News Team vs Cats

[Bay Pie]

A couple of things a think may happen gievn our selections.

Caff will play more forward replacing JA. He is in to be a defensive machine. Just harrass, harrass, harrass. That is where Geelong launch most of their attacks from.

Given their ruck situation, I think Cam Wood is a better ruckman and forward then Blake. When can afford to play Jolly more forward now, with JA out so we aren't to top heavy.

I think Jolly can pose some different questions for The Cats defense. If Scarlett goes to Jolly, Dawes gets Lonergan. If not, Jolly gets Lonergan in the goal square.

We just have to win enough ball in the middle and we are a big show.

Nate on Mooney & Reid on Podsiadly. Maxy takes Hawkins when he goes forward. If Hawkins plays deep, then swap Nate & Maxy.

I'm confident we can win, but we must make the most of our opportunities and kick straight.

Go Pies

 

[larrikan]

Firstly, it's kind of funny each week after we win by ten goals that one of the first threads is "changes for next week"...

Like HarryO said its a marathon not a sprint...we recruited for finals...we are moulding a team for finals football...there are some doubts over a few of our players in finals so why not use round nine - the biggest home and away game of the year so far to find out what the young players are made of ie Brown over Presti...Wood over Fraser...etc...both the older/injury risk players effectively have a week off...Medhurst came back too early last year so no risk there...I am expecting a late change because a few weeks ago Ball/Wellingham and O'bree didnt work so I don't expect OB to play ...hey but thats just me.

I cannot pick a winner ...both sides seem at similar stages of preparation...both sides similar strengths...It's going to be a cracker of a game.

 

[Quicky]

A couple of things a think may happen gievn our selections.

Given their ruck situation, I think Cam Wood is a better ruckman and forward then Blake. When can afford to play Jolly more forward now, with JA out so we aren't to top heavy.

I think Jolly can pose some different questions for The Cats defense. If Scarlett goes to Jolly, Dawes gets Lonergan. If not, Jolly gets Lonergan in the goal square.

I'd be concerned about losing too much defensive pressure if Jolly has a prolonged run up forward in the game. I think it's a case of taking advantage of matchups when the moment arises. But is definitely a thought and maybe a reason why Anthony got the axe this week.

 

[jackcass]

Brown - Mooney
Reid - Pods
Maxwell - Hawkins

Hawkins will play lots in the ruck anyway. When he goes forward Maxy will take him just like Walker for Carlton did and ran off him as he isn't a very good overhead mark.

Maxwell to Pods for mine.

Reid & Brown to mind Mooney & Hawkins, pick up Pods when/if Hawkins goes into the ruck or to the bench.

Mooney/Hawkins/Podsiadly aren't the concern for mine. It's Johnson, Stokes, Chapman, Ablett (when resting) & co that give me greater cause for concern.

Either way, should be a great match. Really looking forward to it. Cats deserve to be favorites, Pies to win... just!

 

[Kirby]

I have no problem with MM testing the young backmen in Reid and Brown by not bringing in Presti for a round 9 game when we are 7 and 1.

The only problem I have is the selection of O'Bree. I don't like him getting a game against the Cats. I would rather JA stay in or even Lockyer, considering he is likely to play HFF.

 

[Clokey34]

Shazam is back.
We are not bad now, imagine us in 2 years. Frightening.

I remember all the Hawk supporters saying that in 2008. But there is no telling what will happen in two years. We have to strike while the iron is hot!

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Presti should have been back this week against the three talls of Geelong. But whether Pods will play is another thing lol.

 

[Bloben]

I remember all the Hawk supporters saying that in 2008. But there is no telling what will happen in two years. We have to strike while the iron is hot!

I was actually talking to another Pie supporter at work about this today.

Hawthorn were supposed to be peaking now however they are a rabble... they did get a flag though.

St Kilda and the Bulldogs were ALWAYS going to win a flag with their talent however they never really got there. Yes I'm saying that St Kilda's window is closing now.

Having a good list at the right age doesn't mean you will get a flag. You may get one early, you may never get one or you may do a Geelong or Brisbane.

 

[Trojan82]

Yeah was thinking the same, could be one of MIck's tricks.

Forgive me if I am wrong but I can't remember MM making an unforced late change in any game in recent history... One of Mick's tricks? Is this a perceived issue? Every week someone bobs up and says "I bet we say Player A out for Player B" I could probably pull out 8 quotes just like this RE: Leigh Brown last year, and none of them ever happened.

The side will play as named. As per usual.

 

[mwalker]

Agreed.

Still too much Shane O'Bree (especially considering he'll be playing HFF essentially), but could be worse.

Anthony unlucky, 5 goals contributed last week.

If cheesy plays hff the tackling pressure and clearance ability he brings will be great add leon sidey didak (thomas at times) and that would worry Geelong in terms of pressure applied and clearance ability inside our 50. It also means that ball/wellingham/swan/pendles etc can hang outside the 50 waiting for the quick kick out by geelong and score/set up again from that.

We have scored alot like that lately. Wellingham in for JA is good as our forward pressure and rotations will improve. How many of our goals this year have come from KP and how many from our rotating mids and small forwards? Carlton used it to great effect too.

 

[mwalker]

Maxwell to Pods for mine.

Reid & Brown to mind Mooney & Hawkins, pick up Pods when/if Hawkins goes into the ruck or to the bench.

Mooney/Hawkins/Podsiadly aren't the concern for mine. It's Johnson, Stokes, Chapman, Ablett (when resting) & co that give me greater cause for concern.

Either way, should be a great match. Really looking forward to it. Cats deserve to be favorites, Pies to win... just!

If max goes to the Pod leaving nate to get mooney and Reid picking up hawkins.....would that leave Reid our spare man? I only ask as plenty of talk last year reid being our spare man I think. Havent seen too many games but I believe his kicking is becoming first rate and penetrating.

I know Max can play that role too (giving pods to reid) but if we are seeing who can stand up against Geelong (like leaving presti and fraser out for brown and wood) then it might be a good game for it?

 

[collingtimber]

If max goes to the Pod leaving nate to get mooney and Reid picking up hawkins.....would that leave Reid our spare man? I only ask as plenty of talk last year reid being our spare man I think. Havent seen too many games but I believe his kicking is becoming first rate and penetrating.

I know Max can play that role too (giving pods to reid) but if we are seeing who can stand up against Geelong (like leaving presti and fraser out for brown and wood) then it might be a good game for it?

Spot on I hope these match ups come about because Reid will give Hawkins a spanking and give us, more drive than Mark Webber in a formula 1,coming out of the back line.Brown will do to Mooney what he did to Pavlich and the Captain will drain the batteries of the iPod with his grit and top line spoiling.Great to see MM and the match commitee backing in these two young guns.

 

[DanA]

Hawkins will spend a 1/3 of the game in the ruck so I wouldn't be too worried if I was a pies supporter about height in the backline. Geelong's forward line won't be as tall as it first appears.

 

[cfx_1]

I'd suggest with the ins the following will occur:

Sidebottom might find himself in the pocket or at least playing a roving forward with licence to thrill.

O'Bree will move to the half forward role that he played a couple of weeks ago and will move into the middle if wellingham/ball aren't having enough impact at the stoppages, but most likely i think he will stay at half forward.

Didak to take the other flank and rotate through midfield - also to rotate, daisy, wellers, beamsy, ball, pendles, swan. Johnson will switch with wellingham to run with ablett... I say run with but i really mean run off... MM will be instructing these guys to exploit ablett as much as possible and make him accountable and these 2 players are the best to do it.

Hawkins will play second fiddle to Blake so i don't know if he'll line up in the forward line straight away. I'd assume he'll start on the bench. Maxxy will take him when he moves forward and go third up when he's not down there. Harry will play on Stevie J though i'd like him to switch to Chappy when he moves forward. Toooooooovey will get stokes or byrnes with shaw picking up the other.

The thing i'm unsure about is what Macaffer's role will be. Very versatile and i can see him plugging holes - a leigh brown type role, where he is used to fix matchups and helping midfield rotations when not being utilised.

 

[The Get Up Kid]

So many people want O'Bree out, that's ridiculous, he's re-invented himself as a HF and with Beams on the other one it's strong, defensive and skillful. People have short memories, O'Bree was easily our best player in the final against Geelong last year.

Medhurst is injured so no complaints.

Wood has deserved his spot over Fraser so far. Fraser needs to take Jacks forward spot but I think Wood has better hands.

I'm glad we are only making small changes each week. Winning easily in the VFL doesn't cut it. I think Malthouse is smart in the media by giving the older guys a chance to make the team but it's not going to be a given. Lockyer seems to be the stiffest in my opinion. Maybe his time is up. Leigh Brown's is.

Dick is at least 4 or 5 weeks away so Leon and Dids need to stay closer to goal, I actually think Didak should go back to FP when he kicked all those goals against Geelong, H & A (4 goals) and freakish goal over the head in the final. Leon can be rested for a week (not dropped) if he's still carrying injury and I think we may do so after this week.

Maxwell has to take Hawkins when he's forward and fall off him. I think the Geelong's small forwards are our worry, Heath Shaw will play well but Harry's form is a little concerning, I think hes not being as aggressive and his mind may be somewhere else. I think Harry, Heath and Toovey are our key to winning.

 

[mdc]

If cheesy plays hff the tackling pressure and clearance ability he brings will be great add leon sidey didak (thomas at times) and that would worry Geelong in terms of pressure applied and clearance ability inside our 50

O'Bree is a very good tackler in close, but put him in space (i.e. like he would be on the flank), and he struggles to apply pressure.

Especially if Geelong put Enright on him, I suspect Enright will be able to run up the wing at will.

 

[Kirby]

^ I share the same concerns!

 

[iGNITER]

Dissapointed not to see Presti back.
Likewise with Medhurst.

But pretty happy with the team although I think there could possibly be a late change.

If we go in as selected I hope we line up like this:

B: O'Brien Brown Toovey
HB: Shaw Reid Maxwell
C: Johnson Swan Wellingham
HF: Thomas Cloke Didak
F: Davis Dawes Sidebottom
Foll: Jolly Pendlebury Ball
I/C: O'Bree Beams Macaffer Wood

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

Hopefully late change and O'bree makes way for Presti

 

[Histrionics]

Hopefully late change and O'bree makes way for Presti

We would be to tall in the backline.

 

[Bigness]

For those of us getting excited about Presti missing out, think about this.....

Wouldn't you rather put Reid and Brown against the best in round 9 (a game we can afford to lose at 7-1) and see if they're up to it, than call on them in September and find out they're not up to it against quality opposition?

We already know what Presti is capable of. If his body falls over at finals time, MM needs to know that Reid and Brown can cut the mustard......and he needs to know now!!!

Makes absolute sense to me.

 

[Invigoration]

You'd take Lockyer on a HFF everyday of the week before Cheese, I don't see the sense in it at all.
I'd take Anthony before the both of them as well. But that's just me.

@Bigness - I don't think people were saying bring in Presti at the expense of one of the young boys, some just think we are one tall short in the match ups down back. Brown and Reid would still have taken a quality KPF.

I'm a bit worried what happens if their forwards get on top of Reid and Brown though, if the boys have bad nights we don't have many options to help them out other than switching them between their respective opponents. At least with Presti there we can always move him to the most dangerous forward if one of the younger guys is struggling and be sure he'll do the job.

 

[jefffff34]

What ****ing idiot thinks Stephen McBurney is capable of officiating in such a big game?

 

[Coin_Toss]

You'd take Lockyer on a HFF everyday of the week before Cheese, I don't see the sense in it at all.
I'd take Anthony before the both of them as well. But that's just me.

O'Bree was pretty good last week on a HFF. I could see him hold his spot in this position for the rest of the season.

Anthony is a stay at home forward and can't play up the ground, unlike O'Bree.

 

[Optimax]

You know the team sheet isn't how the line up yeah?

You are also aware that our half forwards have basically been an extra two midfielders?
Alot of our goal scoring cones from tackling harassing through congestion and stoppages? All the above obree is better at then any replacement, oh and he was in our best last week and yes played well