Review Cats down North by 49 points

[Seeds]

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.

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

 

[Jumping Jack]

Collingwood will open Geelong up and slice and dice on the bigger MCG surface if we serve up that footy next week.

Last qtr was positive obviously, but Geelong’s best footy seems to be once the pace has come off the game. Really missing a couple of fleet footed smalls like Miers and Stengle.

Steven’s playing very well in the VFL but I think he’s a risk on the MCG with Collingwoods quick ball movement. Surely Edward’s gets a rest and Stanley plays……Cameron (Pies) might be under some doubts after not being able to finish the game

 

[Zouz Kitty]

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



Obviously why we won

 

[Vdubs]

Collingwood will open Geelong up and slice and dice on the bigger MCG surface if we serve up that footy next week.

Last qtr was positive obviously, but Geelong’s best footy seems to be once the pace has come off the game. Really missing a couple of fleet footed smalls like Miers and Stengle.

Steven’s playing very well in the VFL but I think he’s a risk on the MCG with Collingwoods quick ball movement

If he's our best option from the VFL, it's obvious our depth is being tested

 

[Pure_Ownage]

OH is part of our future.
Danger has been stunning and brilliant, but is now a mere shadow of that, which is sad.
He can't chase once he's missed a mark, so that's what oppositions are acting on.

The modern game style doesnt suit henry but hes got some class with ball in hand and is working hard on his deficiencies. But our ground ball in our f50 suffers with him and danger there.
I dont know what they are going to do with danger. We are not a good enough side to carry him but I cant see them dropping danger of all people to the vfl. Ideally we 'manage rest' him and hope he improves.

 

[Vdubs]

Bruhn seems to have reverted to 2024 form after such a break out start to the season. What happened?

Holmes is our best player. Can they stop focussing on smith so much. Holmes is clearly better.

Bruhn has come back to earth, but mainly could be fatigue after missing a whole season

 

[Cursed Cat]

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

I reckon it'll come

 

[Warhorse]

Edwards needs a spell. That was bad

 

[Pure_Ownage]

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

Hes a much more natural ruckman than conway (who would be ok if his body held up but never more than a role player-edwards on the other hand can be A grade) and i agree knowing where to deftly tap and his follow up work is great. The marking is hard because you can see he doesnt have the core strength to hold front position when the ball is kicked in long up the wing. It will come but will need a few pre seasons. Hence it would have been better if we had marshall to support him.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Edwards needs a spell. That was bad

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.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Collingwood will open Geelong up and slice and dice on the bigger MCG surface if we serve up that footy next week.

Last qtr was positive obviously, but Geelong’s best footy seems to be once the pace has come off the game. Really missing a couple of fleet footed smalls like Miers and Stengle.

Steven’s playing very well in the VFL but I think he’s a risk on the MCG with Collingwoods quick ball movement. Surely Edward’s gets a rest and Stanley plays……Cameron (Pies) might be under some doubts after not being able to finish the game

We play the G pretty well these days. The Pies are a well structured outfit who extract every bit of effort out of themselves each week, you can’t fault their endeavour.

We ‘should’ be to good for them but let’s see. Their efficiency against the Hawks won’t be repeated, that was freakish.

 

[winty]

Edwards needs a spell. That was bad

Wasn't the first time Xerri has torn us a new one in the ruck. He had 25 possessions and 54 hit-outs against us a couple of years ago.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Edwards needs a spell. That was bad

I love what Edwards has done this year to date.
Badly beaten tonight, but I also don't think he ever gave up, and was in a good position to have made more of impact - tons of promise.

But yeah I agree with you; next week might be a timely breather for him - I rate Darcy Cameron highly.

De Koning might ruck more minutes than he has in 2026 to date; we should have tall defensive coverage to spare against Collingwood's forward line so we might be able to roll the dice there.

 

[Vdubs]

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

Since? I can't think of a better one. Maybe GAJ.

 

[Heckler]

Good to get back on the winners list. 2nd and 3rd were hard going. Lot of irritating misplaced disposals. Things to work on but premierships aren’t won in May!

I think its time to relieve Stewart of the kicking in duties. Not sure what has happened to his kicking this year, but it has been rank.

I swear there was a period last year or the year before when Humpries was taking them and was awesome at it.

Anyone able to pinpoint what changed mid way through the third? Im at a bit of a loss - Holmes lifted, but he was already our best to half time.

Pressure came back, but was also good early I thought. Is it that simple?

Cats are better when they play on instinctivley
Quick ball movement to first option available
They all link up and ball flies around smoothly
Teammates are running into wide open space
Practically impossible to defend successfuly
This is how they played at the start of the game

Any hesitation or second guessing breaks that.
Not just getting caught in possession turnovers
Ball being smothered or rushed disposals etc...
Teammates become unsure and wait to react
Pressure builds, rushed, dumb decisions made
Constant turnovers shifts the momentum
Players slow start looking for safe soft kicks.
These mostly fall short and contested balls
Eg: Stewarts turnovers costing easy goals.

Halfway through Q3 Homes started running
He took the game on attacking agressivly
Breaking lines, created easy Out the Back goals
Other Cats started attacking fast, taking risks
This became infectious, instinctive mojo returned

 

[cats_09]

dazbroncos

 

[Vdubs]

Edwards needs a spell. That was bad

They wanted to play Stanley today after JH went out of the line-up, but weren't able to as not a listed emergency.The more games Edwards gets, if his body holds up, the better for us.

 

[year of the cat]

Really happy with some of those efforts from Ollie Henry tonight. Saw some of what the boy is capable of.

He was, with Close, one of the more pleasing positives from the game.

 

[Cursed Cat]

dazbroncos

not his best game tonight but I always felt he was a chance to impact, and his above-average conversion helped to do so imo

 

[Mr Meow]

Because unlike dangerfield it doesnt look like his legs are slow (granted danger is old) which is what i would expect if he had body issues. He looks quick offensively when we have the ball and slow defensively when we dont have it which to me is often a sign of a lack of effort or not being switched on. Today he switched on (finally).

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.

 

[Mr Meow]

OH is part of our future.
Danger has been stunning and brilliant, but is now a mere shadow of that, which is sad.
He can't chase once he's missed a mark, so that's what oppositions are acting on.

Despite all that, 11 disposals and 7 score involvements is hardly a disaster for Dangerfield as a forward pocket today. He still contested in the air. If he kicks the 2nd goal (that landed in Neale's lap anyway) it's a solid enough day.

 

[Pollywaffle]

More needs to be said about Neale's set shot kicking too. What a beast. It's like the reverse Kent Kingsley.

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

 

[BigCat1]

Shout out to Olly Henry. Maybe it was starting on Caleb Daniel

5

Caleb Daniel

Age

29

Ht

171cm

Wt

72kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.3

5star

K

11.5

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.4

4star

D

19.5

4star

K

11.1

4star

HB

8.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

CL

1.0

3star

D

16.4

4star

K

7.2

3star

HB

9.2

5star

M

3.4

4star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.2

2star

but his best game for quite some time

His attack on the ball was terrific today.

 

[Play it Sam]

At the game on the wing and couldn't believe how many rotations were occurring. Danger in particular would go off for five minutes then back on again, they were rolling through them like a yoyo. Henry was the other constantly movable chess piece. Then coaches getting stuck in at 3/4 time, had plenty to say, and Scott took the defenders. Must have worked.

Some thought Bailey Smith

3

Bailey Smith

Age

25

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

seemed quiet, but he was actually in everything despite no stunning passages of play from anyone really. We'd be stuffed without him. Mistakes horrendous, umpiring woeful, but finally broke the shackles, so we take it.
Shaun back on track, especially after ditching his new pink boots, new heels are a killer.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Agree on mannagh 100 %

Atkins despite the defensive efforts is fumbly and out of form. That said i expect they likely pick him ahead of worpel.

Something not quite right with Atkins..