.

Not to much to ask right? One more supreme 4 quarter effort that could lead to the footy equivalent of immortality and 2025 Premiership status.

Legend status, as a Premiership player. And its ok to say that now... its 1 win away. The lid is off. We've earned the right to be there. Took down the reigning Premier Lions, the Rival Hawks... and now back to the Lions.

Once the GF ticket ballot is active, its all ok to admit we are there.

There will be a lot going on this week... the talking heads will wobble back and forth, the fans will get up and about... and 16 other clubs will look on forlornly thinking why not us. Well, in 2025, we did it better than those 16 teams did.

And now to the game itself.... We have already 1 forced change with what Jimmy Bartel eyeballed earlier in the year...the What if of a concussion in a Prelim final. Stewy had no clue what was coming as he went for the ball but in a flash he was out. Chol is gone for 3 weeks on a rule that will change next year but no one cares as that penalty meansnothing to to Stewy who was simply the ball carrier getting tackled - and now his 2025 march to a flag is done thur no fault of his own. You cant' help but feel for the guy. Not his fault... just a badly designed situation from a rule with good intentions.

PFD has been nothing short of mercurial - even dare I say it... Selwood like. Rest that rig easy skipper, we need one more Herculean effort in 7 days time so charge it up.

Will we Stanley or wont we. Perhaps the question of the week. All i want is Rhys to spend 15 mins with Matty Stokes talking about 2008. And then Rhys can make the call - just make the right one. Same goes for Jack Martin and his calf.. and anyone for the matter..You'll get all the time to be right... but make sure you 105% because a GF will require that 110% from you... and you cannot break giving it.

There will be much said on match ups, the magnet shuffle and who will try what from the box. For mine. will CS have another wrinkle to what the Lions got in the QF, or will it be "now you've seen it once, try and beat it"

Will McLuggage break the Mullin tag... will it even be there?

Can Neale give Harris Andrews more to think about... Can Dempsey, Stengle, MOC, Mannagh, Smith and Holmes get enough clean ball .. but also enough defensive pressure. Will the back 7 shuffle around Stewy well enough?


Will laconic Jezza be enough to kick 5? Who will be the "one" that starts that fire, that one singular act that gets us going.... but then can we settle first and take advantage of their nerves.

The Lions will be doing their homework. They know what beat them 2 weeks ago and wont want to let it beat them again - and they wlil come and come hard. They want a back to back at our expense.

The neutrals will be pulling their hair out... not Geelong again. I dont take it for granted - this 2 decades we've been up... and this week is no exception. Enjoy the lead up, embrace the fun and the potential we dont make it on the platform after the game... but enjoy the ride regardless.

Being an over 50 Cats tragic.... I have the memories of the 44 years in the wildeness, the great excitement of GAS and the hopes of 89, 92, 94 and 95.. and the despair when it fell away. So I take nothing for granted as I just don't know how many more of these I'll see... because if its 44 years from now... im in a lot or Barney.. so embrace and enjoy Mofos...


Its time once again Cats fans... let go show the world why we Geelong..... The Greatest Team of All

GO Catters

I have rarely posted on BigFooty as I go elsewhere , but I must acknowledge this great post by Daz broncos! I am a watcher but never login, but you have forced me to find my password. ("Is that you" Jimmy referred to my love for J Bartel after one of his regulation incredible goals and a time spent in Glasgow pubs!)

 

[you pick one]

Look at the Pies yesterday Pendlefairy Howe underdone and Mihocek carrying an injury risky business.

 

[Strange Cat]

I have rarely posted on BigFooty as I go elsewhere , but I must acknowledge this great post by Daz broncos! I am a watcher but never login, but you have forced me to find my password. ("Is that you" Jimmy referred to my love for J Bartel after one of his regulation incredible goals and a time spent in Glasgow pubs!)

Welcome back ..you chose a good time

 

[Zouz Kitty]

And don't be quiet, as, comparatively, Cats supporters so often are. Go home, hoarse!

I’ve already begun lubricating my vocal cords

 

[Play it Sam]

Tossers on SEN arguing that Concussion rule time should be individually set, dependant on recovery. So 3 days if you appear okay. 12 if not.
This is exactly what used to happen in the Dinosaur days, when Clubs had control, and why CTE is now such a vital and horrible issue. Medical science is wonderful, but essentially the brain is a mystery, we are still dependant on players reporting symptoms during the recovery process. It would be all to easy to under report those issues.

I'm really sorry Tom, but we would rather you remember your kids names in your forties, than add more silverware to your name.

 

[cats_09]

Tossers on SEN arguing that Concussion rule time should be individually set, dependant on recovery. So 3 days if you appear okay. 12 if not.
This is exactly what used to happen in the Dinosaur days, when Clubs had control, and why CTE is now such a vital and horrible issue. Medical science is wonderful, but essentially the brain is a mystery, we are still dependant on players reporting symptoms during the recovery process. It would be all to easy to under report those issues.

I'm really sorry Tom, but we would rather you remember your kids names in your forties, than add more silverware to your name.

When we factor in Tom's history with concussion, how we've often taken a conservative approach to a players return from concussion and that they don't always look at their best for a match or two, part of me wonders if we'd actually see Stewart play if the bye was between the prelim & GF

 

[andoman21]

Look at the Pies yesterday Pendlefairy Howe underdone and Mihocek carrying an injury risky business.

totally agree

 

[catempire]

Have I got this right with Brisbane's changes since the 2024 GF?

Out: Answerth, Payne, Daniher, Hipwood, McKenna, (Neale and Berry)
In: Gardiner, Marshall, McInerney, Levi Ashcroft, Ty Gallop, (Reville and Tunstill??)

Feel like I'm missing someone.

 

[you pick one]

When we factor in Tom's history with concussion, how we've often taken a conservative approach to a players return from concussion and that they don't always look at their best for a match or two, part of me wonders if we'd actually see Stewart play if the bye was between the prelim & GF

Tossers on SEN arguing that Concussion rule time should be individually set, dependant on recovery. So 3 days if you appear okay. 12 if not.
This is exactly what used to happen in the Dinosaur days, when Clubs had control, and why CTE is now such a vital and horrible issue. Medical science is wonderful, but essentially the brain is a mystery, we are still dependant on players reporting symptoms during the recovery process. It would be all to easy to under report those issues.

I'm really sorry Tom, but we would rather you remember your kids names in your forties, than add more silverware to your name.

Look I see where he's coming from I played the game and was knocked unconscious a couple of times on a Saturday once didn't even leave the ground and played on, both time went to work the follow Monday and played the next weekend there are degrees of severity I'm sure and in this case with Stewart and his history this forced decision I think is right but I see the other side of the coin as well from experience.

 

[you pick one]

Have I got this right with Brisbane's changes since the 2024 GF?

Out: Answerth, Payne, Daniher, Hipwood, McKenna, (Neale and Berry)
In: Gardiner, Marshall, McInerney, Levi Ashcroft, Ty Gallop, (Reville and Tunstill??)

Feel like I'm missing someone.

Ah CHEE

 

[Tony Barber]

WTF do we do with Stanley? If he's fit and available then my preference would be to select him rather than going in unchanged, as I would like us to have the ability to use Blitz as a defender if we're leaking goals in Stewart's absence. But that being said, I feel like picking players with injury clouds hanging over them always backfires in Grand Finals, so there's another part of me that would err on the side of caution.

Tricky call!

Yeah it's an issue. I could see an argument for not trying to find someone to replace the role Stewart plays.
And that may mean Bews. They have a lot of ground players.

 

[Wojcinski]

we're gonna ****ing pump them

 

[year of the cat]

Have I got this right with Brisbane's changes since the 2024 GF?

Out: Answerth, Payne, Daniher, Hipwood, McKenna, (Neale and Berry)
In: Gardiner, Marshall, McInerney, Levi Ashcroft, Ty Gallop, (Reville and Tunstill??)

Feel like I'm missing someone.

Big loss of talent and structure. Gallop performed well yesterday but it’s a huge ask on the kid after 5 games to repeat the effort a week later against a stronger defensive unit.

I would be surprised if both Neale and Berry play. If they want to roll that dice good on them but it rarely pays off.

 

[catempire]

Big loss of talent and structure. Gallop performed well yesterday but it’s a huge ask on the kid after 5 games to repeat the effort a week later against a stronger defensive unit.

I would be surprised if both Neale and Berry play. If they want to roll that dice good on them but it rarely pays off.

I personally think Neale will play unless they are really playing funny buggers in the media. Berry playing would be madness.

 

[catempire]

Ah CHEE

Played in 2024.

 

[you pick one]

Yeah it's an issue. I could see an argument for not trying to find someone to replace the role Stewart plays.
And that may mean Bews. They have a lot of ground players.

Zach Guthrie need to play the game of his life,my preference is Stanley in playing his 2022 role folding back after the center bounce and Blitz taking over up the ground.

 

[year of the cat]

I personally think Neale will play unless they are really playing funny buggers in the media. Berry playing would be madness.

It’s one thing to “apparently” run 8km one paced. It’s another thing completely to play AFL which requires repeat accelerations maybe 50 or more times a game. The stress on the calf muscles completely different. If they want to play him, good on them, but it’s a massive risk. My read is that they are just giving him the respect of allowing him an opportunity to get up for the game. I doubt they really think internally that he’s much of a chance. Besides they’ve played well without him the past fortnight.

 

[Cursed Cat]

It started with 6 more wins.....

Now its 1.

1 more win.

Not to much to ask right? One more supreme 4 quarter effort that could lead to the footy equivalent of immortality and 2025 Premiership status.

Legend status, as a Premiership player. And its ok to say that now... its 1 win away. The lid is off. We've earned the right to be there. Took down the reigning Premier Lions, the Rival Hawks... and now back to the Lions.

Once the GF ticket ballot is active, its all ok to admit we are there.

There will be a lot going on this week... the talking heads will wobble back and forth, the fans will get up and about... and 16 other clubs will look on forlornly thinking why not us. Well, in 2025, we did it better than those 16 teams did.

And now to the game itself.... We have already 1 forced change with what Jimmy Bartel eyeballed earlier in the year...the What if of a concussion in a Prelim final. Stewy had no clue what was coming as he went for the ball but in a flash he was out. Chol is gone for 3 weeks on a rule that will change next year but no one cares as that penalty meansnothing to to Stewy who was simply the ball carrier getting tackled - and now his 2025 march to a flag is done thur no fault of his own. You cant' help but feel for the guy. Not his fault... just a badly designed situation from a rule with good intentions.

PFD has been nothing short of mercurial - even dare I say it... Selwood like. Rest that rig easy skipper, we need one more Herculean effort in 7 days time so charge it up.

Will we Stanley or wont we. Perhaps the question of the week. All i want is Rhys to spend 15 mins with Matty Stokes talking about 2008. And then Rhys can make the call - just make the right one. Same goes for Jack Martin and his calf.. and anyone for the matter..You'll get all the time to be right... but make sure you 105% because a GF will require that 110% from you... and you cannot break giving it.

There will be much said on match ups, the magnet shuffle and who will try what from the box. For mine. will CS have another wrinkle to what the Lions got in the QF, or will it be "now you've seen it once, try and beat it"

Will McLuggage break the Mullin tag... will it even be there?

Can Neale give Harris Andrews more to think about... Can Dempsey, Stengle, MOC, Mannagh, Smith and Holmes get enough clean ball .. but also enough defensive pressure. Will the back 7 shuffle around Stewy well enough?


Will laconic Jezza be enough to kick 5? Who will be the "one" that starts that fire, that one singular act that gets us going.... but then can we settle first and take advantage of their nerves.

The Lions will be doing their homework. They know what beat them 2 weeks ago and wont want to let it beat them again - and they wlil come and come hard. They want a back to back at our expense.

The neutrals will be pulling their hair out... not Geelong again. I dont take it for granted - this 2 decades we've been up... and this week is no exception. Enjoy the lead up, embrace the fun and the potential we dont make it on the platform after the game... but enjoy the ride regardless.

Being an over 50 Cats tragic.... I have the memories of the 44 years in the wildeness, the great excitement of GAS and the hopes of 89, 92, 94 and 95.. and the despair when it fell away. So I take nothing for granted as I just don't know how many more of these I'll see... because if its 44 years from now... im in a lot or Barney.. so embrace and enjoy Mofos...


Its time once again Cats fans... let go show the world why we Geelong..... The Greatest Team of All

GO Catters

Stirring preview Daz, loved it

 

[MacStradbroke]

Zach Guthrie need to play the game of his life,my preference is Stanley in playing his 2022 role folding back after the center bounce and Blitz taking over up the ground.

100% agree. Stanley roll back and take a resting McInerny or Fort, he can do that with his eyes closed.

 

[catempire]

It’s one thing to “apparently” run 8km one paced. It’s another thing completely to play AFL which requires repeat accelerations maybe 50 or more times a game. The stress on the calf muscles completely different. If they want to play him, good on them, but it’s a massive risk. My read is that they are just giving him the respect of allowing him an opportunity to get up for the game. I doubt they really think internally that he’s much of a chance. Besides they’ve played well without him the past fortnight.

Yep, I don't disagree at all. I just think it's a risk they will take, assuming he gets through a fitness test later in the week.

 

[bulletproof]

We are playing superbly but Friday night when Henry and Stewart went off was a reminder that things can go haywire and knock you off course.

Lions have some great players and good enough to exploit any slip ups.

Our game is in great shape, I think the focus this week would be being a little more ruthless defensively. Twice we let the Hawks back in on Friday, once in third quarter and once in last quarter. Our response to those uprisings was to go down and score again.

We need to be a bit tighter defensively this week.

Of all our great players, Stewart is the one I think we can handle losing. But he is a great player so I would not discount his loss.

I think we will win, but great respect for Lions and fear of unknown.

 

[you pick one]

Yep, I don't disagree at all. I just think it's a risk they will take, assuming he gets through a fitness test later in the week.

Yeah I suspect that's their thinking but we all know you are never really tested until you cross that white line in anger.

 

[Tony Barber]

We are playing superbly but Friday night when Henry and Stewart went off was a reminder that things can go haywire and knock you off course.

Lions have some great players and good enough to exploit any slip ups.

Our game is in great shape, I think the focus this week would be being a little more ruthless defensively. Twice we let the Hawks back in on Friday, once in third quarter and once in last quarter. Our response to those uprisings was to go down and score again.

We need to be a bit tighter defensively this week.

Of all our great players, Stewart is the one I think we can handle losing. But he is a great player so I would not discount his loss.

I think we will win, but great respect for Lions and fear of unknown.

The only real thing I'm concerned about is this.
I think we pretty much played the perfect game in the QF. Can we get near that again?

 

[thegerman]

WTF do we do with Stanley? If he's fit and available then my preference would be to select him rather than going in unchanged, as I would like us to have the ability to use Blitz as a defender if we're leaking goals in Stewart's absence. But that being said, I feel like picking players with injury clouds hanging over them always backfires in Grand Finals, so there's another part of me that would err on the side of caution.

Tricky call!

Given the talk around danger notifying Clark (seen in interview) to enjoy the week because Saturday could be the best in your career, I’d say he’s in. The only change I can see is either Stewart out for Stanley and he’s not fit, Bews.

 

[thegerman]

I personally think Neale will play unless they are really playing funny buggers in the media. Berry playing would be madness.

Neale will definitely play