Analysis How refreshing?

[Art Vandelay_]

To go into a game where through player unavailability most felt we had no chance and would lose easily, myself included. Got that one wrong.
To take on the top side on their deck and watch as we don't rely on our courageous skipper like we normally do. About damn time it's not all left up to him, even if Danger did again dominate in the contest.
To see that much talked about 2nd tier stand up when it was needed. Menegola, Murdoch, Duncan (arguably no longer 2nd tier), Bews, Blicavs, Guthrie ()
To see 3 young cats despite not really banging the door down overly get their chance at senior footy and not disgracing themselves. Very excited to see what all 3 can bring after another preseason. Buzza presented well, had good 2nd efforts and tackled well.


[Just look at those smiles. Bloody love it]
To see the coaching staff orchestrate a set up that made it hard for GWS to play through us and the players reinforce that plan by applying pressure on them for most of the game.
To see the defence stand up against one of the best attacking teams in the comp. Couldn't afford a shoot out with them and they denied that. Taylor, Hendo and Bews were great. Kolo played his best game for the season. Just like last season limited SJ's influence.
To see limited post game melting and ranting despite failing to win as we experience a rather rare feeling. Disappointment mixed with pride. Not often you get both at once.
To see Stanley and Smith get the better of Mumford. They don't and we lose.

Lastly, to say all that and yet the constant of being frustrated by Motlop remains

Just got to the end of the game and felt this was one of the more enjoyable games I've watched in many a year. For so long we've been spoiled or success, wins and joy and for so long we've been so demanding and arguably unjustly entitled in what we expect, but tonight there was much lower expectations and my enjoyment for the game was much higher. Sometimes it's important to remember why we watch this sport and this club and tonight was a great tonic.
If you disagree, oh well. Just my 2c on a rather enjoyable night of footy.

 

[STPer18]

 

[Flander]

An all-round fantastic performance in a game where we really shouldn't have been much of a chance.

Menegola was a real standout - he slotted into Selwood's role nicely.

Looking forward to seeing what the likes of Buzza, Simpson and Mini Guthrie continue to offer after more than holding their own against strong opposition.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Has any other side had as many players off of the rookie list debut as we have this season?

 

[winty]

It seemed weird all evening. Went through a whole gamut of emotions - from despair when I heard Selwood was out, to excitement when I heard Buzza was making his debut, to amazement when we more than held our own for three and a half quarters, to frustration when GWS made their inevitable late charge at us and then to disappointment that Hawk missed the goal after the siren which meant we only received 2 points, when on balance of play we probably deserved all 4.

Above all else though, there was one emotion that I felt more strongly than the five I mentioned in the first paragraph - and that was pride. I'm know most of us thought we'd be up against it against the ladder leaders and flag favourites on their home deck with about a third of our best 22 out and fielding 3 debutants, but to put up the effort we did with the personnel we had was sensational. Was probably similar to the final we played against Carlton about 25 years ago when our whole starting midfield were late withdrawals.

 

[Old_Man_James]

On the one hand it was refreshing going into a game just happy to be competitive and not worrying about the result.

On the other once we were 20points up in the last, normal mindset resumed and I felt we could have won that one, so was still a little disappointing.

 

[GeelongFTW]

Lets be honest just about every other team wouldn't have got near GWS.(even full strength)

 

[catswhiskers]

An all-round fantastic performance in a game where we really shouldn't have been much of a chance.

Menegola was a real standout - he slotted into Selwood's role nicely.

Looking forward to seeing what the likes of Buzza, Simpson and Mini Guthrie continue to offer after more than holding their own against strong opposition.

This is a real message to the MC that playing Menegola on a half forward flank (as has happened last 4 or 5 games) removes a real driving force from the engine room. Now we have a chance to bring Menegola heavily in to rotations and allow Danger and Joel to play away from the heat for periods of play.

That way we may get to the finals with Dangerwood running on a pretty full tank.

 

[allrighty]

Above all else though, there was one emotion that I felt more strongly than the five I mentioned in the first paragraph - and that was pride. I'm know most of us thought we'd be up against it against the ladder leaders and flag favourites on their home deck with about a third of our best 22 out and fielding 3 debutants, but to put up the effort we did with the personnel we had was sensational. Was probably similar to the final we played against Carlton about 25 years ago when our whole starting midfield were late withdrawals.

Funny thing I picked up Friday's Herald Sun yesterday arvo at the Roadhouse and checked out the game preview. The writer said that the Cats were a great chance as we had very few injury concerns compared to other teams. WTF? I thought. Accurate analysis not.

This was a great game and I too thoroughly enjoyed it. Good result for the younglings to see what it takes to win, or not. Some excellent leadership all over the ground on display, and Harry down back? Well, he just went OK didn't he?

 

[AlcoaCat]

The Cats played with unity and a sense of joy. Was tremendous to watch. Buzz and simmo probably are right for at least another game this year, Guthers needs some more time in the minors only for the reason that he's likely to get snapped in half.

As Gero said, an important game in that we discovered we actually have depth.

Judging by his post game interviews, Danger is a thoroughly nice bloke. You want that in a leader. Fab.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3010 using Tapatalk

 

[CatTricks]

We haven't had a forward who likes to crash packs since moons and pods. I'd give Buzza a couple more games to see how he goes.

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Fantastic effort and everything else, many above me sum it up well so I'll go the other side and slam the commentators and media.
Calls of how "brave" GWS were to come back, how amazing their resolve. All the interviews were by GWS players, media constantly talking up GWS post game, that when they do mention our outs they try to make out it was equal (losing a first rounder when you have 25 of them isn't the same as losing 4 of our best 8 players...).
**** YOU.
No doubt it's come down from the AFL to constantly talk up their pet but are you ****ing kidding me!?!
GWS brave!?!? THEY SHOULD HAVE WON BY 10 GOALS YOU IGNORANT ****S!
GEELONG were brave. GEELONG showed amazing resolve. GEELONG were the story of last night not an inflated, plastic, entitled and petulant club!
So again, **** YOU CHANNEL 7 AND **** YOU AFL MEDIA.

 

[winty]

Fantastic effort and everything else, many above me sum it up well so I'll go the other side and slam the commentators and media.
Calls of how "brave" GWS were to come back, how amazing their resolve. All the interviews were by GWS players, media constantly talking up GWS post game, that when they do mention our outs they try to make out it was equal (losing a first rounder when you have 25 of them isn't the same as losing 4 of our best 8 players...).
**** YOU.
No doubt it's come down from the AFL to constantly talk up their pet but are you ******* kidding me!?!
GWS brave!?!? THEY SHOULD HAVE WON BY 10 GOALS YOU IGNORANT ****S!
GEELONG were brave. GEELONG showed amazing resolve. GEELONG were the story of last night not an inflated, plastic, entitled and petulant club!
So again, **** YOU CHANNEL 7 AND **** YOU AFL MEDIA.

Have to give kudos to Leon Cameron. He admitted in the post-match press conference we were the best team on the night, and they were lucky to come out of the game with any points at all.

Agree with you though. If you got home after the game and flicked the TV on and didn't know the scores, you'd probably think GWS ended up winning.

 

[Live in hope]

To go into a game where through player unavailability most felt we had no chance and would lose easily, myself included. Got that one wrong.
To take on the top side on their deck and watch as we don't rely on our courageous skipper like we normally do. About damn time it's not all left up to him, even if Danger did again dominate in the contest.
To see that much talked about 2nd tier stand up when it was needed. Menegola, Murdoch, Duncan (arguably no longer 2nd tier), Bews, Blicavs, Guthrie ()
To see 3 young cats despite not really banging the door down overly get their chance at senior footy and not disgracing themselves. Very excited to see what all 3 can bring after another preseason. Buzza presented well, had good 2nd efforts and tackled well.

View attachment 387908
[Just look at those smiles. Bloody love it]
To see the coaching staff orchestrate a set up that made it hard for GWS to play through us and the players reinforce that plan by applying pressure on them for most of the game.
To see the defence stand up against one of the best attacking teams in the comp. Couldn't afford a shoot out with them and they denied that. Taylor, Hendo and Bews were great. Kolo played his best game for the season. Just like last season limited SJ's influence.
To see limited post game melting and ranting despite failing to win as we experience a rather rare feeling. Disappointment mixed with pride. Not often you get both at once.
To see Stanley and Smith get the better of Mumford. They don't and we lose.

Lastly, to say all that and yet the constant of being frustrated by Motlop remains

Just got to the end of the game and felt this was one of the more enjoyable games I've watched in many a year. For so long we've been spoiled or success, wins and joy and for so long we've been so demanding and arguably unjustly entitled in what we expect, but tonight there was much lower expectations and my enjoyment for the game was much higher. Sometimes it's important to remember why we watch this sport and this club and tonight was a great tonic.
If you disagree, oh well. Just my 2c on a rather enjoyable night of footy.

Great post - pretty much sums my views up on all fronts (including the confession that I thought we'd get flogged). Only criticism was that we burned about 5 or 6 really good forward entries in the last quarter by bad kicks and perhaps lack of spread by those playing a deep full forward at time - made it easy for block and Davis to pick us off.
Fantastic effort by the boys. Bottle the game style and the effort for September !

 

[catswhiskers]

Fantastic effort and everything else, many above me sum it up well so I'll go the other side and slam the commentators and media.
Calls of how "brave" GWS were to come back, how amazing their resolve. All the interviews were by GWS players, media constantly talking up GWS post game, that when they do mention our outs they try to make out it was equal (losing a first rounder when you have 25 of them isn't the same as losing 4 of our best 8 players...).
**** YOU.
No doubt it's come down from the AFL to constantly talk up their pet but are you ******* kidding me!?!
GWS brave!?!? THEY SHOULD HAVE WON BY 10 GOALS YOU IGNORANT ****S!
GEELONG were brave. GEELONG showed amazing resolve. GEELONG were the story of last night not an inflated, plastic, entitled and petulant club!
So again, **** YOU CHANNEL 7 AND **** YOU AFL MEDIA.

Ha Ha why don't you say what you are really thinking!

 

[Willo_]

I was thinking during the game how much I was enjoying it, and it was because I went in with such low expectations for the first time in 10 years.

But I tell you what, last night could be a big stepping stone for this team.
Last week they played like they didn't know what to do when Joel went down, this week they showed what they can do without him and that they can stand up.
Huge mentally for us going forward

 

[Mad_Hatter]

Ha Ha why don't you say what you are really thinking!

I thought I was pretty reserved to be honest...

 

[whatif]

I thought I was pretty reserved to be honest...

 

[whatif]

What annoyed me all night listening to commentators. Every time we got a free kick they seem to doubt it was there, especially Matthew Richardson!

 

[hokee]

There's so much Ben Brown in Buzza. He may be the missing piece.

 

[catempire]

Last week they played like they didn't know what to do when Joel went down, this week they showed what they can do without him and that they can stand up.

I think part of that is the difference between being able to plan for it and not.

 

[Willo_]

I think part of that is the difference between being able to plan for it and not.

No doubt, but the confidence gained from it will be great for us

 

[sauron256]

Wait, you mean we haven't traded away our future?

 

[frggr]

This is a real message to the MC that playing Menegola on a half forward flank (as has happened last 4 or 5 games) removes a real driving force from the engine room. Now we have a chance to bring Menegola heavily in to rotations and allow Danger and Joel to play away from the heat for periods of play.

That way we may get to the finals with Dangerwood running on a pretty full tank.

Menegola is an absolute bull. He's gotta play in the middle. Takes it on, tackles hard and his kicking is great more often than not.

 

[Whit3y]

To go into a game where through player unavailability most felt we had no chance and would lose easily, myself included. Got that one wrong.
To take on the top side on their deck and watch as we don't rely on our courageous skipper like we normally do. About damn time it's not all left up to him, even if Danger did again dominate in the contest.
To see that much talked about 2nd tier stand up when it was needed. Menegola, Murdoch, Duncan (arguably no longer 2nd tier), Bews, Blicavs, Guthrie ()
To see 3 young cats despite not really banging the door down overly get their chance at senior footy and not disgracing themselves. Very excited to see what all 3 can bring after another preseason. Buzza presented well, had good 2nd efforts and tackled well.

[Just look at those smiles. Bloody love it]
To see the coaching staff orchestrate a set up that made it hard for GWS to play through us and the players reinforce that plan by applying pressure on them for most of the game.
To see the defence stand up against one of the best attacking teams in the comp. Couldn't afford a shoot out with them and they denied that. Taylor, Hendo and Bews were great. Kolo played his best game for the season. Just like last season limited SJ's influence.
To see limited post game melting and ranting despite failing to win as we experience a rather rare feeling. Disappointment mixed with pride. Not often you get both at once.
To see Stanley and Smith get the better of Mumford. They don't and we lose.

Lastly, to say all that and yet the constant of being frustrated by Motlop remains

Just got to the end of the game and felt this was one of the more enjoyable games I've watched in many a year. For so long we've been spoiled or success, wins and joy and for so long we've been so demanding and arguably unjustly entitled in what we expect, but tonight there was much lower expectations and my enjoyment for the game was much higher. Sometimes it's important to remember why we watch this sport and this club and tonight was a great tonic.
If you disagree, oh well. Just my 2c on a rather enjoyable night of footy.

well said