Round 8: Geelong vs Sydney

[ScouseCat]

After a close loss last week to the Eagles in Perth, Geelong must back up again this week and travel to Sydney to play the Swans at the SCG on Sunday.

Sydney have been the big surprise packet of the season so far, coming off wins against Melbourne, Collingwood and Brisbane in the last 3 weeks. They are currently in the eight with a 4-3 record, and are one of the form teams of the competition. Geelong on the otherhand are on the bottom by percentage, a 1-6 record, and desperate to improve on a terrible start to the year.

Geelong has done well against Sydney in recent times, winning the last 4 matches between the two sides. The last time Sydney beat Geelong was back in round 8, 1999 at Skilled Stadium. The last time the two sides met was last year at the SCG when Geelong came from 28 points behind in the last quarter to win by 2 points in a memorable comeback win.

Matthew Scarlett will be one player to watch on the weekend. Scarlett has returned to some good form over the past couple of weeks and will no doubt be given the important task of keeping Sydney's Barry Hall quiet.

Jarrad Rooke is another one to watch in the coming weeks. Rooke was amoungst our best players last week in Perth, and hopefully will continue to improve and become a consistent young player for us.

David Wojcinski is also one to keep an eye on this season. Wojcinski has the ability to break the game open with his pace and hopefully will see more time on the ground as he is a good young player for us.

At the start of the season, this game would have been one Geelong supporters pencilled in as a win, however Sydney are playing well and Geelong will have their work cut out up in Sydney. However, anything can happen in this great game and as long as Geelong put themselves in the right positions, anything is possible.

Go Cats!!

 

[TheMase]

It certainly will be a hard match for Geelong. Having played a touch match against Brisbane, then travelling to WA for a tough match against West Coast, it could show its toll on Sunday.

That of course depends on which Sydney side shows up. IMO this weekends game against Geelong is a bigger test than the games against Collingwood and Brisbane.

Sydney have been known to lift for the better sides, and then when the player a side well below them (not saying Geelong is worse, just on a ladder sense), they become complacent and do not play the same kind of football that they are capable of.


But I do not think this is Sydney of the past. I think Roos is really installing a lot of self confidence in these players, and the gameplan they are sticking to is working really well at the moment. Roos is taking one game at a time, and the players, while happy, did not look overly surprised and excited that they had won, it wasn't like it was 'their' grand final.

The players seem to be taking it one match at a time just like the coaching staff. Great to see.

I think it will be a fairly close match for most part, Sydney will be on a high of confidence and if we translate that onto the field, we should win fairly comfortably. That of course all depends on how Geelong play from the last 2 hard matches.

Will be an interesting game.

Sydney by 26 points is my tip.

 

[JUBJUB]

Sydney is one team we do well against and the SCG is a ground we seem to play well at.

Geelong by 35pts.

 

[Mattster]

It'll be interesting to see how Geelong play travelling away from home and after 2 big games. I think Geelong need to bring in someone to give Kingsley some assistance up forward. Apparantly Mooney didn't have a big game in the VFL, so maybe McCarthy again.

Geelong in a nail-biter. We can't let another one go.

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by JUBJUB
Sydney is one team we do well against and the SCG is a ground we seem to play well at.

Geelong by 35pts.

It is really hard to compare previous performances against the Swans at any ground for you or any club.

Sydney had not beaten Brisbane since 1998?

Different coach, and therefore a much different game plan.

You're very optimistic ....

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by TheMase
It certainly will be a hard match for Geelong. Having played a touch match against Brisbane, then travelling to WA for a tough match against West Coast, it could show its toll on Sunday.

Geelong have an extra day's break to get over the trip to Subiaco which should help us recover for this game. Sydney have also had tough games against Collingwood and Brisbane in the last 2 weeks and could be excused for taking their foot off the peddle for this game.

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
Geelong have an extra day's break to get over the trip to Subiaco which should help us recover for this game. Sydney have also had tough games against Collingwood and Brisbane in the last 2 weeks and could be excused for taking their foot off the peddle for this game.

An extra day will not help a trip to Subi. You probably need 3-4 considering the Swans game was in Sydney.

Sydney have had tough games, one was at home and one was in Melbourne.

Whereas Geelong have had tough games too, one at home and one in WA!

I doubt Sydney will take the foot off the pedal, and if we play like we did last week, it wouldn't surprise me if we took the cleaners through Geelong.

 

[Catman]

Originally posted by TheMase
You're very optimistic ....

So are you....

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by Catman
So are you....

I have said 26 points. Not a huge feat for a team that just beat Brisbane and Collingwood playing the bottom side.

You guys are 1-6 playing a team that just beat last years Grand Finalists, and just after playing in WA, and he tips you guys in an away match, against a form side by 35 points?

Very optimistic indeed!

 

[jim boy]

Originally posted by TheMase
Different coach, and therefore a much different game plan.

From a Sydney point of view yes, but from a Geelong viewpoint, it's all still the same. We're a pretty undisciplined lot, our highs are high and our lows (of which there are too many) are pretty low. Playing Sydney in Sydney is normally a bit of a high for us, a bit like playing the Dees at K Park. And Geelong has a bit of history of pricking the Sydney bubble over the years, especially when there is a full house to watch. Given that physically, our team is in fine shape, it's really our mental strengths that are letting us down. That probably won't be the case come Sunday.

Sydney have underperformed a little in recent years, but not this year. Even so, I'm backing the Cats this weekend. (well I have to really)

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by Jim Boy
Playing Sydney in Sydney is normally a bit of a high for us, a bit like playing the Dees at K Park. And Geelong has a bit of history of pricking the Sydney bubble over the years, especially when there is a full house to watch. Given that physically, our team is in fine shape, it's really our mental strengths that are letting us down. That probably won't be the case come Sunday.)

The fact is, certain teams match up really well against others and have the wood on them.... that is the case with Sydney vs Geelong. Geelong always seem to do well against the Swans as a rule, regardless of whether the game is at the SCG or at Geelong and regardless of where each team is on the ladder.

 

[thommoone]

STROOTH!
I am gobsmacked at how confident you blokes are!
Swans = form team of comp, playing at home
Cats = bottom of the ladder, despite admrable performance last 2 weeks, and playing away after another away trip to WA.

Very arrogant to predict Cats by 36 etc...
Im not saying that cats cant win of course, im just surprised at how arrogant yous are.
Im tipping swans by 32 in a poor quality match. We will only be there for 1 quater, as we will have aour foot off the pedal.
A danger game for the swans after facing last years grandfinalists, back to back

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
The fact is, certain teams match up really well against others and have the wood on them.

You are talking about matching up on a completely different team and game plan.

You just can't compare previous years!

 

[Mattster]

Originally posted by thommoone

Very arrogant to predict Cats by 36 etc...
Im not saying that cats cant win of course, im just surprised at how arrogant yous are.

mate, this is the geelong board, what were you expecting? everyone to agree that Sydney will win? And i don't believe arrogant is the word to describe us. Maybe over-confident, but there is nothing wrong in believing in your team. If Geelong beat Sydney, it will show how close the league has become.

 

[jefffff34]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
Geelong have an extra day's break to get over the trip to Subiaco which should help us recover for this game. Sydney have also had tough games against Collingwood and Brisbane in the last 2 weeks and could be excused for taking their foot off the peddle for this game.

Turn it up, Sydney played against 22 girls against Collingwood, wasn't a tough game at all.

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by TheMase
You are talking about matching up on a completely different team and game plan.

You just can't compare previous years!

Mate, it's a fact that certain teams have the wood on other teams, you just need to look at Geelong vs Hawthorn or in your case, Sydney vs Collingwood to see that. The Swans always seem to play well against the Carring Bush, just as the Hawks seem to have our measure, just as Geelong always seem to knock off the Swans when we play.

I am not doubting that players/gameplans/coaches have changed, I am saying that whenever Geelong players run out against Sydney, we believe we can beat them and more often then not, we do.

 

[grimlock]

Can't blame you guys for supporting your team. I don't think the Cats are as bad as the ladder makes them out to be. Impressive performance out West last week, and I don't think the Swans should be complacent and expect to win by just turning up.

Just a few questions for you Geelong supporters, how do you see the matchups against our forward line, esp. Hall, O'Loughlin, Goodes, Davis and Schneider? And will Cameron Mooney play?

Cheers.

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by grimlock
Just a few questions for you Geelong supporters, how do you see the matchups against our forward line, esp. Hall, O'Loughlin, Goodes, Davis and Schneider? And will Cameron Mooney play?

Matthew Scarlett has a good record against Barry Hall, so I'd expect those two to line up on each other.

Brenton Sanderson has done quite well on Michael O'Laughlan in the past, so he'd be my first choice to play on him.

Ben Graham or Tom Harley could play on Adam Goodes, depending on where he plays.

Darren Milburn or Brent Grgic will probably play on Nick Davis.

David Wojcinski or Jarrad Rooke should get the job of keeping Adam Schneider quiet.

Cameron Mooney didn't do a lot in the VFL last week and has has been carrying an ankle injury all season, so I'd be surprised if he's rushed back into the side.

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by ScouseCat

Ben Graham could play on Adam Goodes

I hope so

3 Brownlow Votes to Adam Goodes

 

[you_idiot]

Originally posted by grimlock
Just a few questions for you Geelong supporters, how do you see the matchups against our forward line, esp. Hall, O'Loughlin, Goodes, Davis and Schneider? And will Cameron Mooney play?

Cheers.

The matchups against Goodes and Tadhg Kennelly will be absolutely critical, IMO. The Swans' two most exciting players, as far as I'm concerned, they have to be stopped if we can break our losing skid.

Would agree to see either Harley or Graham on Goodes, but look for Harley to have a greater role between the two defensively if Graham goes upfield as often as he did against West Coast.

The bigger key, in addition to matching up well against the Swans' forwards, will be stopping the supply line towards them, and someone getting a body on Kennally and sticking to him would be a great start.

 

[grimlock]

ScouseCat: Adam Goodes will play all around the ground, very much like a ruck-rover, and will pinch-hit a bit in the ruck to provide relief for Jason Ball. I don't really see Ben Graham being able to run with him for the majority of the match.

 

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by TheMase
I hope so

3 Brownlow Votes to Adam Goodes

You just might be surprised mate, Ben Graham is certainly due for a decent game, and now is as good a time as any to fire!!

I doubt Graham would play on Goodes unless Goodes played in the Swans forward line though.

 

[TheMase]

I just thought I would have a look at the last 4 games between the 2 sides.

Geelong have beaten Sydney the last 4 times they have played, but none of the matches were by anything convincing...

R7 Geelong 2.3 8.6 12.7 15.9 99 3.3 7.3 15.3 17.6 108 L S.C.G. 22-Apr-2000
R22 Geelong 5.3 11.5 15.9 18.12 120 5.6 11.8 16.13 18.16 124 L Kardinia Park 05-Aug-2000
R13 Geelong 3.3 5.7 6.9 9.11 65 2.5 5.10 10.12 12.12 84 L S.C.G. 01-Jul-2001
R12 Geelong 4.4 9.4 11.6 15.9 99 3.1 6.5 9.10 15.11 101 L S.C.G. 15-Jun-2002


Biggest win there is 19 points.

Other than that 9 points, 4 points and 2 points.

Previous to this, Sydney had won the previous three matches, by 41 points, 34 points and 103 points!

 

[TheMase]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
You just might be surprised mate, Ben Graham is certainly due for a decent game, and now is as good a time as any to fire!!

I doubt Graham would play on Goodes unless Goodes played in the Swans forward line though.

I am pretty sure Goodes has not played as a permanent forward all year.

So Graham definitely does not have the run to go with him.

I would dare say that with Harley only been back a few matches, that he wouldn't have the fitness to run with Goodes for a whole match either.

Could really cause you some problems.

Our run off half back is critical. This is how we beat Brisbane. Our midfielders got back, and along with our defense we ran out of the backline.

If we are able to do this again, we will be hard to stop.

 

[Catman]

Originally posted by TheMase
Previous to this, Sydney had won the previous three matches, by 41 points, 34 points and 103 points!

Those wins were against sides coached by Gary Ayres and were completely different sides, the same argument you were using when we were saying how confident we are of beating you on Sunday.