Preview Player expectations this year

[Gogeelong]

Every year there are changes to a team line up.
What can we expect this year??

INS
Hogan to be given game time and be selected on the bench. He adds a touch of speed which we need
Pods to play forward pocket and be better than most expect
Gillies deserves a go and will prove to be very capable. Our back line is a little undersized against power forwards and he will add a touch of class

QUERIES
Johnson is a great concern with his hip problems
Milburn may tapper off
Ottens worries me as he has become injury prone, if so West should be given a go at CHB and in the ruck to see what he has to offer.

FRINGE
Woj will fire up and is a required player in our best team. He has speed and can break the lines. I am surprised that many people do not have the same opinion.
Varcoe will learn to impose himself in the game more often and will continue to improve with time

SURPRISE PACKET
Pods. I watched him often and he has the capacity to add another element in the forward line. Can lead, is a great ground player and can take a mark. Great choice as long as he stays injury free

 

[oozeboss]

All sound expectations in principle. I especially agree about Travis Varcoe.

I'll toss in a couple more for discussion:

* Tommohawk to continue his ascent, giving us a forward line with real bite (him, Moons, Pods, Max, Varcoe, Chappy & Stokes or Byrnes);

* Matty Stokes to come back better and more dazzling than ever, and to become a crowd fave after his total unselfishness last year;

* Selwood to win the Brownlow, making it 3 times in 4 years that Geelong has won the Brownlow and the Grand Final.

 

[CarnTheCatters]

Can someone clarify the conditions of Pods playing? Don't we need him to be promoted onto the senior list due to another player being placed on the long term injury list?

I ask, because a lot of posts imply that he is available to play at any time?

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Can someone clarify the conditions of Pods playing? Don't we need him to be promoted onto the senior list due to another player being placed on the long term injury list?

I ask, because a lot of posts imply that he is available to play at any time?

Before round 12, there must be a player on the LTI. After round 12 he can play regardless.

I should point out that he can still play NAB cup though as normal rules don't apply.

Given Brown is out for 3 months though I can't see how he doesn't just go LTI and Pods comes up (player must be 10 weeks on LTI min). The issue is more whether the coaches really want to play Pods.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Every year there are changes to a team line up.
What can we expect this year??

INS
Hogan to be given game time and be selected on the bench. He adds a touch of speed which we need
Pods to play forward pocket and be better than most expect
Gillies deserves a go and will prove to be very capable. Our back line is a little undersized against power forwards and he will add a touch of class

QUERIES
Johnson is a great concern with his hip problems
Milburn may tapper off
Ottens worries me as he has become injury prone, if so West should be given a go at CHB and in the ruck to see what he has to offer.

FRINGE
Woj will fire up and is a required player in our best team. He has speed and can break the lines. I am surprised that many people do not have the same opinion.
Varcoe will learn to impose himself in the game more often and will continue to improve with time

SURPRISE PACKET
Pods. I watched him often and he has the capacity to add another element in the forward line. Can lead, is a great ground player and can take a mark. Great choice as long as he stays injury free

All your thoughts I agree with in principle but as always team selection is up in the air this time of year.

My added thoughts:
-Gillies is highly thought of. The way I see it, Hunt has first call on the vacant spot in defence (Harley's). Beyond that, it's down to Gillies and Drum/Laidler. Given I can't see Scarlo and particularly Milburn playing 22 games, Gillies will play some games, but it's going to be hard for him to hold a finals spot.

-I agree on Wojo. As always the issue is where is a vacant spot. I certainly think he adds run that we need though.

-Pods I agree. He's better than people think. Obviously he's straight in if Moon has a brain snap, or Tom is injured. From there it's team balance dependent. Obviously SJ and Chappy will miss some games so there's a spot, but do the coaches think we can play 3 talls in the forward half?

-Ottens, other than Scarlett, is the most important player for our flag chances. So he should be managed and West will be in at some stage.

-I love Stokes as a bloke, but realistically I can only see two of Varcoe, Stokes and Byrnes in the side, and right now the other two are in front. But who knows. If he works hard it can happen.

-Hogan should be in. But realistically the midfield's the place with no open spots (save for injuries obviously). I hope we can find a way though.

 

[witsend]

-I love Stokes as a bloke, but realistically I can only see two of Varcoe, Stokes and Byrnes in the side, and right now the other two are in front. But who knows. If he works hard it can happen.

This is a great situation for Geelong.
Small forward is a spot that is often filled by inconsistent performers throughout the AFL. Mark Le Cras was probably the exception last year.
This kind of pressure for 1 or 2 spots means we can cherry pick the best player at any given time. I think Byrnes is very, very close to being a "best 22" selection after his 2009 season, so Varcoe and Stokes are fighting for one spot. Although, at his best in 2007, Stokes was par of the MF rotation on occasion. Gonna be a tough call because Trav has such an X Factor, which we need, but Stokes is a proven multiple goal kicker. Might be a match-up issue.

 

[Partridge]

Every year there are changes to a team line up.
What can we expect this year??

INS
Hogan to be given game time and be selected on the bench. He adds a touch of speed which we need
Pods to play forward pocket and be better than most expect
Gillies deserves a go and will prove to be very capable. Our back line is a little undersized against power forwards and he will add a touch of class

QUERIES
Johnson is a great concern with his hip problems
Milburn may tapper off
Ottens worries me as he has become injury prone, if so West should be given a go at CHB and in the ruck to see what he has to offer.

FRINGE
Woj will fire up and is a required player in our best team. He has speed and can break the lines. I am surprised that many people do not have the same opinion.
Varcoe will learn to impose himself in the game more often and will continue to improve with time

SURPRISE PACKET
Pods. I watched him often and he has the capacity to add another element in the forward line. Can lead, is a great ground player and can take a mark. Great choice as long as he stays injury free

All good points. I'm not convinced Wojo is a certainty for our best team however. When he's playing well, absolutely. Against that, he's not the best decision maker, his awareness can be lousy (getting caught bouncing the ball in the GF) and he's less reliable manning an opponent than the other defenders. It's a great position to be in though - Wojo, Hunt, Gillies, Drum and Laidler are fighting for a maximum of 2 spots. Superb position to be in.

Varcoe has been slowly improving, but again he'll be fighting for a spot with Stokes (right now Byrnes is ahead of either). I think he's the most skilled of the three but needs to develop more consistency.

Haven't seen anything of Podsially so very keen to have a look in the NAB Cup. Could be a useful addition.

 

[jim boy]

Given Brown is out for 3 months though I can't see how he doesn't just go LTI and Pods comes up (player must be 10 weeks on LTI min). The issue is more whether the coaches really want to play Pods.

I think it is 8 weeks, not 10, anyway offseason doesn't count, it has to be 8 weeks from season start so at the moment Brown can't go on the LTI as he will miss 4-6 weeks but the current prognosis.

Don't be surprised though if the Brown injury becomes more protracted, but at the moment IIRC, it has to be signed off by the AFL's chief medical officer who will act upon the earliest possible resumption date.

Someone will hit the LTI, there is always someone.

 

[Catlad]

I think that everyone is to eager to get josh hunt back in to the side. From what my old man says it takes a while for a player who did what he did to get their playing "mojo" back. He needs some reserve games under his belt. This could be good aswell because it gives guys like Laidler, Drum, Gillies, T Hunt and co to have their turn

 

[noclashjumpers]

I've got a good feeling about Laidler. Great awareness, doesn't get flustered, and is good by hand and foot.

Needs games this year.

 

[CatTricks]

I've got a good feeling about Laidler. Great awareness, doesn't get flustered, and is good by hand and foot.

Needs games this year.

Saw him in Round 15 against Brissy..but apart from that saw a few games he played as a junior. Keen to see what he can do also..

 

[Catlad]

Saw him in Round 15 against Brissy..but apart from that saw a few games he played as a junior. Keen to see what he can do also..

Was he a forward as a junior? Someone was telling me this but I wasn't sure about believing it

 

[CatTricks]

he sure was. Played for the Cannons iirc..and maybe Tulla in the EDFL?? not 100% sure.

 

[CatTricks]

Im expecting Chappy and SJ to be managed moreso this year, I think this was one of the reasons behind picking up Pods as a rookie. When playing against side such as the Bulldogs, the extra tall or third tall in the forward line could throw their matchups out the window, leaving our forwards to destroy them on the scoreboard.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I think that everyone is to eager to get josh hunt back in to the side. From what my old man says it takes a while for a player who did what he did to get their playing "mojo" back. He needs some reserve games under his belt. This could be good aswell because it gives guys like Laidler, Drum, Gillies, T Hunt and co to have their turn

Agree with this assessment
Very rare to come back after a full reco and recapture form straight away. Josh will need 12 months to get back to where he was before the injury.

 

[Cats33]

Pods to contribute to the foward line when named in the side .ie/kick goals .

 

[Pollywaffle]

Hunt will be a required player because of his deep kick in skills - Provided the injury has not affected them ( Any reports from training?)

 

[Sttew]

Minimal changes in 2010. Maybe Milburn to come off the bench more, a la Ricardi in his last years, and possibly play fwd more?

 

[Partridge]

Im expecting Chappy and SJ to be managed moreso this year, I think this was one of the reasons behind picking up Pods as a rookie. When playing against side such as the Bulldogs, the extra tall or third tall in the forward line could throw their matchups out the window, leaving our forwards to destroy them on the scoreboard.

I'd approach it from the opposite direction. When we beat the Bulldogs in the QF this year Johnson wasn't even playing; and a forward line of Mooney, Hawkins, Chappy and Johnson will definitely worry them. Johnson did kick 5 against the Dogs in round 9 if I recall.

I'm a bit wary of 3 tall forwards, the reality is it doesn't work often and the side becomes far too slow on the rebound. Same reason we don't play Ottens (thankfully) up forward anymore.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think it is 8 weeks, not 10, anyway offseason doesn't count, it has to be 8 weeks from season start so at the moment Brown can't go on the LTI as he will miss 4-6 weeks but the current prognosis.

Don't be surprised though if the Brown injury becomes more protracted, but at the moment IIRC, it has to be signed off by the AFL's chief medical officer who will act upon the earliest possible resumption date.

Someone will hit the LTI, there is always someone.

I agree, that if Brown doesn't hit the LTI someone else probably will, not that I want to wish ill to any of the boys, but statistically it's highly unlikely it won't happen.

Re brown..you are correct in your math...however given it's the second injury to the leg I expect the med staff will be very cautious, and thus it wouldn't surprise me if he doesn't play VFL before round 12...so hence my comment about LTI.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I'd approach it from the opposite direction. When we beat the Bulldogs in the QF this year Johnson wasn't even playing; and a forward line of Mooney, Hawkins, Chappy and Johnson will definitely worry them. Johnson did kick 5 against the Dogs in round 9 if I recall.

I'm a bit wary of 3 tall forwards, the reality is it doesn't work often and the side becomes far too slow on the rebound. Same reason we don't play Ottens (thankfully) up forward anymore.

I agree with you that I can't see us playing 3 tall forwards due to the loss in defensive pressure. Much as I love Pods.

However my dilemma is thus:
If and when SJ is out (which will be at some stage) and Pod's form is great in the VFL and Gamble's isn't (hypothetical I know), do you still play Gamble simply because "we're not playing 3 tall forwards."

Or do you play neither and replace SJ with either another small forward, or one of the midfielders playing forward?

 

[year of the cat]

I agree with you that I can't see us playing 3 tall forwards due to the loss in defensive pressure. Much as I love Pods.

However my dilemma is thus:
If and when SJ is out (which will be at some stage) and Pod's form is great in the VFL and Gamble's isn't (hypothetical I know), do you still play Gamble simply because "we're not playing 3 tall forwards."

Or do you play neither and replace SJ with either another small forward, or one of the midfielders playing forward?

I think that's your answer. We still have Stokes to come in as well. Infact I would have him in front of Gamble to replace SJ if required at the moment. He can also run through the midfield allowing Ablett or others to spend time down forward.

I can only see Pods coming in if either Mooney or Hawkins are injured.

 

[NEMINI]

I can only see Pods coming in if either Mooney or Hawkins are injured.

What about if ottens can't play and we go with one ruck and let tommahawk pinch hit in the ruck as well, do you bring pods in to fill hawkins time in the ruck?

 

[Partridge]

I agree with you that I can't see us playing 3 tall forwards due to the loss in defensive pressure. Much as I love Pods.

However my dilemma is thus:
If and when SJ is out (which will be at some stage) and Pod's form is great in the VFL and Gamble's isn't (hypothetical I know), do you still play Gamble simply because "we're not playing 3 tall forwards."

Or do you play neither and replace SJ with either another small forward, or one of the midfielders playing forward?

Good question. You never know, Johnson could well have an injury-free year; it's not beyond the realms of possibility. Same with Chapman and Ottens, there seems to be a cloud of gloom over all three.

IF Johnson is injured, I would say Gamble or Stokes - assuming their form is up to it. That's no guarantee as in my opinion both have a lot to prove. I also think neither are in our best 22 so they may need injuries to regulars to stake a claim.

Of course, it may well depend who we're playing too. If we're playing a crap team at Geelong they could well figure it's a good time to see how Pods goes. Three tall forwards may not be quite so risky against Melbourne as against St.Kilda for example.

To answer another post, I really hope Hawkins' forays into the ruck are as little as possible. By all accounts he is the fittest he's ever been, this is the year he needs to take a big step as a key forward. I'd play him in the ruck as a last resort; not a first option.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

What about if ottens can't play and we go with one ruck and let tommahawk pinch hit in the ruck as well, do you bring pods in to fill hawkins time in the ruck?

Hypothetically, I think structurally you need 2 talls up there, so yes in that case Pods would need to play.

However I'd rather have West in the ruck than Hawkins unless we absolutely have to.