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

 

[CHAWKS2]

I'd keep it simple.

Mullin tags McCluggage
MOC tags Rayner
Atkins head to head with Washcroft

Trying to be clever and releasing McCluggage would be a mistake. He's their destroyer.

I don’t know but I reckon that is likely where they end up (after lots of debate!). Beauty is that they don’t have to stick with same thing whole game. If working yep - if not they can switch around.

To me Andrews is more of a wild card than all of them

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Double bluff? He might now think we wont? Or triple? This is fun!

By the way I don’t think we should assume the obvious sub…

Thinking about it is fun, but so time consuming. I’ve barely got any work done this week.

Good point. Clark may start.
Scott is a smart coach. He always throws out something unpredictable.

I think we a ready for whatever they throw at us.

 

[CHAWKS2]

BF experts - who is picking up Charlie?

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

I'd keep it simple.

Mullin tags McCluggage
MOC tags Rayner
Atkins head to head with Washcroft

Trying to be clever and releasing McCluggage would be a mistake. He's their destroyer.

After Mullin destroy McCluggage in week 1, McCluggage’s roll this week could be a decoy, releasing an Ashcroft and Mullin could be wasted,

Such an interesting matchup. Playing them again in the space of 3 weeks. It makes it so intriguing.

 

[standupand]

BF experts - who is picking up Charlie?

Humphries

 

[standupand]

One thing that's surprised me about the Lions this finals series is that we haven't seen more of Reville. He's been sub in a lot of games. But really straightens them up when he makes an appearance. I'd be wary if someone like Neale breaks down and they bring him on early.

 

[CHAWKS2]

Humphries

That is what I got left with too. Not many options? Can’t be Zuth now without Stewart. Mullin more use elsewhere. So H is the only real option in the backline?

I am trying to work out whether I am worried or not. I LOVE humphries (not on my own I know) but can’t get my head around the match up?

I haven’t watched enough of the VFL this year. Those that have - if you were coach would you think about Jhye for the role - or is Humphries a better fit?

 

[Mr Meow]

After Mullin destroy McCluggage in week 1, McCluggage’s roll this week could be a decoy, releasing an Ashcroft and Mullin could be wasted,

Such an interesting matchup. Playing them again in the space of 3 weeks. It makes it so intriguing.

If they use Suitcase as a decoy that's one of the biggest tactical wins we could have.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

If they use Suitcase as a decoy that's one of the biggest tactical wins we could have.

How do you think the game will play out?
Just thoughts obviously.
Confident?

 

[And_ROOS]

If they use Suitcase as a decoy that's one of the biggest tactical wins we could have.

Especially because that likely means Mullin goes into midfield on Dunkley or Neale until Fagan has to break glass because our midfield will batter theirs and McCluggage goes back into the middle.

I just really hope Mullin isn't in the d50, he gets caught out too often.

If McCluggage is in the Lions f50 that means they are down a competent forward to fit him in.

 

[CoolCat75]

With Stewart out, I’ll be looking to see who is the 7th defender. The candidates are Clark or Bowes I think.

 

[And_ROOS]

With Stewart out, I’ll be looking to see who is the 7th defender. The candidates are Clark or Bowes I think.

Surely Bowes starts and Clark is sub again.

And barring injury and match state likely Stanley off for Clark to add pace.

 

[Mr Meow]

How do you think the game will play out?
Just thoughts obviously.
Confident?

I'm less confident than a lot of people here but that puts me at 55/45 Geelong/Brisbane. I really rate the Lions and how they have performed in big games (a couple of exceptions obviously). Never write off a reigning premier until they're eliminated is always my view.

They have matched up very well on us in the past, even though we flipped the script 3 weeks ago.

I don't subscribe to the view that they are beaten up and will run out of petrol tickets. Their midfield for instance has been flying without Neale and so they aren't super reliant on him anymore.

We are doing better on the injury front, but that can quickly get neutralised if Henry's foot goes at any stage.

Still, I think our game has been in great shape all year and from about round 7 this is where I believed we could end up. The only doubts come from how highly I rate our opposition. Even their depth/kids are borderline guns already.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Yes, and reporting it to the Brisbane board to stir them up. There's been a few neutrals in there begging for the Lions to win. All rather amusing. Who'd have thought the little old Cats could cause such a fuss?

Look, if those WB warriors really wanted to hurt Geelong, they could..
1) Buy property in/around Geelong & then sell it cheap, causing a market slump.
2) Buy GFC memberships and not turn up to games, depressing attendances.
...

 

[dudusmaximus]

Is that Caro, farthest to the left? This picture is priceless.

 

[dudusmaximus]

Yes, and reporting it to the Brisbane board to stir them up. There's been a few neutrals in there begging for the Lions to win. All rather amusing. Who'd have thought the little old Cats could cause such a fuss?

I'm no expert on jilted-love revenge fantasies. But cozying up to Brisbane? Didn't Brisbane slow-steal Josh Dunkley over 2 years? Spurned then by Dunkley. Spurned now by Baz.

 

[Play it Sam]

Is that Caro, farthest to the left? This picture is priceless.

Not axe faced enough

 

[catsfootyfan89]

Man it seems ridiculous to me that Neale is playing this weekend. I can't believe a calf tear can be fixed in 3 weeks. Crazy.

I really hope the injury smoke and mirrors hasn't permeated our group at all. Hopefully we treat them as if they're 100% healthy.

I do think it's going to take a monumental effort to win this one. Brisbane have been here for the last two years. Their youngsters know what to expect - ours don't.

Holmes, Smith, COS, Bowes, Clark, Dempsey, Mannagh, Humphries, Martin, Neale etc have never played in a GF.

I do believe in the boys and I think they'll handle the pressure. But I do find the current odds (1.50 GEE, 2.40 BRIS) to be pretty insane.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

CHAWKS is back?

Welcome home sweet prince CHAWKS2

 

[sleep]

LETS ****ING DO THIS!

 

[Stokey]

Speaking of Grand Final experience:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27​

Geelong v Brisbane at the MCG, 2.30pm AEST

GEELONG

In: Rhys Stanley
Out: Tom Stewart (concussion)

PF sub: Jhye Clark

BRISBANE

In: Lachie Neale
Out: Jarrod Berry (shoulder)

PF sub: Bruce Reville

GRAND FINAL DEBUTANTS​

Geelong (10): Connor O'Sullivan, Oisin Mullin, Max Holmes, Ollie Dempsey, Shaun Mannagh, Shannon Neale, Lawson Humphries, Jack Martin, Jack Bowes, Jhye Clark
Brisbane (4): Sam Marshall, Levi Ashcroft, Ty Gallop, Bruce Reville

2024 GF v 2025 GF Lions

OUT: Noah Answerth, Jack Payne, Joe Daniher, Jarrod Berry, Eric Hipwood, Conor McKenna
IN: Sam Marshall, Levi Ashcroft, Ty Gallop, Oscar McInerney, Darcy Gardiner, Bruce Reville

2022 GF v 2025 GF Cats

OUT: Jake Kolodjashnij, Tom Stewart, Zach Tuohy, Jed Bews, Mitch Duncan, Isaac Smith, Tom Hawkins, Gary Rohan, Cameron Guthrie, Joel Selwood, Brandan Parfitt
IN: Connor O'Sullivan, Oisin Mullin, Max Holmes, Oliver Dempsey, Shaun Mannagh, Shannon Neale, Bailey Smith, Lawson Humphries, Jack Martin, Jack Bowes, Jhye Clark

GF TEAMS: Lions make Neale call, how Cats replace Stewart

The teams are in for the 2025 Toyota AFL Grand Final

www.afl.com.au

I know which Ins I'd prefer.

 

[Stokey]

Can't agree with this.
Brisbane's team is not stacked with top draft picks any more than ours is.
They have the Ashcrofts, McCluggage, Rayner and Ah Chee. That's about it.
We've got Jez, Danger, Smith, Bowes, O'Sullivan.
The sides in general are evenly matched and play a solid brand.
The reason we win will be because we are in better shape than they are at this stage of the season.
They have been playing their cutthroat finals since Rd 23 against the Hawks. We have been tuning up for a good many weeks and ready to peak.
Bring it on.

It usually comes down to your bottom 6 over your top 6. I expected better depth from the Lions but they bone dry. Next year they will have the depth

We have OHenry, Bews, Duncan, Knevitt, Kolo, Guthrie. Seems absurd we are in a GF without half these guys.

 

[Stokey]

Thinking about it is fun, but so time consuming. I’ve barely got any work done this week.

Good point. Clark may start.
Scott is a smart coach. He always throws out something unpredictable.

I think we a ready for whatever they throw at us.

One loss not being talked about is losing King to Melbourne. I really rarlte him and he has been responsible for a lot from all accounts.

I'm sure they're still sounding him out so should be a worry.

 

[Play it Sam]

Agree with that.

They really only have one way to beat us - and it is high risk. But if it comes off it is very hard to beat given their talent. Hawks tried to beat us in a similar (albeit not as fast) way but they just don’t have enough talent to pull it off. Brisbane can but not if we put the same pressure on as last game.

As shown on a couple of shows though our pressure only just worked a couple of times (finger tips to knock the ball) - if it was a few cm above the fingers they would have been out. The proverbial game of inches. Probabilities are definitely with us but just hoping we get our fair share of luck (unlike that third qtr prelim last year)

I'm glad you mentioned luck, because last time we had a ton of it. Plenty of knock ons and bounces just didnt go their way, and rattled them. Some say you make your own luck but there are times the movement is purely serendipitous, You could argue luck was on their side with a dipstick umpire..

The other thing to remember is that with 12 minutes to go we were only about 20 points up, and they fought hard to have many entries and 3 bad misses. We then pulled away although our defence was tiring, watch again and you'll see less stuck tackle and effort. I want that fat lady screaming her lungs out at the last change, really don't want to get run down.

 

[dudusmaximus]

BF experts - who is picking up Charlie?

Usually his mom picks him up

Welcome back CHAWKS!