News Geelong aiming for another flag

[SJ]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-aiming-for-another-flag/story-e6frf9jf-1225984308327

"No doubt we are a realistic chance to win the premiership," Cats captain Cameron Ling said. "Our No.1 goal for 2011 is to win the premiership.
"There are seven or eight other teams in with a good chance and there are three to four teams with a real good chance, and while we're in the mix to do that, if we rest on our laurels doing what we're doing we won't win it.
"But if we improve in the areas we have to we are a very good chance of achieving that (the flag)."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-aiming-for-another-flag/story-e6frf9jf-1225984308327

Bit of a fluff piece, but this is probably the best part:

Ling said new coach Chris Scott had wasted little time making his mark at the club.
"Scotty and the fitness boys have certainly brought a tough pre-season in, which has been good for us, I reckon," he said.
"It's been a hard pre-season so far and, according to the coach and the fitness staff, it's only going to get harder, which are all good signs.

 

[Turbocat]

Good to hear he is feeling fit. Fair Dinkum , some of these articles wouldn't get past the Lint Filter in footy season , shows how desperate they are for footy news.

 

[you pick one]

Good to hear he is feeling fit. Fair Dinkum , some of these articles wouldn't get past the Lint Filter in footy season , shows how desperate they are for footy news.

I don't think we can throw stones Turbocat.I know I'm desperate,I hate the off season.

 

[CF]

sounds like they are "training the house down"

 

[AM]

sounds like they are "training the house down"

Love it!

 

[YOTC]

So many cliches. I was almost expecting one of them to slip up and say "saints footy"

 

[Just do something]

First thing i noticed before i read the article is Lingy looks like he has dropped a few kgs. Going for the lean running machine look.

 

[Vdubs]

First thing i noticed before i read the article is Lingy looks like he has dropped a few kgs. Going for the lean running machine look.

Hogan LOOKS really fit too

 

[David the Cat]

Burning on the track perhaps?

 

[hamG]

Glad we are not aiming for the spoon this year.

 

[Whiskers]

I actually loved the article. This is not some puff piece, last year i read about having an easy pre season but Varcoe ripping it up. We finished the year poorly and Varcoe was very good.

Now i believe we have a new hunger and determination but Varcoe has an injury cloud. I have big expectations for the year. I think we have a fantastic list and no longer cocky. This should translate well imo.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

How many times can we say "tough pre season"...full of cliches these puff pieces are.

 

[Beth]

In other reated news I'm having my bestest most uninterrupted preseason ever. Im training my house down and set a new pb in changing the channel back to 7 after the completion of Better Homes and Gardens.

 

[cancat]

The most (only) interesting part was his thoughts about playing on Ablett. He was being modest about his ability but what would be the alternative? Who plays on Gazza if not the ginger ninja?

 

[winty]

The most (only) interesting part was his thoughts about playing on Ablett. He was being modest about his ability but what would be the alternative? Who plays on Gazza if not the ginger ninja?

If we just make sure all the possible handball targets are covered, I'm sure we'll be able to subdue him.

 

[cancat]

If we just make sure all the possible handball targets are covered, I'm sure we'll be able to subdue him.

Then you would put one man in front of Nathan and another behind him - almost guaranteed interception from his kicks

 

[Wish Wellingtons]

Does anyone else think that our training schedule could be too hard on the older bodies if we are indeed going for another premiership? Or is this just over-enthusiastic "training the house down" hyperbole?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Does anyone else think that our training schedule could be too hard on the older bodies if we are indeed going for another premiership? Or is this just over-enthusiastic "training the house down" hyperbole?

There's no news to indicate yet they aren't coping with the loads.

In any case it's a risk we have to take, clearly the late start last year left us without the legs when it counted, so to have a chance of beating a Collingwood game plan in particular, we must put this volume of hard work into them, if they break down, they break down.

If, hypothetically, some of the older players can't handle those loads then it weeds out the ones that aren't physically up to the task anymore.

 

[meto]

There's no news to indicate yet they aren't coping with the loads.

In any case it's a risk we have to take, clearly the late start last year left us without the legs when it counted, so to have a chance of beating a Collingwood game plan in particular, we must put this volume of hard work into them, if they break down, they break down.

If, hypothetically, some of the older players can't handle those loads then it weeds out the ones that aren't physically up to the task anymore.

Spot on assessment PO, my concern is for the new boys that haven't experienced the riggors of a full-on AFL pre-season, one that comes to mind is Mitch Brown.

Haile Gebresaillese broke the world marathon record aged 37yrs, I mean tell me about it, this was 2 yrs after breaking down as a track 5-10k world record holder.
So don't ever believe your finished around 30, in AFL just look at Barry Hall for an example, its just up to the individual.

 

[Partridge]

Spot on assessment PO, my concern is for the new boys that haven't experienced the riggors of a full-on AFL pre-season, one that comes to mind is Mitch Brown.

Haile Gebresaillese broke the world marathon record aged 37yrs, I mean tell me about it, this was 2 yrs after breaking down as a track 5-10k world record holder.

So don't ever believe your finished around 30, in AFL just look at Barry Hall for an example, its just up to the individual.

Remind me how many marking contests and tackles he has to endure running around an athletics track?

It's not just about the age. It's that the players there are queries over are already slowing down, and have had injuries - Ottens, Mooney, Corey. I've said it before, but assuming they'll all return to their best is wildly optimistic.

 

[Partridge]

Does anyone else think that our training schedule could be too hard on the older bodies if we are indeed going for another premiership? Or is this just over-enthusiastic "training the house down" hyperbole?

Not in the slightest. On the contrary I think last year they were obviously too soft. It doesn't just go for the older players either, younger guys like Hawkins need to be put through the grinder over the pre-season. If he wants to be an elite key forward he needs to do the work required for one.

If our older players are unable to cope with the fitness and workload required for senior football in 2011, then we replace them with younger, fitter players who are up to the task. The club should never be (and hopefully isn't) a retirement home for over-the-hill footballers, just because they've played x amount of games.

We're always told, and a lot of supporters trumpet it - that "the club is bigger than the individual". I wonder how many believe it.

 

[meto]

Remind me how many marking contests and tackles he has to endure running around an athletics track?

It's not just about the age. It's that the players there are queries over are already slowing down, and have had injuries - Ottens, Mooney, Corey. I've said it before, but assuming they'll all return to their best is wildly optimistic.

Do you have the slightest knowledge of athletics, obviously not.
His record, try 2:49km pace x 42. At 37yrs.
Next time your're at an athletics track run one lap, you're got to run 67.5 sec to be on pace, good luck.....

Anyhow, is their training schedule to hard for them? that's the subject. Judging by the training requirements at world standards by track athletes I'd have to say comparitively, No.

Fair comparison I'd say.

 

[Claude Balls]

Do you have the slightest knowledge of athletics, obviously not.
His record, try 2:49km pace x 42. At 37yrs.
Next time your're at an athletics track run one lap, you're got to run 67.5 sec to be on pace, good luck.....

Anyhow, is their training schedule to hard for them? that's the subject. Judging by the training requirements at world standards by track athletes I'd have to say comparitively, No.

Fair comparison I'd say.

I wonder about you sometimes Meto. Clearly Partidge is simply making the point that the physical nature of football accelerates the wear and tear of muscle tissue and joint cartlidge, relative to a non-contact, non-laterial-movement sport like distance running.

BTW, it is not uncommon at all for marathon runners to peak in their mid thirties. Steve Monaghetti is 48 and he is still running 10km in 30 minutes.

 

[tomthabuddah]

This might not be the right place for this, but preferred round 1 team would be as follows:

T Hunt Scarlett Kelly
Enright Taylor Mackie
Wojac Selwood Varcoe
Chappy Mooney Menzel
Stevie J Hawkins Duncan

Rucks:
Ottens
Bartel
Ling

Bench:
Joel Corey
Milburn
Motlop
Pods

Sub:
Byrnes

Missing out:

Blake
Drum
Gillies
Hogan
J Hunt
Lonners
Simpson
Stokes
West
2010 draftees

Thoughts?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

This might not be the right place for this, but preferred round 1 team would be as follows:

T Hunt Scarlett Kelly
Enright Taylor Mackie
Wojac Selwood Varcoe
Chappy Mooney Menzel
Stevie J Hawkins Duncan

Rucks:
Ottens
Bartel
Ling

Bench:
Joel Corey
Milburn
Motlop
Pods

Sub:
Byrnes

Missing out:

Blake
Drum
Gillies
Hogan
J Hunt
Lonners
Simpson
Stokes
West
2010 draftees

Thoughts?

You've picked 22 plus sub it's 21 plus sub so drop 1 (not Pods)

Your forward line structure only works if Hawkins is second ruck and I doubt the foot is good for that. Suspect one of Mooney or Hawkins to be replaced by West.

Other than that I agree with the side. Don't want to see Kel back in defence especially now Ablett is gone, but if Hunt is dropped, we don't have any real genuine small defenders so it might be possible at times. I reckon THunt can do some time in that role.

The bench is too slow if Moltop becomes the sub...only one of Milburn and Corey can be on it, drop the other. Other than that, I agree with your side. We may need a third tall back as a lot of sides will play a forward/ruck, which will be an issue as our backline would then be slower. One option may be to replace Milburn with a flexible tall who has more pace (say Gillies or Drum) to cover it without making us too slow.