2nds Geelong Cats 2018 VFL Season - Tom Atkins B&F Winner

[catempire]

It's interesting to see him doing so well so early in the VFL.

The pre-draft knock on him was that his tank was nowhere near pro footy standard, as in it was a genuine liability.

You dont get around picking up 36 touches as a skinny rookie by accident though.

Sometimes i think we focus too much on measurables and not enough on "are they good at footy".

Totally agree. Give me someone who can find the pill over “athletes” that are fetishised any day.

 

[iameviljez]

Send him to Germany

It’s not bad luck, it’s wells rolling the dice with early picks on injured players
One Joel Selwood has fooled him

The rest of the first round picks on injured players is look8ng piss poor

I don't think he was carrying anything through his draft year?

 

[Two Planks]

I don't think he was carrying anything through his draft year?

I thought Cocky missed the entire year except for that 1 game on the G in grand final week when he carved them up.

 

[goyoucatters]

Sometimes i think we focus too much on measurables and not enough on "are they good at footy".

Couldn't agree more (apart from perhaps replacing 'sometimes' with 'often').

And, by the way, Jimmy Bartel says hi.

 

[Live in hope]

The big need in seniors at moment is for speed through the middle of the ground,forward pressure and a marking alternative to Hawk. Constanble stays developing in 2ds unless a mid gets injured or MC decide to play Danger and Ablett forward. Hopefully his kicking is not the loopy, unreliable type we already have with half of our mids .
Having said that would definitely prefer him to Parsons (!)

 

[iameviljez]

It's interesting to see him doing so well so early in the VFL.

The pre-draft knock on him was that his tank was nowhere near pro footy standard, as in it was a genuine liability.

You dont get around picking up 36 touches as a skinny rookie by accident though.

Sometimes i think we focus too much on measurables and not enough on "are they good at footy".

It's the Greg Williams kind of rule, isn't it

 

[ATSAM]

No Hendo, Cunico or Murda named in the bests. But surely they are the three most likely to be considered for senior selection next weekend, though.

Good to see Contable, Thurlow and House pushing on as well. Not sure any of them could add anything special to the seniors right now. But building form in the twos hopefully at least leaves them ready to come in should there be more injuries across the current senior group.

Really looking forward to the footage of Hayball's 'worldy' as well.

#waybillfever

Surely on CS statements then GHS will be in!!!!

 

[Vdubs]

Geez I really don’t think Cockatoo will ever show us his best, looking like a ‘what could’ve been’ scenario now.

Might be time to trade.

I'd rather we rookie him; he's worth nothing as a trade.

 

[Vdubs]

Surely on CS statements then GHS will be in!!!!

I want the other Smith please. Zac for Buzza. Lots of zzz's, but Zac and Rhys need time together again.

 

[DanA]

Wouldn't mind seeing Henderson, Crameri, Cunico and Murdoch coming in for Buzza, Guthrie, Simpson and Jones. Play a small forwardline with Crameri at CHF and have Blicavs relieve ruck but predominantly play KPD.

 

[iameviljez]

Surely on CS statements then GHS will be in!!!!

Which statements?

 

[CatRiot]

Notched another win in the VFL... My bet looking the goods for premiers. Especially if we don't make finals in seniors or likely an early exit, should have a deep list for VFL finals series.

Having said that, Cats should make AFL finals, we have 4 games at home, and probably starting to peak at season end I have a feeling.

 

[hokee]

I'd rather we rookie him; he's worth nothing as a trade.

He should just play VFL for half a season next year and get him right for the 2nd half. Everything the medical thinks he’s ready he gets injured. We should consider his history and never rush him. One more long term injury I think he will be gone.

 

[Gogeelong]

GHS should get a shot. Give him a 4 week block. At least he can get the ball

 

[Art Vandelay_]

GHS should get a shot. Give him a 4 week block. At least he can get the ball

That’s not our problem. Our kids can get the ball.
He can only play as a mid.

Not needed. Papers surely stamped

 

[Down at K Park]

Surely by now the club rates Cocky's injury concerns up there with Rookes. Why then is the same expense not used. Why is he not seeing the best string specialist in the world? His importance to us is massive. He's a game changer and it seems that time and rehab isn't delivering for us.

Write the cheque and get the kid fixed up properly. A bit like Wyld Stallions, Cocky can bring peace and balance to the galaxy. Get it done.

He injured a knee, not a hamstring.

 

[catempire]

That’s not our problem. Our kids can get the ball.
He can only play as a mid.

Not needed. Papers surely stamped

Single digit figures has been a problem for our kids most of the year. They won’t do it but GHS could do no worse.

 

[Seeds]

I'd rather we rookie him; he's worth nothing as a trade.

He is contracted for another year.

 

[catempire]

View from the Addy:

CHARLIE CONSTABLE

Huge game from the 19-year-old, who amassed 36 touches, eight marks and four tackles. Would have produced the complete game had he turned his 1.2 into three goals straight, but you can’t ask for much more from the first-year draftee.

JORDAN CUNICO

Of the fringe midfielders looking to push back into the team, Cunico was probably the standout, finding plenty of the ball both on the inside and outside. He showcased his class a number of times to finish with 25 touches, five clearances and five tackles.

ZAC SMITH

Close to, if not, best on ground, proving simply too dominant in the ruck. He finished with 45 hit-outs and worked forward to mark and goal in the third term against the breeze, his second major breaking open the game. He finished with 21 disposals and four marks.

JORDAN MURDOCH

Started quietly with just two touches in the first quarter but got more of the ball as the game went on to finish with 27 disposals and seven marks. Wasn’t his usual penetrating game, but conditions played a huge part in the game. Missed the Adelaide game with a head knock from the Swans game but the extra days’ break helped him return on Sunday.

JAMES PARSONS

Lacked the finishing touches that he will need to find if he’s to work back into the senior team. Took advantage of a free kick inside 50 midway through the final term, only to waste the shot on goal — symptomatic of his day. Finished with 15 disposals.

GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH

In and out of the game, with eight touches in the first term and 11 disposals in the third, but just six touches in the other two quarters. His best work was done around the ball with seven clearances, making use of Zac Smith’s slick tap work.

LACHIE HENDERSON

Pressing for a reintroduction to the senior side after playing as the deepest key defender for most of the game. Windy conditions didn’t really suit for defenders yesterday, but Henderson was able to take 10 marks, using his experience to read the flight of the ball. Seems poised for a recall after a solid stint in the VFL.

TIMM HOUSE

Was one of the standouts in defence, like Henderson, using his ability to read the ball in the air to his advantage. A team-high 11 marks came mostly off the feet of his opposition.

STEWART CRAMERI

Quiet game from Crameri, who, like most of the forwards, struggled to adapt to the windy conditions. He finished with just six disposals, but kicked two goals including a classy snap into the breeze in the third term.

 

[Strange Cat]

Nice to see Smith finding some form towards the end of the year

If he kicks more goals and contributes around the ground he may nudge out Stanley...or at least provide competition for them both to keep their form up

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Single digit figures has been a problem for our kids most of the year. They won’t do it but GHS could do no worse.

Quite possibly true.

Personally don’t think we’ll win the flag so would prefer to pump some games into youth and if we’re able to get their first experiences of finals into them then great.

 

[goyoucatters]

Nice to see Smith finding some form towards the end of the year

If he kicks more goals and contributes around the ground he may nudge out Stanley...or at least provide competition for them both to keep their form up

Rhys has been much improved in the ones recently. Apart from his goal-kicking, which is simply a train-wreck right now.

As you say, though, plenty of pressure from Zac performing in the twos can only be a good thing.

Having said that, I am simply hoping that we retain a 'Stanley or Smith' strategy, rather than trying the two of them together again.

For mine, neither of them does any other role in the team adequately enough to warrant selecting both in the same line-up.

 

[Strange Cat]

Rhys has been much improved in the ones recently. Apart from his goal-kicking, which is simply a train-wreck right now.

As you say, though, plenty of pressure from Zac performing in the twos can only be a good thing.

Having said that, I am simply hoping that we retain a 'Stanley or Smith' strategy, rather than trying the two of them together again.

For mine, neither of them does any other role in the team adequately enough to warrant selecting both in the same line-up.

I’m in the same mind they can’t play together , as pointed out it can only be a good thing for Smith to keep improving as it’ll add more competition for the Ruck spot and hopefully keep Rhys in good form towards the finals

 

[Vdubs]

Rhys has been much improved in the ones recently. Apart from his goal-kicking, which is simply a train-wreck right now.

As you say, though, plenty of pressure from Zac performing in the twos can only be a good thing.

Having said that, I am simply hoping that we retain a 'Stanley or Smith' strategy, rather than trying the two of them together again.

For mine, neither of them does any other role in the team adequately enough to warrant selecting both in the same line-up.

Disagree. It hasn't been tested this year, yet lesser quality players like Buzza have been. Swapping Smith and Stanley from ruck to KF would have to be more potent than anything we've tried so far, including even Sav. An in form duo of Smith and Stanley is huge.

 

[goyoucatters]

Disagree. It hasn't been tested this year, yet lesser quality players like Buzza have been. Swapping Smith and Stanley from ruck to KF would have to be more potent than anything we've tried so far, including even Sav. An in form duo of Smith and Stanley is huge.

Fair enough. I would have thought the form of both players through much of the year is ample reason why it hasn't been tested. Only in the last few weeks has either player started bringing respectable results as a ruck in either the seniors or the Bankers.

Buzz is clearly not the answer. But I would much prefer Harry up forward to either Rhys or Zac. Rhys could mark a few but his conversion is likely to be extremely questionable. And I don't believe Zac is more likely to get his hands on the ball up forward than the Q9.

But if HT can't get up (and in the absence of the games that would be rightly pumped into Esava, if available), you might just get your wish.