Preview Rd 22 Cats V Bombers Fri Aug 8th 2025 735 pm @ GMHBA

[allrighty]

There isn't a both about it, Manyard was only going for the man.

Stewart is lucky Wines wasn't hurt, I don't like their injury based judgement, it should be entirely based on the action. He should have been suspended. I see has no different jumping when going for a bump, where poor execution or clumsiness isn't an excuse for a shit action.

As for marking contests, it think it comes down to make a decision that predictable cause and effect leading to injury.

They've already stamped out leading with the leg. the late "spoil" that was just a way to wack an opponent in the head.

Maybe he should have put a foot out and kicked him in the nuts. He would've been clear.

 

[jim boy]

There isn't a both about it, Manyard was only going for the man.

Stewart is lucky Wines wasn't hurt, I don't like their injury based judgement, it should be entirely based on the action. He should have been suspended. I see has no different jumping when going for a bump, where poor execution or clumsiness isn't an excuse for a shit action.

I disagree that Maynard was going for the man - what he did was when he realised a collision was inevitable he turned his shoulder to Brayshaw to protect himself with no care to protect Brayshaw. Looking at the Stewart incident, once Stewart realised a collision was inevitable, he seemed to bend forward more to take some momentum of the hip, as well as try and push himself against Wines to reduce the impact. There was still impact but Stewart's actions to reduce impact meant that Wines was able to pick himself up with minimal injury, whilst Brayshaw was knocked senseless.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Henry concussion protocols last week and Martin firing up forward. I doubt he gets back in at all this season. Would be happy to see Conway and Clark though

The way Henry was performing, he was always in trouble once Martin got fit.

Martin is a better player and can play multiple roles.

 

[Mini Dustin Fletcher]

Can you guys rest Danger, Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

, Max Holmes, Jezza?? please...Thank you

 

[cats_09]

Can you guys rest Danger, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Jezza?? please...Thank you

Would 1 out of 4 be ok?

We'll even make it 3 out of 4 if you promise to allow Jezza to kick 15 goals

 

[Strange Cat]

Can you guys rest Danger, Bailey Smith, Max Holmes, Jezza?? please...Thank you

Sorry best we can do is rest Danger

 

[cats_09]

Training day photos

 

[Gunf]

Training day photos

I like when the girls and boys train together

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I think most would agree with holding Conway back and getting another pre-season into him.

The comments about playing him this week are more to do with having a back-up that has at least one senior AFL game under his belt before finals. I think we all agree that Stanley is the better option and deserves to be based on his 2025 output. But if Stanley get's injured, and Blicavs to the ruck leaves holes elsewhere on the ground, then I think this week is as good as any to give big red a taste.

I also think it's a bit of reward for resilience shown by him over what's been a challenging 2 year period.

And also getting Stanley some more rest. The old man needs a full night with his feet up

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Maynard wasn't going for the spoil, he wanted to hurt Brayshaw

It certainly looked to me like Maynard tucked his shoulder in to connect. Stewart put his hands down to cushion

 

[cats_09]

 

[Mattttty]

It certainly looked to me like Maynard tucked his shoulder in to connect. Stewart put his hands down to cushion

This. Stewart did it right here. Not always easy, of course, but this is exactly what the AFL wants to see - when you realise contact is inevitable, make some kind of move to cushion or minimise impact.

 

[standupand]

Pretty honest view about the fans. Must have copped a bit of negative stuff over the fence in his first few years at the club?

 

[iameviljez]

Pretty honest view about the fans. Must have copped a bit of negative stuff over the fence in his first few years at the club?

Go back to 2021 and there was no shortage of people lining up in this forum to potshot him, especially after he had a little brain fart (in an otherwise pretty good game) in the 2020 GF.

A forward who doesn't kick goals, shirks the contest, butchers the ball, etc etc etc. Then at the end of 2022, it started to click a little more for him.

 

[cats_09]

Go back to 2021 and there was no shortage of people lining up in this forum to potshot him, especially after he had a little brain fart (in an otherwise pretty good game) in the 2020 GF.

A forward who doesn't kick goals, shirks the contest, butchers the ball, etc etc etc. Then at the end of 2022, it started to click a little more for him.

His kicking style...

Kid you not that even earlier this season when he was a little patchy after his concussion that there were calls on socials for him to be dropped to the VFL "until he learns to kick properly"

 

[standupand]

Go back to 2021 and there was no shortage of people lining up in this forum to potshot him, especially after he had a little brain fart (in an otherwise pretty good game) in the 2020 GF.

A forward who doesn't kick goals, shirks the contest, butchers the ball, etc etc etc. Then at the end of 2022, it started to click a little more for him.

Us cats fans can be relatively harsh on our own and relatively kind/welcoming to the opposition at times.

Also easy to underestimate how much negative criticism can sting, even when it's anonymous.

I hope the players don't spend too much time reading views on these kind of forums.

 

[moruyatom]

Surely this is a perfect opportunity to give Conway and Maybe C Guthrie a run in the seniors. Would love to see it

 

[iameviljez]

Surely this is a perfect opportunity to give Conway and Maybe C Guthrie a run in the seniors. Would love to see it

Guthrie needs a number of low game time runs in the twos first

 

[cats_09]

Surely this is a perfect opportunity to give Conway and Maybe C Guthrie a run in the seniors. Would love to see it

I can kinda understand Conway but would think that the club would want to see more than 2 managed minute VFL games from him before any senior games this season

But on what basis would Guthrie earn a call up? He's played 2 VFL games on managed minutes, then hurt his calf again in the first quarter of his third game and hasn't played for over 60 days

I know we're playing Essendon who aren't traveling all that well - but selecting a guy who last played 4 quarters of football without some form of match management over 300 days ago, wouldn't seem to be very smart by the coaches

 

[cats_09]

Guthrie needs a number of low game time runs in the twos first

We've got 2 VFL regular season games left and if the various permutations go our way we could squeeze into finals - not sure Guthrie has enough time to get to a level of match fitness before AFL finals

 

[Mangy Carl]

Guthrie is no chance this year. There is no way the MC could have any faith in his body at the moment.
Conway is a maybe, but with 3 games before the pre-finals bye, and Stanley managed for a half last week, the MC are probably comfortable with how Stanley is travelling.
Danger is another maybe for a week off, however he also only played a half vs North so may not need it (again, with the bye in 3 weeks).
They managed Martin for a half last game, so he should be cherry ripe going forward.

Cameron is probably the one that has been a bit sore lately, and could do with a freshen up.... But there is no chance of that happening

 

[iameviljez]

We've got 2 VFL regular season games left and if the various permutations go our way we could squeeze into finals - not sure Guthrie has enough time to get to a level of match fitness before AFL finals

I agree, and on that basis I strongly suspect that Cam has sadly played his last AFL game already.

Even if he did manage to not hurt himself, I don't know that he actually gets straight in on ability alone. He's almost 33, he's not played AFL for over a year, and has only played four pretty middling games in the last two and a half seasons.

The 'droppables' - Mullin, O'Connor, Martin and Bowes - are probably ahead of him at the moment, as they're fully fit, in pretty decent form, and in the case of Mullin and Bowes, have scope for improvement with more games.

 

[Gunf]

Guthrie has 0 chance of getting a game this year unless it is as the sub last round as a farewell game

 

[cats_09]

Not at all relevant to Friday night but for those who may not look at our 2025 Fixture thread

 

[petrolium]

I think this will be a lot closer than people think (<60 points). Essendon were not too far off vs Sydney last week. We will also be resting a few players and will be prioritising staying injury free over boosting % (our % is already very strong). It’ll be interesting to see what our team line-up will be as it will give us an insight into how we are approaching this game.