Opinion Duncan and Caddy

[you pick one]

What a tone he set in the first 10 seconds of GF07. Played a magnificent 09GF as well - vital in our first and last goals and for soccering a memorable point.
Personally I would have had him start on Hodge in 08 and really tickle those ribs............oh what could have been.

And that's not hindsight plenty thought that was the match up before the game.

 

[FredLeDeux]

And that's not hindsight plenty thought that was the match up before the game.

The truly inexplicable decision in that game was, after they did put Rooke on him, and Rooke stopped him dead, they very shortly took Rooke off him again.

 

[thejester]

Harley was vice-captain of the Cats in 2006 when you wiped him as captain,lessons learned.I'm positive I'd have gone for Harley if I'd been old enough to post back then.

Haha, guilty as charged. Don't get me wrong, I reckon Partridge is dead right - as with assistant coaches, we don't have any real idea of who would make a great future captain because we don't see what happens behind the scenes. But conversely guys who get labelled as future captains often (rightly or wrongly) ascend to the throne.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

The truly inexplicable decision in that game was, after they did put Rooke on him, and Rooke stopped him dead, they very shortly took Rooke off him again.

Maybe the fix was in?...................where did Bomber get the coin for Armstrong Creek......

 

[Moggy]

Correct, describing either Duncan or Motlop as "midfielders" is meaningless, many widely-used positional descriptions have long since failed to keep up with how the game is actually played.

The question is whether they could make the AA team, and it seems to me that positional accuracy is not a big concern for the selectors of that team, given that they will put their selected best players out of position in order to get them in the team.

 

[Vdubs]

The question is whether they could make the AA team, and it seems to me that positional accuracy is not a big concern for the selectors of that team, given that they will put their selected best players out of position in order to get them in the team.

Massive jump from good Geelong players to AA.
Selwood. Given.
Can't see that sort of jump from any except Guthrie if he became consistent and on-ball .
Motlop as an on-baller doesn't do it for me in that regard, but with some fitness and luck he could be AA anywhere as you say.

 

[cynical]

Duncan is already a good player, him getting a bit better will make little difference as he is an outside mid.

Caddy, Guthrie and GHS are more important to our chances. All 3 were well short of being top class midfielders last year and probably wont be for a few years anyway.

We still fall short in many other areas anyway.

 

[David the Cat]

I would have thought Duncan has potential to be AA…...

 

[Claude Balls]

The truly inexplicable decision in that game was, after they did put Rooke on him, and Rooke stopped him dead, they very shortly took Rooke off him again.

Am I right in recalling that Stokes spent a large portion of the match on him? I think I have actually repressed my memory of large portions of the game, though I haven't repressed my anger that Stokes was not right and Hodge dominated seemingly without an opponent....

 

[FredLeDeux]

Am I right in recalling that Stokes spent a large portion of the match on him? I think I have actually repressed my memory of large portions of the game, though I haven't repressed my anger that Stokes was not right and Hodge dominated seemingly without an opponent....

Yes, Stokes started on him, he blitzed, we moved Rooke on to him, he disappeared, and after only 20-30 minutes we swapped Stokes back on to him and gifted him a couple of medals.

 

[Claude Balls]

Yes, Stokes started on him, he blitzed, we moved Rooke on to him, he disappeared, and after only 20-30 minutes we swapped Stokes back on to him and gifted him a couple of medals.

I have to quote your post Fred as thanks. Just couldn't bring myself to like it.

By the way, did you hear the one about the royal commission discovering that Hodge single handedly repelled no less than 47 forward thrusts from Geelong that day? Or that's what some Hawthorn supporter told me. I bet the report didn't take into account that he spent the better part of the afternoon playing on a witches hat.

 

[Bobby_]

http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2015-02-02/cat-caddy-covets-cup-conquest
http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2015-02-02/cat-caddy-covets-cup-conquest

 

[Sttew]

http://www.geelongcats.com.au/news/2015-02-02/cat-caddy-covets-cup-conquest

Great article. I've said it before, but this kid is a future captain of Geelong.

 

[Jon Douglas]

With regard to Duncan - I think he is now playing close to an A grade level. To be an A grader however you need do that for a few years in a row. I think that is what it is about for him - consistently playing at a high level for a few years now. Maybe he can get 10 % better. But a great pick up by Wells.

Caddy is starting at a lower level than Duncan and so has the greater opportunity to improve. I think we can look forward to a 20 % increase from him. That seems inline with how he has made progress at the AFL level. He has had less time in the system than Duncan and has had injuries. So maybe Caddy is a year behind in his development because of these.

Now if these two improve that would be great for the team but more importantly for the midfield. I think however as much will depend on the improvement of GHS (confident about) and Guthrie (confident about). Another 2 inside mids who gets clearances. If we get all 4 improving then our midfield, although not the best in the AFL, is reasonable. Then it is about having a better ruck combo.

 

[Partridge]

Now if these two improve that would be great for the team but more importantly for the midfield. I think however as much will depend on the improvement of GHS (confident about) and Guthrie (confident about). Another 2 inside mids who gets clearances. If we get all 4 improving then our midfield, although not the best in the AFL, is reasonable. Then it is about having a better ruck combo.

Can't see any reason why all 4 won't improve next year to be honest.

 

[Seeds]

What a tone he set in the first 10 seconds of GF07. Played a magnificent 09GF as well - vital in our first and last goals and for soccering a memorable point.
Personally I would have had him start on Hodge in 08 and really tickle those ribs............oh what could have been.

he played about 5 mins against Hodge in 08 late in the first quarter and managed to get a holding ball decision against Hodge 30m out and we kicked a goal. Then we put Stokes back on Hodge at the start of the second quarter. mind boggling decision.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

he played about 5 mins against Hodge in 08 late in the first quarter and managed to get a holding ball decision against Hodge 30m out and we kicked a goal. Then we put Stokes back on Hodge at the start of the second quarter. mind boggling decision.

Agree Seeds , if only we had played our version of unsociable football - get Rooke standing 2M away from Hodge and then handball the ball to Hodge - I'm sure a trademark Rooke tackle would have done the rest.

 

[Partridge]

he played about 5 mins against Hodge in 08 late in the first quarter and managed to get a holding ball decision against Hodge 30m out and we kicked a goal. Then we put Stokes back on Hodge at the start of the second quarter. mind boggling decision.

Unfortunately that's what happens when coaches get infatuated with certain players.

 

[Catatonic Shock]

Unfortunately that's what happens when coaches get infatuated with certain players.

Nail on head.
Disgraceful decision, particularly as Stokes was far from fit which was painfully obvious before the game.

 

[Jon Douglas]

Can't see any reason why all 4 won't improve next year to be honest.

Assuming no injuries - as they all young - yes we would expect them to improve as footy players. How much they will improve is much harder to guess BUT as long as all 4 do improve in 2015 we will be competitive again.

As I have previously written - I think GFC will mainly improve in the forward line - as with a decent CHF and another small forward - it will be pretty potent. And we have quite a few players to try out in these positions. So my guess is that the forward line will improve a fair bit by the end of the season. That is we have worked out who is the best player for us in these two roles.

End result - a steady and reliable backline (top 5-6 in this area), an improving midfield (that might make us middle of the pack in this area) and top 4 forward line.

Really I suspect our success this year will depend on how much midfield develops in comparison to the other teams in the league. If it significantly improves (which I do not expect) we will probably be a Premiership threat. if it improves and is about the middle of the pack then top 6 and maybe we win a final. if it performs not so well - we will struggle to win a final IMO.

Of course the elephant in the room is the ruck situation. And that too could be important to how we go this season.

Too many variables for me to feel confident about anything GFC re on field stuff.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Now if these two improve that would be great for the team but more importantly for the midfield. I think however as much will depend on the improvement of GHS (confident about) and Guthrie (confident about). Another 2 inside mids who gets clearances. If we get all 4 improving then our midfield, although not the best in the AFL, is reasonable. Then it is about having a better ruck combo.

do you think Murdoch could also be added to the list of players that can improve our midfield next year ?

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

do you think Murdoch could also be added to the list of players that can improve our midfield next year ?

do you think Murdoch could also be added to the list of players that can improve our midfield next year ?

I haven't heard much talk about Hartman.
Played a few and impressed - hope he steps up and gives us 10 + in the midfield.
If Lang and Jansen can play a few and impress then we are starting to develop an impressive Midfield for 2016 onwards

 

[TheJimmyCartel]

in Caddy's favor though, he's stood up in a couple of finals already as that article written by Ben Guthrie eluded too. If he can hit round 1 in top notch, look out!

Not to mention this Duncan to Caddy clutch moment vs. The Enemy!

 

[WaxiesDargle]

Not to mention this Duncan to Caddy clutch moment vs. The Enemy!

A few more of these this season would go down a treat.

 

[Teriyakicat]

Not to mention this Duncan to Caddy clutch moment vs. The Enemy!

How spot on were those kicks by Caddy and Duncan??? And Lonners was superb, sticking with Buddy all the way, to enable Duncan to grab the ball and run off.

A few more of these this season would go down a treat.

I'd love to see more of that combination!!