Review Geelong defeats Ninthmond by 38 points at their home ground... twice.

[PzBlinky]

ESAVA!!!!!!!
Plenty of soul searching tonight for the Esava doubters.

To be fair, he wasn't great in the ruck. Plenty were saying if he's going to play, he should play forward.

Today wasn't about the 4 goals, though that was fantastic. His 1 goal and multiple bring-the-ball-to-ground efforts in the second quarter is exactly what we want from him. If he kicks more than 1 goal, awesome! If he can dob just 1 and then create another 3 or 4 opportunities from pack-crashing (or better yet, mark-taking), he's a lock.

Of course, the discussion's already turned to who goes out if Cameron comes in and Sav stays, but it's a pretty good problem to have if he continues this form.

 

[CatRiot]

ESAVA!!!!!!!
Plenty of soul searching tonight for the Esava doubters.

I didn't watch the game, just listened to parts of it. Which Tigers players were against him during the match?

 

[Chinacats]

I didn't watch the game, just listened to parts of it. Which Tigers players were against him during the match?

Garthwaite mostly.

 

[CharacterFirst]

Agree. Andrew Hoy is saddling up for his 7th Olympics right now for Oz at 62 years old ffs.

Yeah. But how old is his horse?

 

[CharacterFirst]

Good win.

Richmond were not much chop.

 

[allrighty]

Yeah. But how old is his horse?

In horse years? NFI

 

[allrighty]

Buddy should go for 2 weeks minimum this week. If Hawkins did the same? 4. Buddy will get off, bookmark it.

 

[Catman]

Really professional performance again, something which has become a trademark of this group.

Loved the work rate of the entire side today, be it defensive pressure, working to create an option, but particularly our efforts to get numbers at the contest. Our ability to win the contest is outstanding as we all know, but having the options to give the ball to once we've won it is just as important, and for much of the game we had those numbers and were able to win the contest then attack quickly.

Very balanced side this one, probably as balanced side we've had since our last flag. If we can get Cameron, Duncan and possibly Higgins back and in form, we're well placed to give it a real shake.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Not sure he's really played a bad game this year - it's not that he's necessarily in our best handful of players each week, but I don't recall him looking out of place since making the move to defence, and he's turning into a reliable, tough nugget down back

Good decision maker and tough in the clinches.
A slow burn player who should reward some faith with a solid career

 

[Pollywaffle]

I’m tipping the Tuggers make 8th, they have a fairly easy run home, and the Bombers have a though one.

I think they will go for the early holiday. 3 premierships will do that..

 

[CatRiot]

Garthwaite mostly.

Too undersized... I'd like to see him repeat the effort against a Darcy Moore, or equivalent defender.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Really professional performance again, something which has become a trademark of this group.

Loved the work rate of the entire side today, be it defensive pressure, working to create an option, but particularly our efforts to get numbers at the contest. Our ability to win the contest is outstanding as we all know, but having the options to give the ball to once we've won it is just as important, and for much of the game we had those numbers and were able to win the contest then attack quickly.

Very balanced side this one, probably as balanced side we've had since our last flag. If we can get Cameron, Duncan and possibly Higgins back and in form, we're well placed to give it a real shake.

Pfft well placed.
Flag brother. Put it out there.

 

[CharacterFirst]

In horse years? NFI

That's the sort of thing I'd expect a typing monkey with lipstick to know.

 

[And_ROOS]

I feel sorry for Esava, he is a forward not a ruck, but come finals our best forwardline is Hawkins, Rohan, Miers, Cameron, Close and Dahlhaus. The only way Esava is in is if he is on the bench as a rotation ruck and goes forward if Hawkins needs a chop out as a marking forward, with Blicavs as a permanent defender/wing.

 

[Strange Cat]

Too undersized... I'd like to see him repeat the effort against a Darcy Moore, or equivalent defender.

Geez give the win to the kid he did well …he really can’t win with some of you on here

 

[Big little cat]

I feel sorry for Esava, he is a forward not a ruck, but come finals our best forwardline is Hawkins, Rohan, Miers, Cameron, Close and Dahlhaus. The only way Esava is in is if he is on the bench as a rotation ruck and goes forward if Hawkins needs a chop out as a marking forward, with Blicavs as a permanent defender/wing.

The best years for Esava are all in front of him.

 

[Bring back Moloney]

What is going on with this nuffie bogging the thread down with 20 posts about dropping Blicavs!?!? Good lord, give it a spell...

Great to punish the Tigers again. Took the foot off the gas, but was literally never in doubt. Should have been another 10+ goal win.

Love that from Esava. What a lovely fella he is, great to see him get some reward for effort.

 

[goyoucatters]

Very pleased to win so comfortably. But there were plenty of signs out there that the Tigers are a shadow of what they once were. That's if losing five out of their last six hadn't already made that abundantly clear. Still, you can only ever knock off the opponent in front of you. And we did that with a minimum of fuss or anxiety on the day.

Was actually a reminder of how true it is for the coach to talk about how many players are in his 'best 22', really. Despite those on here who sfellow at the notion, it is hard to see how any player could possibly deserve to go out of the line-up after a game like that. Which is how it felt last week as well. And we ended up finishing the game today without Cameron, Duncan, Higgins and Selwood on the field (as well as players like Holmes and Simpson, who also really impress me).

If we steer clear of injuries and see some of these boys get back, there are going to be some seriously unlucky omissions in weeks to come.

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

Sav on KROCK after the game -

"Dont care if im in or out of the team just as long as we win the flag. I just have to keep competing every game. JC is great and I want him back in ASAP"

"My tank is getting better but it still needs work.
Finishing off work and goal kicking still needs work but its coming together and the work im doing during the week is paying off - still things to do."

Go Catters

Giving us so much to love. A ferocious attack in the ball. Cameron, Tom, Rohan, Danger, Esava...you can't cover them all!

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

Very good win today but your mob. The biggest reason I think you guys are the favorite for the flag is that you seem to have become a far better team/system oriented team rather than relying heavily upon the big names. Well done on the win.

You're welcome Tige.

regards,

Maroon Golf.

 

[Pavlovs Cat]

North

Absolutely. They are an honest team. If we drink the bath water we will get rolled.

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

If you called for Ratugolea to be dropped, form an orderly queue…

FMD, David Mensch played a blinder once a year. Great game by Sav, back it up now.

 

[Play it Sam]

I feel sorry for Esava, he is a forward not a ruck, but come finals our best forwardline is Hawkins, Rohan, Miers, Cameron, Close and Dahlhaus. The only way Esava is in is if he is on the bench as a rotation ruck and goes forward if Hawkins needs a chop out as a marking forward, with Blicavs as a permanent defender/wing.

One past final Hawk was suspended, and we hope Cameron, Rohan and Stanley will stay injury free.
So even at worst case, Esava is turning out to be great forward insurance.

Even so, one (or two) swallows do not a summer make.
There were plenty calling for his head in the first quarter, although hoping against hope he'd turn it around.
Which he did most noticeably after having the leg re strapped. More power to his confidence in an amazing week.
So now we wait and hope that turning the corner and in a better position- he carries it forward.

 

[Black Saab]

You're welcome Tige.

regards,

Maroon Golf.

Black Saab rules!

 

[Live in hope]

Richmond undermanned but that was still a very impressive performance by the boys.


- Great effort by the mids - Guthrie, Danger and much kudos to Stanley - made Nankervis look pretty ordinary.

- really good running by mids above, Smith.

- consistently good decision making. Very good vision going forward to minimize the intercept marking of Grimes

- Aside from a couple a bloopers really solid effort by defence, only of late cheapies avoiding humiliation to Tiger key forwards.

- hugely dependable efforts by Atkins and half backs

- Hawk likewise so dependable. A super smart footballer as well

- Sav - that was a great six possession game! While the 4 goals was the ‘headline’, Sav imposing physical presence was the stand out. Really unsettled the Tiger defence. The speed, agility, finishing of that last goal really show cased Sav’s full armoury. Really needs to ‘ bottle’ the confidence from this - that he can significantly influence games with physical presence and impact. Challenge is to bring that each week.

- Finally- well coached by Scott- switched on team, right tactics (particularly the move to 6 men playing forward when Tigers defence was starting to get into their counterattacking groove).