How we will beat the Eagles

[theorangeapple]

Whats the weather going to be like? I realise its ambitous to want a fine day in winter especially in Geelong but one can prey.

 

[JUBJUB]

Whats the weather going to be like? I realise its ambitous to want a fine day in winter especially in Geelong but one can prey.

Wet and about 15 degrees

 

[GeeCat]

Wet and about 15 degrees

The football gods are siding with us.

 

[catempire]

Yep, that attitude worked real well for the Frockers last Friday night didn't it?

I'd back our midfield in against theirs too.

Let's just see what happens, hey? If we lose it won't be because of the likes of Sampi. I hope the Eagles are as cocky as you.

 

[theorangeapple]

Wet and about 15 degrees

Hmmm...I wonder how wet. We have a suprisingly good record in the wet. Won 8 of the last 9 in the rain.

For some reason I keep picturing the dockers game last year when the rain was appauling. Aslong as it isnt like that then I am confident.

 

[Copernicus]

Was quite looking forward in anticipation of this game...a month ago.

My views below; feel free to bicker with me, agree with me, or hate me.

- Eagles consistently have numbers around the footy, and are good at being first to the ball. As of such Geelong must have numbers around the ball - see Sydney vs WC game.
- Run and pace is important for Eagles, they have alot of it.
- Still have a weakness in being able to take a contested grab in the forward line. WC struggle to find avenues to goal when flooded, as they lack a tall who can take a contested mark.
- Cannot function when flooded - Matera struggles
- Geelong must have extra numbers down back. Eagles like to go through quick transitions, utilizing their pace and number of running players before bombing the ball forward to their talls, who can bring the ball to ground for Matera etc
- Eagles play a game plan of possession along the flanks
- WC key is in their midfielders (surprise surprise), stifle their run - Skilled Stadium should restrict them from playing down the flanks
- WC generally have the game in the bag by halftime - fadeout in last quarter - evident in games against Sydney and Kangaroos. Pressuring youngsters specifically (Selwood, Hansen etc) presents best oppurtunity for turnovers.
- WC usually counter floods by going wide, as their full forward can't lead straight up the guts (and they lack a guy who can take a contested mark)
- Alot of their goals come from midfielders such as Embley, Judd, Cousins, and Fletcher, whom are all good at finding space and using it effectively.
- Eagles can switch play if flooded. If wing areas are tightened, then corridor opens up again. Solution? Perhaps control corridor first and control midfield, who are the main ones hurting us. Controlling corridor over wings should give the defense more of a chance.
- Force them to play wide instead of down the corridor.

Sounds like you've got it pretty covered. All else we have to do is kick and handball with some skill and hope a forward takes a mark every now and again

 

[malvern]

wet and 9-15 degrees for Saturday - it all helps

 

[WestCat]

Key to this match is midfield pressure. We need to play accountable man-on-man footy if we are to win.

 

[Mead]

Re Geecats post-

- Eagles consistently have numbers around the footy, and are good at being first to the ball. As of such Geelong must have numbers around the ball - see Sydney vs WC game..

More about winning the ball in 50-50 situations than just getting numbers there. Last time I checked both sides get the same number of players at centre square bounces, and that's one of our strongest areas.

- Still have a weakness in being able to take a contested grab in the forward line. WC struggle to find avenues to goal when flooded, as they lack a tall who can take a contested mark...

That's a very popular viewpoint, but the more I think about it the more I think that is a huge misconception. We have a number of talls (Seaby, Lynch, Gardiner) who are very good contested marks, but the thing which i think most people fail to appreciate about flooding is that contested marking is always a very low percentage option- even the absolute best in the business will maybe only mark about one in every 4 or 5 genuine chances that they get. If you're in a situation where you are relying on your forwards to take contested marks to win a game, you're in strife.

The reason West Coast struggle when successfully flooded (and Sydney at the SCG are the only team to have pulled that off this year) is because at this stage we lack a tall full forward with the motor, judgement and hands to time his leads well enough to take marks on the lead in a flooding situation. Flooding = less space for forwards to work in which = requirement for extremely good judgement and timing of leads.

- Cannot function when flooded - Matera struggles- Geelong must have extra numbers down back. Eagles like to go through quick transitions, utilizing their pace and number of running players before bombing the ball forward to their talls, who can bring the ball to ground for Matera etc
...

Teams have flooded us in about 80% of all the games we've played this year but judging by our W column we seem to be functioning okay in that kind of game.

Worsfold's answer to flooding seems to be to demand very intense man on man footy everywhere even if it clogs up our forward line- the result is that whilst we struggle to get clean possession in our forward line the opposition struggles to clear the ball from our forward line once its there. Particularly on the longer grounds like Subi (or Skilled) this makes it very tough for the opposition to play transition football as even when their defenders win it, there's nothing up ahead to kick to and no free men to help move the ball through the centre.

Matera won't be playing this week ,and frankly he has been a bonus this year rather than a critical part of our team.

- Eagles play a game plan of possession along the flanks
- WC key is in their midfielders (surprise surprise), stifle their run - Skilled Stadium should restrict them from playing down the flanks ...

That's very true, although a lot of our playing on the flanks has emerged since Hansen got injured, he's back this week.

- WC generally have the game in the bag by halftime - fadeout in last quarter - evident in games against Sydney and Kangaroos. Pressuring youngsters specifically (Selwood, Hansen etc) presents best opportunity for turnovers....

Not true at all. What would be more true is that we tend to play burst footy, in critical games against highly rated opposition that burst tends to come early, but there have been several games this season where we've only really gotten it together in the final half and came home with a flurry. Its certainly true that when we're in control of games we tend to ease off, but thats more symptomatic of a team which doesn't have a heap to play for.

- - WC usually counter floods by going wide, as their full forward can't lead straight up the guts (and they lack a guy who can take a contested mark) ....

No, as I said we usually counter floods by manning up in front of the ball carrier so no flooders can get easy possession out of our forward line.

Alot of their goals come from midfielders such as Embley, Judd, Cousins, and Fletcher, whom are all good ay finding space and using it effectively.

Embley won't play this week, a lot of the goals come from our midfielders because a.) they are pretty good players and b.) our abundance of midfield talents means we often start games with the likes of Cousins or Judd on the HFF. Also, Worsfold's insistence on manning up floods means we often get our goals by sheer attrition- keeping it in our forward line and maintaining pressure until someone finds space- as a result of the random nature of that the goals are often shared around a lot.

Eagles can switch play if flooded. If wing areas are tightened, then corridor opens up again. Solution? Perhaps control corridor first and control midfield, who are the main ones hurting us. Controlling corridor over wings should give the defense more of a chance..

No offence, but that's more tactical gibberish than anything else.

The Bulldogs beat us very convincingly a couple of weeks ago by the simple expedient of winning the ball at clearances, running very hard and using the ball very well. That's not exactly rocket science, in fact its the same technique we've used to compile a 16-3 record to date.

Assuming we come to play (which imo isn't all that certain given the lack of incentive and the important game the following week) that's really the only certain way of beating us on a decent sized ground- win the clearances/and have precise, decisive disposal once you've got it. It just so happens that its pretty tough to do.

 

[Baxter Stockman]

Well i dont care how you do it just beat them and put them in there place!

 

[whats_footy]

I think that the equation is quite simple - score more points than them.

 

[Copernicus]

I think that the equation is quite simple - score more points than them.

your insight is greatly appreciated.

 

[hawkeye23]

Go back to ur own board. U male cheerleader

I'll stay on my board if you stay on yours!

 

[hawkeye23]

I'd back our midfield in against theirs too.

Let's just see what happens, hey? If we lose it won't be because of the likes of Sampi. I hope the Eagles are as cocky as you.

You reckon I'm cocky???? Have you not SEEN Gunnar Longshank's posts?

 

[catempire]

You reckon I'm cocky???? Have you not SEEN Gunnar Longshank's posts?

I have. You Eagles supporters are working in numbers at the moment, distributing your cockiness at will on unsuspecting opposition supporters. I for one hope it is your downfall.

 

[Ninty]

Just kick it to the abletts!

 

[Eagles 4 Mine]

This is the best advice that i can give you at the moment get a bloody decent coach Bomber is arogant , foolish , brainless and has no game plan from what I see kick and hope that your guys can mark the footy.

The other thing on your theory to having no stand out forwards , why would we when we have the most goal kickers in a game in the AFL for memory we had 14 last week stop that.

 

[embleygirl]

I thought you Geelong fans would be fairly confident on winning this week. I, myself am quite nervous.

There is just one question what's the size of Skilled Stadium?
Because if it can provide us with a lot of run that would work in favour of the Eagles midfield.

 

[The Unbrain]

Just kick it to the abletts!

Yeah, kick it to G. Ablett Jnr and watch Chick smash the ******** outta him.

 

[Unwritten_Law]

There is just one question what's the size of Skilled Stadium?
Because if it can provide us with a lot of run that would work in favour of the Eagles midfield.

Long and narrow, not quite the open spaces as Subi

A nice windy wet Geelong day would be perfect.

 

[JUBJUB]

Yeah, kick it to G. Ablett Jnr and watch Chick smash the ******** outta him.

From behind ... of course.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

From behind ... of course.

Doesn't sound good.

 

[Eagles4Ever]

I have. You Eagles supporters are working in numbers at the moment, distributing your cockiness at will on unsuspecting opposition supporters. I for one hope it is your downfall.

How can the cockiness of supporters on an internet forum contribute to the downfall of a footy team?
I'm pretty sure Woosha and Co are fully focussed on the game at hand, and if they were to fail I'm quite sure it won't be because of anything said by the 0.2% of it's supporters on Big Footy.

 

[catempire]

How can the cockiness of supporters on an internet forum contribute to the downfall of a footy team?
I'm pretty sure Woosha and Co are fully focussed on the game at hand, and if they were to fail I'm quite sure it won't be because of anything said by the 0.2% of it's supporters on Big Footy.

Is it just me or does anyone else think the rollseyes emoticon gets far too much use these days?

 

[Eagles4Ever]

Is it just me or does anyone else think the rollseyes emoticon gets far too much use these days?

I agree with you, but not in this case