Tuning a well oiled machine

[catempire]

Tuning a well oiled machine
Friday, February 11
GEELONG ADVERTISER

SLIGHT adjustments rather than wholesale changes have been made to suit a remodelled forward-50. JAY CLARK dissects the revised game plan the club hopes will help it make the next step.

UP FORWARD:

Expect a new-look forward line to operate a little differently in 2005. Star Richmond recruit Brad Ottens will start deep in attack and lead straight up the forward-50 rather than stay in the goal square. That's despite a 10cm height advantage over full back Matthew Scarlett, who has had the new recruit's measure so far. Ottens will use the corridor a lot more than Kent Kingsley did last year, as the smaller Kingsley had to rely on his pace to find the footy. It meant he was often pushed far out, toward the boundary and was the main reason behind his inaccuracy, rather than any technical flaw. Kingsley has so far thrived on a flank, enjoying more of a creative licence in space where his strong hands could prove a valuable weapon this season. Work on his pace is more noticeable than any gains in strength.

Paul Chapman, (38), Gary Ablett, (35), and Steve Johnson (21) kicked almost a third of Geelong's 298 goals last season and are primed to play just as big a part in 2005.

However, expect Steve Johnson to top the mosquito fleet in goals, as although he has been nursed through the pre-season, he should start in round one as opposed to round 13 last year. The freakish forward will stick close to the goals in 2005, whereas Ablett and Chapman have been more inclined to chase the footy in the midfield and are earmarked for stints on the ball.

IN THE MIDFIELD:

The competition for spots in Geelong's midfield is red-hot with Cameron Ling, Joel Corey, James Bartel, James Kelly and Kane Tenace firming as the starting five.

Mark Thompson has thrown his onball unit around in the Cats' first two games with the emphasis on moving the ball quickly and carrying it, particularly when Kelly, Tenace or Paul Chapman have it in hand. Look for Ling to dominate the centre clearances and plenty of blocks and bumps around the boundary throw-ins.

DOWN BACK:

It is the best in the league, yet somehow they've found room for improvement.

Boasting a stronger core, Matthew Scarlett has been impenetrable on the last line, while Tom Harley has enjoyed more of a role rebounding the footy, despite having his hands full with Henry Playfair.

They will look for Josh Hunt as the funnel and Darren Milburn who creeps off a back flank to form a key link into the midfield. The back six have also been keen to attack through centre half-back in a bid to move the ball quicker into a vacant forward-50.

Fans will hear Jarad Rooke crunch anyone he catches with the footy.

Really looking forward to a full season with S. Johnson roaming the forward line. It looks like Ottens will play out of the goalsquare which means Graham's effective replacement is likely to be Playfair. I think people have underestimated the significance of this, as Kingsley in the goalsquare hasn't ever really provided a target and a big body to crumb off. Ottens will do this.

James Kelly back in the midfield will be a revelation too.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

Jay Clark

 

[rickster1]

Jay Clark

A puff-piece if ever there was one.

 

[catempire]

I know! How bad is he?

Just to emphasise - I posted the article to generate discussion rather than to highlight a quality piece of journalism!

Forget the content of his article - how do people think the structures and strategies might change this year?

 

[tayls]

i think the forward structure is going to be great. The worst thing to happen is we go long to Ottens and he doesn't mark, then we have Chapman, Ablett, S, Johnson et al to mopup.Key forwards of Ottens, Kingsley, Playfair and S Johnson. Means Johnson will prob get 4th best defender, good news. I think it is exiting. Also remember we also have, Mackie, Lonergan and other pushing through. We will have plenty of avenues to goal i think and we wont be to reliant on one source which is good.

 

[Unwritten_Law]

Cameron Ling, Joel Corey, James Bartel, James Kelly and Kane Tenace firming as the starting five.

Good mix

Key forwards of Ottens, Kingsley, Playfair and S Johnson. Means Johnson will prob get 4th best defender, good news. I think it is exiting. Also remember we also have, Mackie, Lonergan and other pushing through.

Gardiner and Haynes might have a bit of trouble breaking into the team. Especially if the midfield has a decent run with injury, there will always be 2 of Chapman, Ablett, Bartel, Kelly, Ling in the forward line.

 

[Turbocat]

Good mix
Gardiner and Haynes might have a bit of trouble breaking into the team.

Maybe, maybe not. Gardnier to me is almost the man most likely to be the first to break from the "Potentials". and step up as a third tall.He would be a bit peeved if NA gets the 3rd tall spot ahead of himself because he made progress last year as a tall link man and in the prelim against Brisbane I thought for a while he was going to be the one to kick 3-4 for us and get us over the line. Haynes still gives us another player that locks in metres gained, that is he can mark in a similar fashion to KK.One point I agree on Kelly could do a similar role in the forwardline to DH, but perhaps not quite as well. Lonergan and Playfair have been tried at times at the defensive end but I feel are more forwards. Lonergan to me looks quite a handy type if he can gets some games under his belt
I know the Ottens Factor will change things but I feel we will still rely on accurate passing to players in position and pin pointing players on the lead, to kick most of our goals rather than the old adage of "the long bomb to snake". To me its the likes of McCarthy and Spencer that will struggle for a game as Ottens gives us more options than these two.