Review Cats bake Pies by 54 points

[kickazz]

Interesting that McRae gave Pendlebury 3 votes and yet Scott didn't think he was in the best 5 players on the ground.

I guess coaches can be clouded by their own biased assessment of their own players, but I can't see how Pendlebury's game was more impactful than Holmes. If the split of those votes between McRae and Scott is correct, and McRae didn't have Holmes in the best 5 players on the ground - but had Pendlebury in the top 3 in a side beaten by 9 goals, then it makes the system of coaches votes somewhat questionable.

Coaches will always have a bit of a bias to their own players.

And I don't think a big margin precludes someone from a losing side being in the top 5 players necessarily (25 players is a lot and I've seen some amazing performances in well beaten sides. Indeed it can make it harder for you!). Particularly if Pendles had a specific job the coach wanted him to do and he did it well - others may just not see it.

 

[Lana]

So we got Bailey Smith for picks 17 and 38.

Is this not the greatest heist of the modern era?

20 and a seven pick slide from the late 30s, two of which were academy matches of our bids

 

[Munich]

Really loved his work this year. Massive improvement on what he showed in '25.

Still very raw, but he's learning quickly. An absolute specimen athletically too, and perfectly suited to modern footy.

Wouldn't mind a debut, but if they're going to risk it, it's probably going to take until the last month when we play Richmond and Essendon. Dangerfield alluded to it in the pre-season that we'd be light on for blooding kids with the draw we've got this year.

Another pre-season, and he's every chance of being best 23 IMO

I forgot about this guy, who was touted as the best import yet?

 

[devilsnap]

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I forgot about this guy, who was touted as the best import yet?

I'd say he'd still be behind Mullin. Mullin was a proper generational talent over there.

Somewhere inbetween MOC and Mullin IMO, and MOC was no slouch himself either coming over.

The thing with him, is athletically he can be developed pretty much anywhere on the ground, which hasn't been the case with the other two.

 

[Baudolino]

I'd say he'd still be behind Mullin. Mullin was a proper generational talent over there.

Somewhere inbetween MOC and Mullin IMO, and MOC was no slouch himself either coming over.

The thing with him, is athletically he can be developed pretty much anywhere on the ground, which hasn't been the case with the other two.

Any theories about what position you think he'll end up playing for us long-term?

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Votes are in!

Holmes is 5th overall, and Smith into 8th overall.

A classic Selwood/Stevie J vote sharing year to keep each other out the brownlow from the dash brothers here i think

 

[Pollywaffle]

It's good to have the old close back

 

[Mr Meow]

A classic Selwood/Stevie J vote sharing year to keep each other out the brownlow from the dash brothers here i think

Selwood definitely cost GAJ in 2008 and 2010 too. He was 5th and 7th when Ablett was 3rd and 2nd.

 

[Mr Meow]

View attachment 2608309

It wasn't enjoyable when it was cigar but no Close.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I used to have a bit of time for him and the way he went about it. Lately though he has seemed a bit unhinged - not in a Ross Lyon way, but he's heading down that path.

As I commented on earlier, I watched his presser closely after the game and he just seemed very weird in the way he answered questions and spoke generally. I looked at him and thought something was off.

Reckon this one shook him. Was his best throw at the stumps against this 2026 forward handball game style and it was so far wide it's shocking

 

[CatToTheFuture]

" The Italian Job " - Michael Caine and Benny Hill - hah

I have to watch that movie. On my list of classics to see

 

[cats_09]

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

By the way, if you're enjoying Oisin Mullin's work lately, you're gonna love the latest Irish recruit coming through the VFL right now. Of course it's very early days, but Cillian Burke has great physical traits and some real potential. Check this nice clip (by Jake from the Chaps Chat Cats podcast)..

Was over for the Adelaide game and saw him speak at the Pivots function.
Very well spoken young man but boy is he built !
Was standing next to Kolo who is a big unit himself and there wasn't much difference size wise.
Would hate to be in his way with him coming at full pace...............

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Directly into veins

 

[CatToTheFuture]

It wasn't enjoyable when it was cigar but no Close.

And now i realise the initial joke sailed over my head in clean air

 

[joe444]

I had to chuckle when they mentioned how many disposals he's averaging and how it was "ridiculous" or "incredible" or whatever.

Considering their entire game plan revolves around giving him the ball (and seemingly not much else), and he goes out of his way to avoid any contact whatsoever, it's not that incredible at all.

View attachment naicos.mp4

 

[allrighty]

Great second half though.

Good that he got rewarded by goals, but I thought it was by far the best Ollie Henry has looked. Was working so much harder all game.

Extremely pleased to see Pendlebury get praised relentlessly for a good first quarter (and he was early), but not a murmur once his direct opponent in Bailey Smith murdered him the longer it went. Smith isn't the best kick but his running is relentless. Yet again we see Daicos does not like close physical attention, nor will he put his head over the ball. Nor will he tackle and chase. How other teams don't do this more (or better) is crazy. He's their only gameplan.

As solid a team performance as I can remember.

Agree on all of that. Naicos is the media and AFL darling because he is clickbait.

The AFL website review of the game/votes etc today was all about the Pies. We were basically an adjunct to their limelight performance, led by Pendelbury. It gets very tedious.

Money talks

 

[The rabbi]

We probably should agree to disagree Rabs. I like you too much to argue.
But he was shit in the Box Hill game and came back in. Doesn't really scream dropped to find form to me.

But whatever.
He played well tonight and hopefully next Thursday or the game after we add more class with Miers.

You don't have A.V.
In the early hours of the morning I saw a very recent video (obviously recorded over the weekend or Friday night) where Chris Scott said something like, "We don't usually condition our players in the AFL team".
If I recall correctly, it was with regard to Miers' game in the magoos.
That comment struck me straight away.
On that evidence, it would simply be stubbornness from me not to concede your point.

Edited.

 

[Mr Meow]

You don't have A.V.
In the early hours of the morning I saw a very recent video (obviously recorded over the weekend or Friday night) where Chris Scott said something like, "We don't usually condition our players in the AFL team".
If I recall correctly, it was with regard to Miers' game in the magoos.
On that evidence, it would simply be stubbornness not to concede your point.

How does that dispute that Close's temporary exclusion from the AFL team was due to a fitness/conditioning issue instead of "being dropped to find form"?

 

[allrighty]

View attachment 2608165

Great show!

 

[allrighty]

Yes he is good at this and can provide the long get out option when we are under a bit of pressure.

Keen to see how we use him this Thursday night. Andrews has the better of him and I think we need to come up with a way to keep Andrews away from long bombs forward. THat could mean not bombing it long forward, or trying to get Andrews up the ground to follow Neale, or even Neale sacrificing his game a bit to try and drag ANdrews away from the danger areas.

Yes, just what I said earlier.

 

[The rabbi]

How does that dispute that Close's temporary exclusion from the AFL team was due to a fitness/conditioning issue instead of "being dropped to find form"?

It may not completely defeat the argument, but it does make much harder to maintain, imho.

 

[Mr Meow]

It may not completely defeat the argument, but it does make much harder to maintain, imho.

I don't understand that logic, because Scott said Close was managed due to a conditioning issue and would be straight back into the 1s regardless of form (which he was, after a pretty poor VFL game). He was then managed again after actually playing well against West Coast - why would they do that otherwise? Then Close came back in against Port, looked to be struggling for match fitness but was selected again the next 2 weeks and has finally started moving much better. The Collingwood game was 2 months after he was excluded from the side due to match fitness. Well, he's looking a lot fitter.

Anyway, there is an alternative theory but this is mine and it integrates Scott's words with my observations of the games.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Any theories about what position you think he'll end up playing for us long-term?

I'd say a powerful half-back with pace with some stints in the midfield.

I wouldn't mind if we could turn him into a Kolo replacement though with a bit more offensive drive, like Mark Keane at Adelaide.