Autopsy AFL 2025 Round 3 - Lions v Cats Sat March 29th 7:35pm AEDT (Gabba)

[Miluxx]

Lions won by 10 points in a Prelim without Cats having our starting ruckman and we’ve added Bailey Smith who was best on in our over 70 point win. Baz not playing last week was a pivotal change from Round 1 to Round 2.
If Baz plays this opens it up way more to a ripper of a contest. Stewart plays or not it makes a massive difference, went down early last week and it completely changed the game.

The gap you are talking about isn’t as large as you think it is.
Lions have a better midfield but I’d take Cats forward line any day of the week.
Lions probably get the edge on backline, Cats have far superior role players and coaching to get the most out of those blokes, Lions more dependant on Star talent to drag through wins.

Cats in the wet absolutely massacred Brisbane at the Gabba, Brisbane in the dry barely rolled over the line….Cats were in front with 2 mins to go and down a star midfielder.

In terms of the prelim I'd argue us losing oscar was just as hurtful as you losing Holmes. The rest of your comment i can agree with.

 

[FootyLad0]

In terms of the prelim I'd argue us losing oscar was just as hurtful as you losing Holmes. The rest of your comment i can agree with.

No doubt but that was what put Joe D in the Ruck which was a pivotal turning point in the game. Stanley was already the backup to the backup and was playing as we had no one else...the guy is at the point where he should have retired 2 years ago.

Had SDK been playing who is just as mobile as Big Joe, Lions probably don't have the ability to dominate out of the middle like they did in the second half as Joey in the middle created essentially an extra mid like what SDK does for the Cats.

Cats stranglehold on the game was started by Holmes, him doing his hammy was instrumental into the lack of momentum in the third for the Cats and the change that allowed Lions mids to get back on top.

Having Bailey Smith means teams can't just isolate out on Holmes. Saints did that on the weekend without Baz there and it worked.

Against Fremantle, Freo had to choose between stopping Holmes or Baz and they chose Holmes.
That allowed Baz to get loose and impact the game incredibly well.

Losing Joey D will be the biggest impact long term of anyone as he is a freak of nature.
Cats having SDK in this time changes the complexion as does having Big O, but if Baz and/or Stewart don't play it makes it incredibly hard for Cats to win.

 

[Miluxx]

No doubt but that was what put Joe D in the Ruck which was a pivotal turning point in the game. Stanley was already the backup to the backup and was playing as we had no one else...the guy is at the point where he should have retired 2 years ago.

Had SDK been playing who is just as mobile as Big Joe, Lions probably don't have the ability to dominate out of the middle like they did in the second half as Joey in the middle created essentially an extra mid like what SDK does for the Cats.

Cats stranglehold on the game was started by Holmes, him doing his hammy was instrumental into the lack of momentum in the third for the Cats and the change that allowed Lions mids to get back on top.

Having Bailey Smith means teams can't just isolate out on Holmes. Saints did that on the weekend without Baz there and it worked.

Against Fremantle, Freo had to choose between stopping Holmes or Baz and they chose Holmes.
That allowed Baz to get loose and impact the game incredibly well.

Losing Joey D will be the biggest impact long term of anyone as he is a freak of nature.
Cats having SDK in this time changes the complexion as does having Big O, but if Baz and/or Stewart don't play it makes it incredibly hard for Cats to win.

Hard to argue with that. Well said.

 

[rdhopkins2]

Lions by 22pts at the Gabbatoir running over the top of a gallant Cats.

 

[hawkman]

Has there been better moment in the history of the AFL?

View attachment 2261163

Close kicking a "point" in 2002?

 

[Delisted]

Brisbane looked a bit shakey last week. Surely the cat’s redemption is on the cards after the Cam Rayner show last year?

 

[Mr Meow]

Brisbane looked a bit shakey last week. Surely the cat’s redemption is on the cards after the Cam Rayner show last year?

Great last quarter, but in reality Neale, Lugg and Dunkley destroyed us all game. That's the main area of concern for Geelong. Plus Bailey tends to get off the leash against us.

 

[Delisted]

Great last quarter, but in reality Neale, Lugg and Dunkley destroyed us all game. That's the main area of concern for Geelong. Plus Bailey tends to get off the leash against us.

So as both Geelong enjoyers how confident are we?

 

[Mr Meow]

So as both Geelong enjoyers how confident are we?

Not very.

If Brisbane are a bit down and we play like we did round 1 (but against a better opponent) I give us a 50/50 shot. If either don't play out, reduce that to 10% chance the Cats win.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Handy reality check for the Cats last week and while the injury list is lengthy, that could hardly have been used as an excuse against the Saints. I'd expect Smith to come back in and Stewart to be out, potentially a couple in the cross-hairs for a spell in the VFL too.

I feel as though we'll play pretty well and it will be a decent battle, but whether that's enough for us to win, not so convinced on that.

 

[Footy Smarts]

I think Geelong's right on the borderline of being too inexperienced to really be competitive against the good teams.

7 players under 25 games is a lot to carry. If the only change is Smith in for Stewart we'll only have 6 players who have turned 27. Brisbane had 12 last week.

Danger and Blicavs being almost 35 and 34 pushes the average age up but it's actually a pretty young team which is strange for Geelong.

 

[Delisted]

Not very.

If Brisbane are a bit down and we play like we did round 1 (but against a better opponent) I give us a 50/50 shot. If either don't play out, reduce that to 10% chance the Cats win.

70 odd mm of rain forecasted! The cats small forwards could run havoc

 

[Wosh]

Teams are up

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Has there been better moment in the history of the AFL?

View attachment 2261163

No

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

No doubt but that was what put Joe D in the Ruck which was a pivotal turning point in the game. Stanley was already the backup to the backup and was playing as we had no one else...the guy is at the point where he should have retired 2 years ago.

Had SDK been playing who is just as mobile as Big Joe, Lions probably don't have the ability to dominate out of the middle like they did in the second half as Joey in the middle created essentially an extra mid like what SDK does for the Cats.

Cats stranglehold on the game was started by Holmes, him doing his hammy was instrumental into the lack of momentum in the third for the Cats and the change that allowed Lions mids to get back on top.

Having Bailey Smith means teams can't just isolate out on Holmes. Saints did that on the weekend without Baz there and it worked.

Against Fremantle, Freo had to choose between stopping Holmes or Baz and they chose Holmes.
That allowed Baz to get loose and impact the game incredibly well.

Losing Joey D will be the biggest impact long term of anyone as he is a freak of nature.
Cats having SDK in this time changes the complexion as does having Big O, but if Baz and/or Stewart don't play it makes it incredibly hard for Cats to win.

But if it wasn’t for all the side deals, Geelong wouldn’t have won a premiership in 50 years.

Brisbane by 32, at Victoria Park

 

[FootyLad0]

But if it wasn’t for all the side deals, Geelong wouldn’t have won a premiership in 50 years.

Brisbane by 32, at Victoria Park

If i put two sides up on a board, i'd say Brisbane were more stacked.
How are they fitting everyone in the cap if that's the case?

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

If i put two sides up on a board, i'd say Brisbane were more stacked.
How are they fitting everyone in the cap if that's the case?

We lost last week, to a side that not many would fancy to play finals this year. So of course this week it changes from "Geelong's using illegal deals to assemble an unbeatable squad of Galacticos" to "Geelong is a pack of spuds who'd be bottom four if it weren't for their cheat home ground." The never ending Eurasia/Eastasia conflict.

 

[FootyLad0]

We lost last week, to a side that not many would fancy to play finals this year. So of course this week it changes from "Geelong's using illegal deals to assemble an unbeatable squad of Galacticos" to "Geelong is a pack of spuds who'd be bottom four if it weren't for their cheat home ground." The never ending Eurasia/Eastasia conflict.

Schrodinger's Geelong Cat

Both cheating the cap with a stacked list while simultaneously a shit list who gets dragged through wins by the coach and the cheat ground

 

[campbell]

Ah, we are under Flood Watch.Alerts already started.

It is teaming, and expected to worsen overnight, then ease on Sunday.

Gunna be a wet one.
I hope NO injuries to either team.

 

[twhowler]

No doubt but that was what put Joe D in the Ruck which was a pivotal turning point in the game. Stanley was already the backup to the backup and was playing as we had no one else...the guy is at the point where he should have retired 2 years ago.

Had SDK been playing who is just as mobile as Big Joe, Lions probably don't have the ability to dominate out of the middle like they did in the second half as Joey in the middle created essentially an extra mid like what SDK does for the Cats.

Cats stranglehold on the game was started by Holmes, him doing his hammy was instrumental into the lack of momentum in the third for the Cats and the change that allowed Lions mids to get back on top.

Having Bailey Smith means teams can't just isolate out on Holmes. Saints did that on the weekend without Baz there and it worked.

Against Fremantle, Freo had to choose between stopping Holmes or Baz and they chose Holmes.
That allowed Baz to get loose and impact the game incredibly well.

Losing Joey D will be the biggest impact long term of anyone as he is a freak of nature.
Cats having SDK in this time changes the complexion as does having Big O, but if Baz and/or Stewart don't play it makes it incredibly hard for Cats to win.

Geelong are a very good side, was relieved to win. Holmes was going well and was a blow.

Oscar was a huge blow though. He was dominating when he got injured. Killing it around stoppage.

Joe did fine in the ruck. He'd also come off a game-winning 5 minute patch vs the giants that he could no longer emulate. It was not a turning point initially - we struggled to adapt in the second quarter with joe / injured Oscar. It only became a turning point when we did bloody well to adjust with a very inexperienced Morris and a completely bugger Hipwood (groin) as our only key forwards. It also required a massive lift from Rayner, Ah Chee and Lohman.

Stanley was hardly first choice but thems the breaks. Kiddy Coleman might have been handy but we made do with a 35yo midfielder!

Some of the skills and goals from both sides were sublime. The patch from the cats in the second quarter was breathtaking.

The lions response in the second half, and the last 5 minutes, was awesome.

One of the great games and a shame there had to be a loser

but i can't cop us being lucky / only winning because of holmes!

for what it's worth Smith seems a great get, i have tipped the cats in a 3 goal win

 

[Footy Smarts]

Changes from the prelim as named:

Brisbane
Ins - L Ashcroft, Day, Reville
Outs - Starcevic, Daniher, McKenna

Geelong
Ins - SDK, Smith, O'Sullivan, Knevitt, Clark, Clohesy
Outs - Stanley, Bruhn, Kolodjashnij, Mannagh, Duncan, Bews

 

[twhowler]

Changes from the prelim as named:

Brisbane
Ins - L Ashcroft, Day, Reville
Outs - Starcevic, Daniher, McKenna

Geelong
Ins - SDK, Smith, O'Sullivan, Knevitt, Clark, Clohesy
Outs - Stanley, Bruhn, Kolodjashnij, Mannagh, Duncan, Bews

Good ins - Levi
Bad outs - Starce / Daniher

Good ins - SDK / Smith
Bad outs - Mannagh, kolo maybe

Overall benefit for them

 

[paullions]

In a weird turn of events the rescheduled game is expected to be wetter then the original would of been.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Handy reality check for the Cats last week and while the injury list is lengthy, that could hardly have been used as an excuse against the Saints. I'd expect Smith to come back in and Stewart to be out, potentially a couple in the cross-hairs for a spell in the VFL too.

I feel as though we'll play pretty well and it will be a decent battle, but whether that's enough for us to win, not so convinced on that.

Who is in mind for the 'cross-hairs'?

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Are Geelong up to their old tricks again? Predicting Smith or Stewart a late out