Geelong vs St. Kilda

[Groater]

More questions should have been asked about the saints, not us.

dont think that questions need to be asked of either team, both were fairly depleted

 

[mad-saint-guy]

In fairness I can understand Southern Star's hostility. He must know the clock is ticking on his beloved saints and that being the 2nd oldest team in the league he probably only has a year or two left before the rebuild.

I'm not defending that moronic troll southern star, but that comment bugs me.

Over the next two years we'll lose Gehrig (already replaced by Koschitzke as primary goalkicker), Hudghton (gun, but hardly gets on the field) and Harvey (absolute legend, but no longer a key player). Those three players will not be such a great loss that we will have to rebuild. In a couple of years the core of our team will be in their prime.

Our win today (or yesterday) was a very promising sign for our depth. We hardly had any senior players left in the last quarter, yet we managed to hold on and win a close match. The likes of Geary, Armitage, Eddy, Allen and Steven are looking very good at the moment and will put some serious pressure on the older guys for a spot in the real season. You guys had plenty of players out, but we were also missing Riewoldt, Hayes, Ball, Goddard, Harvey, Maguire, X.Clarke, R.Clarke, King, M.Gardiner and Schneider from our best 22 (who should all play in round 1), and we then lost Gehrig, Hudghton and Koschitzke throughout the game. We ended up without 14 of our best 22 in the last quarter.

Geelong won't be too worried about the loss, but it does show that you aren't so far ahead of everyone else. Your depth has been over rated in recent times and it has taken a slight hit, losing King, Gardiner and Playfair. King is a solid ruckman (IMO currently ahead of Blake), Gardiner has been excellent for us so far (and actually performed well in his couple of senior games last year) and Playfair just gave you an extra AFL-ready option in case of injuries. Lose any of your starting ruckmen or key forwards and you could be in trouble (you still have excellent depth in key defenders though).

 

[Brasil2007]

God I can't believe anyone was worked up about this one. While watching it, all I could think was that the players were playing very much like they did against Port second time around last year: nothing to prove, key players rested, not especially hard at the ball most of the time, players in odd positions, and this was before the end (which was virtually identical). What you can take out of today is that Tomahawk took a while to get into the game, but he did get into the game, almost won it for us, and did so playing on some very good opponents. You can also take away that Blake is going to be a very good ruckman (I thought it was the best game I've seen him play by a mile, both in terms of around-the-ground work and his ruckwork). Harry Taylor was seriously out of his class in his second game, and he'll be better for the experience. Lonners has some work to do not so much on his skills but his approach - needs to be more offensive. Djekerra has speed but needs to work on what to do with it (also needs to work on his kicking for goal). Davenport hasn't yet worked out a role. Varcoe is coming along nicely, and Kelly's consistency is still there - I thought he looked very dangerous up forward. You can also put your money on Selwood to win several B&Fs and - if there is any justice - probably a Brownlow (seriously - how good is that kid?)

Personally I think we should be pretty happy with the day. We learnt a lot about our team (and incidentally St Kilda), we almost won a game where we had nothing to prove and the team we were playing has everything to prove, and we did so based pretty heavily around the performance of two players who have just started their second year of footy. What's more we have NO INJURIES!!!

 

[Cohzee]

I'm not defending that moronic troll southern star, but that comment bugs me.

Over the next two years we'll lose Gehrig (already replaced by Koschitzke as primary goalkicker), Hudghton (gun, but hardly gets on the field) and Harvey (absolute legend, but no longer a key player). Those three players will not be such a great loss that we will have to rebuild. In a couple of years the core of our team will be in their prime.

Our win today (or yesterday) was a very promising sign for our depth. We hardly had any senior players left in the last quarter, yet we managed to hold on and win a close match. The likes of Geary, Armitage, Eddy, Allen and Steven are looking very good at the moment and will put some serious pressure on the older guys for a spot in the real season. You guys had plenty of players out, but we were also missing Riewoldt, Hayes, Ball, Goddard, Harvey, Maguire, X.Clarke, R.Clarke, King, M.Gardiner and Schneider from our best 22 (who should all play in round 1), and we then lost Gehrig, Hudghton and Koschitzke throughout the game. We ended up without 14 of our best 22 in the last quarter.

Geelong won't be too worried about the loss, but it does show that you aren't so far ahead of everyone else. Your depth has been over rated in recent times and it has taken a slight hit, losing King, Gardiner and Playfair. King is a solid ruckman (IMO currently ahead of Blake), Gardiner has been excellent for us so far (and actually performed well in his couple of senior games last year) and Playfair just gave you an extra AFL-ready option in case of injuries. Lose any of your starting ruckmen or key forwards and you could be in trouble (you still have excellent depth in key defenders though).

I can see where you are coming from, but...

We were missing a Norm Smith Medalist, a Brownlow Medalist, an AFLPA MVP, multiple AA's and arguably the best full back in the comp.

Gardiner and Playfair were clearly not valuable to our side (though Gardiner has been having some decent games in the pre season). King is good but injury prone.

If this was the season proper then I would be a little worried about our depth. But, it isn't.

 

[Duskfire]

No one cares; most players don't care, most coaches don't care. No one plays with any real intensity; its like watching a subpar VFL match. Good for watching the young guys running around, but at the same time those young guys have a habit of doing well in NAB but horribly in the normal season. In short, its not indictive of the season at all. Only have to look at how WCE have performed in NAB the last few years, and how Carlton have done, to see how little it matters.

 

[CF]

I agree our intensity was pretty low. Over used the ball and our defense was too small. I thought the fact that we hung in to only lose by a small margin was a decent effort. I also think the heat was effecting some of them. Our good AFL players who played didn't really have much of an impact.

I agree Djerrkura is beginning to worry me.

Overall The Saints needed the win more than we did. Plus our boys are still in the heavy phase of their training so I think that played a part in their poor form.

Just a wizz fizz match. Who cares if we lost.

 

[Pal22]

Even though we lost, it was the type of hit-out we needed before Round 1.

The result didn't matter, of course I never like to see the boys lose but a 5 point at this time is not a bad result. Plus we got through without getting any injuries (unlike the Saints)

 

[cat_fanatic]

I agree our intensity was pretty low. Over used the ball and our defense was too small. I thought the fact that we hung in to only lose by a small margin was a decent effort. I also think the heat was effecting some of them. Our good AFL players who played didn't really have much of an impact.

I agree Djerrkura is beginning to worry me.

Overall The Saints needed the win more than we did. Plus our boys are still in the heavy phase of their training so I think that played a part in their poor form.

Just a wizz fizz match. Who cares if we lost.

I don't care that we lost, just wanted to watch us play again next weekend - particularly since it would have been against the Bombers at the Dome. Now we have to go and play Brisbane up north!

 

[cat_fanatic]

Even though we lost, it was the type of hit-out we needed before Round 1.

The result didn't matter, of course I never like to see the boys lose but a 5 point at this time is not a bad result. Plus we got through without getting any injuries (unlike the Saints)

That's a good point. It's the first time in a while the boys (and supporters) have felt a loss - can only be a good thing (like Port at the end of the H&A season last year). They should all be pumped for round 1!

 

[Pal22]

Now we have to go and play Brisbane up north!

Hopefully after the Gold Coast game, we get our final practice game at Skilled Stadium or in Melbourne considering we have to go interstate in Round 1. It wouldn't be fair on the players if we had 3 long trips to practice games before a Round 1 interstate trip.

Looking at the AFL draw for the final week of the NAB Challange the odds that we will have travel 3 weeks in a row before Round 1 are very high as they are playing games at - Shepparton, Noarlunga, Manuka Oval, Casey Fields, Subiaco Oval, AAMI Stadium or MC Labour Park and there is one TBA (Hopefully the TBA will be Skilled).

 

[BIGANT]

Could'nt be happier with Selwoods game yesterday, to me he looks like he's added a bit more muscle up top and continues to go hard at it.
Just on the saints for a bit, young Armitage looks like he's got a big future with them and he too has a bit of size about him for a second year player !? At what number in the draft did he go for....could he have been a cat

 

[cat_fanatic]

Could'nt be happier with Selwoods game yesterday, to me he looks like he's added a bit more muscle up top and continues to go hard at it.
Just on the saints for a bit, young Armitage looks like he's got a big future with them and he too has a bit of size about him for a second year player !? At what number in the draft did he go for....could he have been a cat

He could have. but it would have been at the expense of selwood.

 

[Big Nasty]

He could have. but it would have been at the expense of selwood.

Then a big NO thank you.

 

[BIGANT]

He could have. but it would have been at the expense of selwood.

I was'nt implying at the expense of Selwood, as he has got future leader written all over him.
It was just a 'what if' querie....who were our other pic's apart from him & Hawkins (f-s) in that draft !!!?

 

[DanA]

I was'nt implying at the expense of Selwood, as he has got future leader written all over him.
It was just a 'what if' querie....who were our other pic's apart from him & Hawkins (f-s) in that draft !!!?

Selwood was No.7 Armitage was No.8. We picked up Nathan Djerkurra around 25 and Simon Hogan at about 60. Bedford, Lonergan and Davenport were our new rookies from memory.

 

[BIGANT]

Selwood was No.7 Armitage was No.8. We picked up Nathan Djerkurra around 25 and Simon Hogan at about 60. Bedford, Lonergan and Davenport were our new rookies from memory.

Well their you go, both clubs definetly should get there dollars worth.
Obviously Djerkurra will go back to the two's, is he another season away from senior footy....ORRRR is it starting to look pear shaped !!!?
Don't think at all that i'm kicking him while he's down so to speak but he just seems a bit lost with positioning and tempo atm.
What he needs or he's had is what he did'nt have last yr, a decent pre-season & a full season of footy injury free.

 

[haywood jablome]

 

[AFL MAN]

Its only NAB cup everyone.

Stokes and Selwood = Very underated

 

[DanA]

Well their you go, both clubs definetly should get there dollars worth.
Obviously Djerkurra will go back to the two's, is he another season away from senior footy....ORRRR is it starting to look pear shaped !!!?
Don't think at all that i'm kicking him while he's down so to speak but he just seems a bit lost with positioning and tempo atm.
What he needs or he's had is what he did'nt have last yr, a decent pre-season & a full season of footy injury free.

Nah I think Djerkerra is a keeper. Great attitude and has the ability to do some freaky things but he isn't a natural forward. I think he would make a great tagger or inside midfielder but there is no room for him in that role any time soon. I think he is developing nicely though.

 

[stevothedevo]

Its only NAB cup everyone.

We're only talking here. V..e..r..y friendly.

What did people think of Varcoe's game. Without knowing the stats he seemed to be the same old same old. Being reactive instead of proactive. Constantly chasing tails. And I think he needs to get a little more goal hungry.
There was a piece of play early in the 2nd when we were dominating. He's running into goal 30m's out and he handpasses out in front to a pack of players. The ball ends up the other end and Stkilda get 2 goals in a row. I think they were both 9 pointers. For me it was the turning point.

 

[bigdroppunt]

We're only talking here. V..e..r..y friendly.

What did people think of Varcoe's game. Without knowing the stats he seemed to be the same old same old. Being reactive instead of proactive. Constantly chasing tails. And I think he needs to get a little more goal hungry.
There was a piece of play early in the 2nd when we were dominating. He's running into goal 30m's out and he handpasses out in front to a pack of players. The ball ends up the other end and Stkilda get 2 goals in a row. I think they were both 9 pointers. For me it was the turning point.

I think the same of him as last yr,

Im happy for him to takes byrnes spot

 

[Cattery]

What did people think of Varcoe's game.

Think you summed it up pretty well yourself, chasing tails instead of the footy far to often.

Disappointing to lose the match, because even though it was a meaningless game between two teams with half their best 22 missing I always want Geelong to win under any circumstances, but apart from that the major disappointment for me was that none of the players trying to displace Byrnes for that last spot really did their chances much good.
Prismall, Gamble, Davenport were all ordinary, Djerkerra nowhere near ready as yet, Tenace got a fair bit of the footy but looked like a Deer caught in headlights more often then not, and as already stated Varcoe far to one dimensional.

If things continue like this Byrnes will most likely hold his spot for the opening of the season, because like it or not, and I know many don't, he's currently in and it's up to one of those others to push him out, and if Saturdays display is any indication that looks unlikely.

 

[catempire]

I wouldn't yet write Varcoe off as not having improved on last year's level or style. It was his first competitive hitout for the season.

 

[Cattery]

I wouldn't yet write Varcoe off as not having improved on last year's level or style. It was his first competitive hitout for the season.

I'm a long way from "writing him off" he undoubtely has talent but the signs weren't good on Saturday I didn't think, just more of what we saw in the weeks leading up to him being dropped last year, think he really needs to add another aspect to his game before he's ready for a recall.

 

[Brasil2007]

Oddly I think Varcoe looked better in his first couple of games in terms of his ability to get into space and so on. I suspect he might have got a couple of blasts back then for not chasing and it's stuck with him.