NAB CUP Preview - GEELONG!

[blueheart]

Line up:
B. Livingston Thornton Carrazzo
HB. McGrath Whitnall Teague
C. Walker Bentick Simpson
HF. Houlihan Waite Fisher
F. Betts O'hAilpin Lappin
R. McLaren Stevens Murphy
I. French, Koutoufides, Russell, Scotland, Davies, Sporn
INJ: Fevola, Saddington, Kennedy, Edwards

*Fevola wont be risked leaving O'hAilpin first crack at full forward.
* Murphy to get his first taste of senior footy and Russell to be given every opportunity to cement a spot.
*Although not a big fan of Davies & Sporn, both are on their last chance this year and will play during pre season.
*Wiggins also in same boat but will probably miss.
* McLaren & French combo to be given it's first trial leaving no room for DeLuca & Bryan.
*Bower, Hartlett & Blackwell not quite ready for senior footy at moment. *Bannister, Prendergast, Chambers & Longmuir will only cover injuries and won't be considered for NAB Cup.
PREDICTION: Geelong 2 goals!

 

[C4[2]Yo`DooR]

what does hartlett have to do to make this side ??

why you would give someone like Davis a place and not Harts (who is a monster) is beyond me.

 

[Funkalicous]

Does the side get named on Thursday?

 

[bluesforever]

Don't really care about the NAB Cup, I hope we have a crack at it like last year though, just so we can get a better look at how Murphs goes

 

[WTTF]

Does the side get named on Thursday?

From memory they normally just name a massive squad, without having to actually release a side on paper.

 

[Manunz]

If both teams try- Geelong +10 goals

 

[BlueWorld]

From memory they normally just name a massive squad, without having to actually release a side on paper.

Usually 28, with 4 to miss out.

 

[Funkalicous]

If both teams try- Geelong +10 goals

Geelong are overated. They still don't have any A grade midfielders or forwards. It wouldn't surprise me if we knock them off on Saturday. However, it would surprise me if Geelong finished top 8 again. I have them about 9th or 10th.

 

[HBF]

Line up:
B. Livingston Thornton Carrazzo
HB. McGrath Whitnall Teague
C. Walker Bentick Simpson
HF. Houlihan Waite Fisher
F. Betts O'hAilpin Lappin
R. McLaren Stevens Murphy
I. French, Koutoufides, Russell, Scotland, Davies, Sporn
INJ: Fevola, Saddington, Kennedy, Edwards

Swap Murphy and Houlihan around. Doubt that they'd start Murphy in the middle. They're more likely to play him off the HFF or off the bench. Would also like to see Hartlett in the team, in place of Davies.

 

[mojo31]

Swap Murphy and Houlihan around. Doubt that they'd start Murphy in the middle. They're more likely to play him off the HFF or off the bench. Would also like to see Hartlett in the team, in place of Davies.

Agree with those comments. Davies eligible after getting suspended last year in the final game? I would doubt it with the 4 week suspension. His form would not warrant a game anyway and Hartlett deserves a chance.

 

[Pivot]

Would like to see Bryan given an opportunity up forward in the NAB Cup, maybe even down back. Am also interested in seeing if McLaren has the nous and mobility to play down back.

 

[GeeCat]

Is Kouta at full fitness?

Would surprise me if the club gave him a run considering the condition his body has been in recent times, though I admit there may have been some media sensationalism around it half the time and I wouldn't have half a clue in regard to that. Would have thought it to be best he give the pre-season a miss and almost 'preserve' his body for the rigours of the season proper - where I'd imagine his presence would be much more valuable.

Though I do suppose he has to get a run somewhere..

 

[DIG]

yeah i dunno if they'd play Kouta or French.

 

[Funkalicous]

Is Kouta at full fitness?

Would surprise me if the club gave him a run considering the condition his body has been in recent times

Played 22 games last season, GC.

But I admire your wishful thinking.

hehe. I've missed this.

 

[GeeCat]

Played 22 games last season, GC.

But I admire your wishful thinking.

hehe. I've missed this.

Hadn't bothered with the stats, but since you bring that up, I suppose it confirms, to some extent, the media's portrayal of the man. I'm a sucker.

All jokes aside though, you don't think it would be in the club's better interests for Kouta to give the the pre-season a miss?

 

[Funkalicous]

Hadn't bothered with the stats, but since you bring that up, I suppose it confirms, to some extent, the media's portrayal of the man. I'm a sucker.

All jokes aside though, you don't think it would be in the club's better interests for Kouta to give the the pre-season a miss?

Sort of. He's a very important player for the club in terms of performance and leadership, so I too wouldn't want to see him burnt out. Having said that, even the great players need some match-fittness going into the H&A season. I suspect a compromise is in oder. IMO half a game should be enough. You're allowed 6 people on the bench during pre-season so that shouldn't be an issue.

You know what though? Kouta only played about 3/4s of a match in last year's pre-season comp, and we still won.

 

[Kahuna]

I agree with the post above he doesn't have to play the whole game his presence is enough is good enough to get the boys going. It should be a good game if both sides go at it with some intent to win.

Is it just me or do we always somewhere in the line play Geelong in the pre season competition?

Any word on if thin Lance Whitnall will play or no pre season games for him?

 

[BlueWorld]

Agree with those comments. Davies eligible after getting suspended last year in the final game? I would doubt it with the 4 week suspension. His form would not warrant a game anyway and Hartlett deserves a chance.

Pretty sure NAB cup isn't included in his suspension & he will have to miss 4 'real' games.

 

[Funkalicous]

I agree with the post above he doesn't have to play the whole game his presence is enough is good enough to get the boys going. It should be a good game if both sides go at it with some intent to win.

Is it just me or do we always somewhere in the line play Geelong in the pre season competition?

Any word on if thin Lance Whitnall will play or no pre season games for him?

Fitness permitting, I think Denis likes to have all the troops ready to go for the pre-season comp.

Last time we played Geelong in the pre-season would've been 2004 at Optus. - Which was the only other time we've played them during the knockout format. This will make them the 1st club we've played twice.

 

[Kahuna]

Pretty sure NAB cup isn't included in his suspension & he will have to miss 4 'real' games.

I think it because if you get suspended in the NAB cup you will miss games of the real season so it should go the oher way round as well in theory.

 

[Funkalicous]

I think it because if you get suspended in the NAB cup you will miss games of the real season so it should go the oher way round as well in theory.

It was the Milburn/Sos incident that changed that.

 

[Kahuna]

It was the Milburn/Sos incident that changed that.

I remember that like it was yesterday. That means not very well. Was it the time when Milburn elbowed him after Sos clearly took a mark then after Milburn clapped or something on his way to the bench.

 

[MeeSo]

Here's how I'd like to see them line up. I've assumed that Stevens is fit to play.

B: McGrath Thornton Hartlett
HB: Walker Whitnall Carrazzo
C: Simpson Bentick Scotland
HF: Houlihan Waite Fisher
F: Betts O'hAilpin Lappin
R: French Koutoufides Stevens

Int: McLaren, Murphy, Russell, Bannister, Prendergast, Bower

Didn't really want to include Bannister and Prendergast but we can't have a bench full of kids. Hartlett should be a good match up for N Ablett or Gardiner and provides another tall forward option if O'hAilpin and Waite struggle. Hopefully French only plays sparingly as he's too important and with Ottens and King missing it's a perfect opportunity to give McLaren a run anyway.

 

[thehoff]

Geelong are overated. They still don't have any A grade midfielders or forwards. It wouldn't surprise me if we knock them off on Saturday. However, it would surprise me if Geelong finished top 8 again. I have them about 9th or 10th.

How much would you like to bet?

Geelong will easily make the 8.

Prepared to put your money where your mouth is?