Autopsy Cats lose to Lions by 41 points.

[Del216647]

There is a worrying trend though that the last 3 times we've played them our ball use has gone to shit, while their transitions from defence to attack have been far superior.

That looks like a tactical edge to me and it seems the players from both sides are aware of it.

Spot on.

 

[Mr Meow]

Spot on.

They were a very different type of team, but it reminds me of facing Richmond 2017-2020. With them it was partly the insane pressure they applied, but they similarly intercepted with a strong defence and slingshotted it for coast to coast goals.

The method was different with Richmond (chaos ball) but they had our number tactically and we couldn't break them down when we had opportunities. A bit of mental scarring develops when you lose the match the same way a few times in a row. I do wonder if that's happening with Brisbane.

Anyway I hope I'm wrong and we can flip the script next time.

 

[catsfootyfan89]

I think you've just answered your own question in back to back posts.

It's a team in transition. A mixture of young players who are prone to lapses, and veterans who play in fits and spurts, all while being a quality midfield rotation short.

It's more so the fact that there are particular teams that regularly beat us. I'd expect a more even spread of losses with a young team in transition, but maybe it's just false evidence appearing real and it's genuinely random.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

They were a very different type of team, but it reminds me of facing Richmond 2017-2020. With them it was partly the insane pressure they applied, but they similarly intercepted with a strong defence and slingshotted it for coast to coast goals.

The method was different with Richmond (chaos ball) but they had our number tactically and we couldn't break them down when we had opportunities. A bit of mental scarring develops when you lose the match the same way a few times in a row. I do wonder if that's happening with Brisbane.

Anyway I hope I'm wrong and we can flip the script next time.

Did we hold anything back tactically?
We didn't play Mullin or MOC in the middle - was that a match up thing or just keeping our powder dry?
We are also impotent in F50 and let it out too easily....
Maybe wishful thinking on my part but you never know with Chris

 

[Warhorse]

There is a worrying trend though that the last 3 times we've played them our ball use has gone to shit, while their transitions from defence to attack have been far superior.

That looks like a tactical edge to me and it seems the players from both sides are aware of it.

Not buying it. Injury prevented us from burying them in the Prelim.

 

[Mr Meow]

Not buying it. Injury prevented us from burying them in the Prelim.

I'm talking about the last 5 games against them as a whole (4 losses, 1 win).

 

[Mr Meow]

It's more so the fact that there are particular teams that regularly beat us. I'd expect a more even spread of losses with a young team in transition, but maybe it's just false evidence appearing real and it's genuinely random.

It changes. For a while Sydney had our number. There were obviously the Richmond years. Melbourne when they were good. Port here and there until the last couple of games. At the moment there's 4 obvious ones though.

 

[Pollywaffle]

One of the few things I can agree with is the MCG vs GMHBA. Our game is very different now to what it's been even a few years ago, largely due to personnel. We're a hard running team that likes space, much more than close-in contest. And the narrow wings at Kardinia Park actually make it harder for us to exploit that advantage right now IMO.

This. Keen observation.
I had been wondering why we have been losing our ‘fortress cats’ games more often in recent times.
Makes some sense.
Time for the coaches to get a KP game plan if we are being worked out.. while they are at it they can devise a Docklands game plan -another venue where we seem to be flaky.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Not laying the blame on one player alone but Miers set the tone for the rest of the night with two horrendous early turnovers which both resulted in goals. Proceeded to butcher the ball for the rest of the game. Had a couple of feeble efforts when he needed to go harder. I would be a bit disappointed in my effort and decision making last night if I was him.

Miers is great player but when he is off he is off. We have a couple of players who are mostly good but when they suck they are pretty ordinary and just seem to put up the white flag. Just had quite a few last night.
Maybe just checked out already for the bye.

 

[Tony Barber]

I couldn't get over the kicking.
Were we simply not running hard enough and providing options? And therefor the ball carrier took silly risks?

It's amazing that every player caught the same disease.
In the contested (on the ground) ball area Brisbane definitely got us.

But that doesnt explain our disposal under no pressure.

I wouldn't even do a review. I'd just burn the footage and move on.

COS is getting jobs that he just isn't ready for.

 

[fpm84]

COS is getting jobs that he just isn't ready for.

Wasn't COS on Hipwood for most of the game? He demolished him if so - Hipwood had 7 disposals, 3 marks and 0.1. COS had 16 disposals.

 

[Vdubs]

I couldn't get over the kicking.
Were we simply not running hard enough and providing options? And therefor the ball carrier took silly risks?

It's amazing that every player caught the same disease.
In the contested (on the ground) ball area Brisbane definitely got us.

But that doesnt explain our disposal under no pressure.

I wouldn't even do a review. I'd just burn the footage and move on.

COS is getting jobs that he just isn't ready for.

No pressure? Perceived pressure because of their skill, vigour, and method got us, and we have seen it before. When we are the hunted and don’t come out with the hunting mindset, we are very susceptible. And again, last week’s no pressure game was what we did not benefit from.

 

[Mr Meow]

Wasn't COS on Hipwood for most of the game? He demolished him if so - Hipwood had 7 disposals, 3 marks and 0.1. COS had 16 disposals.

Yeah I liked the post based on our foot skills. I'm like you about about COS though, he played his role fine. Henry struggled on Morris, although we didn't help him further up the field.

 

[Vdubs]

You could just see this happening from mid-week onwards, even if we (me) chose to just hope it wouldn't. We had played 5 good games, Brisbane had been very ordinary. Brisbane had been castigated for poor goal conversion, we had an article written showing we were the most accurate team in the competition. Brisbane hadn't won here for 20 something years. Etc etc. Everyone who had been in form had their worst game for the year.

And yet at the end of the game it was 21 shots on goal to 22.

The only thing that really disappoints me is that Chris Scott (and I'm a fan) has reverted to his "play only the same old players" method from years ago. Geelong (and I suppose the other teams too) seems to play better when there are some younger ones with more enthusiasm and more incentive in the team. Old players not performing keep their spots, younger ones busting a gut in the reserves never get a chance. It makes for complacent players who don't really put in when the game is a bit hard, safe in the knowledge that they won't get dropped. What do we gain in either the short or longer term by playing, say, Duncan, instead of Knevitt? What can, say, George Stevens provide - we'll never know if we don't try. And I think these younger players will try harder than some of the older players who let us down today with a lack of effort. Drop a couple, send a message - that ain't good enough. Give the younger ones some reward for effort, don't reward no effort in senior players.

P.S. OHenry seemed to try harder after being dropped.....

Possibly Duncan got the game because of Danger’s 350th.

 

[Play it Sam]

They exploded out of the blocks and we utterly imploded.

Spot on. Four goals down to start, and Duncan is looking to bring the ball out, hesitates, ignores a lead, slow and overthinking. Dinky kick. Intercepted. Rinse and repeat because looking down the ground, we were all covered.
With no space we panicked, and imploded. In that respect, we did miss SDK.

With hindsight, chasing our tails, inaccuracy (let's note six gettable misses) meant all over in the first quarter.
I could be wrong, but several of our first quarters this year seem lethargic.

 

[Tony Barber]

No pressure? Perceived pressure because of their skill, vigour, and method got us, and we have seen it before. When we are the hunted and don’t come out with the hunting mindset, we are very susceptible. And again, last week’s no pressure game was what we did not benefit from.

Perceived pressure (by foot) only became apparent late in the third when we'd lost all confidence and we just started banging the ball out of defence.
Before that there were plenty of times where the was no pressure.

 

[Mr Meow]

No pressure? Perceived pressure because of their skill, vigour, and method got us, and we have seen it before. When we are the hunted and don’t come out with the hunting mindset, we are very susceptible. And again, last week’s no pressure game was what we did not benefit from.

They did defend the whole ground very well too. They were exceptional without the ball and had a whole playbook to execute from whenever they ripped it off us.

The most disappointing element for us was during the attempted comeback, there were a handful of times we missed easy shots on goal and they simply went coast to coast to score. Both the kicker and our team defence were highly disappointing in those situations.

 

[Tony Barber]

Wasn't COS on Hipwood for most of the game? He demolished him if so - Hipwood had 7 disposals, 3 marks and 0.1. COS had 16 disposals.

Maybe. But I remember saying to myself. "He's not up to the level. YET"

 

[Play it Sam]

Maybe. But I remember saying to myself. "He's not up to the level. YET"

He shows his inexperience getting caught out of position, turning back on play, not so hot with ground balls, but then will look good taking a strong mark. Beautiful long kick.
It will come with time, and he's good enough to keep persisting with. Especially in the absence of anyone else of quality, the kid has had to step up, probably unforeseen.

 

[Vdubs]

They did defend the whole ground very well too. They were exceptional without the ball and had a whole playbook to execute from whenever they ripped it off us.

The most disappointing element for us was during the attempted comeback, there were a handful of times we missed easy shots on goal and they simply went coast to coast to score. Both the kicker and our team defence were highly disappointing in those situations.

Dare we think it- high training loads pre bye?

 

[Vdubs]

Perceived pressure (by foot) only became apparent late in the third when we'd lost all confidence and we just started banging the ball out of defence.
Before that there were plenty of times where the was no pressure.

4 goals to zip- there's your pressure - stat.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Really poor decision to put Mullin on Charlie Cameron who has barely fired a shot all season and didn't again tonight. Charlie is not dangerous enough anymore to warrant super close attention. Mullin has done some excellent tagging jobs in the middle and it was negligent to not send him to Neale or McCluggage.

Tonight's loss was more about poor execution compared to anything else but it again highlighted that we are just a midfielder or two short. Not getting anything out of Guthrie or Bruhn to date, Bowes being deployed down back to cover injuries and then getting injured himself, and neither Clark or Knevitt forcing themself into the team has had a cumulative effect.

This this and this some more.
Mid tag every week or play someone better versed to play defence.

The real shame is Guthrie and Bruhn. Clark, Knevitt and Clohesy none of them will make it imo.

Credit where it's due - Ollie Henry showed a lot of urgency and intent to compete in the short time he was on which had been lacking for most of the year. He ended up with more touches in 31% game time than Close, O'Connor and Zach Guthrie.

Cannot agree at all. Ollie was predictably poor when he came on.

Fluffed disposals.
Turning into traffic and turning it over with Stengle alone in the goalsquare 30m from the nearest player.
Again multiple times behind his opponent at marking contests, which while that can happen. Someone like Dangerfield would make sure to halve the contest. Ollie just gives up.

So while 10 touches for the quarter was an uplift from what we've been getting from full games I saw little that suggested form had changed. Very poor when he came on.

 

[Mr Meow]

Dare we think it- high training loads pre bye?

Well it certainly looked like we struggled to run both ways. I'm not sure if that was a mental, physical or tactical (as in, Brisbane wouldn't let us) thing. But turning the ball over can do that to a side. Heads drop when it feels like the team can't buy a goal - easy missed shots in succession can break a team. There's a domino effect.

Brisbane were the opposite. Nailed some early chances, pulled off successful chains from defence to attack and their tails were up.

The lethargic first 20 minutes set the tone and maybe lead to a drop of confidence among the whole group. The first quarter is the important one to review.

 

[Cataholic]

Dare we think it- high training loads pre bye?

Would it make sense to time it with a bye?

I have no idea, therefore the question.

 

[Vdubs]

Would it make sense to time it with a bye?

I have no idea, therefore the question.

Definitely- it builds up to a crescendo, then the last game, and if lucky to win it, bonus, then the recovery and reset.