Review Our Midfield Can't Do It All

[CF]

Geelong hit this year firing on all cylinders. An emphatic win in the nab Cup Grand Final meant they started their year in pretty good form.In fact we didn’t even lose our first game until that great match with St Kilda. Now we have lost our third match this year; and while our injury list is growing week by week, many are beginning to question just how the Cats will actually fare this September.


It seems ludicrous that we would seriously question a team that is 16/3 in 2009, with a winning record of 90% over the last 64 games. A team that has played in the last two Grand Finals taking the prize in 2007. But something eats at the back of our minds. Something all the stats in the world may not show.


Last nights game disturbed us all. There were some fine individual efforts to try and get us over the line at times. But with a depleted backline and a forward structure that relies on midfielders kicking goals to win matches, our midfield is starting to tire. You see, a good midfield like ours can cover a deficient forward line or a depleted backline, but it can’t cover both and that in my opinion is what is wrong with our team right now.


We are expecting the players like Ablett, Corey, Bartel, Selwood, Mumford, & Ling to be our match winners. They have to protect the backline plus provide the run from Half Back to get the ball forward. Then when it gets forward, it is often the midfielders who then have to generate the goals or goal assists. Our midfield lads are just stuffed.


If you are to look at how injury has ravaged our side it has taken the star players out of the Backline and Forward line.

Injury effect on team balance



Steve Johnson is clearly out of form. A month on the sidelines will do that. He needs all the game time he can get before the finals. Gary Ablett looked proppy last night and I wonder if he is still carrying an injury. He played a lot in the forward line which suggests he was resting a bit. Our old faithfuls like Selwood, Corey, Ling, Bartel, Mackie & Enright worked hard all night to make things happen. But there is only so much they can do.


The thing that is needed is that our backline needs to get back some potency. Lonergan is never going to be an answer there. Once we have closer to a full compliment down back then Mackie and Enright can go back to creating the run from HBF and our midfield can then go back to covering our weaker forward line.



The big question that crossed all our minds last night was what about the finals? I don’t believe it is time to hit the panic button yet. There have been plenty of previous teams who have limped into the finals and then turned on September Form with a vengeance. I just hope we can be one of those. But these people questioning whether or not Geelong is faltering I can only say this.


Please wait until the Finals are over before you make your judgment. You see if you write us of now and we win the Flag then you will just have egg on your face ala Robert Walls 2007 (and most other times). I am concerned with our current form like anyone else. But when you rely on the best midfield in the competition to win you games under these circumstances then it is going to come unstuck eventually.


To people who were claiming they were ripping up their memberships after recent form I would just like to say you are nothing but a bunch of bandwagon idiots. Do us all a favor and rip them up and never come back. But there is certainly a tough road ahead to the Grand Final. Several teams are in the running and we will need to bring our best team and game to the field if we stand a chance. I know we can do it as “We Are Geelong!”


http://www.geelongblog.com/wp/?p=895

 

[True Blue Cat]

Over the last couple of weeks i have noticed our midfield hasn't been doing as well as normal but the reason is sort of obivous. Usually we can rely on players such as Mackie and Dasher to start the attack down back but with the like of Scarlett and Taylor out Mackie and Dasher are forced to be defending defenders as apposed to their usual attack selves. This means the midfielders have to start their job further back and they can't cope with the extra stress. Although even with that last nights games poor decisions by the midfielders are simple errors are what is leaving me anxious.

 

[goodoldcats]

good post. i'll add a few comments

• No tackling pressure in our forward 50. its frustrating watching other teams jog it out while our plyers are standing there having a rest and "guarding space"
• injuries are no excuse for being lazy and having no intensity
• our small forwards run forward to receive cheapies over the top instead of being front and centre, byrnes has stopped playing front and centre
• Ablett must be carrying an injury
• Hawkins is just not ready, his tank is smaller than mark blakes heart, will be good when he gets a good pre season
• We need to trade to upgrade draft picks maybe: stokes, gamble, blake shop them around, if noone wants them, it will be a kick in the arse they need

 

[True Blue Cat]

good post. i'll add a few comments

• No tackling pressure in our forward 50. its frustrating watching other teams jog it out while our plyers are standing there having a rest and "guarding space"
• injuries are no excuse for being lazy and having no intensity
• our small forwards run forward to receive cheapies over the top instead of being front and centre, byrnes has stopped playing front and centre
• Ablett must be carrying an injury
• Hawkins is just not ready, his tank is smaller than mark blakes heart, will be good when he gets a good pre season
• We need to trade to upgrade draft picks maybe: stokes, gamble, blake shop them around, if noone wants them, it will be a kick in the arse they need

I actually sort of like Gamble although he never really improved how i expected him to. I do like stokes even though he is kind of plagued with clangers. Although i didn't expect the 1 last night as he hasn't clangered anything like that this year that i can remember.

As for Blake i have 1 word to say, "Bye".

 

[Turbocat]

[*]injuries are no excuse for being lazy and having no intensity
[/LIST]

I think playing while injured is very good reason why our intensity might be down. Can you expect guys who know the what's ahead of us the next couple of months , guys who are carrying little problems that they hope can be rid of by the finals , to be at max intensity?
I think we should wait till the finals to judge intensity , after all its what we will be remembered for.

 

[Catsace]

I have read a lot of what has been said on the 'bagging threads' and can only agree with the OP by Catman Forever, our mighty midfield is looking tired and sore. It has been the engine that has generated this historic run of wins by our club in the last essentially three seasons, and i reckon exactly the reasons shown, they are having to fight on two fronts. The German Werhmacht eventually wore down having the two fronts to contend with and so it looks like with our midfields.

However, i am optimistic for a few reasons. Scarlett, Taylor and Kelly are three massive 'ins' that will totally restructure and revitalise our defence. harley can go back to being what he is best, a floating '3rd man up' player who can take marks off opposition kicks. He did that quite well last night, but he was essentially the #1 tall in the backline, that's just a role beyond him now.

Chapman coming back will add a heap of class to the forward line, and of course i am hanging my hat on Ottens coming back to at least add presence to our forward line/ team structure at some point in the future. If nothing else, he is a huge man, and someone that will need to attract the attention of opposition defenders. Mumford is a willing worker, but our talls at the minute are limited really to just Mooney and two youngsters in Mummy and Hawkins. We will be much better if Ottens can return even at 60% of his normal output.

The other thing is that right now, Geelong is absolutely stuck in 2nd place. We'll remain 2nd even if we finish 16-6, and while winning is great, from a September perspective it won't change anything. As long as we can get some players back, and as the OP stated, help the mids stay fresh by allowing them to focus on their part of the ground again, we could still have a lotr to look forward too. Unlike years like 1990 and 1993, we have followed up a Grand Final loss with a finals place, and i still reckon that September is a month with strange pressures and scenarios. The Saints, Dogs and Pies in recent years have failed September pressure. We have succeeded with it, so that might still stand in 2009. I am certainly not writing anything off until the fat lady sings on our season.

 

[mariascats]

According to Tom Harley on SEN this morning they have been doing really hard training for the last 4 weeks. The problem is that they are all stuffed. I think that this is a big mistake at this time of the year. according to all the ex footballers, most of the players are carrying some sort of injury by this time of the year. This sort of training will only exacerbate current injuries. Our fitness was not what cost us the GF last year, but I won't go into that.

 

[Tuggacat]

We looked second class in the midfield last night, and that was despite Mummy playing very well with plenty of taps to advantage (at least that is how I saw it) and good work around the ground. Maybe it is due to injuries and trying to cover two fronts at once (love the WWII analogy). We are however not covering the injuries like the Saints are. I for one am still thinking we can take the flag but lets get the players right for the task. Is this cautious (over cautious?) approach to injuries working or is it backfiring with our midfield being worn down by the extra load?

 

[vealesy]

Good post CF.

However Im still going to defend myself saying Ive thrown my membership in the bin (I would never really do this). Im not a bandwagon idiot. Last night was horrible to see ( I also had a horrible day and I put good friends and their kids out of having a home for a night, just so I could watch it live. Also my brother flew over to watch the game with my Dad, so I was dissapointed for them too. ).

You have picked it apart very well.

Spot on with our midfield covering defense. We NEED Scarlo, more than anyone else in our side right now.

All is not lost, but if we can't get our injurys sorted in 3 weeks, we could quite possibly bow out in straight sets.

Don't kid yourselves, it will be the hardest flag to win of all this year from the position we are in right at this moment.

 

[Tonycam*]

Well said CF , totally agree with everything you said.
I know a lot of people on here are upset , its hard to take a loss when you are not used to it , and we all know we havent had many . But I still think we be will see a different side when we get these players on the field. come finals time with some luck with our injuries , we will all be reaping the rewards

 

[goodoldcats]

I think playing while injured is very good reason why our intensity might be down. Can you expect guys who know the what's ahead of us the next couple of months , guys who are carrying little problems that they hope can be rid of by the finals , to be at max intensity?
I think we should wait till the finals to judge intensity , after all its what we will be remembered for.

watch stkilda vs hawthorn there young players come in and layed shi tloads of tackles with intensity. I believe if you play then you play at 100% intensity otherwise dont play

 

[FoxC]

I remember last year and even earlier this year, when there were concerns about our forwards' goalkicking, a few people on here said "but our mids kick enough of goals to win us matches".

Those posters should be made to read this thread.

 

[CF]

watch stkilda vs hawthorn there young players come in and layed shi tloads of tackles with intensity. I believe if you play then you play at 100% intensity otherwise dont play

Playing with 100% intensity doesn't always mean you will win. Tom Harley was quoted in the media Friday night as saying the Geelong players gave their all but it just wasn't working for them on the night.

The actual quote was:

“We are busting our arse, there’s no doubt about that,” Harley said.

Things just didn't bounce our way. That's football. I think it is simplistic just to say it's all about intensity. I seen plenty of examples of 100% intensity on Friday night. It's just that Carlton outplayed us and what we did just never seemed to work properly.

 

[vealesy]

watch stkilda vs hawthorn there young players come in and layed shi tloads of tackles with intensity. I believe if you play then you play at 100% intensity otherwise dont play

I wouldnt be suprised if they watched fridays game and the coaching staff made a point to focus on this particularly against the hawks.

The message was well heard by me, lets 'hope' our boys heard it.*




*no skitzo

 

[goodoldcats]

Things just didn't bounce our way. That's football. I think it is simplistic just to say it's all about intensity. I seen plenty of examples of 100% intensity on Friday night. It's just that Carlton outplayed us and what we did just never seemed to work properly.

So everything just happened to bounce stkilda way against the hawthorn? I think you are wrong. when we are trying to clear from the backline everyone is just standing there like statues. no one running or presenting and a lack a pressure on the carlton ball carriers

 

[thegerman]

Love it CF, man I am so sick of the people threatening to rip up their membership. Hilarious. Extremely childish and lacking in the sentiment that is supposed to be attached to the word SUPPORTER!

No doubt the injuries to our team mean that players such as JC have to go back, therefore we lose one of the best clearance players we have. Obviously upsetting chemistry.

Until we get that chemistry back, we will continue to struggle week in, week out. However, telling the players they suck, or aren't up to scratch won't change it either. Support the team, that's how we will get it back.

 

[Kittycat]

We have done enough to secure 2nd spot..let the other teams knock themselves out for the next 3 weeks..we dont have too Whats the joy in winning every game and going to the finals underdone.A bit of vision is what I hope this team is all about now.I am assuming that Geelong has learnt from its knockers that winning all year means jack shit unless you win on that one day in Sept.

 

[vealesy]

We have done enough to secure 2nd spot..let the other teams knock themselves out for the next 3 weeks..we dont have too Whats the joy in winning every game and going to the finals underdone.A bit of vision is what I hope this team is all about now.I am assuming that Geelong has learnt from its knockers that winning all year means jack shit unless you win on that one day in Sept.

A fine example of our cancerous culture of years gone by.

Coasting in as second best.

We have to GET TO THE GF before we can plan for it.

Any team can win on GF day, everyone knows this, I assume.

It appears that people just assume we will get there.

We WILL NOT with our current form.

Whys this so hard for people to understand?

Have you all ever played competitive sport or what?

 

[thegerman]

Vealsy, FFS give it up. We have lost 3 games all season, that isn't a losing culture, nor is it something to be really worried about.

Once in the finals anything can and will happen. I bet if we lose you'll say 'I told you so'. Well guess what, the comments you are saying now aren't really going to change anything. So why continue?

And yes, I've played many a competitive sport. I think they are going well in comparison to what they have to pick from. Injuries must be taken into consideration.

 

[Copernicus]

Hear hear CMF. It's obvious that the mids are tiring, and injuries are the problem. We have blokes like Joel Corey and Jimmy Bartel playing in the backline, instead of generating drive and winning clearances out of the middle, and we have our creative blokes like Mackie and Enright having to be accountable for dangerous forwards without the assistance they would normally get, thereby limiting their ability to create off half back. Getting players back who can cover for them will open things up greatly, and allow our mids to get back to doing what they do best. Having Ottens back should also help the mids get their mitts on the ball first. That is our biggest problem at the moment. Even in wins versus Adelaide and Hawthorn, we were quite simply beaten out of the middle more often than not.

Most of us love the Big Mummy, but let's not forget he is still young, raw and developing. He is not the calibre of a number 1 ruck yet and it is hurting us. Getting players back to performing familiar roles is going to be of utmost importance to success in September.

 

[vealesy]

Vealsy, FFS give it up. We have lost 3 games all season, that isn't a losing culture, nor is it something to be really worried about.

Once in the finals anything can and will happen. I bet if we lose you'll say 'I told you so'. Well guess what, the comments you are saying now aren't really going to change anything. So why continue?

And yes, I've played many a competitive sport. I think they are going well in comparison to what they have to pick from. Injuries must be taken into consideration.

Give what up?

Im not the one who keeps sniping comments in threads about 'membership tearers' being 'childish and immature'.

When do any 'comments' ever change anything? Why do we even talk at all? If you don't like what I have to say, dissect and show me why I am wrong. I appreciate constructive criticism, otherwise, leave the cheap insults out of it, and the irrelevant stats too.

It does not matter how many games we have won or lost come finals time. Both sides start each final on ZERO points. The way we are playing right now, will not win finals football.

I'm merely pointing out what the one eyed optimistic people are completely dismissing.

You are continually ignoring my whole point.

Last time...

ready?


ITS NOT THE RESULTS THAT CONCERN ME, IT IS THE LACK OF EFFORT AND HUNGER TO PLAY CONSISTENT SKILLFULL AND GOOD FOOTBALL.

This is not a reaction to just fridays game, it has been like this since we played St Kilda.

As someone has pointed out, you can't just flick a switch and eradicate the laziness and poor decision making, and also bring in a hunger to win and expect that to carry you over the line.

You make it seem like you think I dont WANT the cats to go all the way?!

Its the complete opposite..

I will not be saying "I told you so" at the end of the season if we fall over. I will be sulking in solitude like I did last year.

I will be calling for some heads to roll but. A massive cleanout will be due IF we dont win the whole damn thing.

What also concerns me, is I can already sense the "oh well 1 flag is good enough" sentiments creeping into this board.

Its pathetic.

 

[Jack-Packenham]

Midfield domination gone

With the cats having the best midfield in the competition according to most judges, why is it that we can not win a clearance out of the centre.

It cant just be that we dont have a dominating ruckman, look at Maric, Kruezer, Taylor etc

My belief is that the cats should put Corey, Chapman and Bartel in at the centre bounces more than they have been. Let Ling start on a wing and run in after the bounce to pick up a run with role.

 

[someday-somehow]

Vealsy, you are a victim of the cats success over the last few years, you have watched and read the media drones talk about the cats like they are demigods and the finest team to ever take to a football ground.

How many teams have challenged in 3 straight Grand finals?...not many especially in the modern game, it's bloody hard to do.

In todays football it's all about timing and form, this has nothing to do with the players commitment and workrate, they simply have had too many holes to fill as the OP has suggested and have lost their run off half back. They are also consistently playing kids or fringe players who are not of the class as those being replaced.
Our defence has been so good in the last 2 years because they have played with each other for so long and know each others games - well half of them are missing and you can't expect the same results.

I agree with you that the cats will not make the GF on current form and I would certainly feel better if the 3 losses were at the start of the season and not now (this is the biggest worry) but I would never question the players commitment and workrate - they are the most professional team in the comp and what other clubs aspire to be.

 

[candiehappy]

Re: Midfield domination gone

Mike Sheahan wrote in todays Sun that Judd is again better than Ablett, dead set, that bloke changes his mind more than a bi-sexual transvestite

 

[Fuzzyash]

Re: Midfield domination gone

With the cats having the best midfield in the competition according to most judges, why is it that we can not win a clearance out of the centre.

It cant just be that we dont have a dominating ruckman, look at Maric, Kruezer, Taylor etc

My belief is that the cats should put Corey, Chapman and Bartel in at the centre bounces more than they have been. Let Ling start on a wing and run in after the bounce to pick up a run with role.

I have also been starting to wonder whether having Ling in the centre square is costing us by having only two instead of three midfielders attacking the ball. Especially because lately Ablett has usually been outside the square, meaning that the opposition's tagger is not in there....