Preliminary Final

[larrikan]

Please merge this with a more appropriate thread but I just wanted to say that despite much negativity around Collingwood this final series, some things have really gone our way this weekend.

Geelong will now have a more difficult Preliminary Final.

a) Vs West Coast....WC have adopted a similar press like us...you may think it will help Geelong adapt to the press better for our game BUT in a crunch game it will enable our coaching staff to see the raw tactics Geelong will be using to combat the press...nothing can be held back in the prelim. We will also see how Geelong handle the big forwards.

b) Carlscum will run Geelong off their legs at least for the first half and have troubled Geelong in recent games

Our preliminary final will be more of a slog against the Swans who will have been "up" for six weeks by this time and will find the MCG harder. Against the Hawks, well their injury concerns are worse than ours and they have no reprieve. Either team could be broken by an early start by us.

It now means, with the boys pumped up from the recent Cats game...knowing that finals victories will not come as easily after fighting for the WC game...we will be well placed to know all we need to do to defeat the Cats.

Any edge in the finals is an advantage and this weekend helped us a lot.

 

[mattys123]

I'm with you, I think we have what can be considered the easier half of the draw now, especially if Sydney can over come the Hawks this week.

On the other hand, no matter what, the Cats will be facing one of the 4 other genuine contenders for the flag.

The Blues and Eagles have both shown they are serious football teams, while the Hawks are struggling with injury (not only to Buddy) and the Swans hate playing at the MCG (Richmond beat them there).

I still think we'll probably be playing the Hawks next, but I'll be cheering for Sydney next week, they are our bunnies after all.

 

[captain peanut]

carlton are up and about boys. they are certainties to beat west coast next week. laugh me out of town if you like but their midfield is just too classy for the weagles and on the open expenses of subi this is going to be telling. and those runners are also going to trouble geel in a prelim, whether they can get over the line is debatable but the are a genuine chance. we could easily be playing the greatest enemy of all on 1 october

 

[larrikan]

carlton are up and about boys. they are certainties to beat west coast next week. laugh me out of town if you like but their midfield is just too classy for the weagles and on the open expenses of subi this is going to be telling. and those runners are also going to trouble geel in a prelim, whether they can get over the line is debatable but the are a genuine chance. we could easily be playing the greatest enemy of all on 1 october

It's possible Captain but WC have form against top four sides...the scum don't....WC accounted for Geelong at Subi with the press. The press is suited to Subi better because it is not as wide as the MCG. Just my opinion, but the enemy should struggle against the WC press. However, this game may come down to injuries with Cox, Kerr, Gibbs, Jamieson, Waite, Kruezer etc. The media and Eastern seaboard have under rated WC this year. MM really rated yesterdays win against quality opposition.

 

[Art Corvelay]

carlton are up and about boys. they are certainties to beat west coast next week. laugh me out of town if you like but their midfield is just too classy for the weagles and on the open expenses of subi this is going to be telling. and those runners are also going to trouble geel in a prelim, whether they can get over the line is debatable but the are a genuine chance. we could easily be playing the greatest enemy of all on 1 october

Subi is narrower then Etihad and West Coast's press is very good. They also accounted for Carlton earlier in the year. I don't think they are certainties by any stretch of the imagination. I do think we are on the easier side of the drawer, which is funny; before this weekend I thought the Cats were going to get the easy side

 

[Frankie23]

Whoever we play is still going to be a tough one. OP says Sydney has been 'up for six weeks' and Hawthorn are rattled with injuries however you can easily look at it from the point of view that Sydney are one of the inform teams of the comp, they have the best player in the league at the moment (Goodes), and are playing with passion and heart. Whilst Hawthorn got done by Geelong, there is no shame in losing to one of the best teams in modern history, whilst beside Buddy their injury concerns are really not that bad.

One team has to win, and hence will find/continue its form. Whoever we play will be tough.

 

[dook]

carlton are up and about boys. they are certainties to beat west coast next week. laugh me out of town if you like but their midfield is just too classy for the weagles and on the open expenses of subi this is going to be telling. and those runners are also going to trouble geel in a prelim, whether they can get over the line is debatable but the are a genuine chance. we could easily be playing the greatest enemy of all on 1 october

Unlikely. The scum only smash teams they should, and only score freely against strong sides when they're already out of the game - resulting in these "honourable" losses they love talking up this year.

All that said, beating them in the GF would be delightful.

 

[jerry springer]

the week off has possibly saved our season.from here a few points

1.hopefully we can push aside the hawks/swans(go the swans) on the friday nite with no further injuries/MRP problems and the extra night off will be invaluable

2. WC/Carlton absolutely push and batter geelong on the saturday match.i think Carlton with a huge crowd behind them would be better option.I get the sneaky feeling that west coast will just be happy to make a prelim.

3.hasnt been talked about but menzel is a huge loss in a their forward line.He has added spark and a extra dimension all season

 

[jonbe54]

the week off has possibly saved our season.from here a few points

1.hopefully we can push aside the hawks/swans(go the swans) on the friday nite with no further injuries/MRP problems and the extra night off will be invaluable

2. WC/Carlton absolutely push and batter geelong on the saturday match.i think Carlton with a huge crowd behind them would be better option.I get the sneaky feeling that west coast will just be happy to make a prelim.

3.hasnt been talked about but menzel is a huge loss in a their forward line.He has added spark and a extra dimension all season

The Menzel point is important, in no way has he replaced Gaz but he has been one of the ones who have helped fill the void.

 

[jerry springer]

is the 2nd prelim a night final,or a sat arvo?

 

[Kirby]

Both prelims are at night.

 

[docks]

If WCE win it should be on a Sat. afternoon to enable them to fly back and prepare should they win, if Carlton win it will be a Sat. night. Let's hope it's nice and sunny coz that will favour WCE should they win. Hoping for a nice and sunny GF like last year too as our younger players will thrive. The AFL however has a habit of changing the rules as they go along so a Sat. night wouldn't surprise me

 

[Doss]

Out of interest, who would most Collingwood supporters rather play in the prelim? Sydney or Hawthorn?

It's an interesting one I reckon. Hawthorn at their best are clearly a better side than Sydney as evidenced by 18 wins against 12.5. But I actually went to the Collingwood v Hawthorn game this year and left convinced that if they go in with a game plan anything like they did that day, Collingwood won't having any trouble beating them. Their short-kicking, high-possession dinky stuff played right into the hands of your press.

Yes, you have won the last ten against Sydney, but it's worth remembering Collingwood only beat them by six points this year. They seem to match up okay against them...

Either way, I'd think Collingwood would win by 30ish points against either but I'd be interested to see what Collingwood people thought..

 

[handy point]

Out of interest, who would most Collingwood supporters rather play in the prelim? Sydney or Hawthorn?

It's an interesting one I reckon. Hawthorn at their best are clearly a better side than Sydney as evidenced by 18 wins against 12.5. But I actually went to the Collingwood v Hawthorn game this year and left convinced that if they go in with a game plan anything like they did that day, Collingwood won't having any trouble beating them. Their short-kicking, high-possession dinky stuff played right into the hands of your press.

Yes, you have won the last ten against Sydney, but it's worth remembering Collingwood only beat them by six points this year. They seem to match up okay against them...

Either way, I'd think Collingwood would win by 30ish points against either but I'd be interested to see what Collingwood people thought..

Sydney.

Because if we lost to them I'd want them to go on and win it all.

I think we match up better at full strength with them than the Hawks too.

 

[MarkT2]

The draw has opened up for us. Hawks are undermaned and we have Sydney's measure. Something would have to go wrong for us not to play in the GF. At that point I am crapping myself. Cats are going to be on hell of an opponent.

 

[Old Spice]

Don't know about easy side of the draw. Yes Hawks are depleted a little, but Buddy should be playing again by prelim and Stratton was best on for Box Hill. Swans I'm more bullish about, but again they should have Mumford back and are hot for teacher.

Geelong, on the other hand, should have a bruise free run against either WC or Carlton. The only hope would be Carlton pulling a super game out of the fire, winning, then having Jamison collapse.

 

[frantelle]

I really hope we keep Fas as the permanent finals sub, his bubbely energy is infectious and very important when we have a few tiring bodies.

In: Reid, Thomas
Out: ?

 

[dubber]

I really hope we keep Fas as the permanent finals sub, his bubbely energy is infectious and very important when we have a few tiring bodies.

In: Reid, Thomas
Out: ?

Since i have no idea about team selection and how AFL coaching works in real life i will pretend this is super coach

In: Reid, Thomas
Out: Goldsack, Didak

 

[dook]

Out of interest, who would most Collingwood supporters rather play in the prelim? Sydney or Hawthorn?

It's an interesting one I reckon. Hawthorn at their best are clearly a better side than Sydney as evidenced by 18 wins against 12.5. But I actually went to the Collingwood v Hawthorn game this year and left convinced that if they go in with a game plan anything like they did that day, Collingwood won't having any trouble beating them. Their short-kicking, high-possession dinky stuff played right into the hands of your press.

Yes, you have won the last ten against Sydney, but it's worth remembering Collingwood only beat them by six points this year. They seem to match up okay against them...

Either way, I'd think Collingwood would win by 30ish points against either but I'd be interested to see what Collingwood people thought..

I don't have a preference. I think we're solid against either of them this year.

 

[entourage]

I think i'd rather Hawthorn, they will have several injury clouds and a small back line and our game plan shreds theirs-and they will be battered by the time they get to us. Sydney Pies games are always pretty close, even though we've won a lot lately vs the swans they are a hard team to shake off and Mumford makes me nervous. However, I'm not complaining with either and both will give it a good shake.

I'm more excited for this one than i am nervous, whereas i was more nervous than excited for the weagles game. I'm really looking forward to the return of Thomas and Reid (hopefully?) to give us another dimension and solidify the team. I'm so pumped it's too far away!!!

 

[handy point]

Confirmation on AFL twitter that we're playing our Prelim on the Friday night.

 

[iGNITER]

Im not too fussed either way who we play in the prelim to be honest.
If I had to make a choice I would pick Sydney (I think they are a massive chance this week).

At selection -

INS: Reid, Thomas
OUTS: Goldsack, Fasolo


B - Toovey Tarrant Maxwell
HB - Davis Reid O'Brien
C - Shaw Swan Thomas
HF - Beams Cloke Wellingham
F - Krakouer Dawes Didak
R - Jolly Pendlebury Ball
INT - Johnson L.Brown Sidebottom
SUB - Blair

IMO thats the best 22 that we have available.
It was out of Blair and Fasolo for the last spot and I gave Blair the nod.

 

[eddiesmith]

Whilst we have both sides covered comfortably, I will be hoping for the Hawks to sneak past Sydney, we are more likely to demolish the undermanned Hawks

Also hoping for West Coast in the other at full strength, Carlton wont stand up under the heat of the prelim but the Eagles are a bloody good side and still have some premiership experience and a premiership coach to see them push and hopefully defeat the Cats

 

[Ed D]

Geelong, on the other hand, should have a bruise free run against either WC or Carlton. The only hope would be Carlton pulling a super game out of the fire, winning, then having Jamison collapse.

I think the opposite. Geelong are going to be up against a team that will be tackling and attacking hard. They could have a very taxing game, and could quite possibly lose. I think whichever team makes it though to the GF could have spent a fair bit of energy getting there.

 

[larrikan]

I am more bullish than most about our chances now....West Coast gave us the hit out and scare we needed from a Qualifying Final....if MM says it was a gutsy win given our injuries then I'll take it.

When I said Sydney have been up for six weeks, I meant that every game they are playing since the Richmond loss (on the MCG) has been cutthroat..to make the finals..to get a home final...to not be eliminated...its a taxing run that eventually will take its toll mentally...so if they get over another challenge this week. I will be very confident of beating them.
On the other hand we have been down mentally toward seasons end and have dropped off a couple of percent. Its finals now. You don't need to smash sides in finals - just win - good sides find a way to win - we did that against WC.
Hawthorns chances are so injury driven...it's just a wait and see situation.

Sorry I may be one out in Australia but I am not buying into the Geelong hype. Menzel is a huge loss and the young/old factor of their side still has three weeks to go. We have three weeks of improvement. The team that won us a replay GF now has an end game to strive for. Remember the important game is in three weeks.