Four changes v Sydney

[Hinkley29]

With that many tall defenders, is this a perfect opportunity to experiment with Taylor up forward for a couple of bursts?

Perfect opportunity.

The result of this game means absolutely nothing.

 

[Hinkley29]

Ditto. We have to get some game time into him as he is a legitimate backup option come finals time if we get some injuries up forward.

Agreed

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Same for if someone had told me Kane Tenace would get a game - let alone 5 in a row!

Me too!
The day before the Brisbane game I was drinking with some mates and I said it'd be the last time Kane ever played before he was shipped off to the land of delistings or GC17 (fair call, considering he played what 2 games in 07-08), and now they won't let me forget it!

Please tell me he won't be the travelling emergency

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Too many talls...

Maybe that...although more so I think the forward line looks like it lacks something with no Maxy or Chappy.

I was thinking Vegas might play if there's a change, although he has been injured for a while.

 

[footyfan_25]

Looking at that team, i'll be shocked if there isn't a late change.

I agree, something just doesn't look right. I don't know what it is but it just don't look right

Surely S. Johnson would be in some doubt.

Possibly Gamble in for Johnson as a late change?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

well the backline is looking a lot better, wonder which emerg will travel.

Probably Tenace, though I'd much rather he didn't.

Vote 1 Laidler.

 

[nohairandfair]

Looks like a bit of a litmus test for Blake this week. If he doesn't cut the mustard, then I suspect he's GOOOORRRRN for the season and perhaps beyond.

Blake will always be a battler at best.

Limited by:
- A neurosystem and musculature that lacks co-ordination and power
- A cerebral cortex that lacks spacial awareness and courage
- The aerobic capacity of a gnat

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Surely S. Johnson would be in some doubt.

Possibly Gamble in for Johnson as a late change?

Maybe, although Bomber said earlier in the week Stevie would play as we have an extra day's break this week (although then again he would say that).

I hear Stokes may also be in some doubt.

In either case Vegas would have to play?
we're down on forwards already, and it's the perfect chance to see if he can cut it in the finals if need be.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Looks like a bit of a litmus test for Blake this week. If he doesn't cut the mustard, then I suspect he's GOOOORRRRN for the season and perhaps beyond.

Blake will always be a battler at best.

Limited by:
- A neurosystem and musculature that lacks co-ordination and power
- A cerebral cortex that lacks spacial awareness and courage
- The aerobic capacity of a gnat

Surely he's just in to help give Mummy and chop out next week will read:
In : Ottens
Out: Blake

I wonder if we could trade Blakey to St Kilda for King + pick 90

 

[HulkHawkins]

I agree, something just doesn't look right. I don't know what it is but it just don't look right

Too many Lonergans...

Edited as i worked out the problem

 

[crunchola]

Surely S. Johnson would be in some doubt.

Possibly Gamble in for Johnson as a late change?

agreed, dog out for vegas

 

[True Blue Cat]

With that many tall defenders, is this a perfect opportunity to experiment with Taylor up forward for a couple of bursts?

Perfect opportunity.

The result of this game means absolutely nothing.

That is something i would like to see. We need to try a few things like this because if they do work out well it will cause St. Kilda as well as other teams trouble trying to plan for everything Geelong can do. If we can pull a defender out of defense and throw him in the forward line and have him kick goals then it becomes difficult to plan for.

 

[witsend]

Maybe that...although more so I think the forward line looks like it lacks something with no Maxy or Chappy.

I was thinking Vegas might play if there's a change, although he has been injured for a while.

Chappy is always a massive out. He is the absolute heart, soul and guts of this side. Without him AND Scarlett we can tend to look like frontrunners.

 

[witsend]

That is something i would like to see. We need to try a few things like this because if they do work out well it will cause St. Kilda as well as other teams trouble trying to plan for everything Geelong can do. If we can pull a defender out of defense and throw him in the forward line and have him kick goals then it becomes difficult to plan for.

Sometimes in footy you just need somebody to kick some goals out of their ass....Taylor may be that person as a pinch hitter.

 

[The Rusty Clam]

I thought they might bring in Blake this week. Mumford barely got off the ground in the ruck for most of the night against Carlton, and Blake's only real strength is his leap and tapwork. The other changes were pretty much expected.

 

[SmothOperRaider]

Maybe we put Blake in to run with Goodes - I mean he is uber athletic and all.

We got rid of Tenace, kept Lonergan and bought back Blake; talk about one step forward and two steps back.

 

[The Rusty Clam]

I don't see a problem in bringing Blakey in off the bench to give Mummy a breather, if he's playing purely in the ruck for 50-60% of the game.

Then when Ottens returns, Blake goes.

 

[thegerman]

I am amazed that Stokes is playing, would expect Gamble to travel to Sydney.

 

[winty]

Gotta love all the "I can't believe that (insert name of poster's least liked player in listed 22) is getting a game this week" posts in this thread.

 

[muffinman]

That is something i would like to see. We need to try a few things like this because if they do work out well it will cause St. Kilda as well as other teams trouble trying to plan for everything Geelong can do. If we can pull a defender out of defense and throw him in the forward line and have him kick goals then it becomes difficult to plan for.

The only thing with this is the risk of leaving our backline horribly exposed. I know Dasher did a good job in both the Grand Final last year and against the Saints earlier this year, but I can't see Lonergan being able to tie someone down for long enough in defence to allow Harry to pinch hit up forward for 5 or 10 mins.

 

[catters078]

Blake was definately the best option to go against Jolly in the ruck, If we went with our current set up of hawkins/mooney as back up or bringing west in Jolly would have had 60 hit outs..

He may still dominate but I think Blake gives our mids the best chance to get some ball from stoppages...

 

[Big Nasty]

Surely Mumfords poor tapwork is one of the reasons our midfield hasn't been as good the last month or so. I was happy when Blake got dropped for his poor form around the ground, but we really need to start winning the clearances, which starts with a good tap ruckman.

 

[Claude Balls]

Surely Mumfords poor tapwork is one of the reasons our midfield hasn't been as good the last month or so. I was happy when Blake got dropped for his poor form around the ground, but we really need to start winning the clearances, which starts with a good tap ruckman.

We have been poor in the middle for about 7-8 weeks now. I believe we have been especially poor over the last 3-4 because the team's structure has gone to the dogs and key midfielders are playing out of position. In other words, it's hardly Mumford's fault, and I don't think Blake would have made any difference had he been playing. It is just another BigFooty fallacy that his tapwork is 'significantly' better than Mumford's.

Anyway, you could even argue that he might have been a bigger liability in the sense that he is effectively non-existent once the actual ruck-contest has concluded and therefore represents one less body able to assist with clearing the ball. Mumford is far more useful in this capacity, and the lack of experienced, strong bodies at the stoppages of late has been as big a problem as where the actual tap is going.

 

[Claude Balls]

Having said that, I'd like to see Mumford get a hand from Blake this week, so he doesn't burn out

 

[Copernicus]

Well, that's starting to look a little better. I agree that that backline does look pretty tall, but really the only other swap we'll have there is Kelly for Lonergan, so not too bad. I would be interested to see what kind of team Sydney fields and whether the matchups will be there.

Time to pick up a head of steam before finals.