Review Cats destroyate Tuggers by 72 points

[Mr Meow]

I was a little taken aback too...but thinking about it a bit, it's really not as outlandish as it looks at first glance.

Of recent times, I wouldn't classify Holmes or Smith as contested mids. They're able, but they're best suited as first or second receivers, and you wouldn't refer to them as contested bulls.

Outside of them, who else is he up against? Bruhn? Clark? Hardie? Cooper Stephens?

Tom Atkins has him covered comfortably on all available evidence, but that's going back seven years, and that's exactly what Gazza Greatness was getting at.

Whether that's an indictment on our recruiters or a huge endorsement for George is in the eye of the beholder, and history will be the judge of that.

Still though, it's really not as big a call as it might appear to be at first glance IMO.

Bruhn is probably the only candidate in recent years and he turned 21 not long after his Geelong debut, having already played 30 games for GWS. I'd disqualify him from a direct comparison for that reason.

It's best to keep it to Geelong draftees. Who was the last contested bull midfielder we brought in at 18 or 19 years old who did well? Atkins was mature age by the time he joined the AFL list. "Highlights" have been Clark, Knevitt, Constable and Horlin-Smith. Lowlights aren't even worth mentioning.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Bruhn is probably the only candidate in recent years and he turned 21 not long after his Geelong debut, having already played 30 games for GWS. I'd disqualify him from a direct comparison for that reason.

It's best to keep it to Geelong draftees. Who was the last contested bull midfielder we brought in at 18 or 19 years old who did well? Atkins was mature age by the time he joined the AFL list. "Highlights" have been Clark, Knevitt, Constable and Horlin-Smith. Lowlights aren't even worth mentioning.

Yeah, you're honestly going back to Selwood for someone who has him covered without even bothering with a debate.

That's what, 18 years? 19 if you count the year he was actually drafted?

GG's call really isn't that huge on reflection.

Even if there's valid question marks on Stevens, the competition to discredit the claim is that of the Shanghai Sharks div twos.

 

[Play it Sam]

Don't stop me now - Queen

Good one! Then I shall call him Mr Fahrenheit.
Georgie Fahrenheit

 

[Gunf]

Watched first crack for the first time in a few weeks and found it amusing that they spent so much time on Coll, Carlton etc that by the time they got to us they did a quick Tom Atkins

30

Tom Atkins

Age

30

Ht

180cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.5

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

4.3

5star

CL

1.3

3star

D

6.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.5

2star

M

0.8

1star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.5

3star

D

11.6

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

appreciation and moved on quickly as they were almost out of time.

Now Atkins 100% deserves his kudos but to not even mention Stevens excellent debut or really the game at all was stupid.

 

[small 4wards]

Watched first crack for the first time in a few weeks and found it amusing that they spent so much time on Coll, Carlton etc that by the time they got to us they did a quick Tom Atkins appreciation and moved on quickly as they were almost out of time.

Now Atkins 100% deserves his kudos but to not even mention Stevens excellent debut or really the game at all was stupid.

I think in a way similar to our own reactions to Steven's debut, the media will probably temper it based on opponent. You wouldn't want to talk up a player/team knowing the response will inevitably be "they played Richmond." I do agree, they should be talking about Stevens but they won't.

 

[#6 Thorp #7 Selwood LOL]

Unpopular opinion: Dempsey is a big talent, but very, very vanilla.

You can say a lot of things about Dempsey, but vanilla ain't one of them!!

 

[dazbroncos]

So if we are gonna downgrade Georges effort of 21 touches, 8 clearaces and a goal in his first AFL outing ( which are some pretty stout numbers on debut) because he played against Hopper, Tatanto, Nank and Prestia does that mean we have to go back and upgrade the other debuts of kids who played against " better " opponents?

Yeah... i think we'll just stick to saying good game kid when they do well like George did and head back to the 2's when they dont.

Its getting ****ing hard to just be happy a new kid does well these days.

GO Catters

 

[Hinkley29]

I was a little taken aback too...but thinking about it a bit, it's really not as outlandish as it looks at first glance.

Of recent times, I wouldn't classify Holmes or Smith as contested mids. They're able, but they're best suited as first or second receivers, and you wouldn't refer to them as contested bulls.

Outside of them, who else is he up against? Bruhn? Clark? Hardie? Cooper Stephens?

Tom Atkins has him covered comfortably on all available evidence, but that's going back seven years, and that's exactly what Gazza Greatness was getting at.

Whether that's an indictment on our recruiters or a huge endorsement for George is in the eye of the beholder, and history will be the judge of that.

Still though, it's really not as big a call as it might appear to be at first glance IMO.

It depends on the definition of “contested mid” and “in years”.

Holmes, Smith, Atkins, Clohesy, etc are all “contested mids” in my mind.

Maybe if the term used was “clearance mid” it would make more sense. We have been very thin on the ground for them. But that would still include smith and Atkins.

Maybe Gazza Greatness can clarify what they were referring to, and which players George was being compared to?

 

[MacStradbroke]

Lots of love for big George in here (and deservedly so), and equally as many kicking Clark, Knevitt and Clohesy in the guts as well . Stevens has been playing against men and dominating (to a degree) since he was 16/17 years old so it wasn’t a complete shock. Fingers crossed he keeps improving, could be a steal. He was drafted about where Stephen Wells does his best work

 

[Hinkley29]

So if we are gonna downgrade Georges effort of 21 touches, 8 clearaces and a goal in his first AFL outing ( which are some pretty stout numbers on debut) because he played against Hopper, Tatanto, Nank and Prestia does that mean we have to go back and upgrade the other debuts of kids who played against " better " opponents?

Yeah... i think we'll just stick to saying good game kid when they do well like George did and head back to the 2's when they dont.

Its getting ****ing hard to just be happy a new kid does well these days.

GO Catters

No one is downgrading George’s game.

We are all happy he played well.

 

[Hinkley29]

Watched first crack for the first time in a few weeks and found it amusing that they spent so much time on Coll, Carlton etc that by the time they got to us they did a quick Tom Atkins appreciation and moved on quickly as they were almost out of time.

Now Atkins 100% deserves his kudos but to not even mention Stevens excellent debut or really the game at all was stupid.

If a st kilda debutant had a game like George did against Richmond we would not even notice.

Which is why first crack didn’t mention it.

If he gets a rising star nom George will get his flowers

 

[Cataholic]

So if we are gonna downgrade Georges effort of 21 touches, 8 clearaces and a goal in his first AFL outing ( which are some pretty stout numbers on debut) because he played against Hopper, Tatanto, Nank and Prestia does that mean we have to go back and upgrade the other debuts of kids who played against " better " opponents?

Yeah... i think we'll just stick to saying good game kid when they do well like George did and head back to the 2's when they dont.

Its getting ****ing hard to just be happy a new kid does well these days.

GO Catters

I can already see what's going to happen here if poor ol George doesn't turn in a superlative effort against the likes of Collingwood or the Crows.

 

[StonedCat]

View attachment 2361198

I'm guessing there was no tip for the cab driver going home.

 

[standupand]

Good one! Then I shall call him Mr Fahrenheit.
Georgie Fahrenheit

I reckon he did spin around by about two hundred degrees when he set up that goal for Holmes.

 

[fpm84]

Just had a look at who George is up against for this week's Rising Star nom:

- Hardeman (NM): 20 disposals in a 50-odd point loss to Bulldogs. Previously had a 28 disposal game and didn't get nominated.

- Kako (ESS): 17 disposals and a goal in a 40-odd point loss to Suns. Will likely get a nom before the season is out.

- Shanahan (WCE): 14 disposals, 5 marks and 2 goals in 60-odd point loss to GWS. Impressive performance in his second game (only WCE player to kick multiple goals FWIW).

Has to be a great chance to get it, Shanahan probably the main threat.

 

[Play it Sam]

It depends on the definition of “contested mid” and “in years”.

Holmes, Smith, Atkins, Clohesy, etc are all “contested mids” in my mind.

Maybe if the term used was “clearance mid” it would make more sense. We have been very thin on the ground for them. But that would still include smith and Atkins.

Maybe Gazza Greatness can clarify what they were referring to, and which players George was being compared to?

The undercutting is getting boring now.
I hope Gazza Greatness doesn't take the bait and gets back to you later, much later, like he said.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Watched first crack for the first time in a few weeks and found it amusing that they spent so much time on Coll, Carlton etc that by the time they got to us they did a quick Tom Atkins appreciation and moved on quickly as they were almost out of time.

Now Atkins 100% deserves his kudos but to not even mention Stevens excellent debut or really the game at all was stupid.

Us being good is not newsworthy, hasn't been for a decade

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Just had a look at who George is up against for this week's Rising Star nom:

- Hardeman (NM): 20 disposals in a 50-odd point loss to Bulldogs. Previously had a 28 disposal game and didn't get nominated.

- Kako (ESS): 17 disposals and a goal in a 40-odd point loss to Suns. Will likely get a nom before the season is out.

- Shanahan (WCE): 14 disposals, 5 marks and 2 goals in 60-odd point loss to GWS. Impressive performance in his second game (only WCE player to kick multiple goals FWIW).

Has to be a great chance to get it, Shanahan probably the main threat.

Feels wrong kako hasn't been nominated yet but I wouldn't nominate him on last week's game.

Hardeman and Shanahans game look good on paper

 

[cats_09]

Just had a look at who George is up against for this week's Rising Star nom:

- Hardeman (NM): 20 disposals in a 50-odd point loss to Bulldogs. Previously had a 28 disposal game and didn't get nominated.

- Kako (ESS): 17 disposals and a goal in a 40-odd point loss to Suns. Will likely get a nom before the season is out.

- Shanahan (WCE): 14 disposals, 5 marks and 2 goals in 60-odd point loss to GWS. Impressive performance in his second game (only WCE player to kick multiple goals FWIW).

Has to be a great chance to get it, Shanahan probably the main threat.

At this time of the season, nominations can often be based on the players work so far rather than being specifically about the most recent game

It would be nice to see George receive this weeks nomination, but I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't

 

[cats_09]

So with Georgey boy and Bowes both having a big debut and nice return game with Baz and Tyson also to come straight back in….the question now becomes who goes out?

I know it’s sucks to say it but I reckon Duncs gets the chop from sub and this one might cause a stir but I reckon Mullin is the other one.
I know Oisin has had some big tagging games but if George is in and Baz comes back we don’t need another guy to play midfield with Bowes who can go in as well when needed as he’s a utility.

Just my opinion but team will look like this going into Giants game barring no late changes or injuries this week.

FB:	O’SULLIVAN	BLICAVS (RK)	HUMPHRIES (KO)
HB	STEWART (VC)	J.HENRY	Z.GUTHRIE (KO)
C	BOWES	HOLMES	DEMPSEY
HF	MANNAGH	CAMERON	MIERS
FF	STENGLE	NEALE	DANGERFIELD (C)
FOL	STANLEY (RK)	SMITH	ATKINS
IC	O’CONNOR (DEFENDER)	STEVENS (MID)	MARTIN (UTILITY)
	CLOSE (FORWARD)
SUB/EMG	O.HENRY (SUB)	MULLIN (EMERGENCY)	DUNCAN (EMERGENCY)

Key:
RK = Designated Ruckmen
KO = Designated kick outs

While we most likely have to wait until tomorrows injury report, I doubt Duncan travels to Sydney this weekend for either the AFL or VFL - he finished yesterday's VFL game with his right arm in a sling, so whatever the in-game injury he picked up was, it's serious enough that they had already immobilised his arm

Mullin is also not going to be dropped - he's playing the role the coaches are asking of him, so while he's not necessarily racking up disposals he is putting the clamps on his opponent

This was his efforts from Saturday twilight

Prestia no clearance and no inside 50. Mullin with two clearances and two inside 50's Prestia has averaged six clearances this season.

And he'll be tasked with matching up on the likes of Green this coming Saturday twilight


We may only have the one change this week anyway as we don't know the situation with Stengle or when he'll be back at the club - but when he does return, thinking we'll look at a forward as making way rather then a midfielder or defender option

 

[Kitcat]

It is better that George is not getting praised too much by the media as it lowers expectations for the match against the Giants in which it is unlikely that he performs as well. If he repeats the performance, then the media will deservedly be on to him.

 

[cats_09]

 

[Gunf]

Nice that he is getting mentioned as i had him in the best 3 on ground

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Noah Balta

21

Noah Balta

Age

26

Ht

194cm

Wt

105kg

Pos.

D/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.8

2star

K

6.7

3star

HB

3.1

3star

M

2.7

3star

T

1.9

4star

MG

236.3

4star

D

12.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

5.3

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

0.3

1star

MG

233.0

4star

D

7.0

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

2.0

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.8

4star

MG

217.4

4star

has copped a $10,000 fine but escaped a ban for his heavy hit on Geelong's Tom Stewart.

 

[Strange Cat]

So if we are gonna downgrade Georges effort of 21 touches, 8 clearaces and a goal in his first AFL outing ( which are some pretty stout numbers on debut) because he played against Hopper, Tatanto, Nank and Prestia does that mean we have to go back and upgrade the other debuts of kids who played against " better " opponents?

Yeah... i think we'll just stick to saying good game kid when they do well like George did and head back to the 2's when they dont.

Its getting ****ing hard to just be happy a new kid does well these days.

GO Catters

Hear hear