Review Round 2, 2026: Geelong v Box Hill Hawks, 27 March 2026, 7.05pm @ GMBHA Stadium

[hardway]

I keep hearing this and its always a bizarre stance to say about any player

To me he looks to have lost some athleticism which was his best trait.

 

[VandoHawk]

Full time. Geelong 19.9 123 defeat Box Hill 11.10. 76.

Final margin flatters us. Geelong came in with a very experienced midfield setup and beat us early. Rather than respond, we went into our shells. It was the lack of pressure and effort that was very disappointing. The second and third quarters were the worst I've ever seen Box Hill play and it was a bad day to have eyes. The last quarter won back some respectability.

• Finn won a heap of the ball and was probably our statistical best. But his ball use was mostly poor, and he looked like he was running through quicksand.
• Morrison one of the few players who tried to stand up in the third. Probably our best over the match.
• Greeves was quality rather than quantity. His kicking really stands out, and his tackling was good today.
• Ryan got absolutely demolished in the first quarter with his direct opponent kicking 4 goals. He worked his way back into the game with some good defensive wins but damage was done.
• Ramsden was good around the ground but gave us very little in the bounces. Don't think he's a ruck.
• Nairn looked very good early, was invisible when we shifted him to the wing, then had a good last quarter back forward.
• BMac tries very hard and most of our promising plays come through his pace. But he struggles to hit a target.
• Perez had a bit of a nothing game.
• Anderson kicked two goals and was chasing hard but he just didn't win enough the ball.
• Dalton really struggled in the midfield against the bigger Geelong players. Just couldn't win the ball.
• Schubert took some strong marks and kicked 2.2. Is still a kick/mark player at this stage of his development.
• LeRay had some good snippets but it was a crucible to return to.
• Dear had good second efforts but hardly touched it, didn't hit the scoreboard, and his disposal was iffy. Lacks confidence. Looked much better up the ground.
• Hill was chasing very hard in the first half but didn't get much reward. Faded as the game went on.
• McCabe didn't really touch it.
• Uhr-Henry does the occasional nice thing at centre bounces but looks lost everywhere else.

 

[TylerDurden]

Grim reading re Calsher.

 

[VandoHawk]

Just a reflection.

In the first bounce they had Stanley, Worpel, Bowes and Stevens. That is a very big-bodied and experienced lineup. Our lineup was Uhr-Henry, Maginness, Dalton and Greeves. Two first year players and a project ruck. It was always going to be tough, and I do think there were some positive signs from the younger brigade.

The backline mix was also weird. We didn't replace Mraz so Horner spent time playing full-back on Joe Pike (203cm). The lack of midfield pressure meant it was coming in quickly, and our backline never looked settled.

Our forward group was cumbersome with the inclusion of McLaughlin (who had a good individual game). Nairn gets pushed to a wing and McCabe seemed to have his spot taken.

I would have liked to have seen considerably more effort but it just seemed the perfect storm for a smashing.

 

[stemline]

McLaughlin looks like he'll be great for Box Hill. But I don't know if having him up front will be good for the development of Dear, McCabe and Schubert.

 

[rdhopkins2]

What was the crowd? Presuming they all sat out out of the tv camera vision.

 

[tommyk72]

It sounds like we don't have the depth we like to think we have. I also think pressure/effort is contextual. The guys may have been trying their arses off, but against AFL-level mids with multiple (up to 10+ preseasons) they were always going to struggle.

Hopefully a good learning experience for a lot of the team.

 

[Elhawko]

It sounds like we don't have the depth we like to think we have. I also think pressure/effort is contextual. The guys may have been trying their arses off, but against AFL-level mids with multiple (up to 10+ preseasons) they were always going to struggle.

Hopefully a good learning experience for a lot of the team.

Re the depth, I dare say you are right. On the other hand, we could have retained Serong, Long, Worps and CJ and maybe only lost by five goals but advanced our ultimate cause not one iota by doing so. I'd rather try these brand new kids who might make it and lose big time than persist with average AFL players and lose by less. Long term our depth might actually be much better than it was last year.

Having said that I think we can agree calls to promote Calsher, McCabe and Ramma have been premature. All three need to string together several weeks of really strong performances before they come in, unless we get injuries in the seniors. Calsher and Ramma actually seem a way off right now. That is a worry depth wise.

 

[tommyk72]

Re the depth, I dare say you are right. On the other hand, we could have retained Serong, Long, Worps and CJ and maybe only lost by five goals but advanced our ultimate cause not one iota by doing so. I'd rather try these brand new kids who might make it and lose big time than persist with average AFL players and lose by less. Long term our depth might actually be much better than it was last year.

Having said that I think we can agree calls to promote Calsher, McCabe and Ramma have been premature. All three need to string together several weeks of really strong performances before they come in, unless we get injuries in the seniors. Calsher and Ramma actually seem a way off right now. That is a worry depth wise.

Agree with both your paras.

 

[Atch]

Full time. Geelong 19.9 123 defeat Box Hill 11.10. 76.

Final margin flatters us. Geelong came in with a very experienced midfield setup and beat us early. Rather than respond, we went into our shells. It was the lack of pressure and effort that was very disappointing. The second and third quarters were the worst I've ever seen Box Hill play and it was a bad day to have eyes. The last quarter won back some respectability.

• Finn won a heap of the ball and was probably our statistical best. But his ball use was mostly poor, and he looked like he was running through quicksand.
• Morrison one of the few players who tried to stand up in the third. Probably our best over the match.
• Greeves was quality rather than quantity. His kicking really stands out, and his tackling was good today.
• Ryan got absolutely demolished in the first quarter with his direct opponent kicking 4 goals. He worked his way back into the game with some good defensive wins but damage was done.
• Ramsden was good around the ground but gave us very little in the bounces. Don't think he's a ruck.
• Nairn looked very good early, was invisible when we shifted him to the wing, then had a good last quarter back forward.
• BMac tries very hard and most of our promising plays come through his pace. But he struggles to hit a target.
• Perez had a bit of a nothing game.
• Anderson kicked two goals and was chasing hard but he just didn't win enough the ball.
• Dalton really struggled in the midfield against the bigger Geelong players. Just couldn't win the ball.
• Schubert took some strong marks and kicked 2.2. Is still a kick/mark player at this stage of his development.
• LeRay had some good snippets but it was a crucible to return to.
• Dear had good second efforts but hardly touched it, didn't hit the scoreboard, and his disposal was iffy. Lacks confidence. Looked much better up the ground.
• Hill was chasing very hard in the first half but didn't get much reward. Faded as the game went on.
• McCabe didn't really touch it.
• Uhr-Henry does the occasional nice thing at centre bounces but looks lost everywhere else.

Watched Collingwood/giants completely forgot this was on, thanks for the report.
Worrying to hear Ryan got smashed in the first after looking so rock solid defensively previously. Dear needs to be pushing up doing Lewis's role now, he becomes immobile when planted at full forward. Sounds like Dalton just got fair and square beaten by better experienced mids. Bit of a wake up call hopefully for a few.

 

[Atch]

Just a reflection.

In the first bounce they had Stanley, Worpel, Bowes and Stevens. That is a very big-bodied and experienced lineup. Our lineup was Uhr-Henry, Maginness, Dalton and Greeves. Two first year players and a project ruck. It was always going to be tough, and I do think there were some positive signs from the younger brigade.

The backline mix was also weird. We didn't replace Mraz so Horner spent time playing full-back on Joe Pike (203cm). The lack of midfield pressure meant it was coming in quickly, and our backline never looked settled.

Our forward group was cumbersome with the inclusion of McLaughlin (who had a good individual game). Nairn gets pushed to a wing and McCabe seemed to have his spot taken.

I would have liked to have seen considerably more effort but it just seemed the perfect storm for a smashing.

So Mraz is injured?

 

[Atch]

I keep hearing this and its always a bizarre stance to say about any player

Why is this so hard to believe??? Players aren't robots, some players form drops playing at the the lower leagues and they lose interest ie Frost last year, and some rise to the occasion and turn it on when in the AFL like Calsher.
In an ideal world where everythings perfect all AFL listed players get dropped back and apply 100 percent of what they've got to VFL level (Finn McGuinness) but this simply isn't the case for all players. Some players get pissed/ lose hope when they get dropped back to the maggos and this is simply how it is.

 

[TazHawk15]

So Mraz is injured?

Was a late withdrawal.

 

[The Jet From Poowong]

The inclusion of Reeves to the AFL side has exposed a few at this level.

Noodle and HH are big outs for the balance of this side.

 

[burner1]

The inclusion of Reeves to the AFL side has exposed a few at this level.

Noodle and HH are big outs for the balance of this side.

Midfield is an issue. Finn, Dalton, Greeves + JUH struggled. Admittedly Dalton and Greeves up against afl hardened opposition. Didn’t give our forwards much of a chance.

Feels like we have a weaker vfl listed group than previous year - makes a big difference to how our afl listed guys look / overall team performance. Dunno how McLaughlin helps a side that already has too many talls up forward.

Guys like BMac - 4th year on list - should really dominate by now. Ryan had a shocker first half. Dunno how McCabe can go from a break out performance to 6 possessions the following week. Ramsden looked to be moving well - he needs afl time but hard to see him getting it.

 

[The Golden Glenferrie]

Absolutely no worries with Dear. The VFL is a dump and he hates playing there. Exponentially better in the AFL.

 

[fairdinks]

Sometimes a loss like this is better learning than an easy win for the young blokes.

It shows they are not as good as they think (at the moment). It shows that they lack experience, so need to really focus on learning from the game and listening to our experienced blokes, and it shows they have some work to do to build an AFL competitive body. It all takes time and the good players will learn a lot out of the experience.

It's all part of the growth curve for young players.

 

[TheFourPillars]

To those saying dont worry about Dear he will be right once he gets to the AFL remember he is still very young and no guarantee to play at that level. He got his chance AFL level because he was playing well at VFL level. So he has started the year relatively poorly. Needs to build his game work harder and find his timing again. Its the only way he gets back

 

[TheFourPillars]

Unfortunately this is what is holding Bodie back. He like his Vfl coach lacks that yard of pace and can get caught out defensively. He is such a terrific defender plays a lot like dimma as others have mentioned but a yard too slow for his height and yes we did miss Mraz this game who dominated McLean last week

 

[burner1]

To those saying dont worry about Dear he will be right once he gets to the AFL remember he is still very young and no guarantee to play at that level. He got his chance AFL level because he was playing well at VFL level. So he has started the year relatively poorly. Needs to build his game work harder and find his timing again. Its the only way he gets back

T4P - do you know if we’re working on specific things with Dear? He seemed to be less trying to jump on people’s heads (ie using his elite leap) and more wrestling, combined with moving up the ground?

 

[SSSSSS]

JUH is a mile off the level. Would think a guy with his height and athleticism would be more competitive in the ruck but he got dominated.

 

[SSSSSS]

To those saying dont worry about Dear he will be right once he gets to the AFL remember he is still very young and no guarantee to play at that level. He got his chance AFL level because he was playing well at VFL level. So he has started the year relatively poorly. Needs to build his game work harder and find his timing again. Its the only way he gets back

I think Dear will be fine. The effort/chase was there, it was just nothing was going right for him.

Just needs to find that touch. I think his confidence will skyrocket if he can get on the end of a 4-5 goal game to light that fire.

 

[stemline]

I think Dear will be fine. The effort/chase was there, it was just nothing was going right for him.

Just needs to find that touch. I think his confidence will skyrocket if he can get on the end of a 4-5 goal game to light that fire.

That's true but it's unlikely to happen with the other talls all competing for space - McCabe, Schubert, McLaughlin (and Ramsden when he's not rucking). They're constantly rotating one or two off the ground and they wouldn't all train with Box Hill to work out patterns.

Really not sure adding McLaughlin to the mix is going to help Dear, Schu and McCabe at all.

That said workrate matters most and they didn't have it yesterday.

 

[SSSSSS]

Bit of perspective.

Finn, Morrison, Ramma, Perez, Bianco, BMac, Brown and Dear combined for 301 games.

Bowes, Worpel, White, Stevens, Stanley, Knevitt, Kolo, Bews and Close combined for 1060 games.

Four of those players were the prime movers in the guts (Bowes/Worpel/Stanley/Stevens) which is where we got absolutely spanked. Just too big and too strong for our green midfield.

 

[TheFourPillars]

T4P - do you know if we’re working on specific things with Dear? He seemed to be less trying to jump on people’s heads (ie using his elite leap) and more wrestling, combined with moving up the ground?

So he had a bit of an interrupted pre season which always sets back young players. So he wasn't consistently involved in all the match sims in pre season. Confidence is low. He should be ok its just time and focus