Round 17, Geelong v Carlton

[you_idiot]

Sunday, at Telstra Dome, 2 p.m. on Fox Footy (Active).

On the heels of avenging one loss from earlier in the season against Sydney, the Cats have a chance to repeat the feat against Carlton after the Blues beat us in Round 2 at Optus Oval by 54 points.

A lot has changed since then, with Geelong now the form team of the competition and a finals place definitely within reach. A win over Carlton can just about make postseason play a certainty.

Discuss.

 

[GeeCat]

Should get up, even on the heel of a setback injury to Riccardi and a slightly depleted midfield.

Being indoors at Telstra should result in better ball usage and disposal, as well as resultant better delivery into the forward line. Hunt is one person I think will benefit greatly from this change back to indoors, as he seems a little down on form and confidence in recent weeks.

Selection-wise, Riccardi and Mackie loom as the only two ommisions from the side, though the selectors may think otherwise. Enright seems a given, with the spot to replace Mackie falling down to Haynes, Lonergan, or Thurley if the selectors look to bolster our forward line. If not, we may go for a midfielder and bring in Tenace, Rahilly, Koula or Spriggs (who I heard injured his thigh apparently in the VFL clash against Tassie?)

On paper I think we should get up by 20-30 points if all goes to plan, but as much as I am confident about our chances, there's a little bug that tells me we shouldn't underestimate Carlton. They are an improved team, and if Fevola fires, the whole team will lift and it will be difficult to stem the flow.

Not entirely confident as one would expect, but looking forward to what should be a good, relatively close game for much of the time.

 

[you_idiot]

Great analysis, GeeCat.

I'm also thinking that we can get up over the Blues-- not by as much as they beat us in Round 2, but by a fair margin. If all goes according to form, I'd say by five or six goals.

The Scarlett v Fevola matchup will be the one to watch, but we also have to do a number on cutting off the supply line into "The Shag".

Mind you, we'll be playing with a team against Carlton that has much more experience than the one that got thumped at Optus Oval back in Round 2, and that's going to be a big boost in terms of avenging that defeat and building momentum towards the business end of the season.

Aside from Riccardi, any word on Cameron Mooney's injury? He was a late scratch against the Swans, but will he be available this week?

 

[GeeCat]

Originally posted by you_idiot
The Scarlett v Fevola matchup will be the one to watch, but we also have to do a number on cutting off the supply line into "The Shag".

You hit the nail Y_U. Cutting down the supply to Fev is a must if we are to give ourselves every oppurtunity to win. Often forwards aren't so dangerous if they have the ball around the fifty-metre arc as opposed to 30-40 metres out, yet with Fev, it's an entirely different matter.

He'll be hard to stop when on a big lead, and we'll need blokes like Harley, Milburn, and Sando to help Scarlett out in these situations by cutting across the line; often a suicide attempt, but they've proven they're capable .

The key to stopping Fev from taking the match by the throat, I believe, is to limit him as early as possible. Frustrate him early with oppurtunities and we'll stand a better chance as the match wears on. It's a confidence thing really.

Again, the only way to limit his oppurtunities first off will be the decisive battle in the engine room. I'm happy to think our midfield boys, as depleted in numbers and quality in recent times it has been, can gain the upper hand along with the ruckwork of King/Chambers (who really showed something against Sydney)/ and Mooney (if fit).

Originally posted by you_idiot
Aside from Riccardi, any word on Cameron Mooney's injury? He was a late scratch against the Swans, but will he be available this week?

From what I've heard Gumby's groin injury should be alright to go. I think the decision to give him the extra week off to rest should do him and the rest of his battered body good not only for this match, but for the hopefully many weeks ahead.

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by GeeCat
From what I've heard Gumby's groin injury should be alright to go. I think the decision to give him the extra week off to rest should do him and the rest of his battered body good not only for this match, but for the hopefully many weeks ahead.

I just heard on "The Winners" on Fox Footy a little while ago that Mooney will be subject to a test on that injured groin late in the week.

And agreed, that the unscheduled week off for him may turn out to be a blessing in disguise over the long haul.

 

[Inside 50]

Looks Like Moons Should Be Back.

Mooney Right For Sunday

 

[GeeCat]

Mooney poised to return

Wed 21 July, 2004
Matt Burgan
Sportal

Versatile Geelong tall Cameron Mooney is set to return for Sunday's clash against Carlton at Telstra Dome, after he missed last round's 15-point victory against Sydney due to a groin injury.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson confirmed on Wednesday that Mooney would return for the round 17 fixture.

"He'll play, I'm pretty confident he'll play," Thompson said.

"I'm expecting him to play well. I just don't want him back, we want him to be playing well because he'd be right up there I'd say in the top five of the best and fairest, up until two weeks ago."

Thompson said Mooney is 'certainly' an X-factor in the Cats' side.

"Mooney just adds that presence around the stoppages and the ability to win the ball. He's quite a mobile ruck-rover type ruckman."

Thompson said he made the call that Mooney wasn't going to be risked against the Swans last weekend, despite the fact that the club doctors declared him fit to play.

"I told him (he wasn't playing) and then I hid behind my office. But then in end on Saturday, he said it was probably a good decision. Players want to play and coaches know best."

Meanwhile, Thompson said that rookie Shannon Byrnes would retain his place in the line-up, while he added that forward David Haynes and midfielder David Spriggs were in the mix to return.

He also said ex-Port Adelaide onballer Paul Koulouriotis, who has not played an AFL game since round 21, 2000, was a serious contender to make his debut for Geelong against Carlton.

"We are tempted. We wouldn't mind. He's played well enough to get a game, we just haven't had the guts to play him really and it's almost been pushed upon us now," Thompson said.


-----------------------------------

 

[GeeCat]

GEELONG

Backs: Corey, Scarlett, Milburn
Half Backs: Hunt, Harley, Sanderson
Centres: Wojcinski, Ling, D.Johnson
Half Forwards: Kingsley, Mooney, Bartel
Forwards: S.Johnson, Graham, Gardiner

Followers: King, Chapman, Ablett

Interchange (from): Chambers, Spriggs, Koulouriotis, Haynes, Callan, Byrnes, Enright

IN: Mooney, Enright, Haynes, Spriggs, Koulouriotis
OUT: Riccardi (hamstring), Mackie (ommited)


CARLTON

Backs: Houlihan, Thornton, Norman
Half Backs: Lappin, Morrell, Teague
Centres: Prendergast, Johnson, Walker
Half Forwards: Camporeale, Whitnall, Koutoufides
Forwards: Deluca, Fevola, Scotland

Followers: French, McGrath, Stevens

Interchange (from): Bannister, Clarke, Davies, Fisher, Harford, McCormick, Waite

IN: Clarke, Harford, Waite
OUT: None

 

[jim boy]

It's Thursday today?? I thought it was Tuesday, just shows what working from home does to you.

 

[Copernicus]

Looks like pretty much a full team. Be interesting to see how the newcomers go - I haven't heard much at all about this koula character. Good to see Enright back in - didn't know what happened to him, but he's a bit of a ball magnet and usually uses it well. Be interesting to see if Haynes starts - especially with Kingsley's average form of late.

 

[*koulagirl]

IN: Mooney, Koulouriotis
OUT: Riccardi, Mackie

 

[BulldogMike]

Originally posted by *koulagirl
IN: Mooney, Koulouriotis
OUT: Riccardi, Mackie

You must be happy?

 

[jim boy]

Originally posted by *koulagirl
IN: Mooney, Koulouriotis
OUT: Riccardi, Mackie

This will be Koulouriotis's probable last chance at an AFL career, I hope it spurs him on and he does well and emulates our last Port reject. Surprised that Chambers has been left in the team, while he did OK this week, I get the feeling we will be a bit top heavy against the shorter Carlton line-up.

 

[GeeCat]

Originally posted by Jim Boy
This will be Koulouriotis's probable last chance at an AFL career, I hope it spurs him on and he does well and emulates our last Port reject. Surprised that Chambers has been left in the team, while he did OK this week, I get the feeling we will be a bit top heavy against the shorter Carlton line-up.

Perhaps a late change is in hand?

 

[Seb]

Originally posted by GeeCat
Perhaps a late change is in hand?

One would think so.

Very happy to see Koula get a game ahead of Spriggs.