Review Cats get home in another RIVALRY thriller by 7 points.

[PhatBoy]

there also the double effort in which he got the ball to cameron who handballed to smith for the goal.

half forward is one of the hardest position to play, he could do more but he hasnt been as bad as people say and the coaches obviously see something in him.

He looks lost. That’s the thing.

I see a guy who isn’t ’out of form’ in the traditional sense but he’s sort of lost his role in the team as he knew it before and he doesn’t quite know it right at the moment.

It’s changed for other guys too, but Stengle has immediately found his niche; he didn’t kick a goal today but had 3 assists and was sublime. Henry doesn’t have the versatility Stengle does to impact the game in as many ways so it seems like he’s still trying to find ways to have a meaningful role when he can’t get free and be an uncontested marker.

I’ve actually noticed more little one per cent plays now than before, more second efforts which is great, but none of what was making him so effective previously.

 

[Gavin Excell]

A question for any VFL watchers - I noticed that George Stevens and Oli wiltshire were listed as emergencies in the AFL - did they play entire games? - are they close to being good enough?

I read Jye played well

 

[iameviljez]

A question for any VFL watchers - I noticed that George Stevens and Oli wiltshire were listed as emergencies in the AFL - did they play entire games? - are they close to being good enough?

Given that Stevens got 21 touches and Wiltshire got six (after averaging somewhere in the early 20s IIRC), I would suggest that Stevens played a whole game and Wiltshire did not. Unfortunately TOG % is not published for VFL.

Wiltshire is probably closer than Stevens on the basis of (a) athleticism), and (b) the fact that Jhye Clark will be in front of Stevens in the "inside midfield" queue.

 

[Cursed Cat]

I'm struggling to understand how it could be any form of 'accidental' or 'careless'.

Miers was handballing. Nash swung a round arm that comfortably missed the ball, arms and shoulders but caught Miers flush across the face in a classic horizontal coathangar.

On each replay I don't see Miers dropping his body position either. Nash missed the ball by a clear 300+ mm, and nor did his arm hit Miers face on an upward angle. At the moment of impact his arm was near perfectly horizontal to the ground.

that's the thing; Miers didn't bend at the knees whatsoever, stayed bolt upright, and Nash just smashed him in the face - I actually think it was intentional, anything less than 4 weeks is an utter cop out.

 

[Hamingja]

A question for any VFL watchers - I noticed that George Stevens and Oli wiltshire were listed as emergencies in the AFL - did they play entire games? - are they close to being good enough?

Wiltshire was quiet on the weekend but on previous form he should get a go for Miers if he misses due to concussion protocols

I would stick with Knevitt over Stevens and Clark at this point

 

[sexyhunk]

I read Jye played well

clark feels like a brent prismall unfortunately, too good for reserves/vfl but just not quite there in the afl.

he still young enough but he want to get a move on.

 

[Gavin Excell]

clark feels like a brent prismall unfortunately, too good for reserves/vfl but just not quite there in the afl.

he still young enough but he want to get a move on.

Yep
I've heard people on this forum say that he has the smarts and capabilities to be an effective midfielder but doesn't yet have the size to make it.
He's into his 3rd year. Hopefully he can establish himself as a regular at seasons end

 

[cats_09]

A question for any VFL watchers - I noticed that George Stevens and Oli wiltshire were listed as emergencies in the AFL - did they play entire games? - are they close to being good enough?

Both played the entire VFL

Wiltshire looks closer to a senior debut but played his worse VFL game for the season on Sunday - started well but was quiet after quarter time

 

[MisterMarcus]

Yep
I've heard people on this forum say that he has the smarts and capabilities to be an effective midfielder but doesn't yet have the size to make it.
He's into his 3rd year. Hopefully he can establish himself as a regular at seasons end

I think he just needs another big pre-season or two to build the body to match his game style.

Seeing himself crash right in there when he still has a bit of a boy's body is genuinely concerning. No wonder he gets tired, sore and injured.

 

[thegerman]

Watch his right hand as he nears the boundary in running off after the incident.

I thought it was an underhanded wave with all fingers. Like a come on, gee up. I don’t think there’s anything in it to be honest.

 

[Gunf]

I think he just needs another big pre-season or two to build the body to match his game style.

Seeing himself crash right in there when he still has a bit of a boy's body is genuinely concerning. No wonder he gets tired, sore and injured.

I would leave Clark in the VFL for another 2-4 weeks as a pure mid and let him settle into 1 position which is something he hasn't had the chance to do really with his time at Geelong so far.

The game he has played have been in and out of the AFL with some games being the sub or subbed out and i am not sure if he has had more than 1 or 2 games in a row as a pure mid if any.

Let him build some confidence in a singular role for 4-6 games in the VFL unless we really have no other options due to injuries/suspensions etc.

 

[thegerman]

Only thing is that Henry was one of two Cats to not record a tackle during yesterday's match and pretty sure he finished the game on the bench

Tackles though only count if they stop the ball for a ball up or a free is awarded. I’m fairly sure that 50% of a tackle doesn’t count if the ball spilled free by disposal or attempted disposal.

I did see him chase a few times, trying hard. I’m unsure what tackle people are talking about with Henry late, could have been there but the stat doesn’t count unless it totally sticks.

 

[thegerman]

Yep
I've heard people on this forum say that he has the smarts and capabilities to be an effective midfielder but doesn't yet have the size to make it.
He's into his 3rd year. Hopefully he can establish himself as a regular at seasons end

We have to balance his career out with a nearly total loss of the first year due to injury.

 

[iameviljez]

clark feels like a brent prismall unfortunately, too good for reserves/vfl but just not quite there in the afl.

he still young enough but he want to get a move on.

Prismall was absolutely good enough and played good games of AFL football - the guy just unfortunately had knees made of balsa wood and that did for him at the level.

 

[sexyhunk]

Prismall was absolutely good enough and played good games of AFL football - the guy just unfortunately had knees made of balsa wood and that did for him at the level.

he couldnt break in to that midfield we had at the time even before he did his knee tho.

 

[Play it Sam]

It's gotta be deliberate.

Not pre meditated but brain fade deliberate like Stewart on Prestia a couple of years ago

Absolutely. But that's not going to be his defence, missed the ball will be. It's very apparent, and it's been replayed to death, that his aim was on the players head/body. I haven't seen any apology and admission yet. Mitchell said his main aim at the break was to console Nash to keep concentrating. Something Gryan,who was excelling, couldn't do. Dog act, get in the bin.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yep
I've heard people on this forum say that he has the smarts and capabilities to be an effective midfielder but doesn't yet have the size to make it.
He's into his 3rd year. Hopefully he can establish himself as a regular at seasons end

Pretty certain that stress fracture he had in his foot was the same bone with the same treatment that ended Corey Gregsons career so it wasn't a small set back for him

 

[dazbroncos]

The passage of play late in the game that led to Mannagh kicking the sealer. Watch Neale’s contribution there and you’ll get a good idea of why he doesn’t need to take 10 marks and kick 5 goals to have an impact.

yup.... more from him will come and needs too... but he's getting there slowly

GO Catters

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Shannon Neale went from having one of the worst moments of his short career to a couple of the best moments in the space of a few minutes.

His failure to bodyline man and ball saw them kick a goal, but a big contested grab and the intercept and follow up tackle on Scrimshaw that led to the winning goal showed great character by not dropping his head and remaining in the game.

Totally agree , COS was similar - well beaten early but hung in there and took some very valuable marks late in the game.
Knevitt was quiet but IIRC didn't make many mistakes , halved a lot of contests and held the ball in to force a ball up.

Invaluable experience for our young guys to play in such a high pressure game in front of a huge crowd.
Hawks pressure rating was elite so for the team to absorb that and get the W is a great sign.

 

[GlenMiddlemissed]

Both played the entire VFL

Wiltshire looks closer to a senior debut but played his worse VFL game for the season on Sunday - started well but was quiet after quarter time

Agreed, Wiltshire had his worst game and by a long way. Our second lowest ranking player, behind household names like Doyle Madigan and Mitchell LLoyd! He looked out of his depth against the AFL listed Hawthorn backmen.

George did George things, gee he is strong. But he is equally slow, a couple of his chases looked like Butters chasing Holmes, but George was chasing Butters! But he was influential I thought.

 

[Hinkley29]

Interested in people’s thoughts on COS game yesterday.

He is just a baby in afl terms (8 games total?) but he had some shaky moments yesterday.

I think he is going to be awesome, and will be a staple of the side for over a decade, but we need to make sure we don’t expect too much right away, don’t expect him to be flawless in defense.

I would love to see him get some more exposure further up the ground. His tank looks elite for a player of his size. He would be a game changer as a tall wingman.

 

[Hinkley29]

I know people have been baying for his blood, but we need to persevere with Knevitt for a block of games.

He needs continuity to show what he is capable of, and we need to find out what he is capable of.

 

[RogersResults]

Since the 18 team competition from 2012, as at the result of this match Hawthorn has it's lowest Win percentage from matches vs Geelong - 36.0%. (Next lowest 36.11% vs Richmond and highest 78.95% vs Nth Melbourne and Collingwood.)

 

[GlenMiddlemissed]

Totally agree , COS was similar - well beaten early but hung in there and took some very valuable marks late in the game.
Knevitt was quiet but IIRC didn't make many mistakes , halved a lot of contests and held the ball in to force a ball up.

Invaluable experience for our young guys to play in such a high pressure game in front of a huge crowd.
Hawks pressure rating was elite so for the team to absorb that and get the W is a great sign.

The kid never gives up. His marking is exceptional, the way he times his leap, then his arms extend to meet the ball at full reach and then his hands cleanly grab the ball. You can't teach that.

Knevitt was disappointing and I am a fan. There was mention above that he is still suffering foot problems. But he was like this in the VFL last year, had a couple of poor games early but by the end of the season he was clearly our best player. I think it is just confidence with him, once he believes that he can compete with those seasoned, big name players he will get better.

 

[kickazz]

The only thing danger has done to henry is give him an easier opponent.

Danger doesnt make henry pull out of contests or got pushed aside easily in one on ones.

People forget that outside the prelim and the spanking we gave west coast in the last round ollie henry was just as terrible last year as well.

His best game IMO was against North in Hobart. He really contested hard and put the body into some marking packs.

Perhaps he should play as an early lead up option? The cats in general can tend to favour "over the top" kicks into the forward line, maybe if he leads and demands it more, see what happens.