Preview Rd 11 Cats v Dogs Thu May22 730pm @ GMHBA

[Play it Sam]

The Dogs aren’t necessarily going as well as people think. The only top 8 team they’ve beaten is GWS who are shaky at best.

Their wins are mostly at Marvel and against average teams. We play well we win IMO

I thought the same, beat GWS by 5 goals, but lost badly to Freo, and they've poleaxed STK, Port and Essendone.
Most others close.
So it's a bit hard to get a comparative line. At home, near full strength, Mitch's 300, kick 15 goals at minimum, hold them to their average (not counting blowouts) and we win.

 

[Cattery]

The Dogs aren’t necessarily going as well as people think. The only top 8 team they’ve beaten is GWS who are shaky at best.

Their wins are mostly at Marvel and against average teams. We play well we win IMO

Tend to agree with you, they are a damn good team no doubt, but according to quite a few posts on here we may as well not bother turning up tomorrow night, for a game which IMO is 50/50 at worst.

I think they're a bit different with Bont back and it took them a bit to find their groove but it's here now

Obviously a better side with him playing, but since his return they've beaten teams currently sitting 8th, 10th, 13th and 15th one the ladder (plus a loss to GC) so possibly their form (which is undoubtably good) is being a tad overblown.

 

[Play it Sam]

The game is tomorrow.
And you're the one making up hyperbole.

Just two weeks ago Beveridge said he was happy for Bailey that he was playing well.
And this week he said that Bailey will be a problem for them.

He just wasn't buying into the 'there will be angst' type rubbish.

We have far bigger issues than how Bailey handles everything.

In your rush to accuse a poster of hyperbole- You might have missed Zouz Kitty 's point - which was the press is manically bullshitting up the personal aspect, but Bevo is not. Neither is Bailey, who hid from the media at training and would not be engaged.
It's not rocket science that professional coaches and players are focused on the bigger picture, including the truth- that Smith is currently a thorn in the side of any opposition, our best player. Therefore we DO need to hope he handles any pressure.

 

[kickazz]

For what it's worth, early in seasons I maintain a "wins against wins" ladder, which I think helps smooth out the effects of an early easy or hard fixture. Basically, you get one point for every game won by a team you defeated. It's crude and imperfect but I think a better indicator of form than the actual ladder in early rounds. Currently it looks like this:

Coll	40.5​
Geel	34​
Bris	33.25​
Gold	30.5​
Haw	25​
Adel	24.5​
WB	24.5​
GWS	24​
Freo	21​
Stk	21​
Melb	16.5​
Port	16.5​
Ess	15.5​
Syd	15.5​
Rich	11​
North	10.75​
Carl	9.5​
WCE	5​

So it does put the dogs a little lower. They'll be pumped for this one though and have played well against us in the last few years so I think that is what matters the most.

EDIT: couple of them were wrong. Updated.

 

[Cattery]

The game is tomorrow.
And you're the one making up hyperbole.

Just two weeks ago Beveridge said he was happy for Bailey that he was playing well.
And this week he said that Bailey will be a problem for them.

He just wasn't buying into the 'there will be angst' type rubbish.

We have far bigger issues than how Bailey handles everything.

I thought she was merely pointing out how the media have been trying to make a big deal out of it (and they have been)

 

[Tony Barber]

I thought she was merely pointing out how the media have been trying to make a big deal out of it (and they have been)

Thats an absolute certainty.
We all knew it was coming. And to be fair, Bailey started it.

He now needs to walk the walk.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

The press are turning themselves inside out to increase the hyperbole for tonight’s game.


Headline:
“Twist in AFL grudge match, Bulldogs warned against Bailey Smith tactic”

Grudge match

“Smith’s very pointed swipe at the Bulldogs earlier this month lit the fuse for the grudge match, with Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli returning serve.”

The article continued that if the Bulldogs target Baz, it would just fuel his game.

Luke Beveridge said on AFL360 last night that Baz isn’t a concern.

Press still manufacturing hype from a comment two weeks ago.

All hyperbole. Tbh I doubt both clubs really care much.

 

[D BRIDGE]

Pristine, warm, fast conditions under the roof at the dome is going to be very different to freezing cold temps outside on our skinny ground.

Can't wait to see what both teams dish up.

 

[Hamingja]

For what it's worth, early in seasons I maintain a "wins against wins" ladder, which I think helps smooth out the effects of an early easy or hard fixture. Basically, you get one point for every game won by a team you defeated. It's crude and imperfect but I think a better indicator of form than the actual ladder in early rounds. Currently it looks like this:

Coll	40.5​
Geel	34​
Bris	32.75​
Gold	29.5​
Haw	25​
GWS	24​
Adel	23.5​
WB	23.5​
Freo	21​
Stk	21​
Melb	16.5​
Port	15.5​
Ess	14.5​
Syd	14.5​
Rich	11​
North	10.75​
Carl	8.5​
WCE	5​

So it does put the dogs a little lower. They'll be pumped for this one though and have played well against us in the last few years so I think that is what matters the most.

Darwin doing some seriously heavy lifting for the suns.

If you swapped them with the Dogs it would probably be about my rankings, at least for the top 8.

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

The press are turning themselves inside out to increase the hyperbole for tonight’s game.


Headline:
“Twist in AFL grudge match, Bulldogs warned against Bailey Smith tactic”

Grudge match

“Smith’s very pointed swipe at the Bulldogs earlier this month lit the fuse for the grudge match, with Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli returning serve.”

The article continued that if the Bulldogs target Baz, it would just fuel his game.

Luke Beveridge said on AFL360 last night that Baz isn’t a concern.

Press still manufacturing hype from a comment two weeks ago.

The only thing I take issue with in this ‘Grudge Match’ is that Beveridge claimed that the Cats and Dogs needed Collingwood to get 80k at home.

Just accept fact Luke, Geelong gets way bigger home crowds with or without Collingwood. And we don’t need it to be our 100year celebration game.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

I thought the same, beat GWS by 5 goals, but lost badly to Freo, and they've poleaxed STK, Port and Essendone.
Most others close.
So it's a bit hard to get a comparative line. At home, near full strength, Mitch's 300, kick 15 goals at minimum, hold them to their average (not counting blowouts) and we win.

I’ve noticed with them historically they tend to really pulverize bottom teams when they get a run on more than others, and I think a lot of this comes back to their consistent midfield than doesn’t drop off as much which allows them to really hammer bottom sides. Top sides expose their flaws better and it’s an entirely different game.

Some sides just belt lower teams more comprehensively for reasons, and the dogs are one of them and have been for a while

 

[STPer18]

The only thing I take issue with in this ‘Grudge Match’ is that Beveridge claimed that the Cats and Dogs needed Collingwood to get 80k at home.

Just accept fact Luke, Geelong gets way bigger home crowds with or without Collingwood. And we don’t need it to be our 100year celebration game.

Case in point, Geelong drew a bigger attendance to our home game with Hawthorn than we did to our away game against Collingwood.

 

[Geelong Dynasty]

Lets hope the coach doesn’t try to outsmart Bevo and stick Cameron in the midfield at the centre bounce.

First bounce.
Stanley (or Blitz)
Smith, Holmes, Atkins.

 

[Play it Sam]

I’ve noticed with them historically they tend to really pulverize bottom teams when they get a run on more than others, and I think a lot of this comes back to their consistent midfield than doesn’t drop off as much which allows them to really hammer bottom sides. Top sides expose their flaws better and it’s an entirely different game.

Some sides just belt lower teams more comprehensively for reasons, and the dogs are one of them and have been for a while

There must be truth in that, they've had much closer games and losses against sides with equally strong mid fields.
We might draw from that, it's where the battle will be won or lost. And our accuracy.

 

[STPer18]

Scott basically admited at the end of the presser it'll be Stewart and Stanley for Dangerfield and Bowes, and potentially one other. Stevens and Clohesy in the squad..

 

[Gunf]

The press are turning themselves inside out to increase the hyperbole for tonight’s game.


Headline:
“Twist in AFL grudge match, Bulldogs warned against Bailey Smith tactic”

Grudge match

“Smith’s very pointed swipe at the Bulldogs earlier this month lit the fuse for the grudge match, with Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli returning serve.”

The article continued that if the Bulldogs target Baz, it would just fuel his game.

Luke Beveridge said on AFL360 last night that Baz isn’t a concern.

Press still manufacturing hype from a comment two weeks ago.

What can you expect when the AFL and it's media are the same people who ripped Hinkley a new one and fined him 20k for his antics last year being an aero plane and then used those same antics to promote the clash between Hawks and Port for 3 weeks leading up to it.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

https://www.krock.com.au/national/g...40rOgG4ZwkV5L0NouE_aem_nHGNPrg7ExVmryQ_UgK8rQ

 

[Cattery]

https://www.krock.com.au/national/g...40rOgG4ZwkV5L0NouE_aem_nHGNPrg7ExVmryQ_UgK8rQ

Our depth is starting to look a lot better at last.

 

[kickazz]

https://www.krock.com.au/national/g...40rOgG4ZwkV5L0NouE_aem_nHGNPrg7ExVmryQ_UgK8rQ

Cautiously optimistic.

I don't think he can get anywhere near back to his best, but if we manage him carefully then he is definitely better than some of our other choices for that last midfield spot. Percentage game time he can play might be a query but even that would probably be better than Clark for example.

 

[St 07]

You guys are in for a major flogging, can't wait

 

[STPer18]

You guys are in for a major flogging, can't wait

Your club has won two flags in 148 years.

Fact: Joel Selwood achieved twice as much in his career than your club has in its entirety.

 

[Mr Meow]

Tend to agree with you, they are a damn good team no doubt, but according to quite a few posts on here we may as well not bother turning up tomorrow night, for a game which IMO is 50/50 at worst.



Obviously a better side with him playing, but since his return they've beaten teams currently sitting 8th, 10th, 13th and 15th one the ladder (plus a loss to GC) so possibly their form (which is undoubtably good) is being a tad overblown.

Exactly, it's another toss of the coin game, which is how I've felt most weeks. The close nature of the majority of Geelong matches in 2025 has reflected this. It does make the continued "we are no chance" cries from a few a little puzzling. Some of them said very similar for our last 4 wins (Port, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Adelaide).

 

[Mr Meow]

For what it's worth, early in seasons I maintain a "wins against wins" ladder, which I think helps smooth out the effects of an early easy or hard fixture. Basically, you get one point for every game won by a team you defeated. It's crude and imperfect but I think a better indicator of form than the actual ladder in early rounds. Currently it looks like this:

Coll	40.5​
Geel	34​
Bris	33.25​
Gold	30.5​
Haw	25​
Adel	24.5​
WB	24.5​
GWS	24​
Freo	21​
Stk	21​
Melb	16.5​
Port	16.5​
Ess	15.5​
Syd	15.5​
Rich	11​
North	10.75​
Carl	9.5​
WCE	5​

So it does put the dogs a little lower. They'll be pumped for this one though and have played well against us in the last few years so I think that is what matters the most.

EDIT: couple of them were wrong. Updated.

This is superb work.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Shit talking a team on their own board?

 

[catsfootyfan89]

You guys are in for a major flogging, can't wait

I don't think there's too many flogs playing for the Bulldogs. Bit harsh imho.