Melbourne vs Geelong

[Sylvia Saint]

Huge test for us on Friday night. Not only are the Cats a very good side, but they have completely owned us over the past decade.

Anyway, from all reports the only good players at Sandy today were PJ and CJ. Obviously CJ won't play but I would like to see Paul Johnson make his debut in place of Nicho. This is assuming Jamar won't be ready (as reported on 3AW).

Phil Read is likely to be fit but I'd give him 1 game in the VFL.

So, with all that said, my side would look like this:

B. Whelan Ferguson Bizzell
HB. Brown Rivers Wheatley
C. Johnstone Moloney Green
HF. Sylvia Miller Robertson
F. Neitz Yze Davey
R. White Bruce McLean
Int. McDonald, Johnson, Bell, Rigoni

In. Johnson
Out. Nicholson

 

[melbournemartin]

i'd still prefer Jamar to Johnson but Johnson is a much better ruck option than nicholson and can also be a tall forward if neitz aint doin well.

lol i see u have demoted neitz to the pocket with Yze at FF

 

[Poopa]

Huge test for us on Friday night. Not only are the Cats a very good side, but they have completely owned us over the past decade.

Anyway, from all reports the only good players at Sandy today were PJ and CJ. Obviously CJ won't play but I would like to see Paul Johnson make his debut in place of Nicho. This is assuming Jamar won't be ready (as reported on 3AW).

Phil Read is likely to be fit but I'd give him 1 game in the VFL.

So, with all that said, my side would look like this:

B. Whelan Ferguson Bizzell
HB. Brown Rivers Wheatley
C. Johnstone Moloney Green
HF. Sylvia Miller Robertson
F. Neitz Yze Davey
R. White Bruce McLean
Int. McDonald, Johnson, Bell, Rigoni

In. Johnson
Out. Nicholson

I agree, we got exposed when Nicho came onto ruck and won't be able to afford that luxury against the Cats. PJ will be able to at least give a better contest even if it is for 5 mins a qtr.

Will be a top game can't wait!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BT]

lol i see u have demoted neitz to the pocket with Yze at FF

It's not as silly as it sounds actually. Let Yze do the leading while Neeta plays decoy, taking Scarlett with him.

Huge game this.

 

[Supermercado]

I don't think a team has actually lined up in the announced positions since 1977. We may as well just send farcical team lineups in with Neitz in the centre and Travis Johnstone in the ruck.

 

[davey_magik]

Will be a very good game. Taking into account last time we played them I think every Geelong supporter will get a wee bit afraid everytime Davey goes near the ball in the F50. BT the Yze leading idea is very good as Neitz can just play in the goalsquare and we have the crumbers to kick a winning score off that. In the midfield I'm content to go head to head with theirs and not tag because ours is in good form and they will have to tag Bruce lest he kick another 5 this week and have another 25+ touches. In defense Rivers can take whoever lines up at CHF, though if they play three talls up forward (Kingsley, Ottens and Playfair) we may be in a bit of trouble.

This would be my lineup:

B. Whelan Ferguson Bizzell
HB. Brown Rivers Wheatley
C. Johnstone Moloney Green
HF. Sylvia Miller Robertson
F. Yze Neitz Davey
R. White Bruce McLean
Int. McDonald, Johnson, Bell, Rigoni

In. Johnson
Out. Nicholson

However if Jamar is match fit I'd take out Johnson and put him in because last week we suffered greatly when Whitey went off and Nicho had to ruck . Plus Jamar showed some good things in the Round 1 match. Would like to see Beamer get plenty of it against his old side .

 

[melbournemartin]

i have a feeling we may need to play nicholson.

cos they will play ottens kingsley and playfair and we dont want bizzell and wheatley to be forced to play on guys that are way tall then them.

we may have to stick with the same team except bring in hopefully Jamar or Johnson if he aint well for either Rigoni or Bell. i know neither of those 2 deserve to be dropped but we need a proper backup ruckman and we need 3 proper tall defenders.

also there is the question of heffernan but he may find it hard to get back in

 

[Poopa]

also there is the question of heffernan but he may find it hard to get back in

Heff does alright agains thte Cats. I wouldn't mind Heff & Jamar/PJ in. Belly needs game time to adapt and ecxell but i think will be exposed in this game.

 

[davey_magik]

i have a feeling we may need to play nicholson.

cos they will play ottens kingsley and playfair and we dont want bizzell and wheatley to be forced to play on guys that are way tall then them.

we may have to stick with the same team except bring in hopefully Jamar or Johnson if he aint well for either Rigoni or Bell. i know neither of those 2 deserve to be dropped but we need a proper backup ruckman and we need 3 proper tall defenders.

also there is the question of heffernan but he may find it hard to get back in

In the case that they play Ottens, Kingsley and Playfair I would have this as my side compared to my first one:

B. Whelan Ferguson Nicholson
HB. Brown Rivers Bizzell
C. Johnstone Moloney Green
HF. McLean Miller Robertson
F. Neitz Yze Davey
R. White Bruce McDonald
Int. Sylvia, Johnson, Nicholson, Rigoni

It might be a bit hard squeezing three tall defenders into the side but if Geelong plays all three of their tall forwards we will need to. It could perhaps be an idea for Whitey to only ruck in the centre and maybe a bit up forward because with three talls one of them can ruck in the backline, I'd prefer Fergo to do it. Leave the forwardline the way it is and have a lot of rotation through the whole ground to keep players in good shape. If Jamar is fit I'd have him in over Johnson but we'll see what happens on Thursday.

 

[The Shev]

Should be a great clash this! Two of Victoria's best teams with top 4 expectations, beneath the Friday night lights at the MCG. Both possessing young, quality players and overall are in pretty good form. The Cats have the obvious edge over us which we will be keen to atone. Some things which are going our way: full list to pick from, key players in good form, whereas Geelong could be missing Bartel and Wojcinski, and are coming back from Perth. I believe we are ready to finally defeat our 'other' bogey side, just like we did to Essendon in Round 1. But you can guarantee that this will be a hard fought match which will go right down to the wire.

Expect Bruce to be given an attacking role again, as there are no stand out players like Hird that he has to nullify. Yze will start forward again and hopefully can continue his great goalscoring form. Moloney will be right in the thick of things against his former teammates, which should be a cracker. White against King in the ruck. Neitz on Scarlett. Harley on Miller. Rivers on Ottens. Ferguson on Kingsley. Some good match ups there, and this time Carroll isn't playing so hopefully Kingsley won't destroy us. Aaron Davey will be really important in this match, not only for his goals but for his defensive pressure. As we know, Geelong are a well drilled, hard-working side so it is extra important that we combat their style of play with lots of pressure. That's where Davey comes into the equation, given his lightning pace.

Neitz will pla his 250th and hopefully will kick his 500th goal. Go Demons!

 

[purring]

we will be worried about davey will we, righto, then you should be very worried that the cats lost to the eagles, they will be breathing fire on friday night. But you are right, two top clubs who have a magnificent tradition together, should be a cracker. just watch G. Ablett, he had a down game against the eagles, he usually doesn't have too many down games.. See ya friday night...

Purr cats, purr.

 

[GeeCat]

Purr cats, purr.

I honestly hope to hell that doesn't become a club slogan of any sorts.

That is atrocious.

 

[purring]

No better sound than a cat purring my friend.

 

[GeeCat]

No better sound than a cat purring my friend.

These must be some lonely times for you purring...

 

[melbournemartin]

davey magik, your team dun have wheatley in it. i know he aint exactly been going through a purple patch but i reckon we need him. he should be on ya bench instead of a second nicholson lol

 

[StingaArmstrong]

No change for me, given it is a night game, three tall forwards would be a risk...if Geelong play three talls Nicho can go back. Miller can pinch hit in the ruck with Neitz coming out to CHF. If Geelong don't play the three talls, then Fergy can play forward if we need to.

 

[Truetiger]

Good Start to the season for you guys, Beating Essendon Would be the best part. Getting out to a 50point lead aprox to the Western Bulldogs last week is it a worry that they got within 2 goals late in the game or not really.
Geelongs only win come against my tigers they lost to West coast now I think Melbourne will win this game on Friday night just amatter of how much you will by.

 

[davey_magik]

davey magik, your team dun have wheatley in it. i know he aint exactly been going through a purple patch but i reckon we need him. he should be on ya bench instead of a second nicholson lol

Whoops sorry Wheatley is meant to be on the bench and scratch that second Nicholson. God what was I thinking one Nicholson is bad enough.

 

[catattack]

Really looking forward to this match, it’s a test to see where both teams are. Both are quality sides and both teams are expecting nothing less than a top four finish this year.

Interesting to see how Moloney plays as he’s been starring for you blokes this season.

Should be a beauty, can’t wait!

 

[Marns]

Really looking forward to this match, it’s a test to see where both teams are. Both are quality sides and both teams are expecting nothing less than a top four finish this year.

Interesting to see how Moloney plays as he’s been starring for you blokes this season.

Should be a beauty, can’t wait!

Finally a sensible reply. God, i nearly vomited reading purring's post "the cats will be breathing fire following their loss to the eagles" (or thereabouts). What sort of nonsensical bullsh1t is this...?

This week will be the first match I get to see this year, go dees.

 

[CowboyFromHell]

If we play Nicholson again with any intention of putting him in the ruck, then we are completely and utterly insane. He has no mobility and he can't jump. Get Johnson in there for crying out loud - I actually can't understand why we didn't put him in there last week!

But agree, shall be a very good game if it lives up to expectations. I highly doubt we will play 4 tall backs, as Fergie and Rivers can take Ottens/King and Kingsley, while Bizzell can mind Playfair. Even Wheatley can, as Playfair is nothing special.

Watch for Beamer to cut sick at someone in the first 5 minutes, and for Cameron Ling to follow Bruce around all night!

 

[BT]

These must be some lonely times for you purring...

Take it elsewhere fellas...

 

[CowboyFromHell]

Take it elsewhere fellas...

BT = M0D G0D!

 

[purring]

yep. taken. good luck.

 

[BT]

Good Start to the season for you guys, Beating Essendon Would be the best part. Getting out to a 50point lead aprox to the Western Bulldogs last week is it a worry that they got within 2 goals late in the game or not really.

While our fadeout was worrying, it wasn't a worrying as the Bulldogs fadeout. After they got within 12 points we had time to kick 2.2 & 1 out on the full. We lifted when it was needed.

Geelong are our first real test & none of us will be underrating them at all.