Autopsy Cats lose to GWS* AFL trust fund babies by 26 points.

[Cursed Cat]

Every now and then we throw in a midfield shocker. Tonight was the same recipe. When Holmes is quiet we struggle.

I thought they’d throw Blicavs back given O’Sullivan was haemorrhaging. We still give up big scores to teams who don’t kick big scores against anyone else. Ultimately that will be our undoing in 2025.

Neale the only shining light and even he had a shocker of a patch in the game.

agree CE, but then again I also thought Scott and co didn't get Holmes involved early on; didn't see him attending many (any?) CBs in the 1st quarter, few in the 1st half in fact. Dude had 36 disposals last week yet Stevens got the nod early doors tonight. Not sure it was the best move.

 

[Jumping Jack]

Just a word of warning.

If anyone suggests we play Clark next week. He’s miles off. Apparently was in full “butcher” mode again today in the VFL.

 

[Gavin Excell]

We are paying the price for Bruhns non availability and Jye Clarke's lack of development

 

[frggr]

Well that was a game.

Stewart going off absolutely unsettled the defence and the midfield was non-existent.

Would have liked to have seen Danger do a few minutes in the middle to help out, especially after Henry was subbed in.

Cameron's groin really hampered him - didn't chase much after he had work done on it

 

[frggr]

Just a word of warning.

If anyone suggests we play Clark next week. He’s miles off. Apparently was in full “butcher” mode again today in the VFL.

Yeah he was terrible

 

[thegerman]

You're barking up the wrong tree on this one.
If the player says he's right and the doctor's clear him Cameron isn't getting subbed by the coach.

In being fairly fit in my lifetime, I know when I’m injured.

It’s then up to you in being honest and having some leadership to say I’m not good.

He clearly wasn’t good.

He needed a Matt Stokes kind of honesty here.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

Probably looks worse when we play them, but all our deficiencies get blown up and become so glaringly obvious whenever we play GWS or Brisbane of late. Both teams slap us in the middle, both clamp up our transition, and both move the ball so well against us end to end.

 

[Wojcinski]

Stewart had one his best games of the year. Martin looked solid again. Neale's progress is amazing.

Holmes, Baz very average. Danger, Jez, Bowes completely anonymous

Stevens struggled against AFL level players but I still believe in the boy. OHenry needs the rest of the year in the 2s

 

[frggr]

I don’t understand the coaching. It’s obvious Cameron was injured.

WTF would you sub a healthy kid, leave Cameron on and be exploited by his opponent every single time the ball left the forward line.

Can anyone make sense?

Given Dangerfield was awful also, why wouldn’t you sub Cameron and replace with Henry then at least you have another player who can play in mid rotation.

Very strange coaching behaviour.

An excellent point - GWS defence just left him behind to intercept for the rest of the game.

No doubt Jezza told them he was fine

 

[frggr]

You're barking up the wrong tree on this one.
If the player says he's right and the doctor's clear him Cameron isn't getting subbed by the coach.

He should have been. It was obvious even to Giants fans who don't know the rules of the game that Cameron was done

 

[catempire]

agree CE, but then again I also thought Scott and co didn't get Holmes involved early on; didn't see him attending many (any?) CBs in the 1st quarter, few in the 1st half in fact. Dude had 36 disposals last week yet Stevens got the nod early doors tonight. Not sure it was the best move.

Not sure CC. We were well top early but they flicked the switch in the second quarter and Max was MIA even with 18 CBAs in the end. He often works into it but not tonight. Poor game.

 

[Mr Meow]

Our midfield's limp effort has been correctly criticised, but I thought I'd give a shout out to our small forwards letting Ash and Whitfield have another 60 odd disposals of unopposed rebound and playmaking. They were often on the end of the stoppage exits too. We just don't know how to defend players like these and the ball movement they provide.

 

[you pick one]

They're not infallible, and sometimes it's better to be safe than sorry.

It would not surprise if he doesn't go for scans Monday and mis 2 to 4 weeks with a tear.

 

[Romeoh1]

It shouldn't be discounted that GWS' best is top 2 level. They came in to today's game with recent wins against the Queensland teams, having also beaten Collingwood and then of course Geelong at GMHBA. They and Brisbane probably have the most talented lists with fewest weaknesses. Their bad is really bad but we never force it out of them. We threatened to for 10 minutes in the first quarter.

Yep- I agree and their potential to play very high level footy is there, but they can still be inconsistent, so I find them a bit annoying.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Our midfield's limp effort has been correctly criticised, but I thought I'd give a shout out to our small forwards letting Ash and Whitfield have another 60 odd disposals of unopposed rebound and playmaking. They were often on the end of the stoppage exits too. We just don't know how to defend players like these and the ball movement they provide.

Wanganeen-Milera on Sunday

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Neale the only shining light and even he had a shocker of a patch in the game.

You're being a bit harsh on Stewart here. Best game of the season.

 

[Hinkley29]

Anyone seriously trying to pot COS is either a tryhard troll or has shizen for brains.

A guy who's barely turned 20 and played a handful of games.....he's far from the finished product and of course a KPF will get hold of him every so often.

To be basically holding down KPD at his level of age and experience is more than we could ever have dreamed of. A few inevitable down games doesn't remotely change that.

I won’t pot COS.

He is extremely talented and will be a very good player.

But he is not a defender. I have been saying it for weeks - when he is forced to defend in dangerous positions on the ground he is a liability right now.

I agree that this year will be good for his development, but I pray that we move him up the ground as soon as we are able. As soon as SDK is back please.

He would be an amazing tall winger, he will be wasted if he stays in defence for too long, and it could hurt his confidence if he gets many more floggings like he got tonight.

 

[catempire]

You're being a bit harsh on Stewart here. Best game of the season.

I liked his second half but it wasn’t a game that would be in his top 100 best games.

 

[frggr]

O'Sullivan has had a massive season.
Huge plus for the club.
I wouldn't mind seeing him up the ground once SDK returns, depending on match-ups.
I had a mild crack at COS early in this thread - well, not really, just acknowledged he was beaten - but the sky is the limit for Connor.

There are things he can work on and improve going forward no doubt but there is so much to work with.

He got beaten on occasion but he got dudded by some ridiculous officiating at times too

 

[Hinkley29]

Anyone from 1st - 9th (current) could win it on the day. Ridiculously close season. Pies and Lions are the teams to beat. GWS to the team to dodge for us Cats. Most of the sides around us are all having to play each other. We clearly need to win every game from here for top two - it’s doable.

Our draw is still our biggest asset but we need to click. What are the wildcards between now and finals.

SDK will be a big in. No way Cadman kicks 6 on him tonight. COS is ok as the 3rd banana - not strong enough to hold the big blokes. Cadman is a big unit now.

My other wildcard is Conway - hear me out. I’ve always had a sneaky idea that they’d go very slow this year and hope that he’s got 8-10 games in him at the back end into finals. Hasn’t gone completely to plan obviously but it looks like he’ll play VFL next week. If he stays upright and puts together 4-5 games then I seriously think they’ll play him.

Stanley looked cooked tonight. He’s given everything this year and really helped the club but he just looked every bit like a 35-36 year old bloke tonight. I don’t think he’s got much left in the tank. He was towelled and our mids were second to the ball as a result. Conway - if fit - creates an interesting question come finals - but will he stay upright.

Stanley needs a rest.

He is still far and away our best option in the ruck, but we need to give him plenty of time off between now and finals.

 

[Mr Meow]

Wanganeen-Milera on Sunday

And Sinclair. I think it's one reason St Kilda do well against us.

I fully understand it's a league-wide trend to let prolific half backs do as they please, but geez it'd be nice if we at least made them work for it and pressured their exits a bit.

 

[catempire]

Anyone seriously trying to pot COS is either a tryhard troll or has shizen for brains.

A guy who's barely turned 20 and played a handful of games.....he's far from the finished product and of course a KPF will get hold of him every so often.

To be basically holding down KPD at his level of age and experience is more than we could ever have dreamed of. A few inevitable down games doesn't remotely change that.

Young guys have poor games. We don’t have to dance around it. He was terrible tonight. Doesn’t mean anything for his long term trajectory.

 

[Hinkley29]

He got beaten on occasion but he got dudded by some ridiculous officiating at times too

I don’t think he did.

I was at the ground and a number of those frees were very close to where I was sitting. He panicked a fair bit when in a position where he needed to defend strongly, and gave the umps a very good excuse to penalise him.

It could be inexperience, or (more likely) he needs a positional change.

 

[foxdog50]

Get to finals. Danger in the guts

The sad thing is we shouldn't have to rely on a 35 yeard old to win games for us.

 

[Cataholic]

It would not surprise if he doesn't go for scans Monday and mis 2 to 4 weeks with a tear.

It wouldn't surprise me either, but then again Scott claimed in the presser that he was told it was just a knock to Cameron's hip.