Autopsy Cats lose to GWS by 4 points

[rocker_oz33]

Deja vu again (again, again) with GWS, who really must absolutely LOVE playing at KP. But in the cold light of thinking about it, it's hard to be too downcast given the realities.

GWS has a bunch of highly talented players picked early in drafts, and they are a talented team in all lines. Contested marking beasts, a big solid ruckman (which we just don't have), and very quick players who are daring and break lines.

And you could probably pick any side in the comp and remove four 1st choice defenders from their side and it would make a huge difference. Say Moore, Quaynor, Crisp and Howe from the Pies or similar, they would have trouble with the likes of Hogan, Cadman and Riccardi. Several times poor Zuthrie was flying against at least two of that group whilst SDK was caught out of position. Hogan also kicked magnificently whereas the side of the barn was fairly safe from being struck with some of our shots.

But we had 31 scoring shots against the Giants who are always up for us despite the pick and choose efforts they throw up against other sides....against Geelong they always 'pick' us. It's super frustrating to lose by 4 points, but last week we plucked a similar win, so if it's close it's always more 50/50. The Pie's record in that '22-23 era in close games was just beyond all normalcy, one would be dreaming if they expect to win every close one.

I'm pretty sure in my memory as a Cats fan we've never lost 5 in a row against the one side at KP in succession, perhaps Essendon '82, 83, 85, 86..nah as we won in '87 there against them. May have to go back to the 1941-49 era or something when we were awful during and after WW2 due to having to sit out from the comp.

However, surely we can start to get some troops back. I loved Bews today, his dash and dare kicking made him a 60 metre player and it's something that helped a lot, given usually only Holmes and Bailey can do that. Stanley if it's his hammy is still out a while, and I hope at some stage the apparition of Conway can be considered, but he's making peak H & A Clark Keating look like Jim Stynes with his inability to get near the park let alone on it. Sadly Jack Martin's fragile body has yet to come up as well, so with another mid we all know unavailable our squad is kind of resembling the period where we were carrying Menzel, Cowan, Gregson and Vardy for periods of time on the LTI list.

Let's just hope and pray that we get some players back, as it will have a double impact on our side, immensely strengthening it plus making our bottom six much for AFL level. Right now we are very thin for depth, and defence-wise, probably almost mortally. In all that context, to be in the game for all our matches isn't a bad effort.

^ there's not much inn the cupboard way for depth.

 

[sleep]

Sorry but this is complete and utter bullshit.

Last week Clark had numerous really positive contributions and didn't make a bad mistake all night. I'd bet the coaches had him in our top 10 on the night and in our top few in terms of playing the role asked of him.

If you're critical of him last week you clearly spend more time looking at the stats sheet than the game.

Doubt it.

 

[MacStradbroke]

I feel for some of you on here. Imagine if you had to barrack for a Roos or Saints .

 

[Biggy_Boy]

This team needs a psychologist if they haven't got one.

Losing to the same teams every year without fail, it defies belief.

It's a coach's job to fix that, not a psychologist's.

 

[rocker_oz33]

I feel for some of you on here. Imagine if you had to barrack for a Roos or Saints .

Funny you say that .
I seen young saints fans at our game and young north fans on telly .



Child abuse maybe lol.

 

[bombersboy]

For all the skill errors and missed shots at goal we only lost by a kick. The biggest thing though we probably had at least 10 instances of players not body lining the ball or going when it was their turn. I cannot recall one instance from GWS. It is been an issue or us for a while and it is getting worse.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

The list management were big on Clark.
At this stage it looks a bust.
Can't remember who else was on offer at the time.

Ok get Clark but not at the first pick.

There is very little decent after Clark in that draft except weddle but he would have been a massive reach inside top 10 (he was very raw with his game). The reality is it was always Clark vs Philipou (who was a massive FIGJAM that Geelong wasn't going to pick for certain reasons) or ginbey who frankly looks poor. It was just a bad draft pool-clark wasn't any better or worse. The mistake was not trading that pick into 2023 instead but we may have tried and had no takers.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Ohenry is overrated. what you see is what you get. I don't see much upside. He can run in a straight line and take a mark but his defensive pressure is zero.

He is but comparing him to guys like Murdoch and thurlow etc is an insult. Those guys were limited battlers who make Henry look like an elite player. He has more talent than any of them did. Henry's problem is he picks and chooses when to put in defensively and in the modern game you cant-we need to get a lift from him there.

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

Pot all the players you want. We lost because we couldn’t execute when it mattered. That was the difference. Generated the opportunities and missed. Very frustrating.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

I get people want an answer but some questions don't have answers.

The easiest way forward, with the available players we had today is to put Ted back in for the full game and drop Clark. Wiltshire sub or give retschko a go. Polkinghorne for Henry is also an option to consider.

Checked out a bit of the ressies vs GWS who are undefeated and had a very experienced side in. Clark very lucky to get a game in front of George Stevens who is very good in-close, has great hands, his kicking to position is also excellent and has plenty of strength, so it'll be interesting to see if we give him ago this year. Talent and ability wise Jay Polkinghorne is easily our number one player in ressies NOT Oli Wiltshire. Jay has similar ability traits to the Saints Cooper Sharman, so the guys got plenty of talent but more than likely needs at least another preseason so whether he should be getting a game (for a taste) this season like with George Stevens will be up to the MC. Patrick Retschko is coming along nicely although in one contest a GWS guy left him as if he was nailed to the ground but I guess he must have been gassed at the time.

 

[Play it Sam]

I almost forgot that Atkins took a ruck CBA.

Wild

That was a really ridiculous error, and whatever your view, that wouldn't happen with Stanley in the side.
At least Atkins didn't give a free away, or punch it over on the full like Shannon, another dumb mistake.

 

[Play it Sam]

thought Gyran was horrible in contested situations tonight, could be because of the concussion and didnt wanna get knocked again. 100% backing him in to be better next week.

I felt his game was passable, but reactions and timing was out. That last kick to the pocket looking for Danger to save the day, and Danger was well behind the tall Giant. Centred ball to Shannon was the better option. He was in the wrong place and fumbly at several contests, even missed the bounce of the ball at one stage.

Still, loved his work in the back half, we've missed that get it out to Gryan move.
Will be better for the run, as headaches and orientation problems from concussion can linger.

 

[Mr Meow]

I felt his game was passable, but reactions and timing was out. That last kick to the pocket looking for Danger to save the day, and Danger was well behind the tall Giant. Centred ball to Shannon was the better option. He was in the wrong place and fumbly at several contests, even missed the bounce of the ball at one stage.

Still, loved his work in the back half, we've missed that get it out to Gryan move.
Will be better for the run, as headaches and orientation problems from concussion can linger.

You're right, players coming back from concussion are always dopey. We have to hope it doesn't linger. I swear that in amongst his brilliance Cameron has never quite been the same after his concussion. Lapses, fumbles, errors etc. Of course with him age is a factor as well.

 

[ShaunWDT]

Currently the load is being carried by too few.
Unfortunately these are mostly aging superstars
Return of injured players won't be a quick fix
They will take a couple of games to find form

Many here are critical of certain players tonight
Big difference between TV and at the Ground
Self preservation can appear as weakness
Giants were clearly bigger taller and stronger
They broke tackles. Easily nudged Cats aside
Some were forced to corral or hope for crumbs
Mid's couldn't stop Giants streaming goal-wards
Great Delivery F50 made SDK n COS look inept
Giants were in form, Cats inexplicably fumbled
Many issues will be fixed with time, some not
Strength, Skill, Footy Smarts and Form improves
Speed, Height, Athleticism and reflexes are set.
Most frustrating are the players with bad habits
Players will dropped when injured guys return.
Some need to reflect, Some may not return.

Reality is Geelong are in the rebuilding phase.
The team will be inconsistent for a few years
The goal should be to remain competitive
So far Cats are still hanging in there... just.
Take a deep breath, Relax and enjoy the ride.

COS just isn't ready to be getting isolated one on one on good players, hed be awesome as the 3rd or 4th tall and he has been this year, but thought he got found out again being asked to actually defend and will be one that benefits the most from key players coming back hope they stick with him and dont push him out of the side you're not developing on VFL plodders.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Checked out a bit of the ressies vs GWS who are undefeated and had a very experienced side in. Clark very lucky to get a game in front of George Stevens who is very good in-close, has great hands, his kicking to position is also excellent and has plenty of strength, so it'll be interesting to see if we give him ago this year. Talent and ability wise Jay Polkinghorne is easily our number one player in ressies NOT Oli Wiltshire. Jay has similar ability traits to the Saints Cooper Sharman, so the guys got plenty of talent but more than likely needs at least another preseason so whether he should be getting a game (for a taste) this season like with George Stevens will be up to the MC. Patrick Retschko is coming along nicely although in one contest a GWS guy left him as if he was nailed to the ground but I guess he must have been gassed at the time.

Yeah what I've seen of Polkinghorne has looked pretty good, just that I don't see a version of this season where he's ready for a game. Natural talent when the ball is near him but doesn't read the play well enough yet. People complain about Henry but I don't think Polkinghorne would be fairing much better. Might be worth the switch just to put some game into Henry for a game or two

 

[STPer18]

Smith's been an unreal pickup. Another strong game.

The choice to start 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

on the wing, and Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

32

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

on the ball was one that "destabilised" Geelong, which allowed the visitors to kick five of the first six goals and dominate the contest.

"I was about to say we, it was me. We made some errors early with the way we structured up, took a few educated risks, and I thought that actually destabilised us a little bit," Geelong coach Chris Scott

Chris Scott

Age

49

Ht

182cm

Wt

89kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

16.6

4star

K

11.2

4star

HB

5.4

4star

M

5.1

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

0.4

3star

No current season stats available

D

13.2

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

2.8

5star

G

0.4

3star

said post-match.

"So, as always, when you don't get the outcomes you're after, it's little bit the players, and it's a lot the way you set up. So, we look at ourselves first, so when we got some stability in there with 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

and (Max) Holmes in the centre bounce a bit more, with (Mark) Blicavs, and I thought, again, to my eye, a lot of the time, not always but a lot of the time, they just beat their opponents."

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

Ridiculously brutal stretch of the fixture.

 

[fpm84]

Ridiculously brutal stretch of the fixture.

It's a bit instructive that we're two games behind Hawthorn - but that they've played four of the current bottom five, and we've only played one (Melbourne).

 

[winty]

It's a bit instructive that we're two games behind Hawthorn - but that they've played four of the current bottom five, and we've only played one (Melbourne).

We've currently played 4 of the 6 teams above us, and play a 5th in a fortnight.

 

[fpm84]

We've currently played 4 of the 6 teams above us, and play a 5th in a fortnight.

Yep, and we're 3-1 against the teams above us (Pies, Hawks, Crows, Lions).

We just need to hang in there for the next couple of weeks and then our draw starts to opens up.

 

[thejester]

Fair to give Neale the shot, but the jury is out on whether he'll make it, and we just have to grit our teeth and bear that while he's building experience in the hope he'll come good. Concern is how he's not really showing the glimpses that indicate he's a star key forward in the making. Meanwhile, those around him are all horribly out of form. Stengle seems to have been satiated by his last contract and is now just coasting. Henry his usual self and Close not doing much. We're reliant on Dangerfield and Mannagh in the forward line or we're no chance.

Neale and Stengle were both good - latter is definitely not coasting.

 

[smotherking]

Yep, and we're 3-1 against the teams above us (Pies, Hawks, Crows, Lions).

We just need to hang in there for the next couple of weeks and then our draw starts to opens up.

And in most (if not all) the losses we’ve had we arguably ought to have won or had a shot at it. Some of the reactions on here have been way over blown given the context of our season

 

[fpm84]

Neale and Stengle were both good - latter is definitely not coasting.

Stengle kicked 2.4 and had 8 score involvements. If he'd kicked a bit straighter, say 4.2, he would have been one of the best on.

It was nice to see him back in the 50 after playing more of a Miers role in the previous fortnight.

 

[winty]

This stings. The 2nd column is expected score.

 

[you pick one]

Neale and Stengle were both good - latter is definitely not coasting.

Stengle in my opinion maybe carrying something like a minor groin injury seam a little restricted in movement at times and 5 or 10 mts short in his kicking from previous years.