cats_09
Otters United
- Jun 21, 2011
- 56,240
- 113,319
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Moderator
- #1
On the 29th of May we played against Collingwood at an empty MCG, and while we came away with the win it wasn't the most convincing of wins leading into the bye and one that may have had a few questioning our form heading into an important series of matches
The bye weekend was a quieter affair than normal with no real opportunities to get away and take a break from Geelong - did this impact on what we saw next
Like we've become accustomed to, our first match after the bye was scheduled against a formidable opponent in Port Adelaide and on their home turf... We were leading by 10 points at 3/4 time but just 5 minutes into the last quarter and it was all Port Adelaide with them not only scoring 2.1 to nothing but Geelong also only registering a single disposal. Less than 2 minutes later Rozee kicked his 5th goal for the night, Port had opened up a 9 point lead and the "curse of the bye" looked like it would live on for another year... Just a matter of minutes later and in the space of 46 seconds a 9 point deficit became a 9 point lead and a lead that we wouldn't give up over the remaining 25 minutes
Was it the perfect game - not really, but it was a match that showed the character of the team and it's a win that can build momentum for the rest of the season
That brings us to this week, a match at home where it's 3 vs 2 and a win will bring us equal on premiership points with only percentage separating the two sides - though if we can keep the Bulldogs to under 60 points and win by roughly 70, we will put ourselves in a position to jump them on the ladder
As it currently stands, the game will be played at home but the t'll be behind closed doors without a crowd, but the AFL haven't given up on that changing later in the week - fingers crossed that we'll see that change, even if it's only 10k fans who can get into the game... And they could always use the SA health advice of not touching the ball on the odd time it's kicked into the crowd -must be talking about Bews and his OOF while ignoring the goals, and then they could always provide hand sanitizer to clean ones hands before they then eat their chips
Last week we saw the return of 4 players to the side and this week we may see another couple return to the fold with Guthrie & Miers slated to return over coming weeks, and making it a tough fight for spots in the 22 - so if they are to return this week, who will be those making way?
The other thing we know is that our guys generally have got the best out of themselves when they've lined up against other top level sides, when the games been open and it's allowed our 3 headed forwards monster to work into space - hopefully something we get to again see on Friday night and they can terrorise yet another defence
This match will present another challenge, but one we should be up for because if the "curse of the bye" has taught us anything it's that a week after the bye we've been an extremely tough team to beat
The bye weekend was a quieter affair than normal with no real opportunities to get away and take a break from Geelong - did this impact on what we saw next
Like we've become accustomed to, our first match after the bye was scheduled against a formidable opponent in Port Adelaide and on their home turf... We were leading by 10 points at 3/4 time but just 5 minutes into the last quarter and it was all Port Adelaide with them not only scoring 2.1 to nothing but Geelong also only registering a single disposal. Less than 2 minutes later Rozee kicked his 5th goal for the night, Port had opened up a 9 point lead and the "curse of the bye" looked like it would live on for another year... Just a matter of minutes later and in the space of 46 seconds a 9 point deficit became a 9 point lead and a lead that we wouldn't give up over the remaining 25 minutes
Was it the perfect game - not really, but it was a match that showed the character of the team and it's a win that can build momentum for the rest of the season
That brings us to this week, a match at home where it's 3 vs 2 and a win will bring us equal on premiership points with only percentage separating the two sides - though if we can keep the Bulldogs to under 60 points and win by roughly 70, we will put ourselves in a position to jump them on the ladder
As it currently stands, the game will be played at home but the t'll be behind closed doors without a crowd, but the AFL haven't given up on that changing later in the week - fingers crossed that we'll see that change, even if it's only 10k fans who can get into the game... And they could always use the SA health advice of not touching the ball on the odd time it's kicked into the crowd -must be talking about Bews and his OOF while ignoring the goals, and then they could always provide hand sanitizer to clean ones hands before they then eat their chips
Last week we saw the return of 4 players to the side and this week we may see another couple return to the fold with Guthrie & Miers slated to return over coming weeks, and making it a tough fight for spots in the 22 - so if they are to return this week, who will be those making way?
The other thing we know is that our guys generally have got the best out of themselves when they've lined up against other top level sides, when the games been open and it's allowed our 3 headed forwards monster to work into space - hopefully something we get to again see on Friday night and they can terrorise yet another defence
This match will present another challenge, but one we should be up for because if the "curse of the bye" has taught us anything it's that a week after the bye we've been an extremely tough team to beat
