Unofficial Preview Changes and perspectives prior to Tigers 45th MCG home game this year

[Landgraft]

How late will our late change be? Seems like we're expecting Smith, Thurlow and Zuthrie to come storming over the hill like the good old US cavalry (though maybe the cavalry from Duel at Diablo that wound up being themselves the ones in need of rescuing).

 

[00VicWard001]

Doubt it'd have mattered. Losing Guthrie was the problem, he'd curtailed Martin up until getting injured.
Dusty getting off the chain in the last won them that game.

I would say that it wasn't that he curtailed Martin, not many, if any can do that. Rather, he harried him. He was just there, hovering, touching, bumping, chasing, harassing and annoying him. Guthrie may not have been able to bring him down, but he might have slowed him enough to create a turnover with his disposal, which really is the goal, since his disposal is quite elite when he is free.

 

[00VicWard001]

I take your point, but I also felt that we were lucky to be that close - Tigers controlled territory and we did better out of our forward fifty entries up until that point, so I don't think that Menzel's omission really mattered.

After that, the floodgates opened like they were threatening to do all game.

Yeah, they were playing out of their skins and we were playing to their gameplan. They dictated everything and the only thing that held them back was that we absorbed their attack and they probably didn't realise how good they really were (still respected us and were still fearful of losing 'another' final).

Once they beat us, they took their momentum all the way to the GF. Before that, during the home and away, they were just like every other team. Come to think of it, the same thing happened in 2013 when the Hawks beat us in the first final. They got a massive bogey off their back.

 

[Seeds]

I take your point, but I also felt that we were lucky to be that close - Tigers controlled territory and we did better out of our forward fifty entries up until that point, so I don't think that Menzel's omission really mattered.

After that, the floodgates opened like they were threatening to do all game.

This reminds me of all those poster that say we had to lose the 2008 gf so we could win The 2009 gf. It’s a defence mechanism to fool your mind that we didn’t stuff up with bad decisions. The mind can cope with not being good enough but struggles with bad decisions so pretends they either weren’t bad or inconsequential. Psychology 101.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Great kick but well done Billy Smedts for that move to get the ball to Hawkins for the second last goal. Smedts was a natural forward who found a coach determined to play him out of position in hos quest to have everyone able to play everywhere.

Nah, I gave a like for the first sentence, which was spot on.
Smedts problems weren't Scott, or else he'd have produced since he left, Smedts issue was his body and his attitude.

 

[you pick one]

I'm off to the pokies you blokes can have a look at the Wookies tag on Martin here, there is also a Martin highlights vid still around where the wookie is sighted once,as scares as big foot.This Guthrie job on Martin is like Kersten on Gibson,complete beat up.

 

[Seeds]

Really excited for tonight. If we lose it’s expected I just hope we put in a good effort, if we win it’s incredible.

Such a better feeling heading into a game like this compared to a game against a team in the bottom 4/8 who we SHOULD beat but we’re all so worried about losing. At least with this game I’m tipping Richmond but really excited!

We are expected to win. Richmond have nothing to play for and coming off a tough game and have a few injuries. This is nothing less then a final for Geelong. We must win to make top 4.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

What game and year are we talking here?

The fact you don't know tells me all I need to know about the CG bias present on here.

 

[Warsaw Winder]

I felt really positive about the game until selection. Prefer Narkle to Jones generally, and probably Miers over Jones as well, although happy to accept MC on that one.
Don't understand Abbot as an In though. Stanley was likely to beat Nank anyway, not sure why we brought a second ruck in to make a likely victory certain, when we know what a liabilty Stanley can often be when playing a hybrid role? Gives a little with one hand, takes a lot with the other.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

We are expected to win. Richmond have nothing to play for and coming off a tough game and have a few injuries. This is nothing less then a final for Geelong. We must win to make top 4.

No we're not.

Bet365: $2.85
Sportsbet: $3.00
TAB: $2.85
Crownbet: $2.85
Ladbrokes: $2.90

We most certainly are not expected to win, we are deemed in the eyes of most to likely lose tonight.

 

[dangerwood]

I felt really positive about the game until selection. Prefer Narkle to Jones generally, and probably Miers over Jones as well, although happy to accept MC on that one.
Don't understand Abbot as an In though. Stanley was likely to beat Nank anyway, not sure why we brought a second ruck in to make a likely victory certain, when we know what a liabilty Stanley can often be when playing a hybrid role? Gives a little with one hand, takes a lot with the other.

Stanleys out thats why abbotts in. Late change

 

[Landgraft]

We are expected to win. Richmond have nothing to play for and coming off a tough game and have a few injuries. This is nothing less then a final for Geelong. We must win to make top 4.

Yes, Richmond are definitely the team more held back by injury going into tonight

 

[iameviljez]

This reminds me of all those poster that say we had to lose the 2008 gf so we could win The 2009 gf. It’s a defence mechanism to fool your mind that we didn’t stuff up with bad decisions. The mind can cope with not being good enough but struggles with bad decisions so pretends they either weren’t bad or inconsequential. Psychology 101.

Omitting Menzel was a bad decision, but it did not cost us a match that was lost by nine goals.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

On the H/Sun internet site - 2hrs ago headline - Geelong could be dealt a major blow with ruckman Rhys Stanley in extreme doubt - cant read the whole article because of the subscribe paywall

I think Murdoch will come in - i think Smith is listed as a sucker emergency which Rich wont fall for

Abbott may surprise - havent forgotten Oren Stephenson 1stgame against Hawthorn - and the 9 goal 1st qtr which resulted from his ruck work

 

[Sttew]

Just checked the hourly forecast and it seems there could possibly be rain and storms during the game, surely we wont play 2 rucks if its raining.

Is Stanley definitely out?

 

[Lynchy04]

Butler, Graham, Houli, Prestia, Conca, Broad all out tonight. Prestia , Graham and Butler the 3 biggest outs based on how we play. Lambert and Edwards have had a lot better games with Prestia alongside them as they get less attention.

Graham a tackling machine in the guts.

If anyone was going to end the streak its the cats tonight with a few important role players out, some inexperienced kids in and Geelong have been in decent form with the big fella playing career best footy and being a beast up forward. It has been great to watch.

Should be a very good game. All the best guys.

 

[JumpyHolden]

I reckon we're probably around the 6 to 8 mark at the moment, though we were absolutely smashed by injury early on.

Losing Ratugolea has really, really hurt us IMO. I know he's just a kid and can't be relied upon to dominate, but we just haven't quite looked settled up forward yet.

You only have to wind the clock back a few years and you'll see the Dogs were unsettled all year but managed to win it so i'm not buying into the unsettled thing.

I think we are 1 to 4, lost to the top two teams in the Tigers/Eagles by under 3 goals, Hawks by 1 point and beaten Pies, Port, GWS, Dees, Swans and Roos so if you personally think the unsettled thing is a factor then you would have to say we're a big chance this year.

 

[Boxhead_31]

 

[calder_daddy]

Does the rain suit us or Richmond more.

I would love to see what I believe to be the 2 best captains going head to head.
Both extremely hard at it and they both do anything for the team.

Note, Cotchin of 2/3/4 years ago is not that same player.
Guy is a star
But you would think scooter will go to Cotchin.

 

[Wojo]

Worse, it's the Potato Blight.

Hahahahhaha, bless him. Probably more stubbornmule than warhorse though

 

[JumpyHolden]

Well the positive is Henry plays forward

 

[frggr]

No rain in the CBD yet, but it's coming!

 

[Shadow89]

Butler, Graham, Houli, Prestia, Conca, Broad all out tonight. Prestia , Graham and Butler the 3 biggest outs based on how we play. Lambert and Edwards have had a lot better games with Prestia alongside them as they get less attention.

Graham a tackling machine in the guts.

If anyone was going to end the streak its the cats tonight with a few important role players out, some inexperienced kids in and Geelong have been in decent form with the big fella playing career best footy and being a beast up forward. It has been great to watch.

Should be a very good game. All the best guys.

Great comment Nicest I've seen in a while. Same to you! For what it's worth, I think you'll have our measure, but hopefully the rain helps and it stops that fast game style which should advantage us. As long as we push you to the brink and show we're contenders without our own best 22 players in Stewart, McCarthy, Taylor, Ratugolea (and now) Stanley, then I'll be happy

 

[patience]

What's wrong with Stanley?

Edit: Sorry, what is the injury? Don't want to start THAT discussion again.

 

[frggr]

What's wrong with Stanley?

I think people were saying he might have injured himself towards the end of last week's game. Nothing serious, though.

That said, apart from the tweet above, I haven't seen anywhere saying he's a confirmed late out yet.