Review Cats roll Eagles eventually by 43 points.

[joe444]

Yeah I think if I had to sum up our defensive work in one passage of play it's Allen's running goal in the first.

Humphries looked up and saw we had an outnumber in the backline and just let Allen run into the space, hanging back to get on the end of an expected quick rebound. If he got it we would have turned that into another entry (and set shots behind) but Allen just ran onto it and goaled

If you play that sequence again but it's Collingwood and Mihocek there's no way Humphries just lets him go.

Also - they're human beings. They can sense playing against a lax opposition; they gave us ridiculous amounts of space at times. To our credit, it didn't lead to lairising. It did, however, lead to a desire to bring each other into the game and start trying to hit super-precise leads into the forwards. Way more than in a high-pressure game.

 

[catempire]

And half our defence has either been missing or coming back from injury for the whole season. We just need a bit more luck on the injury front to settle it.

Plus have you seen our draw so far? We have had an incredibly hard run to start the season.

Remember three weeks ago when you said cameron was having an ordinary year. It doesnt take long to turn it around. The talent in our defence right now is probably the best its been since 2007-11.

We certainly missed Jack Henry and arguably Kolo but I’m concerned more with the game style and some form issues.

We are setting up defensively to maximise intercept opportunities but in doing that opening ourselves up massively to easy entries and marks inside D50. Even pauper sides are doing it to us so it’s not a strength of opposition issue.

You’re right in that it’s not a talent issue so that means it’s potentially fixable.

 

[My Tilly]

Tom Stewart is a shell of himself at the moment. Probably mostly due to the knee concern but he is no longer the stalwart of our backline. His aerial game is lacking now. That's been his signature.
Still a solid player.

Kolodjashnij to return. I wonder how it will work as O'Sullivan looks so promising beside De Koning.

 

[joe444]

We certainly missed Jack Henry and arguably Kolo but I’m concerned more with the game style and some form issues.

We are setting up defensively to maximise intercept opportunities but in doing that opening ourselves up massively to easy entries and marks inside D50. Even pauper sides are doing it to us so it’s not a strength of opposition issue.

You’re right in that it’s not a talent issue so that means it’s potentially fixable.

Perhaps, though, this is where we have to point out that opposing sides are going to score eventually. I think it's a legit concern out of the Bulldogs game, but not so much last night. They were more accurate than usual and were still held to 11.7.

You're right, though. We're among the worst of the contenders for conceding marks inside D50. In fact, the worst. Let's wait and see as the defence settles down, though.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

"wE aLWayS lOsE gAMeS liKe tHIs!!!"

They pushed us hard, though. If they keep on playing like that against other teams they won't be cellar dwellars for too much longer.

Of course they'll have to do it without Harley Reid

 

[catsfootyfan89]

Of course they'll have to do it without Harley Reid

Is there any substance to this at all? Is it just a meme or is it an actual theory?

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Is there any substance to this at all? Is it just a meme or is it an actual theory?

Just very strong talk at this stage as far as I know. Like the months and months of speculation when Paddy Dangerfield was still a Crow back in 2015!

 

[joe444]

Just very strong talk at this stage as far as I know. Like the months and months of speculation when Paddy Dangerfield was still a Crow back in 2015!

I actually watched that last quarter of season 2015 recently (well, the end of it). Ovations for StevieJ, Kelly, Stokes. Then a playful ovation for Dangerfield marking before the siren.
Not sure who we could give the same treatment to from the Swans, though.

Rd 23: Cats v Crows Q4

Watch the full replay of the fourth quarter

www.afl.com.au

 

[Hamingja]

I could be wrong but i think they were referring to Geelong with the number 1 forward 50 pressure thing

It was definitely the Eagles. It might have been some obscure variation of it like percentage of scores forced from forward turnovers or whatever but they put it on the table pre game.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

What hasnt really been mentioned and needs to be highlighted are the incredible last qtrs of mannagh and dempsey. Botj went up a gear and had huge impacts in that last qtr and helped the game go our way.

Also was super impressed with the athleticism and speed of COS. I was unaware of how much speed he can have and a bit of dash to go with it. Can see him turning into a huge athletic midfielder, even more so than blicavs aa he is more skilled and quick. Wouldnt mind seeing him make a midfield move at one point.

Oh, and the sulks on the WCE board about camerons last qtr slaughter of ginbey is a good read. Really got on their nerves

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Not all your kids a pretty.
Not all participants get a trophy.

And not all wins are pretty.

WE did enoujgh to win but having the 18th team within 6 points with 5 mins left in the 3rd 1/4 is not great

Ultimately we did enough to get the 4 points and it seems mostly unscathed.

Holmes and Smith had over 1600 meters gained.

Smith, Jezza, Miers, all good overall but the 3rd quarter nap wasnt special.

The last 1/4 we got it going and I reckon CS had a spray or 2... it was well deserved bc they had earned it.

The kind of 4 points you have to have but would have been nicer to do it it more dominating fashion.


Harley Reid looks good in hoops and rekcon he was looking longingly there at one point.

On to next week and looking for another win

GO Catters

“ son, you are ugly, and never win trophies, but you keep getting the job done”.

Comedy gold right there straight outta a will farrel film

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

I actually watched that last quarter of season 2015 recently (well, the end of it). Ovations for StevieJ, Kelly, Stokes. Then a playful ovation for Dangerfield marking before the siren.
Not sure who we could give the same treatment to from the Swans, though.

Rd 23: Cats v Crows Q4

Watch the full replay of the fourth quarter

www.afl.com.au

Gee, Kelly and Stokes really went out like players still in their prime. Stevie J, 2 goals 6. Could have had a bag! I totally forgot Charlie Cameron was once a Crow - Dangerfield gave him a blast for not going hard at the contest at one point

Josh Walker and Nathan Vardy both looked the goods here...

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Oh, and the sulks on the WCE board about camerons last qtr slaughter of ginbey is a good read. Really got on their nerves

They called him 'Junk Time Jezza'!

 

[STPer18]

They called him 'Junk Time Jezza'!

Every minute against WCE the last five odd years have been junktime. Anyway, I prefer 'Cash-in Cameron'!

 

[you pick one]

We certainly missed Jack Henry and arguably Kolo but I’m concerned more with the game style and some form issues.

We are setting up defensively to maximise intercept opportunities but in doing that opening ourselves up massively to easy entries and marks inside D50. Even pauper sides are doing it to us so it’s not a strength of opposition issue.

You’re right in that it’s not a talent issue so that means it’s potentially fixable.

70% game style 30% form but I believe the way we push everyone of our backs forward to lock the ball in our forward half and create repeat entries is completely a planned structure and Scotts prepared to to give up a few goals if the opersition can get through on a fast break and that structure will not be the same each week depending on the strengths of each opersition or the position of the game.

 

[you pick one]

Every minute against WCE the last five odd years have been junktime. Anyway, I prefer 'Cash-in Cameron'!

I reckon Jezza was having his managed this week on the ground he'd of had low k's on his Gps tracker.

 

[year of the cat]

Stewart is actually the biggest concern for me right now.

Even at his current output he stands up ok against most players and that's ok. But at his best he becomes a serious weapon and could be the difference between a flag and just making up the numbers. When I refer to him as a "concern" my point being that if he's hampered by a knee and it's not likely to get much better, then it's a red flag. If it's just form and match conditioning then I think we can expect to see a return to the Tom Stewart we know in the back half of the year.

Either way he's a close watch for me. I'm hoping he gets back to what we know. Star of the game.

He's dropping marks that would normally be sodas for him. We are seeing the same with Sicily this year. Whether it's due to injury, lack of form or just an indication of decline remains to be seen. But with both these players there has been no appreciable turnaround at this stage of the season.

 

[Warhorse]

Stewart was wildly out of form last year as well. Use him as a defensive sweeper in the midfield or if he is injured, then rest him

 

[Pollywaffle]

Stewart was wildly out of form last year as well. Use him as a defensive sweeper in the midfield or if he is injured, then rest him

Suspensions, tags, head knocks(?) took the wind out of his sails then the knee thing seems to have put the cherry on top.
Lost a lot of pace and not pulling in as many intercepts. Maybe less prepared to come off his man these days?

 

[Tony Barber]

I know he had goals kicked on him but there were good signs from Dekoning last night.
O'Sullivan was annoying at times but he's a kid.

I even thought Close showed a bit.

And for mine Holmes was easily BOG. He was devastating.
We honestly should have had that game buried in the first 40 minutes with what he was doing.

A new phrase "it's not poor quarters of conversion that are important, it's who you're poor against that matters".

 

[you pick one]

It was definitely the Eagles. It might have been some obscure variation of it like percentage of scores forced from forward turnovers or whatever but they put it on the table pre game.

I heard that on Fox it might have been in regards to the last 3 week or something I don't really know for sure.

 

[bulletproof]

Stewart was wildly out of form last year as well. Use him as a defensive sweeper in the midfield or if he is injured, then rest him

Stewart in current form is a net negative.

If he is carrying something he should be left out, get fit, and hope he recaptures his form just before finals.

As it currently stands, I don’t think we are any better with him in the side. So why play him through this issue?

It would be a major positive to have prime Stewart come into the team later in year, especially if teams are not putting in place plans to curb him.

 

[frggr]

I could be wrong but i think they were referring to Geelong with the number 1 forward 50 pressure thing

Pretty sure I've heard Geelong were #1 for tackles inside F50 recently.

It seemed odd to me

 

[Gee Class Loco]

Suspensions, tags, head knocks(?) took the wind out of his sails then the knee thing seems to have put the cherry on top.
Lost a lot of pace and not pulling in as many intercepts. Maybe less prepared to come off his man these days?

Not sure he plays on a man... FWIW he's usually in no mans land lately...

Stewart in current form is a net negative.

If he is carrying something he should be left out, get fit, and hope he recaptures his form just before finals.

As it currently stands, I don’t think we are any better with him in the side. So why play him through this issue?

It would be a major positive to have prime Stewart come into the team later in year, especially if teams are not putting in place plans to curb him.

Agreed. I have a feeling if Kolo was available he'd be having a block of time off.

 

[bombersboy]

COS came back after his rest nicely tonight.

He looked very good.

Were we watching the same game? I agree that COS will end up being a very good player but he made a number of terrible errors. That handball over his teammates head from the goal square to an Eagles player the highlight/lowlight.