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

 

[cats_09]

What form? He loses the ruck again and only had 12 disposals on the weekend.

At the game i thought he may have been near the bests. But the stats has confirmed my hunch wildly wrong. We need to look at stats more people. Our memories are bad at evaluating football games. Blicavs stats are more memorable cos his gangly movements make them more noticable thus we think he has had more influence then he actually has had. All of us fall for this same bias including me. But stats dont lie. Yes we smashed the clearances but that wasnt due to the ruckman as we werent winning the hit outs. Blicavs won 4 clearances which is good. But he only had 8 touches for the rest of the game. Even meek had more. Not saying his game was bad. It just wasnt nearly as good as everyone is making it out to be.

This week lions have two rucks. Plus we need an extra tall like stanley to drop foward if neale is having problems with andrews. Having an extra tall senior player to play in defence with stewart out will help too if the younger players like osullivan and dekonning get overawed by the occassion.

Actually, we need to trust our eyes to read the influence & impact of a players game, versus relying what the stats sheet says

Last Friday Mullin had just 8 disposals, 3 marks and 2 tackles, which sounds a little meh on paper

Meanwhile Watson had 5 disposals, 2 tackles & a goal which doesn't seem the worse return for a forward - but watching the game you notice that Hawthorn shifted Watson to defence in the last such was his lack of impact due to Mullin in what had been a 36 goal & 12 goal assist season

 

[Commando]

Have a 2011 feel about this game/season.

I never pegged us as a flag chance midyear. I remember it being the same in 2011.

I'm guessing the game will be the same. An arm wrestle until 3/4 time before they run out of legs.

This team has been built on hard running. You have to be able to go with us for 4 quarters. They have brilliant footballers but not many amazing runners.

I had to look to double check
But we were 13-0 in 2011
Lost 2 games by a goal
Then finished 19-3 beating Melbourne by nearly 200 points along the way

We were always the contenders to Collingwood that year.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I just don't think there's much room left in the sport these days for tap-ruckmen that can't do much else.

The general fitness level of players has negated the value of tap ruckmen. Even if they can put it down the throat of one of their players, that player is almost always staring down the barrel at a contest before they can dispose.

A player like Blicavs is more valuable than almost any ruckman in the league, purely because you can swing him forward, back, put him on the wing, tag someone, etc.

It doesn't matter if he loses the hitouts 2-1. He's good enough to negate the other ruckman being totally effective, then he spreads from the contest immediately, giving an out-number on the outside, where 95% of the game is being played.

It's very simple and obvious. It's wild to me that people are still backhanding Blitz haha

It's only going to get worse for tap ruckmen next year too, last disposal will cut throw ins dramatically. The increase in turnover/rebound will absolutely shred bean poles

 

[Footy Smarts]

It’s just wild to me to that someone can sit there with a straight face and talk down Blitz’s last 2 games. Again vs Hawks he was 3rd highest rated player on ground, had most tackles and 6 coaches votes. It’s either biased hate or they just don’t understand football. To each their own.

The best 2 games by a ruck this finals series have both been Blicavs.

The next best was Meek against Adelaide. Blicavs gave Meek such a bath last week that Mitchell benched him for most of the last quarter. They were left trying Weddle and Chol in the ruck in the hope they might not get completely killed in there.

 

[Footy Smarts]

What form? He loses the ruck again and only had 12 disposals on the weekend.

I guess Mitchell benched Meek and gave Blicavs coaches votes because Blicavs was beaten by Meek

 

[CatToTheFuture]

One got coaches votes & the other didn't

That gives a pretty good indication that the coaches at a minimum thought one off those players had a much bigger impact on the result than the other

View attachment 2436978

I also think it's pretty unlikely one coach gave Blitz 5 and he didn't feature in the other

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I guess Mitchell benched Meek and gave Blicavs coaches votes because Blicavs was beaten by Meek

Meek just pips him for on ground impact is the answer I think you'd get here

Image unrelated

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Nice work. You'd imagine it must be SOOO wasteful each year the tends of thousands of losing side posters that get destroyed.

What about the "I was there" shirts for the losing side? At least you can recycle paper

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Actually, we need to trust our eyes to read the influence & impact of a players game, versus relying what the stats sheet says

Last Friday Mullin had just 8 disposals, 3 marks and 2 tackles, which sounds a little meh on paper

Meanwhile Watson had 5 disposals, 2 tackles & a goal which doesn't seem the worse return for a forward - but watching the game you notice that Hawthorn shifted Watson to defence in the last such was his lack of impact due to Mullin in what had been a 36 goal & 12 goal assist season

I genuinely laughed out loud when I saw him in the backline on close. Like, is this how bad he is going?!

 

[Netherlandal]

What I'm hoping to see this evening:

In: Stanley
Out: Stewart

• With Stewart out, we need Blicavs freed up to do more than just ruck. If our backline gets exposed or a single tall goes down, we need the ability to pull that lever. Henry is probably fine, but who knows.
• More generally, the flexibility of throwing the taller magnets around as a stoppage or attacking threat is an underrated weapon of ours. Stanley/Blicavs/Neale/SDK can all rotate through, clunk important marks and keep them guessing.
• At worst, this would match the Lions structurally in the ruck department with both Fort and McInerney in the side. There's always the option to sub Stanley out earlier than usual if we need more run.
• RE: Bews, I'm wary 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

  pulling some form out of nowhere, but I'm more worried about Logan Morris and even Ty Gallop offering them an easy option all day.

 

[Mattttty]

SEN with Gerard

That's definitely an improvement on 7. Can you sync with ABC?

 

[iameviljez]

What I'm hoping to see this evening:

In: Stanley
Out: Stewart

This is the completely obvious choice IMO. Let's not get too overhyped by Blitz being competitive in the hitouts against Meek and Fort; McInerney is a different kettle of fish.

• RE: Bews, I'm wary of Charlie Cameron pulling some form out of nowhere, but I'm more worried about Logan Morris and even Ty Gallop offering them an easy option all day.

I've always found the Bews-over-Cameron thing to be overrated a little - Cameron has gotten a hold of Jed before, but more to the point, Charlie isn't the player he once was, and we have others who can do the job.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I genuinely laughed out loud when I saw him in the backline on close. Like, is this how bad he is going?!

It says a fair bit for how dominant Blicavs, Mullin and O'Connor were that Meek was benched, Watson was moved to the backline and Weddle into the ruck. You can't say Mitchell didn't try to change things up.

 

[Generalissimo]

It says a fair bit for how dominant Blicavs, Mullin and O'Connor were

Staggers me that some people still want to badmouth those three players in particular.

 

[darrenmorgan]

What I'm hoping to see this evening:

In: Stanley
Out: Stewart

• With Stewart out, we need Blicavs freed up to do more than just ruck. If our backline gets exposed or a single tall goes down, we need the ability to pull that lever. Henry is probably fine, but who knows.
• More generally, the flexibility of throwing the taller magnets around as a stoppage or attacking threat is an underrated weapon of ours. Stanley/Blicavs/Neale/SDK can all rotate through, clunk important marks and keep them guessing.
• At worst, this would match the Lions structurally in the ruck department with both Fort and McInerney in the side. There's always the option to sub Stanley out earlier than usual if we need more run.
• RE: Bews, I'm wary of Charlie Cameron pulling some form out of nowhere, but I'm more worried about Logan Morris and even Ty Gallop offering them an easy option all day.

Not to mention Bews has played one senior game is what, 3 months? and he wasnt great in that game and looked off the pace even then (against a bottom team).

 

[Commando]

Stanley for Stewart is the no brainer
Like the saying goes the big guys don't get any smaller

 

[Gazzathegoat]

Blicavs has been outstanding in the past two finals, but let’s be honest, Darcy Fort

32

Darcy Fort

Age

32

Ht

204cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.6

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

2.9

3star

CL

2.9

4star

HO

17.8

5star

D

9.2

2star

K

6.0

2star

HB

3.2

2star

CL

3.6

4star

HO

21.2

5star

D

7.6

2star

K

5.4

2star

HB

2.2

2star

CL

2.2

4star

HO

15.6

5star

is no world beater, and Lloyd Meek had run his tank dry after a brutal stretch of games, including back-to-back road trips. Blitz looked like an extra midfielder and tore them up.

This week’s a different beast. Big Oscar McInerney

46

Oscar Mcinerney

Age

31

Ht

205cm

Wt

110kg

Pos.

Ruck

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.1

2star

K

4.1

2star

HB

3.9

3star

CL

1.4

4star

HO

14.3

5star

D

6.9

1star

K

4.1

2star

HB

2.7

2star

CL

1.9

4star

HO

16.4

5star

D

7.6

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.6

3star

CL

0.4

3star

HO

11.2

5star

isn’t just a ruckman, he’s a skyscraper. If we throw Blitz at him all game, We have minimal flexibility around the ground. That’s where Stanley matters. He doesn’t need to dominate, he just needs to make Oscar earn every contest. Short, sharp bursts to keep McInerney honest, then Blitz can come in fresh as the second rotation.

It’s the flexibility it unlocks: Blitz can swing forward if Harris Andrews

31

Harris Andrews

Age

28

Ht

200cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.8

3star

K

7.4

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.6

5star

T

1.6

4star

MG

151.7

2star

D

17.0

4star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.0

3star

D

9.8

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

4.8

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

1.6

4star

MG

94.0

2star

takes charge, or drop back if their forwards start cooking. Without Stanley, we’re robbing Peter to pay Paul. With him, we’ve got the chess pieces in the right spots.

I have a feeling Jack Martin

19

Jack Martin

Age

30

Ht

186cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.2

4star

K

10.0

4star

HB

6.3

4star

M

4.9

5star

T

3.7

5star

G

0.9

4star

D

14.9

4star

K

7.9

3star

HB

7.0

4star

M

4.3

4star

T

3.6

4star

G

1.1

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

4.6

2star

HB

3.6

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.0

4star

G

0.6

3star

probably misses out, as we need Bews to clamp Cameron/Bailey, freeing up Zach Guthrie

39

Zach Guthrie

Age

27

Ht

188cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

5.8

2star

HB

5.2

4star

M

3.3

3star

T

1.8

4star

MG

90.0

1star

D

7.0

1star

K

4.0

1star

HB

3.0

2star

M

1.0

1star

T

1.0

2star

MG

90.0

2star

D

10.4

3star

K

3.8

2star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

1.6

4star

to play that Stewart-like interceptor role.

Tough calls, but the right ones if we’re serious about winning the midfield battle and protecting the backline.

 

[Jumping Jack]

SEN with Gerard

Wouldn't Gerard be doing the Foxtel / Kayo commentary?

 

[cats_09]

I genuinely laughed out loud when I saw him in the backline on close. Like, is this how bad he is going?!

I was sitting that end of the ground but hadn't noticed the Watson move until after Close took his mark and I was scratching my head as to how he ended up in defence - was there a switch that didn't work type thing

It was only after the match that I read he had been banished to defence due to his lack of impact up forward

 

[Commando]

Wouldn't Gerard be doing the Foxtel / Kayo commentary?

Nah SEN said he's doing it
Probably Dwayne on Fox

 

[joe444]

Your Thursday dose of optimism.

Confirmed on SEN that Chris Fagan used the 2023 Grand Final as motivation for his players during half time last week. Revenge, boys, revenge! Not only that, he believe is it works.

I've said before that Fages is a "cuddle coach" but this of course is a massive over-simplification. However, what really happened was that Collingwood's comeback wasn't as much as it looked to be - it was built on the back of six scoring shots only. And, of course, on Brisbane's oft-overlooked mediocre ability to transition out of D50 and convert their own opportunities.

Collingwood weren't overwhelmed by Brisbane's firebrand psychological edge from the master motivator, they simply continued on and ended up kicking pretty much what they always do these days (they've averaged 69 points since round 17).

Listening, I thought, "I love this". It aligns with everything I've thought about Brisbane all year - they only know one way to play, Fages hot-gospels it, and it usually works because their midfielders (though largely unaccountable) are/were elite.

Fages won't play any tricks on Saturday, and the only "lesson" they seem to have "learned" is to be more physical. Cool. As if we aren't going to be in a Grand Final.


No excuses. We are better just now (not 3 months ago and probably not 6 months from now), so get it done.

 

[cats_09]

Wouldn't Gerard be doing the Foxtel / Kayo commentary?

No Foxtel/Kayo coverage of the Grand Final - it's still exclusive to 7

 

[Jumping Jack]

Wouldn't Gerard be doing the Foxtel / Kayo commentary?

Just realised Foxtel don't do the GF. Will def need to sync a radio station and not listen to Taylor and Brayshaw flog each other senseless

 

[Johanpetro]

Just realised Foxtel don't do the GF. Will def need to sync a radio station and not listen to Taylor and Brayshaw flog each other senseless

They’ll be doing a call of the “replay”. Weird but I guess good to have different commentary to watch after the game when we win

 

[Play it Sam]

They’ll be doing a call of the “replay”. Weird but I guess good to have different commentary to watch after the game when we win

One of my most treasured possessions- the old 2007 GF CD with 5 different calls to choose from, including K Rock.