Will the weather help?

[Nasma]

According to The Age

A savage cold front is promised for grand final day, with the chance of thunderstorms and hail.

Normally I rate us a better side in the wet. Our big-bodied midfield shines, and our smaller forward line becomes more important. Against the Saints though I'm not so sure, I don't know whether it'll make it easier or harder to get through their zone, and their tackling has been very good all year.

Any thoughts?

 

[darrenmorgan]

we are easily the best wet weather side in the league. our skills dont seem to diminish when its wet, and our big bodies are a great advantage. it also negates the effectiveness of roo and kosi. i think if its wet we are going to be very hard to beat.

 

[True Blue Cat]

We are yet to play a game in wet conditions against a good side that applies a lot of pressure this year. So it is difficult to judge whether we will be better off or not. Will for sure mean Hawkins will have a good game as he seems to play rather well in wet conditions especially considering his size (both height and bulk wise).

 

[re cat]

Bring it on

 

[muffinman]

We've played in the rain a few times this year and we've been fine.

We haven't played most of our games under a roof.

It should hopefully help...

 

[watermelonslice]

Haha I'm the only 'no'. I can't help it. Drowning in too much optimism!

 

[Hinkley29]

Put it this way, if you were offered any conditions for GF day that would suit the Cats, what would you choose? I would choose a cold, wet, windy day every time.

- We deal with these conditions more often due to home games at KP. How often do you see teams come down to KP on a shocking day and get blown out of the water? I honestly can't remember the last time we lost in the wet. As opposed to St Kilda's home games at the comfort of the Dome.
- Our midfield is stacked with blokes who are absolute star mudrunners. Bartel, Ablett, Selwood, etc are a class above in the wet. I think it gives our midfield a big edge. I also think it makes a guy like Kelly more valuable.
- I don't think it negatively effects Riewoldt too much,. He will get his marks on the lead, although if he has to rely on gut running more to get to contests his knee may give him grief. However, Kosi on the other hand will be in all sorts of trouble in the wet. Mooney and Hawkins seem to go alright in the wet (case in point: last week for Hawkins) and I don't think they will be upset too much. Scarlett on Kosi in the wet would be a dream matchup for us.
- It may take away an edge the Saints have in the ruck. I wouldn't be suprised if they try and match up King when Ottens is in the ruck, and then try and exploit Blake with Gardiner around the ground (especially up forward) when Blakey is rucking. A wet day could put a spanner in this plan for the Saints as Gardiner is less likely to do as much damage.
- SJ becomes a MASSIVE factor in our forward half. If it is wet, I would not be suprised if Bomber tells SJ to play exclusively in the forward 50 so as to create some chances when the ball is on the ground. This would worry me if I was a Saints fan.
- I also wouldn't be suprised if we try and isolate Gaz and Barrtel at times in the forward 50 if it is wet. Again, this would worry me greatly if I was a Saints fan.

Long may it rain........

 

[Hinkley29]

We are yet to play a game in wet conditions against a good side that applies a lot of pressure this year. So it is difficult to judge whether we will be better off or not. Will for sure mean Hawkins will have a good game as he seems to play rather well in wet conditions especially considering his size (both height and bulk wise).

How many good sides are there?

We thrashed Brisbane in the bog at KP earlier this year. Do they count as a good side?

 

[Nasma]

If it is wet, it'd give Stokes' chances a boost I'd think, probably at Wojak's expense.

 

[hamG]

In the wet against their high pressure zone is a complete unknown to me.

Unless it is basically a flood (of the water variety) we play essentially the same game plan regardless of conditions, we still do the quick slick ball movement via hand. Does this game plan in the wet against their zone help us or them?

Honestly I don't want a huge wash out for the GF. I mean if we go down 5 goals to 4 and they have gotten 2 from absolute rubbish free kicks I will be furious. Give me another round 14 without their free jump at the start. Of course if it rains and we smash em then hell, rain again next year!

 

[archilino]

having recently (about a month) spoken to neil balme he said they prefer dry conditions 100% of the time, our skills are sublime even at training they never miss a target. HIs words not mine. He said even the coaches look on in amazement that the level of skills that they have.

 

[Hinkley29]

In the wet against their high pressure zone is a complete unknown to me.

Unless it is basically a flood (of the water variety) we play essentially the same game plan regardless of conditions, we still do the quick slick ball movement via hand. Does this game plan in the wet against their zone help us or them?

Honestly I don't want a huge wash out for the GF. I mean if we go down 5 goals to 4 and they have gotten 2 from absolute rubbish free kicks I will be furious. Give me another round 14 without their free jump at the start. Of course if it rains and we smash em then hell, rain again next year!

To beat their zone you need to be able to win the clearances, move the ball without turing it over, and then take your chances when you get it into the forward line. The Bulldogs almost did this last week, but didn't convert their forward 50's into goals.

I think the wet will give us a big edge in the clearances (because our mids,especially our clearance guys, are super mudrunners), plus our skills don't fall off a great deal in the wet.

This just means that we need to take our chances up forward, like we did against Collingwood, and avoid getting scored against on the rebound. The wet actually may help here as St Kilda would be less likely to be able to move the ball quickly and precisely if we turned it over in the forward 50.

I think the rain helps us in a big way.

 

[Hinkley29]

having recently (about a month) spoken to neil balme he said they prefer dry conditions 100% of the time, our skills are sublime even at training they never miss a target. HIs words not mine. He said even the coaches look on in amazement that the level of skills that they have.

I think that he would say this in regards getting a great spectacle. But I think if they were being absolutely honest and all they cared about was winning one game of footy, that they would take a wet day every time.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think that he would say this in regards getting a great spectacle. But I think if they were being absolutely honest and all they cared about was winning one game of footy, that they would take a wet day every time.

I agree....I will be sad if it is wet as it'll take a lot away from the game as a spectacle, however I don't think it lessens our chances of winning, as we are a very good wet weather football side.

 

[Purrfect Pussies]

Bring on the rain i say! How often have the Saints played in the wet. They don't like to play without the Etihad roof over their heads. Our blokes thrive in the conditions - Jimmy, Chappy, Gaz, Corey..........

 

[Cats Eye]

I personally hope it rains. StKilda relys on a strict game plan, of which revolves around forcing turnovers with a zone and hurting the team on the counter attack with their tall forward line of Roo and Kozi. I think this will be much harder to do with wet conditions as when they are on the counter attack they could easily have a turnover themselves, therefore leaving them very vulnerable. If it rains I think Geelong will win.

 

[Pivo]

I certainly like the Cats chances more if it rains - we play pretty well in the wet and it'll help our defenders with the Saints tall forwards.

Crap weather for the granny ruins the spectacle but I'm all about getting our hands on that Cup again and to hell whether the game looks good for the masses.

Let it rain!!

 

[gabstar]

Bring on the rain i say! How often have the Saints played in the wet. They don't like to play without the Etihad roof over their heads. Our blokes thrive in the conditions - Jimmy, Chappy, Gaz, Corey..........

I would love it to rain on saturday, hopefully we are sitting under cover, Jimmy, Chappy, Gaz, Corey & Tomahawk all love the rain

 

[blackjack44]

I agree with the majority.

We do play better than other sides in the wet for all of the given reasons. We also have players that play better football in wet conditions than dry. Will it change things coming up against the best side of the year? I say No.

Wet weather has always been the indicator for - first in for the football, gets the free kick (whether that be a shit load of high tackles, holding the man or pushes in the back due to the conditions).

We have so many more players than St Kilda that get 'first ins' (first into the contest). The likes of Bartel, Selwood, Rooke and Corey really stick out in my mind as the best that do it. Mind you, this is just in general, as their natural football instinct. When the wet weather comes along, the whole team is willing and do not hesitate to put their head over the ball and get down and dirty when it's their turn to go (not that they don't do this in dry conditions, it's just they seem to love to do it more in the wet!).

The even better part is that our skills don't drop away. I hounestly believe we are the best wet weather team in the comp, and that these conditions will only benefit us. The only player from the other mob that worries me in these conditions is Lenny Hayes. A proven contested ball winner, that also has the natural instinct to be first in to the contest. However, that is only one player, compared to our 6+ players that are similar (with atleast 3 that are better than him). Ling to play on Hayes if it pisses down - will cut off the supply to their runners, which shuts out their fowards. That's if we even want to tag anyone in the wet weather. I'd back our boys one on one regardless.

 

[Meow]

I honestly can't remember the last time we lost in the wet.

From memory it was Round 6, 2006 and against Melbourne at the 'G.
We are definitely a better side in the wet, as it assists our ball-handling skills greatly.
St. Kilda tend to apply pressure before forcing the stoppage and then rely on winning the contested ball. However, this is very hard to do against us in the wet, as we are usually very good at winning the contested ball in those situations (Especially with the likes of Jimmy and Joel Selwood).
And with the likes of Bartel and Selwood who can put in nuggety efforts in those situations and are always first to the ball (Which is always very handy when it comes to wet weather situations), we can definitely win the contested ball which will assist greatly if we are to knock off the Saints come Saturday.

 

[TheTimeCometh]

didn't farmer have a day out, in the wet, down at kp relatively recently?

 

[Eudes]

I think another thing that'll factor in if it rains, is the hard-hitting contest the saints were in last week. Come the 4th, running on a heavy wet track, you'd think they'd be stuffed. We had an easy run in the 2nd half last week & should be slightly freasher.

 

[catswhiskers2007]

...doin' my best rain dance...

 

[Duskfire]

If it rains you can almost guarantee Bartel for the Norm Smith.

 

[magic_johnson!]

We have so many more players than St Kilda that get 'first ins' (first into the contest). The likes of Bartel, Selwood, Rooke and Corey really stick out in my mind as the best that do it. Mind you, this is just in general, as their natural football instinct. When the wet weather comes along, the whole team is willing and do not hesitate to put their head over the ball and get down and dirty when it's their turn to go (not that they don't do this in dry conditions, it's just they seem to love to do it more in the wet!).

This. I have watched Saturday's replay 3 times so far and i think my favourite play is in the first quarter. Blake gets the tap on the 50m line in geelongs forward line, but Collingwood get it out. Wojak dives on the ball going along the ground, holds it up, stands up, runs back into the 50 and hits out a cat. Great wet weather play.