Preview Changes vs Geelong

[Ford Fairlane]

As Lou said If Motlop plays then Impey should play. If he doesn't then Hombsch should come in and take care of Dawson Simpson

If that's the logic Impey is being picked on, who was Impey's match up against West Coast?

 

[davesnothere]

Really... He hasn't even clicked at SANFL level yet.

Took Lobbe years to click and Redden. On a personal level happy to leave him and wait.

 

[Bob77]

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/po...eak-against-cats/story-fndv8s6g-1226891421198

Not sure how much of this is reliable but Rucci says that Monfries hasn't started training and is still a week or two away. Hombsch is available and Redden has started running, although he's still three weeks away from being match ready.

 

[Lou Zyffer]

Why would you make us slower against Geelong? Surely they are a team we have to take on not get stuck in a slog against? It was when we stopped being attacking and brave against them in the final that we lost.

Aren't Geelong nearly the bottom side in the AFL for clearances? Doesn't that say something about the way they play?

Well that's why I asked about Mitchell last night but notwithstanding the fact that with Redden injured we need the rookie spot up our sleeve should Lobbe be injured Byrons Firen wasn't impressed with the lack of improvement in Kane's kicking yesterday. My assumption is also that posters feel the step up for Impey to Geelong may make it tough. I know you're probably thinking 'then why bring in Newton?' and that's a valid point. X-factor is all I can say there. An unknown quantity for the Cats. Frankly I have no great issue with Impey playing but I'd seriously consider having him in the green vest.

It's all a roll of the dice really when it comes to the younger, inexperienced guys as you just don't know what any may or may not produce on any given day. I certainly don't think anyone floating the idea of resting Impey are doing so based on last weeks game.

I keep thinking back to our big scalps last year where we beat Sydney and Collingwood in the trenches then burned them on the outside. I guess it depends on how much credence you place on winning the contested ball. Last wek we seemed to rely a lot on rebounding. I'm just not sure that'll work every game.

 

[Lou Zyffer]

Took Lobbe years to click and Redden. On a personal level happy to leave him and wait.

That's all we can do really. And keep hoping.

 

[RossFC]

If that's the logic Impey is being picked on, who was Impey's match up against West Coast?

Didn't look closely at who he was matched up on but I imagine it would have been Cripps.

But the point I'm making is we were far too short without Hombsch also Trengove had a fair bit of bench time.
Bobby, Jonas and even O'Shea had to carry the load of the talls of Cox(who was all by himself at times), Darling and Kennedy.

Geelong are missing Motlop, Christianson and Chappy since we took them on last year so they will be a lot more taller in the fwd line as well with Hawkins/Simpson and one of McIntosh/Blicavs up forward with Taylor sneeking up there as well.

We played the game on WCE's terms which stopped our run and we had to rely on the bigger blokes.

 

[rellim]

I would love for Impey to stay in the team. Perhaps he plays down back on a Varcoe type or Motlop if he returns but I would also like to see him get a run in the defensive forward role negating the influence of Kelly/Mackie/Enright (similar to Puopolo at Hawthorn). I thought Impey's second half against West Coast pressure-wise was fantastic, the kid gets to contests others just don't due to his speed and he also began to use the ball well as the game developed. If we can limit the influence of the Geelong halfbacks we'll be a real shot on Sunday but with Monfries unlikely to play it will be a real slog for R. Gray and Wingard defensively.

If Hombsch is fit I hope he comes back in. The Geelong forwards did a great job yesterday of limiting Gibson's influence as the third man up so it's probable we'll see a lot of one-on-one contests which we've all seen Hombsch excel at. There's a chance Harry Taylor may go forward (Rivers & Lonergan to cover Schulz & Westhoff) and I think Hombsch is a good option for that match-up. I thought Hawthorn went in really short defensively yesterday and it came unstuck for them, would hate to see us do the same. At any one stage they may have Hawkins, McIntosh/Simpson, Taylor, Blicavs forward so I'd hate for us to go in short. Also guys like Hombsch, Carlile, Jonas and Trengove all use the ball well so it makes Geelong's forwards accountable.

Finally, not sure this is the game to tinker with the team too much and debut a guy like Newton or bring Moore back in. As someone else mentioned this is our biggest H&A game for years so let's back the guys who've done the job for us so far this year.

In: Hombsch
Out: S. Gray
Sub: Young

 

[Lou Zyffer]

If that's the logic Impey is being picked on, who was Impey's match up against West Coast?

Again, I think that's because it's been said all along that Impey was recruited specifically to play on those faster guys defensively. Playing last week was an exercise in gaining experience. Just because there's not an obvious match up any particular match I don't think would specifically influence his selection just that he's one of the first to consider when there is.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Well that's why I asked about Mitchell last night but notwithstanding the fact that with Redden injured we need the rookie spot up our sleeve should Lobbe be injured Byrons Firen wasn't impressed with the lack of improvement in Kane's kicking yesterday. My assumption is also that posters feel the step up for Impey to Geelong may make it tough. I know you're probably thinking 'then why bring in Newton?' and that's a valid point. X-factor is all I can say there. An unknown quantity for the Cats. Frankly I have no great issue with Impey playing but I'd seriously consider having him in the green vest.

It's all a roll of the dice really when it comes to the younger, inexperienced guys as you just don't know what any may or may not produce on any given day. I certainly don't think anyone floating the idea of resting Impey are doing so based on last weeks game.

I keep thinking back to our big scalps last year where we beat Sydney and Collingwood in the trenches then burned them on the outside. I guess it depends on how much credence you place on winning the contested ball. Last wek we seemed to rely a lot on rebounding. I'm just not sure that'll work every game.

1954 made the same point in the sanfl game thread I was thinking about, the step up from a sanfl game against the Oval Ave Eagles to the Cybermen of Geelong is a big ask too. That would be Newton's first AFL game. Impey had the perfect preparatory game against West Coast and apart from the early lapses acquitted himself alright and finished full of running.

Impey is a young un but as fierce a contested ball competitor as you'll see and has outside game and speed to burn.

As I said I would have dropped him for the West Coast game based on output the previous 2 weeks, but he really stepped up when it mattered against West Coast. So what do I know?

Apart from that I can't see why we would need to make changes to a team coming from a heroic win in the west based on form. Especially the multiple changes a few have called for.

 

[Lou Zyffer]

I would love for Impey to stay in the team. Perhaps he plays down back on a Varcoe type or Motlop if he returns but I would also like to see him get a run in the defensive forward role negating the influence of Kelly/Mackie/Enright (similar to Puopolo at Hawthorn). I thought Impey's second half against West Coast pressure-wise was fantastic, the kid gets to contests others just don't due to his speed and he also began to use the ball well as the game developed. If we can limit the influence of the Geelong halfbacks we'll be a real shot on Sunday but with Monfries unlikely to play it will be a real slog for R. Gray and Wingard defensively.

If Hombsch is fit I hope he comes back in. The Geelong forwards did a great job yesterday of limiting Gibson's influence as the third man up so it's probable we'll see a lot of one-on-one contests which we've all seen Hombsch excel at. There's a chance Harry Taylor may go forward (Rivers & Lonergan to cover Schulz & Westhoff) and I think Hombsch is a good option for that match-up. I thought Hawthorn went in really short defensively yesterday and it came unstuck for them, would hate to see us do the same. At any one stage they may have Hawkins, McIntosh/Simpson, Taylor, Blicavs forward so I'd hate for us to go in short. Also guys like Hombsch, Carlile, Jonas and Trengove all use the ball well so it makes Geelong's forwards accountable.

Finally, not sure this is the game to tinker with the team too much and debut a guy like Newton or bring Moore back in. As someone else mentioned this is our biggest H&A game for years so let's back the guys who've done the job for us so far this year.

In: Hombsch
Out: S. Gray
Sub: Young

Yeah, I'm not opposed to Impey playing a forward defensive role either.

OK, back to work.

 

[Lou Zyffer]

1954 made the same point in the sanfl game thread I was thinking about, the step up from a sanfl game against the Oval Ave Eagles to the Cybermen of Geelong is a big ask too. That would be Newton's first AFL game. Impey had the perfect preparatory game against West Coast and apart from the early lapses acquitted himself alright and finished full of running.

Impey is a young un but as fierce a contested ball competitor as you'll see and has outside game and speed to burn.

As I said I would have dropped him for the West Coast game based on output the previous 2 weeks, but he really stepped up when it mattered against West Coast. So what do I know?

What do any of us keyboard warriors know FF? Just banter for me. I'm clueless.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Again, I think that's because it's been said all along that Impey was recruited specifically to play on those faster guys defensively. Playing last week was an exercise in gaining experience. Just because there's not an obvious match up any particular match I don't think would specifically influence his selection just that he's one of the first to consider when there is.

But he hasn't had a specific match up since the showdown. He's been playing a variety of roles. He's just starting to find his feet, so why drop him now. And he could run with Stokes or Varcoe against Geelong.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

What do any of us keyboard warriors know FF? Just banter for me. I'm clueless.

I know I trust Ken to make the right call.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Didn't look closely at who he was matched up on but I imagine it would have been Cripps.

But the point I'm making is we were far too short without Hombsch also Trengove had a fair bit of bench time.
Bobby, Jonas and even O'Shea had to carry the load of the talls of Cox(who was all by himself at times), Darling and Kennedy.

Geelong are missing Motlop, Christianson and Chappy since we took them on last year so they will be a lot more taller in the fwd line as well with Hawkins/Simpson and one of McIntosh/Blicavs up forward with Taylor sneeking up there as well.

We played the game on WCE's terms which stopped our run and we had to rely on the bigger blokes.

They still have Varcoe and Stokes. Varcoe played his game of the year against us in the final last year. Or Impey gets a run as a defensive springboard off half back.

Hombsch should come back in, Sam Gray is probably the one under the pump. I wouldn't drop Young either, he deserves a full game more than dropping, he's done nothing wrong when coming on as sub.

 

[davesnothere]

Even the handball turnover that cost us the goal by Impey wasn't far off being a great piece of play( Ok about a foot higher than it could have been) but 5 games in at this level there's way to much to like about him.

 

[RossFC]

They still have Varcoe and Stokes. Varcoe played his game of the year against us in the final last year. Or Impey gets a run as a defensive springboard off half back.

Hombsch should come back in, Sam Gray is probably the one under the pump. I wouldn't drop Young either, he deserves a full game more than dropping, he's done nothing wrong when coming on as sub.

Varcoe is a strong bloke I'd put O'Shea on him. I'd back Cam to match him for speed.

Stokes is an interesting one I reckon Pittard could go on him then speed off when counter attacking.

I'd like Sam Gray to be the sub because I think he has shown so far at AFL level he only can play for 3 quarters so giving him 1 should be fine. He's another option through the middle and go in the fwd pocket.

Young has done nothing wrong but with blokes pushing for spots, If we are not going to give him a full game at AFL he needs to play a full game at SANFL to keep his conditioning on track. 3 games in a row as sub is not ideal.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

It's the dilemma of good form and depth ... it makes selection difficult.

 

[Puddy]

I want Mitchell as the sub tbh, give young a full game and rest impey, if Wingard isnt fit like last week we should not play him, put in P Stew and the third tall

 

[Fifty]

We definitely missed a 3rd tall forward. Definitely need one just so the cats have to defend it. But who do u play?
Our list is really lacking in talls ready to go. Butch is it but can you really play him??
We were frustratingly short...

Newton should debut and Stewart could be the 3rd sorta tall...
Out gray young and ???
In newton stewet hombsch

This exactly. Stewart is the answer to provide us with another marking option in attack. He has the flexibility to plug gaps elsewhere as well, and now seems to be in form. Definitely an IN this week for mine. Probably for Young.

I was previously 'quietly confident' of winning this game, but after seeing Geelong dismantle Hawks, and in the 4th qtr when they should have been running out of legs, I have reduced my expectations to more like 'we're a good chance'. This will be a huuuuge test for us, but I think it doesn't come at a better time. What a game it will be. Hoping for a mid 40K crowd. Deserves more.

Definitely need a Moore or a Newton to toughen us up around the packs. We'll be smashed otherwise.
S Gray to drop out. Definitely don't want to see Impey dropped.

Hawkins looks scary. Remember what he did to us in Geelong last year. Must have Hombsch back to give us an alternative option, but I can still see him dominating whoever we put on him if their mids give him half decent fwd entries. No idea who will make way.

Our midfielders will have to be at their pressuring best to prevent clean ball movement in to their 50, and then run it quickly out. Hoping for lots of running bounces from Broady, Polec, and Harts.

Another huge game for Lobster up against two genuine A grade rucks. If he can give us 50% or more first touches, that will go a long way to us winning I think. Would like to see even more of Trengove in the ruck this week, esp if Hombsch is playing. Clearly our next best option, and proving to be much more than just a handy option while Lobbe rests. Should play some serious minutes there and see how he goes, while Lobbe can stretch them up fwd.

 

[Honeyboy Wilson]

I know we haven't relied on clearances to win, but we are down on clearances compared to other teams. I think we should bring Newton in for a Young or an S Gray.

 

[Seanybruz]

As much as I want to see him in the side I wouldn't throw Newton to the Geelong wolves in his debut, he'd go from playing against scrubbers in the SANFL to the likes of Selwood & co best to let him come in against GWS the week after if he has another near BOG performance for the Maggie's.

Given Geelong are playing a very tall forward line Hombsch is a must & it'll be likely Gray that misses out, I thought Young was a little unlucky not to have 2 goal scoring chances against West Coast & set up Schulz' goal so agree he either deserves a full game or swap places in the SANFL for P Stew.

Our record with unchanged sides isn't the best but you also have to reward those who haven't done anything wrong so just the 1-2 changes for mine, picking the sub would be an interesting task this week I'd like to see what Impey can do in this role if Motlop doesn't come up.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Clearances this year

15. Port Adelaide 178
16. Geelong 177

Tackles this year

3. Geelong 372
4. Port 363

Both teams set up for slingshot movement from defensive action. That's why speed and spread was so important in Ken's recruiting plans for 2014.

 

[steve4445]

I really think we need another tall up forward, watching the game on Saturday night we looked Shouse going up forward with not many options - roughly 20 more inside 50's and less scoring shots than the oposition is not great.

Was really hoping that Butch kicked a bag this week but it looks like we might need to bring Stewart in.

 

[Lambot]

In: A win against Geelong
Out: Smarmy self-righteous Cats supporters.

 

[Schulzenfest]

I don't care if he [Butch] doesn't get a touch on Monday.

I said this at the time, but now that it's actually happened ... ergh. Can't bring myself to do it. Just sends all sorts of wrong messages. But somebody needs to make their gun tall defenders accountable. So, given the lack of other options, maybe Paul Stewart has to come in to almost do a tagging job on Taylor.

Happy to wait another week on Hombsch and Newton. I assume Bobby will take Hawkins, and Trengove, Jonas and O'Shea are more than enough to take on guys like McIntosh, Mitch Brown and Blicavs, so Hombsch isn't a necessity. Happy to give him a game in the magoos to make sure his body's right before bringing him back against GWS' triple towers. I can see the logic in bringing Newton in to help with the clearances, but I think that for now I'd rather just have Aaron Young do it and put somebody else (maybe Pittard again) in the vest. Would be very harsh to drop Young for Newton given that Young has only played two quarters and impressed in both of them. If Newton has another good game in the SANFL, and I have no doubt that he will, then the GWS game would be a better game to bring him in for his debut than throwing him to the wolves against the 5-0 Cats.

I think my out is Sam Gray. He is very, very unlucky, but I just can't think who else would go out. The only other option is Impey, but his speed and defensive pressure are too valuable against Geelong's quick and super-skilled side. I think Impey might have to play further up the field though, possibly as a forward chasing around Mackie, Enright and Bartel, because if his disposal is as unreliable coming out of defence as it was last week then Geelong will tear us to pieces on the rebound.

It's funny, last week despite 2 x 8 disposal games there was no talk of dropping Impey now he keeps appearing on lists of outs. He had a couple of forgettable moments against West Coast but in a tough finals-like defensive slog against West Coast he doubled his previous weeks' output and in the second half was one of the drivers of our win - and our quick players were so important when the game was up for grabs. I would have thought the Subi game was perfect preparation for a game against Geelong. Moreso than a stroll in the park against the Oval Avenue Eagles.

We need to get out of the 2011-12 mentality of assuming that if players are listed as an out then they must have done something wrong. Our list is so strong now that we have probably 30 guys on the list who on talent and form deserve to be playing AFL. Some of them have to miss out.

I know we haven't relied on clearances to win, but we are down on clearances compared to other teams. I think we should bring Newton in for a Young or an S Gray.

Or we just keep Young but give him a full game. His SANFL clearance numbers were just as good as Newton's and he has AFL experience that Newton doesn't have. Grass isn't always greener.