Review Cats down North by 49 points

[Play it Sam]

What is the point of having Stanley on the list if he can’t spell Edwards? Seriously the kid should have had a break this week.

Welcome back Shaun and Brad.

He wrote Edwoods? Rhys was never much good at spelling.

 

[geelongpower]

It will be hard to spell him if blicavs isnt fit for next week. I doubt they want to play stanley on the mcg. But I agree he needs a week off.

Edwards was badly beaten however he gave me the impression that he did pay well in the last quarter.

 

[bombersboy]

Best (Geelong) kicking action I've seen for years.

Best kicking action period

 

[Generalissimo]

Best kicking action period

Mark Williams was also great to watch, but I reckon Scratcher has another 5m of distance in him.

 

[bombersboy]

Not having a proper ruck is going to cost us multiple games this year (and has already) but in 4 or 5 years Edwards is going to be really good. Best ruck we have drafted in a long time.

It will not take Edwards 4 or 5 years to be really good. He will get there in 2-3

 

[winty]

Nick Dal Santo: "We haven't seen Geelong at 4-3 at this point of the season for a while."

Hey Nick, we were 4-3 with a similar percentage back in 2022.

Posted this in the gameday thread, but was just looking - under Chris Scott, we were 4-3 after 7 rounds in 2012, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025 and again this year. In three of those years we made the grand final, and in another couple we made the Prelim.

Good to see Nick Dal Santo does his research.

 

[Mr Meow]

Mark Williams was also great to watch, but I reckon Scratcher has another 5m of distance in him.

Those reliable set shot goals are such a steadier for us. It's helped us establish momentum in a few games and I think every Cat is delighted when Neale takes a mark inside 50 - big pressure reliever.

 

[bombersboy]

His ruck work is really promising. But i worry about his inability to provide any marking presense around the ground,

It will come as he gets stronger.

 

[iameviljez]

It will not take Edwards 4 or 5 years to be really good. He will get there in 2-3

I present the Geelong Young Promising Footballer Arc:
Sam De Koning:

2022: No expectations, surprised and delighted <------ (you are here)
2023: Injury setbacks
2024: Perceived stagnation, questioning of desire/commitment/ticker
2025: General upset when comparing to the rose-tinted memories of when we expected zero from the player
2026: Body for AFL, suddenly considered an important and dependable prime mover.

 

[iameviljez]

Edwards needs a spell. That was bad

I'd suggest that we keep playing him till he needs the break.

Xerri would have beaten the shit out of a 35yo Rhys Stanley, so I'd rather cop a beating while getting another senior game into Edwards.

The good news, for mine, is that I don't think he was beaten for skill or smarts. He was beaten for being skinnier than the man-mountain from North.

 

[iameviljez]

I don't recall kent kingsley being such a bad kick ? Time distorts our memories though.
Henry Playfair may be a better example

There was one year in particular where he was an absolute lottery (2004). Got the yips very very badly.

 

[cats_09]

Another WTF moment. . .Prior to the game

More than likely irrelevant to young supporters, probably to many diehard supporters here at BF

Yet here we are, Scotty has sneered at huddle cuddles.

Tonight, huddle cuddles

View attachment 2600187

Obviously why we won

That's the standard pre-match huddle - once the guys have finished their warmup & the captain has made his way to the coin toss, the rest of the 22 get together in a huddle before the captain comes back with any last minute words and the players break away to their starting positions

 

[Mr Meow]

I present the Geelong Young Promising Footballer Arc:
Sam De Koning:

2022: No expectations, surprised and delighted <------ (you are here)
2023: Injury setbacks
2024: Perceived stagnation, questioning of desire/commitment/ticker
2025: General upset when comparing to the rose-tinted memories of when we expected zero from the player
2026: Body for AFL, suddenly considered an important and dependable prime mover.

Also, SDK's supposed incapability as a KPD in 2025 was vastly overstated. He had a few forgettable moments but you'd think he was playing like a Bulldogs KPD from some of the theatrical overreactions. 2023 and 2024 were disappointing but 2025-2026 have seen a steady uptick that is now getting to a level where the odd bit of praise finally goes his way.

 

[bombersboy]

I present the Geelong Young Promising Footballer Arc:
Sam De Koning:

2022: No expectations, surprised and delighted <------ (you are here)
2023: Injury setbacks
2024: Perceived stagnation, questioning of desire/commitment/ticker
2025: General upset when comparing to the rose-tinted memories of when we expected zero from the player
2026: Body for AFL, suddenly considered an important and dependable prime mover.

It may be the trajectory that Edwards takes but I think that Edwards has a real liking for the contest which will take him a long way while his body develops. May track more like Cos. I also meant 2-3 years from now but could see that being 1-2.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It's poor form to dismiss a very valid physical explanation given his management (twice) and poor movement so far in 2026. He always takes a couple of games to get going as opposed to some who are great first up.

Look its possible and the bottom line is only the club fitness staff know. But on what I am seeing week to week it doesnt look like it is all im saying.

 

[Mr Meow]

Look its possible and the bottom line is only the club fitness staff know. But on what I am seeing week to week it doesnt look like it is all im saying.

As long as both explanations are acknowledged as being possible, that's fine. You're allowed to have an opinion, but were so definitive about it being entirely a mental thing when many observations could also point to physical struggles.

 

[Glassjaw]

I don't recall kent kingsley being such a bad kick ? Time distorts our memories though.
Henry Playfair may be a better example

To be fair I don't remember that well either I just always loved the name Kant Kicksley lol

 

[Pure_Ownage]

What is the point of having Stanley on the list if he can’t spell Edwards? Seriously the kid should have had a break this week.

Welcome back Shaun and Brad.

Look stanley was never going to play afl footy much this year. The point of him is a ruck coach to help educate Edwards in training without impacting the soft cap. But we really did need another mature ruck to help us manage Edwards workload and its going to be a problem this year.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Look stanley was never going to play afl footy much this year.

You're surmising that based on how the early season has started out, and maybe this pivot to Edwards came down to preseason. But to say "never" suggests the list management team kept him on the list with no intention of playing and thus should have been delisted or pushed into retirement.

You do love the statement of authority without any basis for that authority.
You have absolutely no way of knowing the intention on list lodgment day 2025 was for Stanley not to play much footy. He played 19 games last season.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

Still haven’t seen the second half but sounded like we played well for some of third and fourth. Will probably watch when I get home whenever that may be as still out at the party!

 

[Tony Barber]

Still haven’t seen the second half but sounded like we played well for some of third and fourth. Will probably watch when I get home whenever that may be as still out at the party!

It's an 18th. Grandma's need to realise when they are just invading young peoples space and go home.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

Holmes put the team on his back from half back/defensive side of stoppages and Cameron/Mannagh were excellent in attack. Those 3 can take a bow but Holmes was the key.

COS did a great job in defence and besides one horrible moment getting caught HTB, Guthrie found some form too.

Been waiting for a Holmes game like this for a while. With his running power / metres gained, he needs to be that kind of player.

At his best he's devastating.

Absolutely unfair comparison, but I remember with Ablett Jnr, the pace and carry came earlier than the ability to lower the eyes and make sure the delivery was optimal.

When Holmes can consistently find the best options with his disposal regularly, he'll be a weapon.

 

[Mr Meow]

Been waiting for a Holmes game like this for a while. With his running power / metres gained, he needs to be that kind of player.

At his best he's devastating.

Absolutely unfair comparison, but I remember with Ablett Jnr, the pace and carry came earlier than the ability to lower the eyes and make sure the delivery was optimal.

When Holmes can consistently find the best options with his disposal regularly, he'll be a weapon.

He's been a weapon for 2.5 seasons: 2x BnFs in prelim and grand final teams, over 190 coaches votes in the same period, elite in 2 different positions and easily could have been All Australian twice. Great in finals until his unfortunate dud 2025 GF (he had 20 mates). He will have more coaches votes than Smith after this weekend and could very well be leading the BnF.

Holmes can still improve but I think a lot of people tend to under sell the impact he's had so far, overemphasising negatives and downplaying positives.

He can get more goals if we give him a license to go inside 50 but there's clear instruction to position him closer to half back for most of our attacking sequences. That's why he's constantly kicking from 120-80m to goal and has high intercept numbers.

 

[Cats_R_Cool_4_Ever]

It's an 18th. Grandma's need to realise when they are just invading young peoples space and go home.

I’m only 41 nearly 42 plus it’s my nieces 18th

 

[Art Vandelay_]

I’m only 41 nearly 42 plus it’s my nieces 18th

I wouldn't worry about Vinum. He's just a fuddy duddy with a few too many skippable anecdotes.