List Mgmt. 2021 Team & Beyond...

[allrighty]

How much longer does Selwood keep the captaincy before he hands it over to someone? Who out of our youngsters have shown any leadership quality to captain the club in future?? Stewart? Simpson has shown some leadership but maybe he's more very long term.

Stewart

 

[Kyuss]

I dont think Joel will give up the captaincy until he retires.

But +1 for Stewart in the future. Speaks well and I think is more of a natural leader than Duncan or Blicavs.
Don't see the point giving it to Danger for only a year or 2.

 

[TomsBulgingDisc]

I hope Narkle or Cockatoo stays. I think we should go hard to keep Narkle.

Selwood is a hard one. Could he go to defence like Mathew Boyd did at the Western Bulldogs and be a General back there? Could he play as a forward flank?

Maybe best spot is limited minutes in midfield and come in and impact games in bursts.

I'd like to see Selwood as a sml fwd. He's a reasonable kick for goal, can read a ball off hands and loooooves a free kick in heavy traffic.

 

[Chinacats]

longer quarters and season won’t help them. Midfield too old to carry them all year. So we need younger midfielders and a squad mentality. Selwood, Hendo, Dangerfield, Tommy, Duncan etc should have games off during the year A mental dip is coming I think.

 

[Baudolino]

A big question for me going in to 2021 is whether Guthrie and Menegola can back up their work this year. Was 2020 a one-off or can they consolidate their progress? If their 2020 level is the new normal then our midfield is probably set. If it's an outlier then we might have more trouble than we think.

 

[Down at K Park]

Apologies if this is overly negative on Cameron, it's not meant to be. I posted the below elsewhere in regards to the cats chucking it ask in the get Jez:

With two KPFs in the wet we lose a substantial amount of forward half defensive pressure. Last night we lost the game in the middle while our forward mix was mostly right.

Where we and other sides have held ground on Richmond is having strong defensive efforts in f50 otherwise you get slaughtered on the rebound.

I think the MC would be looking at last night and thinking Cameron would have made us actively worse not better.


So what's the cats strategy going forward?

Well on paper they'd be copying west coast 2018 for 2021. Not only has this not beaten Richmond at the MCG but is the polar opposite of what the cats have done since Richmond became the dominant team.

To take advantage of this they need fast ball movement. They currently do not have a system that generates consistently fast ball movement.

It's also debatable whether this is the right strategy for a side that plays at KP. Where it's easier to sag off your man to spoil and so you need good ground level work.

Now bearing in mind that the cats have been chasing Cameron for years as a Hawkins replacement, unofficial offers etc will have been made long in advance of this year.

Those unofficial offers would have been made in a context where Hawkins was seen to be either trailing off the end of his career or outright retiring this year.

That brings us to second aspect here which is the looming ruck situation at the cats.

With Harry Taylor retiring, barring Sam DeKoning putting on 5kgs of muscle before rd 1 Blitz will shift to FB.

Suddenly Stanley has no back up from Blitz in the ruck anywhere outside d50. Hawkins can help a bit in f50 but not through the middle.

We would normally look to Sav as a ruck forward chopping out Stanley but if we are playing Jez + Hawk + Sav then we would have no f50 defensive pressure at all and we'd be really badly exposed on the rebound against sides like the Tigers.

So the MC have a problem here. How do they shoehorn 2 KPFs into a playing style designed for 1?

The cats did not plan for this problem.

So to stay in the window they probably need Hawkins to retire or not recruit Jez at all. Because without pressure forwards preventing rebounds they'll get slaughtered by Richmond


So where does that leave the cats?

Jez has asked to get out now so there's no going back.

The cats are in a situation where the value he adds is only really in a post Hawkins world.

That's looking like 2023 now not 2021 and so the timing means that in the first year he truly adds value as KPF half our midfield is retired and he turns 30.

They can't really retire Hawkins after the year he had, they can't trade in Jez and not play him, they can't lose Blitz ruck work and not play Sav.

So while the value of Jez in the general market is high, any trade for him has a high probability of closing the premiership window for 2021.

Scott might make it work but there have to be wholesale changes to the midfield and its a low probability

So what's a fair trade for Jez if your list of things given up includes your shot at the 2021 premiership?

Richmond have riewoldt and lynch. And cameron is pretty mobile for a kpf. I don’t see any issue playing him and hawkins.

 

[catman2006]

We have tried Selsy off the half back line and didn't work, his best position is in the midfield but would like him to have an extended holiday for next year and come in around r6, it showed with Ablett this year players can have extended breaks and still retain some type of form

 

[CharacterFirst]

How much longer does Selwood keep the captaincy before he hands it over to someone? Who out of our youngsters have shown any leadership quality to captain the club in future?? Stewart? Simpson has shown some leadership but maybe he's more very long term.

He has it until retirement, I would think.

 

[dazbroncos]

It’s tough to see where we go from here. Clearly Scott’s game plan isn’t good enough to beat Richmond. It needs everything to be perfect which isn’t possible.

Every year I seem to say the same things though. We need to play our players in their best positions. That means blitz back, 2e back, danger mid, Miers forward. We always play extra defenders, I’d rather play an extra mid.

2 tall forwards are needed and getting Cameron would be the answer but I also think sav will be a good player so hopefully we keep him.

There are also question marks regarding the ruck (like always) Stanley is serviceable but fragile.

We will be competitive again next year but unfortunately I think we’ve just blown our best chance at a flag for quite a while.

Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Miers, Stanley all miss gettable shots on goal. How is the game plan at fault here when the scoring shots that miss kill us.
Also, Kolo and Blitz turning the ball over in back 50 leading to turn over goals on the back of skill errors.

Just seems like the game plan is the low hanging fruit to cop the blame at times.

GO Cattesr

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Blitz will probably go back with H retiring.

Blitz has been rucking from the wing anyway so I'm not sure if you've seen that as a problem before the GF or just now.

Blitz back. Cameron replaces Rohan. Danger more time in the mid. I see no problems there.

That is the problem though. Blitz in the backline means that he can't take bounces/ throw ins away from d50 without leaving a hole. The whole defensive set up relies on having f50 pressure forwards and Rohan has the ground level leg speed to spread defenders then chase and affect the disposal. Cameron is outstanding as a tall forward but if it does come to ground and 3 of the forwards are over 198cm then it's likely going coast to coast at speed.

It's a unique opportunity and we would annihilate sides but it also creates a defensive hole right where the best team in the comp has its biggest strategic advantage.

I'm sure we could make it work with time, analysis, training, etc. But how much time do we have?

I could wrong bu it feels a lot like the time we added GAJ to the midfield and got opened up the other way to me. Needs to come with a lot more structural change than Rohan out Cameron in

 

[CharacterFirst]

FB: O'Connor Hendo Henry

HB: Stewart Blitz Clark

C: Menegola Guthrie Duncan

HF: Rohan Cameron Higgins

FF: Miers Hawkins Selwood

Foll: Stanley Parfitt Danger

Inter: 2E; Simpson; SDK/Kolo; best young mid.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

They were clearing it out of the centre quicksmart, and it was like they had 3 Mitch Duncans delivering quickly to their forwards. We dawdle it down the boundary line.

And I think we can probably replicate a lot of that clearance work with what we have but it's a clear structural shift away from what the list has been trained to do for years now

 

[Matthew Jelley]

Mock team for next season

B OConnor Henderson Stewart
HB Clark Blicavs Tuohy
C Menegola Selwood Duncan
HF Higgins Cameron Simpson
F Dalhaus Hawkins Miers
C Stanley Guthrie Dangerfield
I Henry Kreuger Parfitt Narkle
E Kolojashnij Cooper-Stephens Rohan Close

 

[strauchnyy]

1. Mindfulness mental coach to help the team seize opportunities and keep calmer under pressure so we can kick straight when it matters.

Rest is less important and I’ll post a write up later

To continue we’re I left off...

Apart from a mindfulness coach (no.1 most important thing) to improve our kicking for goal, calmness under pressure and ability to take chances, the following points are all valid in finding improvements:

2. Play Clark. He is our enright quarterback clone. We need some sharpness and attacking flair in the back half. Also some arrogant grunt and Clark has that.

3. Have a less complicated game plan. Scott’s plan is too hard for the players to execute in big games under pressure. Simplify it and make it more adaptable so that it works in big games in any weather against any opposition. Ie more knock ons, team unified, quickness on the attack, more numbers defensively at the contest and sprinting forward with the counter attack. It’ll hold up better vs tigers

4. Injection of youth in the team. Need more flair and creativity. Get a group of core young players riding together.

5. Play hard ball re Cameron. We cannot afford to give up multiple round 1s given our age profile. Not good young players. Need to hold our ground and at worst, force them to take the compo + a side trade in their favour (18 for XOH or Constable for pick 60+). If crows/saints can get their dodgy deal signed off, so can we

6. No to Higgins. We need a younger quicker team.

Round 1 team:

Fb. Clark. Blicavs. Stewart
Hb. O’Connor. Henry. Kolo
C. Menegola. Selwood. Duncan
Hf. Dahlhaus. Cameron. Miers
Ff. Danger. Hawkins. Close
Foll. Stanley. Guthrie. Parfitt
Int. Sav. Bews. Simpson. Fogarty
Emg. Rohan. henderson. Tuohy. Evans

- Cameron as the second target replacing Rohan roaming CHF
- there is room for Sav as second ruck or tall target. Blicavs staying FB
- more mobile moving attacking defenders
- if sav goes out bring in Henderson and put Blicavs as second ruck
- younger midfield with bursts from danger.

 

[Falconx]

I just hope they play Clark in the backline and not the midfield. I don't care if he is weak defensively since you can just put him up against the oppositions weakest small forward who usually does nothing anyways. It isn't as if we are going to line him up on Papley or Cameron. We seriously need someone other than Stewart who can kick and gain meters.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Richmond have riewoldt and lynch. And cameron is pretty mobile for a kpf. I don’t see any issue playing him and hawkins.

Richmond don't have an issue because they don't have to defend Richmond.

Do you have an issue with Cameron + Hawkins + Sav? Because without Sav fwd and Blitz in the backline we are a ruck short.

 

[rocker_oz33]

We need more run of HB.
Stewart our best running backmen.
Bews hit or miss mostly miss.
MOC shows signs at times.

A speedy small forward that kicks goals.
A 3rd marking forward that kicks goals.

Next will be interesting how we come out of this.
Hung over.
Or hungry.

 

[My Tilly]

Clark won't even be here next year so people need stop mentioning him in our best 22.
It will be Clark out, Higgins in.

 

[Partridge]

Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Miers, Stanley all miss gettable shots on goal. How is the game plan at fault here when the scoring shots that miss kill us.
Also, Kolo and Blitz turning the ball over in back 50 leading to turn over goals on the back of skill errors.

Just seems like the game plan is the low hanging fruit to cop the blame at times.

GO Cattesr

Precisely. It's one factor. But it isn't and has never been the only one.

The bigger one is the worst and most brutal intangible of all. Pressure. Last night showed we have very experienced players who still can't handle it. And it's not just the bottom six either (of all the myths around this Geelong team, that one should be put to bed first).

 

[rocker_oz33]

I was agaisted Missy .
But he's a good ball user.

Pity hes age tho.

Dollhouse needs to fight for he's spot IMO.
Not doing enough in he's role.

 

[goyoucatters]

Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Miers, Stanley all miss gettable shots on goal. How is the game plan at fault here when the scoring shots that miss kill us.
Also, Kolo and Blitz turning the ball over in back 50 leading to turn over goals on the back of skill errors.

Just seems like the game plan is the low hanging fruit to cop the blame at times.

GO Catters

To me, it's the very definition of 'lazy analysis', which has of course become quite the catchphrase when talking about our club.

The game plan was going just fine when we were belting them in the second, without putting it on the scoreboard.

And then, lo and behold, after the half-time break, when our effort and numbers at the contest dropped away, we suddenly looked extremely vulnerable to the 'mugby tsunami' and totally not at the races. How that's got anything much to do with the game plan (when how we were then performing clearly had very little to do with our preferred style) is seriously beyond me.

If we'd been able to hold the game on our terms for long enough, we win that match. As it was, we went away from what had been working, became passive and fumbly around the ball, and unsurprisingly got belted mercilessly by a team that thrives on perceived pressure and opponents becoming reactive.

No problems with the game plan for mine. Got us to a very handy position by the half. And as soon as we ceded control of the game to let it be played on their terms instead, we were toast.

And the sense of disintegration into Richmond's preferred method was totally palpable by the time the final quarter kicked in. Frustrated Cats fans around us began calling for the kick-ins to go long and down the middle, which is the very antithesis of the 'control' we look to maintain when the game plan is working. More than that, it's entirely embracing the chaos of which Richmond are the absolute masters. Can't see how it's a failure of the game plan (which was clearly working earlier in the match) if the players begin to get monstered around the ball and we get beaten up territorially as a result.

Surely nobody designs a remotely robust game plan on being second to the footy and playing too much of the game at your own end. If they do, perhaps they could send it through to the club, as we really could have used it to stem the bleeding in the second half last night.

 

[you pick one]

Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Miers, Stanley all miss gettable shots on goal. How is the game plan at fault here when the scoring shots that miss kill us.
Also, Kolo and Blitz turning the ball over in back 50 leading to turn over goals on the back of skill errors.

Just seems like the game plan is the low hanging fruit to cop the blame at times.

GO Cattesr

Do you want to keep going with a game plan that only gets us to half time V the Tigers.It's a huge part of the problem,2 goals 0 behinds in the second half.

 

[Whit3y]

Any room in 2021 for our much hyped signings Jack Stevo and Jenko Jenkins?

 

[OddYears]

Hawkins, Duncan, Selwood, Miers, Stanley all miss gettable shots on goal. How is the game plan at fault here when the scoring shots that miss kill us.
Also, Kolo and Blitz turning the ball over in back 50 leading to turn over goals on the back of skill errors.

Just seems like the game plan is the low hanging fruit to cop the blame at times.

GO Cattesr

Obviously missed easy shots on goal is not Scott’s fault and I never said they were. Also I mentioned the game plan doesn’t work against the tigers. It works wonders against everyone but them. The problem is Scott’s game plan needs everything to go right. There’s no room for error, especially against the Tigers. They make you pay. You can get away with those skill errors against other sides.

Even if we nail those early shots and go in to half time with a bigger margin I think we end up with the same result unfortunately.

 

[Down at K Park]

Richmond don't have an issue because they don't have to defend Richmond.

Do you have an issue with Cameron + Hawkins + Sav? Because without Sav fwd and Blitz in the backline we are a ruck short.

Stanley, blitz and hawkins are more than enough to cover ruck duties. Sav wouldn’t get a look in.

Blitz and Hawk to ruck at their end of the ground when Stanley rests. With cameron in, we don’t need stanley to play forward. Can just play ruck full time.