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

[frggr]

I thought we'd already played game of the season.

And we won

Weird how that happens

 

[frggr]

Saw this and thought it was interesting. Wouldn't have picked us to be #1.

Hopefully we can keep it up this weekend

 

[cats_09]

We don't want him!

I've never ventured there, so meh

 

[IMCat]

Hey everyone,

first time poster here. Huge cats fan from Perth and on my way to Melbourne tomorrow morning. Have been to Melbourne loads of times to watch us play but this Thursday night will be my first time going to a game in Geelong. Is there a pub or bar where most fans go before the game?? Absolutely buzzing for this game!!!!

Yeah, Barwon Club is probably your best bet.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

We don't want him!

The one guy who could actually make it worse

 

[cats_09]

From the club email received tonight:

We can't wait to see you this Thursday at GMHBA Stadium when we take on the Western Bulldogs in Sir Doug Nicholls Round! View all of the key information in our Match Day Guide.

PLUS – Arrive before 6.30pm for your chance to WIN! We’re giving away 6 double passes into the Open Air Boxes. Don’t miss your chance to elevate your match day experience!

General Admission Areas

General Admission areas for this match are:

• Gate 1 - Joel Selwood Stand A42 – A44
• Gate 5 or 8 – Players Stand A14-A16
• Gate 5 or 8 – Family / Dry Area A10-A13

Also,

NGA Showcase Games​

Geelong Cats Next Generation Academy teams will feature in showcase games from 6.00pm on Thursday night.

The Cats NGA Under 15 boys' and Under 15 girls' teams will take on the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium, prior to the AFL match at 7.30pm.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

He's trying to fit Bailey Smith into the dogs midfield. Clearly he doesn't fit!!!

You mean the no1 rated midfielder in the AFLCA votes to date??

Look.. maybe they can squeeze him in as the sub?? Or a starting 22 if Matt Kennedy or Bailey Williams get injured he may slot on the bench… but one can dream

 

[My Tilly]

Have to tag Libba. Just can't afford to let him dominate us again. He's not the most damaging but if we can force 10 of those 30 disposals to go astray, it will go a long way to helping us win.

 

[you pick one]

I'm not usually this late to a preview and that's simply because this week I'm struggling to see where we can get the Dogs perhaps a full on hunt the ball carrier maximum pressure will go some way but 4 quarters of that is a big ask maybe 2 or 3 good ins at selection might get me a bit more positive, no weeks a good week to be missing PFD but Thursday night he'd be handy.The first 10 or 15 minutes of the game will be huge.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Yeah I'm not sure i see an avenue to winning this one but being a cats fan teaches you to be positive

 

[Commando]

Yeah I'm not sure i see an avenue to winning this one but being a cats fan teaches you to be positive

These days I'm more worried about the games we should win and more confident in the games we shouldn't win...

 

[Strange Cat]

Have to tag Libba. Just can't afford to let him dominate us again. He's not the most damaging but if we can force 10 of those 30 disposals to go astray, it will go a long way to helping us win.

I think Richard’s is shaping up to be more damaging imo , but Atkins will go on to Libba at times imo

 

[you pick one]

I'm thinking part of any plan should just try and go around Tim English and Rory Lobb

7

Rory Lobb

Age

32

Ht

207cm

Wt

106kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.0

3star

K

6.7

3star

HB

4.4

3star

M

4.0

4star

T

2.4

4star

MG

174.6

3star

D

11.3

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.3

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

1.4

2star

MG

228.6

3star

D

7.0

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

3.0

3star

M

2.6

3star

T

2.8

5star

MG

133.0

3star

if we just keep feeding that pair all night it won't help our cause.

 

[kickazz]

From the club email received tonight:

We can't wait to see you this Thursday at GMHBA Stadium when we take on the Western Bulldogs in Sir Doug Nicholls Round! View all of the key information in our Match Day Guide.

PLUS – Arrive before 6.30pm for your chance to WIN! We’re giving away 6 double passes into the Open Air Boxes. Don’t miss your chance to elevate your match day experience!

General Admission Areas

General Admission areas for this match are:

• Gate 1 - Joel Selwood Stand A42 – A44
• Gate 5 or 8 – Players Stand A14-A16
• Gate 5 or 8 – Family / Dry Area A10-A13

Also,

NGA Showcase Games​

Geelong Cats Next Generation Academy teams will feature in showcase games from 6.00pm on Thursday night.

The Cats NGA Under 15 boys' and Under 15 girls' teams will take on the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium, prior to the AFL match at 7.30pm.

lol just read through the section of that email titled "Having trouble accessing your tickets?". After suggesting a few things, the final point says:

If you're still having issues accessing your tickets in the Cats App, please contact us so we can ensure your smooth entry into GMHBA Stadium on Sunday afternoon.


You'd hope it wouldn't take them that long.

 

[kickazz]

Even in our more recent wins against the Bulldogs, we've been soundly beaten (inside and out) in the middle.

Yes we need to be competitive there but we have beaten them by intercepting off half back - I feel this again will be crucial on the night. Slowing the game down into a bit of slog might be our best option.

 

[Geelong Dynasty]

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'm not usually this late to a preview and that's simply because this week I'm struggling to see where we can get the Dogs perhaps a full on hunt the ball carrier maximum pressure will go some way but 4 quarters of that is a big ask maybe 2 or 3 good ins at selection might get me a bit more positive, no weeks a good week to be missing PFD but Thursday night he'd be handy.The first 10 or 15 minutes of the game will be huge.

Yeah I'm not sure i see an avenue to winning this one but being a cats fan teaches you to be positive

 

[CatToTheFuture]

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

 

[Frappe]

Have to tag Libba. Just can't afford to let him dominate us again. He's not the most damaging but if we can force 10 of those 30 disposals to go astray, it will go a long way to helping us win.

Maybe..

O'Connor - Bont
Mullin -Richards
Atkins - Libba

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Have to tag Libba. Just can't afford to let him dominate us again. He's not the most damaging but if we can force 10 of those 30 disposals to go astray, it will go a long way to helping us win.

I agree 100%. I feel he is their most important player. He is the best contested in and under extractor in the league. He is what gets their engine room humming.

It is no coincidence that when their up and firing, Libba is playing well, and vice versa when they struggle.

I rate him as the third best in and under mid I have seen in the past 10 years behind selwood and dangerfield. I rate Libba very highly for what he does in contests.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

I feel this game is colossal in terms of our season.

Win this, and we should be given our fixture in a good spot to make top 4. 7-4 is where we sat last year after 11 games, with a better second half fixture coming up and players to return… I will feel great coming into the bye.

Just get it done cats. Don’t care by how much

 

[Zouz Kitty]

He's trying to fit Bailey Smith into the dogs midfield. Clearly he doesn't fit!!!

 

[Klink]

I feel this game is colossal in terms of our season.

Win this, and we should be given our fixture in a good spot to make top 4. 7-4 is where we sat last year after 11 games, with a better second half fixture coming up and players to return… I will feel great coming into the bye.

Just get it done cats. Don’t care by how much

I'm in the minority - but I think we absolutely not only can, but will win this. For years we keep hearing about this great midfield the Dogs have (and they absolutely do), but it never seems to take them deep into September. Even last year they were all the rage and were eliminated week one of finals.

There are holes in their front and back half and that's where we can get them. We will need to be at our best, and really apply lots of pressure, and structure up in a way where we don't get sliced open like in the first half against GWS on rebound.

We seemed to have fixed that the last six quarters of footy. We might not win the midfield battle (we quite often haven't the last couple of years), but it doesn't mean we can't win this game in another way. They're missing some decent key position players, too. I think we're up for this and I can see us getting a close win.

 

[you pick one]

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

FU in the nicest possible way I want Geelong Dynasty to be right on this one.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

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

3

Bailey Smith

Age

24

Ht

185cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

18.3

5star

K

8.5

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.3

2star

T

3.8

5star

CL

2.7

4star

D

19.8

5star

K

9.6

4star

HB

10.2

5star

M

1.8

2star

T

3.2

4star

CL

3.2

4star

D

14.8

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

7.2

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.4

5star

CL

1.6

4star

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

4

Marcus Bontempelli

Age

29

Ht

194cm

Wt

96kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.5

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

10.3

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

4.8

5star

CL

4.4

5star

D

18.4

4star

K

9.7

4star

HB

8.8

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

4.1

5star

CL

4.0

5star

D

12.0

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

6.2

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

3.8

5star

CL

1.8

4star

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.

 

[Tony Barber]

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 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.