Bartell is the best player in the comp IMO.

When the game is to be won for the cats have a look who stands up.

9 outta 10 its Bartell.

Yep, this guy is my favourite non-mfc player. I counted 3 times within the last 4 or so minutes, where he positioned himself on the hawks goal line and ensured the hawks wouldn't goal.

And let's be honest Hawthorn were just as hungry. The last kick after the siren went through. So close.

If the game was still on I think Bartel would have nailed him, but yep Hawthorn were just as hungry. What a great game.

Anyone, someone has to beat Hawthorn! I hate them!! I hate their arrogance, their snipers, their supporters, their EVERYTHING!!

Yes, I'm allowed to bring up suppressed memories - we had some great teams in the 80s and we kept on running into these bastards.

GO CATS!!

Phew.......serenity now.

PS I love Luke Hodge

Yep, this guy is my favourite non-mfc player. I counted 3 times within the last 4 or so minutes, where he positioned himself on the hawks goal line and ensured the hawks wouldn't goal.

Yep , saw that too.

On his own in the goalsquare waiting for the scrubber kick that so often dribbles through.

Good thread - we can learn heaps from Geelong both on & off the field.

Joel Selwood is tougher than our entire list put together.

Nearly broke his jaw and then just got up and got on with it!

I get more joy out of watching Geelong's gutsy performances than I do watching the Dees these days. Sigh

Joel Selwood is tougher than our entire list put together.

Nearly broke his jaw and then just got up and got on with it!

I get more joy out of watching Geelong's gutsy performances than I do watching the Dees these days. Sigh

Sure today was good old contested Football....Man on Man.

Understand Benno (and agree), but a basic game plan is essential - we're talking about two different sides of the same story.

game plan is nothing without heart, determination and sheer will power...

An awesome club, and an awesome team!

Bartel is a freak, and so is Selwood, and what brilliant role models they are for the young players they bring into their team.

All while losing their best player in Ablett to expansion.

I have to say, it was an absolute pleasure to watch that game today. Those two sides really set the standard for the rest of the AFL and it makes it abundantly clear just how far we have to go before we are considered a chance. I think we're lucky to have had a match like that so early in the season, even with the awful weather.

i think the wet brings the best out in the cats......

How many would the Cats have had missing from their best 18? Menzel, Vardy...?

If the Cats get another flag out of this group I think they can safely be called the greatest team of all time. Better than Brisbane's three-peat, better than Essendon in 2000, better than the Hawks of the 80's, better than the Demons of the 50's and better than the Pies in the 20's. Yes Hawks won 5 from 9, we won 5 from 6 and Pies won 4 in a row but times have changed and the comp is different now and more geared towards a socialist evening up of the competition which in theory should see every team win a flag every 18 years. No more flags and I think they are a rung below those three. To win 3 from 5 (4 from 6 if they win this year) would be an absoltely astonishing achievement. Additionally they haven't lost many H&A games over that period either.

And to think they could have still had the best player in the comp running around for them.

If the Cats won again this year, they'd be set for about seventy years of no flags. In a system which is geared around performance equalisation, that's just unbelievable.

Glad someone brought this up - Geelong is still streets ahead of anyone else - MFC should be aiming to emulate the Geelong game plan, but adapt it (not copy it) to suit their own needs. If you don't take risks in football, if you don't keep improving, if you stand still, you go backwards. Time for MFC to wake up!

Problem is you have to have the footskills to pull off the Geelong gameplan. The reason Neeld is forced to start with kick it long to a contest, force it out of bounds and hopefully win the next clearance gameplan is exactly that reason, we have poor skills. Every team would like to emulate Geelong or the Hawks, but few have the skills.

How many would the Cats have had missing from their best 18? Menzel, Vardy...?

Scarlett

Love the Cats. They're my second team, and they're a pleasure to watch. The style and skill they brought to the game from 2007 onwards has been fantastic, and we can thank them for getting away from ugly boring stoppage footy. Watching the Dees this past 5 years has been painful, and if it weren't for the Cats I don't think I'd even watch footy anymore to be honest. Watching games like the one today really show you how far off the pace we are from the top teams. It's like we're not even playing the same game!

Jimmy Bartel is a legend too. He stands up in the big games every single time. I think he's the best big game player I've seen in 20+ years. Just always takes the mark to stem the tide, kick the goal to snatch a lead, burrow into a pack and get the vital clearance. He is a superstar and my fav current player. Trengove has similar qualities, and I'm hoping for our sake he turns out like Bartel.

Cats were especially awesome as I got them under 39 at 3.10, and +8.5 at $2! Also got me 9 in this esteemed footy tipping comp, which means I got 12! Go cats!

Cats were especially awesome as I got them under 39 at 3.10, and +8.5 at $2! Also got me 9 in this esteemed footy tipping comp, which means I got 12! Go cats!

Did you tip against us? I'm shocked!

Why don't you all [censored] off and support em then.

To much handbag loving in this thread.

Why don't you all [censored] off and support em then.

To much handbag loving in this thread.

So you don't appreciate the art of good footy then. Why come into a thread entitled "Inspirational Cats" if your only aim is to abuse other posters? Troll!

When we look at Geelong's performances, there is no doubt that the biggest loser is one G.Ablett Jr.

You just can't buy the highs your ex team mates are experiencing Gazza!!

Why don't you all [censored] off and support em then.

To much handbag loving in this thread.

One can admire them without supporting them.

And as far as the handbag stuff is concerned, which team do you think holds the handbags right now (exclude the franchise facsimiles)?????

Why don't you all [censored] off and support em then.

To much handbag loving in this thread.

Thats why we are here. We are the handbag lovers.

How many would the Cats have had missing from their best 18? Menzel, Vardy...?

Yeah lets look at some names they have lost in the last two years - Ablett, Ling, Ottens & Mooney (key components) - then add Scarlett missing from that game.

Many wrote them off - simply because the dont understand modern day structures.

Quality structures & development can overcome this - poor structures cant - we loose Jurrah, Slyvia, Tapscott & Martin - and we struggle.

Development is the key - where players like Guthrie a good quality kid can come into the structure and make an instant impact after like 4(!!!!) games.

But this is a very difficult point for some around here to understand. The "names" are largely irrelevant its how good your structures & development is ... However, there is always a tipping point or fine line.