Changes vs Geelong

[chiwigi]

I reckon Sam Gary will be very unlucky and make way for Monfries.

Woud not mind seeing Eddy or Howard come in as well.

He gets plenty and works hard, but he doesn't cause much hurt. I like him as a player, but when we have the likes of Houston and Monfries sitting out, it needs to be considered.

 

[chiwigi]

Lol the hive mind developing amongst a segment of this board on this matter has no actual logic to it.

I haven't seen any calls to drop him, that would be insane!
Commenting on his kicking is fair enough though.

 

[TeeKray]

I haven't been as critical of S.Gary as many on this board but if Monfries puts in another good game for the Magpies next week then that has to come under very serious consideration as a simple straight swap.

 

[Zakk Wylde]

If he wasn't captain, I'd have Boak out as well.

Hahahaha

 

[ash_78]

Out: S. Gray
In: Monfries

 

[TheBeardAmigos]

unchanged.

Monfries, Howard, Palmer EMG.

Geelong aren't playing great football and I fully expect them to lose on Friday Night to the Dogs.

Clurey on Hawkins, let Hombsch do what he does best as the Cats have no 2nd tall. (Stanley injured, Black poor, Menzel more a medium fwd)

We can cut them up with our 'slingshot' style of play and on a small ground, it can be done easily. Keep Dangerwood quiet and we win. Teams have done it the past 3 weeks. Cats midfield depth will be tested. Blicavs out of form, Duncan not the impact player they need, Menegola dime a dozen mid, Guthrie out of form.

 

[jack_black16]

Apparently a large contingent of Adelaide fans will be travelling to the game to join the celebrations of their proxy premiership.

The Crows greatest achievement in nearly 20 years.

 

[Valentino]

Neither do I. It wasn't even the problem last year.

The problem has continually been the forward line and converting our entries. We need another KF in there with Dix.

To some extent, it is the defence and their contribution to some of our poor F50 entries.
As far as defending goes, they are doing the best job in the league. It's hard to argue against our miserly 599 points against or 75 points per game.

 

[LP7_]

Carn, gimme some more Gus at the Cattery!

 

[Us against the rest]

This will probably come back to bite me but I don't think height in our defence is the issue some make it out to be. Yes Walker, Franklin and Patton got hold of Clurey so far this year. But putting aside these are three genuine AFL goal scoring threats who can get hold of anyone - I mean Buddy, come on. But even so Clurey was done more on the lead than in the air by Buddy and Walker while Patton was more strength than height. Time has been wasted on trying to turn Clurey into some aerobic mid but now that he is concentrated on defence Port can continue to build his size and core strength so he can go mano a mano with tall forwards.

I would have thought TJ's dismantling of Lynch and containment of Kennedy has shown that Bassett's team-first defence and Port's defensive across the ground play is more reliant on smart strong defending than height. TJ can take Hawkins, there's no need to rush in Howard or Austin for that job. They will get their chance soon enough. If Taylor is still playing forward, Clurey has the athleticism to go with him and judging by his job on Darling can match his strength. Or if that's Hombsch's job he can take a resting ruck.

Sam Gray was pretty good against Gold Coast but again against a team we dominated. Still Ken likes to show faith. Robbie Gray seemed to move more freely than he has in recent weeks and could easily have finished with 4 goals against a very good defender. I guess it's up to those closest to him to decide how to manage him.

Nicks as senior assistant made the point during the week that the three line coaches actually all work together on across the ground strategies and that their labelling as midfield, defence etc coaches is largely nominal. So Bassett's influence in containing opposition scoring opportunities across the ground by pressuring clean delivery in the forward 50 is probably showing in this approach.

Totally agree with your post. I would like to see eddy or Howard come in just in case, that would enable Trengove to go down back if needed.

 

[Smartys Power]

So I'm heading over for this game.
Super excited.
First time to Simmonds Stadium
Get sent this: http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2017-05-11/cats-to-honour-2007-heroes
FML.
Might be late.

Same boat. **** that.

 

[TheBeardAmigos]

Same boat. **** that.

where you staying?

 

[Power Girl]

Sam Gray out for Brett Eddy or Dougie
Robbie Gray out for Monfries

If he wasn't captain, I'd have Boak out as well.

I must be tired. I read that as Sam Gray out for Eddie Dingle.

 

[Andre]

Apparently the cats will be celebrating the 07 flag before the game.

If this doesn't get our boys up and about, I don't know what will.

If we can't win off an 11 day break versus 6 days, with Geelong having plenty of injuries to boot, then we're just making up numbers this year.

 

[Smartys Power]

where you staying?

Just got a cheap cabin at Ashley Gardens Caravan Park.

 

[Port01]

If we can't win off an 11 day break versus 6 days, with Geelong having plenty of injuries to boot, then we're just making up numbers this year.

Our next 2 games are both against teams on consecutive 6 day breaks. Conditioning shouldn't be a problem.
Later in the year the early break could be a problem so need to bank wins and rest players.

 

[TheBeardAmigos]

Just got a cheap cabin at Ashley Gardens Caravan Park.

staying in Braybrook? interesting

 

[Andre]

Later in the year the early break could be a problem so need to bank wins and rest players.

So this is one area where we most AFL clubs are miles behind the practices of some other sports. It's nearly always 'Pick the best 22'. People trot out the 'it's a marathon, not a sprint' line, yet then we have the likes of Robbie Gray played under obvious duress. Certainly post the bye I'd rather we rotated some players out for 'general soreness' for a week here and there, so most are fresh come end of season.

 

[PeacefulWarrior]

So this is one area where we most AFL clubs are miles behind the practices of some other sports. It's nearly always 'Pick the best 22'. People trot out the 'it's a marathon, not a sprint' line, yet then we have the likes of Robbie Gray played under obvious duress. Certainly post the bye I'd rather we rotated some players out for 'general soreness' for a week here and there, so most are fresh come end of season.

That's true but what's the point in a fit squad if you miss the cut by 4 points

If your best 22 is fit, then they play...

 

[bringbackbucky]

Have to work Eddy into the side to take advantage of our forward 50 entries.

 

[Andre]

Have to work Eddy into the side to take advantage of our forward 50 entries.

I'm more and more leaning towards Dougal over Eddy. Dixon is our CHF, so ideally we'd have two of Ryder, Trengove and Dougal/Eddy forward. Ryder is our main ruck, but Dougal can pinch hit a bit, so he and Trengove can split ruck duties depending on match-ups as second ruck, to allow Paddy to be more a 70/30 split in the ruck/forward rather then 80 or 90 percent of the time there. Our forward line looks most dangerous when both Dixon and Ryder are in it.

 

[Smartys Power]

staying in Braybrook? interesting

Yeah, always go there when we're in Melbs. Cheap and easy to get into the CBD.

 

[mic59]

If we can't win off an 11 day break versus 6 days, with Geelong having plenty of injuries to boot, then we're just making up numbers this year.

Geelong started their three-loss streak by losing to a team with a 5-day break versus their 7-day break. I can't see the extra recovery time making much difference. And to be a proper flag contender we shouldn't have to worry about such things anyway.

 

[pastmyprimus]

Was a bit disappointed in DBJ's game yesterday. I think his form's dropped off this year. The defence has been a strong point this year so he's flown under the radar a bit.

I'm not calling for him to be dropped but he does need to lift.

 

[Magus]

Geelong started their three-loss streak by losing to a team with a 5-day break versus their 7-day break. I can't see the extra recovery time making much difference. And to be a proper flag contender we shouldn't have to worry about such things anyway.

Probably not, but every team is going to have a down patch at some point throughout the year. It's nice when you can keep notching up the wins. If other teams have some misfortune, I'm more than happy for us to take advantage of that. Lord knows we've been on the opposite end of that luck plenty of times over the last couple of years.