Our perceived 'poor form'

[Duskfire]

Worried About Form

I know we're undefeated thus far, and its too early to speak of doom and gloom, but is anyone else worried about our form? Except for maybe the Essendon game, the Cats only show up for a quarter or two. Port and Sydney managed to catch up after we had gained a good lead in those games; Dockers, St Kilda and Melbourne all got good leads on us which the players managed to whitle away by playing half a quarter.

I know its strange because we are still winning, but playing this type of football, one has to wonder if we can continue to win?

 

[Copernicus]

Re: Worried About Form

It's round 6, we're playing in fits and spurts but still winning. I think Bomber has it under control.

We still have some good players to come back, too. We need to play better to beat the top teams, true, but we're not going to fire every game. We're building up to it.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Re: Worried About Form

I know we're undefeated thus far, and its too early to speak of doom and gloom, but is anyone else worried about our form? Except for maybe the Essendon game, the Cats only show up for a quarter or two. Port and Sydney managed to catch up after we had gained a good lead in those games; Dockers, St Kilda and Melbourne all got good leads on us which the players managed to whitle away by playing half a quarter.

I know its strange because we are still winning, but playing this type of football, one has to wonder if we can continue to win?

Much like early last year. I'd be lying if I said I was happy but it's a bloody long year and you don't wanna be playing your absolute best at this stage. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Winning and being 6-0 whilst playing (as Harley said) about 80% (not even 80 tonight though) sounds good to me.

 

[Duskfire]

Re: Worried About Form

Much like early last year. I'd be lying if I said I was happy but it's a bloody long year and you don't wanna be playing your absolute best at this stage. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Winning and being 6-0 whilst playing (as Harley said) about 80% (not even 80 tonight though) sounds good to me.

yeah, I probably shouldn't worry too much. Just I was at the game tonight, and we were horrible in the first and third quarter. Mistakes from everyone on the ground, even those you wouldn't expect like Bartel and Ablett and so forth. I still thought we would win, but at the same time, some of the things we were doing were just plain cringeworthy. Makes me wonder what would have happened if we were against a better side then Freo.

 

[Jef Costello]

Re: Worried About Form

Know what you mean which makes 6-0 even better. Form won;t really matter until August. Top 4 all that matters and we are very well placed.

 

[And_ROOS]

Re: Worried About Form

Exactly, our fitness training means we peak later in the year. Last year was a perfect example. Plus everyone remembers what happened last time we won the first 5 of the season, but does anyone remember what happened last time Geelong won the first 6 of a season?

Nothing to worry about. As usual we are chalking up wins but making it so that we will have our best team when it matters. End of season. No need to rush Otto etc etc.

 

[Cohzee]

Re: Worried About Form

Exactly, our fitness training means we peak later in the year. Last year was a perfect example. Plus everyone remembers what happened last time we won the first 5 of the season, but does anyone remember what happened last time Geelong won the first 6 of a season?

Nothing to worry about. As usual we are chalking up wins but making it so that we will have our best team when it matters. End of season. No need to rush Otto etc etc.

We made the granny and lost.

Not going to happen this time though. Opposition clubs can take what they want out of this, but as others have already said, we are only just warming up.

Go Cats!

 

[ROARisWAR]

Re: Worried About Form

We made the granny and lost.

Not going to happen this time though. Opposition clubs can take what they want out of this, but as others have already said, we are only just warming up.

Go Cats!

That's right, when we peak they're gona know about.

I feel for the team who gets us when we play 4 quarters

 

[jim boy]

Re: Worried About Form

Personally I'm enjoying the close matches and the tight contests. With some key players to come back (Ottens & Egan), we will get better. Plus we've blooding some lesser lights. For example playing Harry Taylor on Pavlich might have given Freo a big advantage, but in the long term it will be great for Taylor's development. We've got some credit - let's spend it.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Re: Worried About Form

The fact is we are critically down without Ottens.

 

[Brasil2007]

Re: Worried About Form

Brisbane didn't win every game the years they won the flag.
Nor did W Coast.
Nor did Sydney.
Nor even did Essendon.


To me we look a lot like West Coast in 2006. Remember that run of games in the middle of the season when they seemed to come from behind every week (and how could any Cats supporter forget it?).

 

[PoidaCat]

Re: Worried About Form

I'm really worried...

we have been playing shit and we are 6-0...

Trembling...

 

[Big_Tazz]

Re: Worried About Form

How can u be worried about our form? I knew we would still win 38 points down, if this was 3 years ago i probably would have given up, abseloutely nothing to worry about, even with Ottens out wer'e still a hard side to beat

 

[hbk_aus]

Re: Worried About Form

We have been a little up and down collectively and individually. We havent had everyone firing on all cylinders on the same day as yet - examples being Jimmy, Scarlett and Gaz down tonite, up steps Selwood (who had been a little down of late), Milburn, Enright, etc.. I spose its the sign of a good side when that happens.

Chappies fitness worries me, i dont know if he is right, would rather him not play the Vic game. And thank Christ for Joel Corey - he was awesome last night, when we were getting smashed early he was the one putting his hand up, and has done all year.

 

[Brasil2007]

Re: Worried About Form

How can u be worried about our form? I knew we would still win 38 points down, if this was 3 years ago i probably would have given up, abseloutely nothing to worry about, even with Ottens out wer'e still a hard side to beat

Three years ago I'd still be worried if we were only 38 points up!

 

[seanmorr]

Re: Worried About Form

chappy didnt look too fit to me last night.I dont see a lot of cats games but he looked like he really doesnt want to bend down to get the hard ball seems to skirt around the packs thats not the chapman i remember

 

[jess_555]

Re: Worried About Form

It is a little bit concerning that we only seem to play really well for bits of games. We don't want to become content with only playing a half a game of good footy even though we are still winning. I have so much more faith in the club now, they step up when they need to so I wouldn't be too worried.

I'm worried about Mackie's form. What is with him? Since he came back from injury 2 weeks ago he hasn't been himself. Poor decision making and not hitting targets with terrible kicking. I found myself yelling at the TV for Mackie to be dropped... Am I too harsh on the guy or has anyone else noticed this?

 

[randyzany]

Re: Worried About Form

No need for concern we're just past the quarter mark of the season. There's no point in the boys playing champagne football this early in the season. We'll gradually improve and peak when it matters most.

 

[Tay29]

Re: Worried About Form

I'm worried about Mackie's form. What is with him? Since he came back from injury 2 weeks ago he hasn't been himself. Poor decision making and not hitting targets with terrible kicking. I found myself yelling at the TV for Mackie to be dropped... Am I too harsh on the guy or has anyone else noticed this?

I think you are being a little harsh on Mackie. Give the guy some time to re-adjust. He was out for 3 weeks with a quadricep strain and had to play two tough matches. What has been missing is his run from defence but going on last night, Freo bottled up the corridor really well so there wasn't a lot of it from anyone.

 

[cat_fanatic]

Re: Worried About Form

Blake is not a number one ruckman while Sandilands is the tallest player in the comp and happened to play his best game ever last night; what do you expect? (Blake had 20 odd taps last night and a bit of the ball, not that bad actually for him IMO)

As the season progresses we will become fitter and start to play 4 quarters of football rather than in bursts. Id suggest we'll be hitting our peak about round 16, 17 (Ottens and Egan match fit by then) and continue through to finals. For the moment we are going along very well given we are two KPP down.

 

[Sttew]

Re: Worried About Form

I know we're undefeated thus far, and its too early to speak of doom and gloom, but is anyone else worried about our form? Except for maybe the Essendon game, the Cats only show up for a quarter or two. Port and Sydney managed to catch up after we had gained a good lead in those games; Dockers, St Kilda and Melbourne all got good leads on us which the players managed to whitle away by playing half a quarter.

I know its strange because we are still winning, but playing this type of football, one has to wonder if we can continue to win?

The last time Geelong won the first 6 matches was in 1967. So, on the one hand it is fantastic that we are 6 - 0. But, with the exception of the Essendon game, we have only played in patches. There are two ways of assessing this form - (i) Heaven help the opposition when we genuinely hit our straps, or (ii) The inevitable is approaching, and Geelong will be smashed by the team that serves it up to us for 100 minutes.

I'm inclined to think we will get better. Hawkins is showing agggression. Mooney has to improve. Ottens must come back. Mackie still needs a few weeks. We need a fit Rooke.

 

[Brasil2007]

Re: Worried About Form

I had expected us to lose a game or two already. Most grand finalists struggle for the first four or five weeks of the next season. I'm almost more worried that we haven't lost a game!

 

[rocker_oz33]

Re: Worried About Form

l was reading the advertiser (addy) Friday Harley said the cat were probably playing at 85% of there potential,he also said we have been playing in fits and starts all year barring the essendon game,where we got it right preety much for 4 quarters but there's plenty of improvement he said, he went on the say we need four quarter effort to play like we did in the last quarter
(of the swan game) for 4 quarters

 

[kendall_cedric]

Re: Worried About Form

On paper it looks like we're going great guns. Every other team would surely swap their win-loss ratio for ours. I'm just worried that we're not playing like a top 4 team at the moment and haven't for the past month. I'd say it's probably down to fitness because of our shortenned pre-season.

I agree that Mackie is a bit off but he's a quality player and just needs a few more weeks to get his groove back. Blake is still developing and learning the game which is easily forgotten. Mooney looks like he's carrying something but played a good game last night. Dasher IMO looks arrogant and not treating the game with respect. He still works his arse off for most of the game but there are patches when he just loses focus.

 

[Rik E Boy]

Re: Worried About Form

yeah, I probably shouldn't worry too much. Just I was at the game tonight, and we were horrible in the first and third quarter. Mistakes from everyone on the ground, even those you wouldn't expect like Bartel and Ablett and so forth. I still thought we would win, but at the same time, some of the things we were doing were just plain cringeworthy. Makes me wonder what would have happened if we were against a better side then Freo.

I reckon that's a little unfair on the Dockers. They played out of their skins last night with their two most important players, Pav and Lurch having blinders. I believe that last night's match is the first we've had this year when a side has been primed to have a shot at 'the reigning premier'. I don't think it will be the last either.

btw, How good were the Joels? Sensational my fellow Catters!

regards,

REB