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

 

[allrighty]

I have no idea what I would do with Stanley. On one hand he plays a key role and allows Blicavs to play back.

On the other do we need a small back like Bews instead and on top of this I don’t think Rhys has ever been good coming back from time off. He usually needs time to get going again.

Always play the best available team you have IMO

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Sounds like my sex life

Mate long term relationships aren't that harmful

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Toxicity. Don't even think about it- for complex medical issues only.
In the USA they have many deaths per year with home (mis) users of oxygen, because their environment (lounge chair) has caught fire while they doze.

If you want a cautionary tale here is an aeronautical engineering podcast that talks about the death of Valentin Bondarenko who was in cosmonaut training in a high oxygen pressure chamber that caught fire.

Gruesome

 

[Play it Sam]

If you want a cautionary tale here is an aeronautical engineering podcast that talks about the death of Valentin Bondarenko who was in cosmonaut training in a high oxygen pressure chamber that caught fire.

Gruesome

Maybe tomorrow, still on a ticket high.
Or if we lose, red in hand.

Looks interesting though, ta.

 

[FootyIslanders]

Is the match time in title a typo, isn’t it 2.30pm? I’m expecting to need to stay awake until 3.30 am, not 4.30 am lol.

 

[IMCat]

Is the match time in title a typo, isn’t it 2.30pm? I’m expecting to need to stay awake until 3.30 am, not 4.30 am lol.

Yes, it is 2:30pm

 

[small 4wards]

on the subject of Smith's brother, they pointed Smith and his family/friends after the game and Lyon said something along the lines of 'must be family, I can see a mullet or two" like a style of haircut is actually genetic rather than a choice.

 

[Mr Meow]

on the subject of Smith's brother, they pointed Smith and his family/friends after the game and Lyon said something along the lines of 'must be family, I can see a mullet or two" like a style of haircut is actually genetic rather than a choice.

You never know what bumbling nonsense is going to leave Lyon's mouth. He also kept saying it was Smith's first ever prelim.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Anyone going to open training today?

 

[Sydney Malakellis]

 

[joe444]

Anyone else oddly calm? I was far more agitated about the first two finals. The first because I needed to see validation we had what it takes, the second because of the cosmic unfairness of being mugged by Hawthorn.

This one? Contrary to my initial instinct that we'd win the QF and then lose the GF due to Brisbane adjusting, I think the Lions are actually:

- a tad incapable scoring-wise. A CHF in his 8th game against our defence? Nah, no matter how many times I hear about his potential or that he looked okay against the swiss cheese that Collingwood's key backmen represent.

- struggle to apply pressure. They've vowed to do it this time and perhaps they can. But the Lions board all year has been infuriated by the fact that only Dunkley seems to be willing to tackle.

- slower than I thought. Even the Ashcrofts; I think that's why Marshall stood out so much recently.

- wedded to only one game plan, which is the same game plan they brought to the table in last year's Grand Final. The stats across the finals compared to last year's GF tell it all:


What Sydney allowed the Lions to do last year was an absolute disgrace, but more or less it's what Gold Coast and Collingwood let them do, too.

I'm just not sure the Lions are capable of change. I'm not even sure they have the smartest coaching box either. They'll come out all fired up to tackle - sure, it's a bloody Grand Final.

We're the ones who've adjusted; I don't think they can.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Anyone going to open training today?

Yeahya!

 

[sleep]

 

[Stab Pass]

It will be interesting to see the matchups. I reckon Mullin will go to Ashcroft, they'll let Axe lose on McCluggage and MOC to Raynor again, as much because I reckon it would be in Raynor's head and he'll get frustrated by the close attention. Andrews is the interesting one. In the QF most thought he had the better of Scratcher but he only had 8 marks. The next two finals he had 14 against the Suns and 13 against the Pies. He had 3 intercept marks against us but 7 against the Suns and 5 against the Pies. So whilst he still had an influence, Scratcher reduced it significantly over what it could have been. Scratcher is a pretty quick learner so I reckon he'll be better again this time around. The unsung spare parts man, Bowes, will go back to free up Zuthrie in the Stewart role. I'd bring Stanley in and let he and Blitz tag team as they did in 2022.

They are banged up and I think we are the better side but we need to ramp up the pressure to a Spinal Tap 11 and take away their kick/mark game. Grand Finals are hard to get to, we need to make the most of this opportunity.

 

[Vdubs]

Can we put Dangerfield through a hyperbaric chamber for a day or two or if an abundance of caution?

with JH

 

[Footy Smarts]

My only worry is that we're a bit banged up now too. Stewart out and question marks over Henry, Stanley and Martin.

If we can stop their rebound I think we can exploit their lack of running power (lots of youngsters and 2x rucks).

 

[bulletproof]

What is the question mark over Martin? I spoke to an old Swans medical person about the 2022 Grand Final, and he said, he couldn’t believe they played Reid. He said there are some guys you can risk, and some you can’t.

I would Martin in the Reid category if he has an injury.

 

[bulletproof]

So are the Selection options:

Stanley for Stewart and Clark sub.

Bews for Stewart and Clark sub.

Clark for Stewart into 22 and someone like Knevitt sub.

Henry’s issue probably gets Stanley the nod.

 

[cats_09]

Anyone going to open training today?

I was thinking about it

 

[fpm84]

My only worry is that we're a bit banged up now too. Stewart out and question marks over Henry, Stanley and Martin.

If we can stop their rebound I think we can exploit their lack of running power (lots of youngsters and 2x rucks).

Don't know if there's a question mark over Stanley - he was medically fit to play on Friday and we did the conservative thing, he'll be even more cherry ripe this weekend. Will have missed three weeks (2x finals plus the bye), the last time he did his hammy mid-season he missed two.

Bigger issue for him might be a bit of rust which hopefully can shake off early into the match.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Commando]

We could easily be in blue...

Anyway

 

[joe444]

View attachment 2433387
We could easily be in blue...

Anyway

hehe rayner on a poster. Every time you stick it up it falls down again.

 

[Gunf]

View attachment 2433387
We could easily be in blue...

Anyway

You think they would have put Neale, Suitcase, Dunkley or Andrews in that pic but nope they had to to floppy

 

[Cataholic]

It will be interesting to see the matchups. I reckon Mullin will go to Ashcroft, they'll let Axe lose on McCluggage and MOC to Raynor again, as much because I reckon it would be in Raynor's head and he'll get frustrated by the close attention. Andrews is the interesting one. In the QF most thought he had the better of Scratcher but he only had 8 marks. The next two finals he had 14 against the Suns and 13 against the Pies. He had 3 intercept marks against us but 7 against the Suns and 5 against the Pies. So whilst he still had an influence, Scratcher reduced it significantly over what it could have been. Scratcher is a pretty quick learner so I reckon he'll be better again this time around. The unsung spare parts man, Bowes, will go back to free up Zuthrie in the Stewart role. I'd bring Stanley in and let he and Blitz tag team as they did in 2022.

They are banged up and I think we are the better side but we need to ramp up the pressure to a Spinal Tap 11 and take away their kick/mark game. Grand Finals are hard to get to, we need to make the most of this opportunity.

Bias aside, I think most neutral footy fans would have Geelong pegged as favourites, but I still think Brisbane should be given a lot of respect.

Yes, they're a little banged up, and we did them comfortably last time, but for mine that makes them dangerous.

We have our own issues with Stewart's absence, Henry's foot, Stanley's hammy and the fact that the Lions will know what to expect.

They'll have watched the last game in slo-mo and analysed our tags, ball movement and strategies.

They'll come out as a snarling underdog with nothing to lose, and a bloodstream full of adrenaline.

Respect them we must.

If the boys go out thinking their mere presence will bring the win we'll be in trouble. Underestimating the Lions will be to our peril.

They'll want to smash us out of the middle, CC will want to ride his bike again, and Rayner will want to get one back on us.

This isn't a fait accompli.

It all comes down to whether or not the boys can work harder, win more clearances, effect more intercepts, and kick straighter than the Lions.

It's all for nought if they don't and can't.

Attitude, attitude, attitude.

We can do it, but we have to understand that we need to do it better for longer on Saturday.

Let's go!