Todays game ...

[Asty]

some thoughts (on 2nd half since 1st half was horrible)

1. Gary Ablett to have a big pre-season and become a clearance winner playing in the middle next year. I also think he is more dangerous delivering the ball on the run into the 50 (so getting it at center or wing).

2. steve johnson may have saved himself a little (unless good trade offered) and may become the replacement small forward for ablett, but needs to improve the defensive side of his game. If not then stokes, varcoe and gamble will push him out.

3. Nathan Ablett showed a bit and the forward structure next year might be something like ottens at FF, and Ablett and Hawkins rotating from CHF to Pocket. But working hard at CHF leading up in order to warrant resting in pocket at times.

4. ling has the turning circle of an ocean liner. If he goes past the ball he wont get back on it.

5. Longergan is alot better down back than up forward. Reminded me a little of harley a few years back. and took some good marks and showed courage going back with the flight

6. Woj broke lines and actually hit some targets going forward and if he didn't hit the target he put it deep in the 50 (top of square)

 

[Glassjaw]

If Kingsley wasn't gone before he is now.

Lonners showed quite a bit though. Why, oh why has Bomber left him up forward so long?

 

[Soupy]

Playing with King and Kingsley is like playing 2 men down.

A bloody joke today.

 

[catempire]

My thoughts:

1. Clearly, there are some players who just aren't up to the standard of fitness that AFL requires. King, possibly Harley, Ottens and Steve Johnson are the standouts in this department. No doubt, this is because all 4 have serious problems getting on the track over summer. The worry is, you've got to question whether any of them will ever make up for this. I personally think that King never will, SJ's ankles probably dictate he never will, Harley and Ottens would only be a slim chance. It's concerning, because all 4 players are so valuable when they are going well.

2. Harley was great on Robertson I thought. Took some telling grabs and it made me think back to this game last season when Harley was missing and Robertson towelle up Rooke and we lost.

3. I never though I'd say this, but I thought we missed Mackie. Not so much on last week's performance but his form of the month before that. His disposal may let him down at times but in general it is a cut above the rest of the team's. We really must get the footies out early this summer and just get our skills right. They were horrible in the first half today. Bottom 4 standard.

4. I liked how Tenace tried to run and break the lines a couple of times today. He should be commended on this and encouraged to do it at every opportunity. It didn't come off too well but if he gained confidence in this department, he'd be invaluable.

5. Geez Corey is unaccountable and turns it over too often. He's close to my favourite player, but it's getting ridiculous.

6. Lonergan may have just saved his career today. Clearly much more ready at AFL level as a key defender than he is as a key forward. Could also be consider more ready than Spencer. What's Spencer's contract status?

7. Kingsley's performance spoke for itself. Nothing to say here.

8. Steve Johnson is as good a match winner as we have. We simply cannot trade him.

9. Nathan Ablett can make it at this level if he wants it. Did some silky things today. Did anyone notice him streaming down the outer wing when Scarlett got the ball, Scarlett looked over and saw who it was but instead chose to kick it to a contest. Very telling. Nathe would have ran into an open goal.

10. Gazza's shoulder isn't close to being right. Even so, he along with SJ nearly pinched the game for us. Such a shame he got that injury against North because he would have been close to AA if he had have continued on in the same form.

 

[Conan Troutman]

Man, just finished watching on tv. Surprised no one on tv has mentioned Egan's mark in front of goal that was counted as a point.

- edit -
they just talked about it then

 

[Shell]

Man, just finished watching on tv. Surprised no one on tv has mentioned Egan's mark in front of goal that was counted as a point.

- edit -
they just talked about it then

Yeah, and what about Gablett being dragged to the ground by the jumper in the last moments

Enjoy your trip to the country league umpiring, you dumb f***ing p-ricks.

 

[davey_magik]

Yeah, and what about Gablett being dragged to the ground by the jumper in the last moments

Enjoy your trip to the country league umpiring, you dumb f***ing p-ricks.

You're kidding right?
That was the worst standard of umpiring I have seen all year, but it wasn't really favouring either side.

 

[Shell]

You're kidding right?
That was the worst standard of umpiring I have seen all year, but it wasn't really favouring either side.

You just proved my point dumb a-ss... they should be dropped.

And all i did was comment on Gary Jnr being dragged down, by the jumper no less, in the dying moments. No im not kidding by saying that was a free.

Good luck in the finals. You are going to need it

 

[burto]

whilst the umps definitely favoured the dees in the first half, i think they made up for it by giving us a few soft frees that werent really there

 

[thejester]

You're kidding right?
That was the worst standard of umpiring I have seen all year, but it wasn't really favouring either side.

Wasn't the free kick count something like 27 to 19 in Melbourne's favour? Geelong easily copped the worst of it - you only have to look at the BS 50ms and the number of frees you got infront of goal to see that.

 

[davey_magik]

Wasn't the free kick count something like 27 to 19 in Melbourne's favour? Geelong easily copped the worst of it - you only have to look at the BS 50ms and the number of frees you got infront of goal to see that.

Conveniently ignoring non-goals to Yze and Jamar there, plus Robbo getting mauled by Harley and marking it yet wasn't paid either.
Also the BS holding the ball on McLean that never got paid for the whole match, until he had NO opportunity and was somehow pinged.

 

[cats2rise]

FFS. Umps were **** both ways. Get over it Shell, thats not why it was a draw.

DM, all those examples are good, but you know Geelong was getting terrible decisions aswell.

 

[davey_magik]

FFS. Umps were **** both ways. Get over it Shell, thats not why it was a draw.

DM, all those examples are good, but you know Geelong was getting terrible decisions aswell.

Melbourne got the good end of the umpiring in the first half, Geelong in the second.

 

[GeeCat]

4. I liked how Tenace tried to run and break the lines a couple of times today. He should be commended on this and encouraged to do it at every opportunity. It didn't come off too well but if he gained confidence in this department, he'd be invaluable.

Unfortunately, apart from the odd dash (his take on Davey was...encouraging to say the least, even if he was caught), Kane did very little today.

Still looked lost out on the field, and was caught out of position more than once (both offensively and defensively). Skills were below his average, which, well, speaks for itself as far as the quality is concerned.

I really don't know anymore. I'm still a fan, but something needs to change, and quickly. Perhaps that move to the half back flank mooted by Thompson a fortnight ago might be in hand, but I really don't know anymore.

 

[catempire]

Unfortunately, apart from the odd dash (his take on Davey was...encouraging to say the least, even if he was caught), Kane did very little today.

Still looked lost out on the field, and was caught out of position more than once (both offensively and defensively). Skills were below his average, which, well, speaks for itself as far as the quality is concerned.

I really don't know anymore. I'm still a fan, but something needs to change, and quickly. Perhaps that move to the half back flank mooted by Thompson a fortnight ago might be in hand, but I really don't know anymore.

GeeCat, that's my point really - it was good to see him try to use his assets. We don't see that a lot. The more often he can do that and the more confidence he gains, the better off the team will be.

 

[Turbocat]

My thoughts for what they are worth:

A game that typified our season. Crap first half , attempt come back and do enough to avoid the total savage scrutiny that is deserved. A total waste of effort that delivered a hollow feeling of nothingness.Not happy at the end I'm afraid. We wasted too much ball coming into the forward line.

I thought Nathan showed a bit , I just wish we could balance Mooney and Nathan in temperment, he needs to tackle a few opponents. Needs to be slightly stronger in his pack mark attempts but certainly has the footskills a forward should. No doubt he has quick footy brain Id just like to see him put some work into sprint training to get his pace a little close to his brain

Lonergan , has shown enough to have uped his value to club and of course his trade value.

Good game by Harley , is there life still there?

Im even more convinced that our ruck division needs to be bolstered.SK just looks like he is running on empty now, honestly how long do we really think he will be around. Ottens , will he ever be fit enough to play ruck properly. Blake handy in centre bounces but the game is becoming so demanding that a player that is hesitant to kick really becomes a liability.It takes a min of 3 years to groom , we need to add quality youth to our ruck division soon or we will have to do another Ottens deal down the track. What do we really think it would take to get Meesen?

 

[chapmanmagic35]

You're kidding right?
That was the worst standard of umpiring I have seen all year, but it wasn't really favouring either side.

Very ordinary performance by the umpires today, agreed.

 

[Copernicus]

Well I just woke up to check the scores - a general feeling of numbness pretty much sums up my feelings. What a crap way to finish off our chances! I didn't think we would make it anyway, but geez - a draw! Bloody typical.

 

[Western Cat]

What a let down. I didn't expect to win and when we got 38 behind and were playing so badly it just confirmed the way the whole season has gone. Then of course in typical Cat fashion they decided to play, teased us by getting in front, got back level then as the ball was heading across the line for a desperate win the siren goes! Visions of Nick Davis came flooding back to haunt me! I sat there dumb-founded, I really thought we'd won it then realised the dropped heads on both sides meant it was a draw. How fitting a way to conclude 2006! We should just forfeit against Hawthorn next week, today's finish was "perfect"!!!!

Lonergan was very gutsy, as was Ling and a couple of others, and Josh Hunt showed he could stand up too.

They should rest Gazza next week and give him maximum recovery time, why risk him now?

 

[Shell]

FFS. Umps were **** both ways. Get over it Shell, thats not why it was a draw.

DM, all those examples are good, but you know Geelong was getting terrible decisions aswell.

Dont you have a "second favourite Geelong player" thread to make??

Geeze, take it into context.. just gotten home from that **** and i needed to vent my frustration out on something. Next best thing to Mark Thompson was the umps. You get over it

 

[chapmanmagic35]

The Brock McLean holding the ball is the only one that jumps to my mind that was a bit dodgy for the Dees. We got the rough end, no doubt.

If Brock made an attempt, he would've got away with it though.

 

[winty]

A game that typified our season. Crap first half , attempt come back and do enough to avoid the total savage scrutiny that is deserved. A total waste of effort that delivered a hollow feeling of nothingness.

That's exactly my feeling about yesterday too. Even Bartel's handball for a point which was just after the siren was symbolic...too little too late.

I wonder if the result would've been different if Gamble was the late inclusion instead of Kingsley. Guess we'll never know, but I'll hazard a guess that Gamble would've collected more than two touches.

 

[Rosella]

That's exactly my feeling about yesterday too. Even Bartel's handball for a point which was just after the siren was symbolic...too little too late.

I wonder if the result would've been different if Gamble was the late inclusion instead of Kingsley. Guess we'll never know, but I'll hazard a guess that Gamble would've collected more than two touches.

I would have got more than two touches. That's the problem with a draw - all the whatifs. It happened, it's over.

 

[Dellvion]

Ive never known such an empty feeling...

 

[GeeCat]

Im even more convinced that our ruck division needs to be bolstered.SK just looks like he is running on empty now, honestly how long do we really think he will be around. Ottens , will he ever be fit enough to play ruck properly. Blake handy in centre bounces but the game is becoming so demanding that a player that is hesitant to kick really becomes a liability.It takes a min of 3 years to groom , we need to add quality youth to our ruck division soon or we will have to do another Ottens deal down the track. What do we really think it would take to get Meesen?

Well, I guess the underlying thing is, whether we bring in a Meesen or a Leunberger, they have to be played.

Not aimed at you Turbo, but I'm surprised it's taken people this long to realise why we needed to play Blakey all those times, regardless of how out of place he looked on the field. Our depth is an issue, but in the end, we're going to have to play these kids sooner or later. A pity the club is yet to realise that the sooner we do, the better.