13 minutes ago, TheWiz said:

Last time we met, we won three quarters - but got destroyed in a 20 minute patch lost in the midfield. Both teams played their own brand and we came out on top. Confident we can address what went wrong and come back harder!

In the review there would’ve been way more lessons out of that 8 goal run than the rest of the game. The players know what happens when we’re able to play to a structure, but them winning it out of the middle constantly meant our structures were taken out of the equation. 

Even early in the third quarter you saw that first objective was to make sure they weren’t winning the initial centre bounce. Once we get the second stoppage we reset and set our zones. 

Even with those logical thoughts there are mental demons that remain for me with the cats. Max’s goal after the siren helped put a lot of them to bed but there are lingering memories that I doubt will ever fade away. In a lot of ways it’s poetic that to get to our first GF in over 20 years the cats stand in our way. 

I’m delighted we’re playing Geelong

I suggest people look at their qualifying defeat against Port. The cats wilted under the heat and intensity applied by the power. Allir Allir had a party down back. They were never in it. They made heavy weather of beating an injury ravaged GWS last night

They are old and slow and past it

I have no worries whatsoever about out mental state or mindset. The psychological boost from our comeback in Rd 23 can’t be underestimated. We were super focused and business like against the Lions. These are the new demons. We will turn up to play next week

Heat and intensity to overwhelm the geriatrics.

Dees by 6 goals

Edited September 3, 20214 yr by BDA

9 hours ago, titan_uranus said:

Yep, full strength minus Stewart (and Parfitt going down early). Plus had the extra day break, and didn't exactly exert themselves last week whereas GWS played a hugely intense game vs Sydney.

My MFCSS is also strong right now, but objectively there are plenty of reasons we can/should be confident.

Touhy and Duncan back in their team make them quite a bit stronger but I agree we should be strong favourites.

The last time Melbourne and Geelong met in a Preliminary final was 1954. The Demons won 67 to 50. 
Let’s repeat that in 2021.

 

10 hours ago, Hell Bent said:

I agree. If that's the best Geelong can dish up we win comfortably.

Goody cracked a bottle of red at halftime tonight. 

My fear was meeting the GWS midfield, who outplayed cats last night, and Dees earlier,  but lacked a forward structure, or Toby Greene getting out the back.

We have a defence to address Hawkins and Cameron. Oliver won't allow a drop in standards.

Ratagulea and Rohan hold no fears.  We are fitter by far.

7 hours ago, Min Xie said:

Rd 23   Geelong  vs  Melbourne   77 : 81      GMHBA stadium

This was what they did to us in details in that 2nd quarter:

From 19:59 Hawkins' goal to 28:12 Rohan's goal, there were 5 goals in 8+minutes! Our team as a whole had never experienced that kind of "burst" from our opponents before, some of our player were simply shocked and got lost ... I trust our current team, I believe they would learn the lesson, they would be able to handle the situation better, even much better next time around.

 

Do they still take a full minute in after a goal? If so it’s 5 goals in 3 minutes of play!

6 hours ago, Fork 'em said:

Didn't bother watching the game but heard Hawkins could be in trouble for a typical high hit.
Any-one got a clip?

 

He left one of his tree trunk sized arms out and deliberately cracked a player on the head. But he did it cleverly and clumsily enough that he won’t even be a fine. 

Thinking practically we have many things in our favour. Geelongs game plan and aging list dont hold up well to finals intensity. The frenetic pace and crash n bash etc.  

danger is out of form. Stewart is out. 

Clarry is dead set unstoppable even if you put three blokes on him

but I’m still packin it. The thought of being in a GF with a real chance to win is so tantalising 

GO YOU DEMONS!!

Stakes are very high but we wanted it that way.  I'm grateful we have the opportunity to put the final stamp on those smug campaigners' era.  Max, Clarrie, Jack and Steven are between them and the GF, Geelong aren't going there.

10 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

The Cats had us covered until they started resting their stars at 3/4 time last time we met. It's going to be a huge test. They've definitely improved their side with their changes this week as well. 

Sounds like our boys had a good first week in the hub, getting some much deserved rest, but it has to be all business from here. 

That is not true at all.  They had a good 15 minute patch and that’s it.  Other than that we matched them or completely dominated. 

We will primed and the week off would have done us a world of good! 
 

Get it done Dees!

10 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

Oh come on, its gunna be great fun.....

  lets give em a head start......

Just wanted to retweet this.

33 minutes ago, Big Carl said:

The last time Melbourne and Geelong met in a Preliminary final was 1954. The Demons won 67 to 50. 
Let’s repeat that in 2021.

Nope.

Let's [censored] them by 8 goals and make Port realise they are playing for the silver medal.

10 hours ago, Demon_spurs said:

Struth I hope we don't get those umpires next week, kept Geelong in it al night

 

Very noticeable, and constantly interrupted most GWS forays both in the backline - and in particular, as they moved with embarrassing (for Geelong) speed into their forward line. We do that at both ends (and through the midfield from flank to flank) very well, so watch it, Cats, your number is up. Hawkins got away with four head-high swipes during the game and several blatant 'pushed in the back' demonstrations against his opponents. His number is going to be up, as well. 

Imperative we dominate centre clearances. At our last meeting when Geelong had centre clearance control they were able to service their potent forwards due to 6-6-6. They only hurt us when they had a 20 minutes purple patch in the middle. If we check that  it will be hard for them to score consistently with their static forward movement from defence with our structure. Parfitt out is a bonus.

Edited September 3, 20214 yr by John Crow Batty

I thought the quality of football played last night was mediocre, and below the standard I would have expected in a ‘do or die’ final.  We have played finals type football for most of the year, and I just can’t see the Cats dragging us down to their level.  While the nervous tension will obviously build during the week, I will remain comfortable that we have the brand of football, the players, the ‘gears’ and the motivation to beat the Cats with something to spare.

Let it be known I HATE geelong.

I hate their self entitled attitude, snipper duck wood, flimsy arms Hawkins and the world owes me Dangerfield and Cameron. And don’t get me started on their inflated ego driven nut job of a coach. 
 

GOD I HOPE WE BEAT THESE SELF ENTITLED [censored]. 

Edited September 4, 20214 yr by DemonOX

1 hour ago, Clint Bizkit said:

Touhy and Duncan back in their team make them quite a bit stronger but I agree we should be strong favourites.

Losing Parfait is big though. He is a good defensive player and he is one of the least slowest in their side. Against our strong midfield that will hurt. 

Bring it on!

Our best is THE best. We just need to put it together on the night. 

Centre clearances and conversation are the main concerns but the rest of our game (pressure, game plan, zone, speed, fitness) is better and we are rested. 

We need have high profile commentators remind the AFLofficials that the head is sacrosanct and penalise the accidental, ugly,  contacts that are made by a few players. Mumford was probably the greatest exponent of grinding an opponents head into the turf but Selwood and Hawkins are also masters of the art of accidentally contacting the head. Selwood has also developed the art of leading with his head to get create a non existent free. When like last night Selwood antics are ignored it seems other high contact Is a consequence of similar action or is accidental.

Geelong are a older, harder, side they will hit our younger, lighter bodies with every legal, illegal and accidental contact they can,

a lot of commentators will applaud this as the epitome of finals footy, by all means the intensity and pressure must be there but it must be within the rules, the head highs, the in the backs, the late push, the holding accompanied with a punch must be fairly recognised. Both sides must play to the same rules. 

I am not reassured that Geelong are not favoured, but more significantly that Melbourne are disadvantaged.

59 minutes ago, Demonland said:

 

I dont agree with this analysis. Petty and May can deal with Hawkins and Cameron. Smith can deal with Ratugolea which still leaves Lever free. If this is their plan against us it really leaves them flat footed on the rebound and more generally inside 50. As we saw last time we really denied Cameron space to operate. I also think we need to be able to fill the space ahead of Hawkins. On the topic of Hawkins how the hell does he get away with the forearm to the head and commentators say there is nothing in it, not to mention his continual hands in the back that the umps ignore?

Whilst I was hoping GWS got up mainly because they were banged up and terrible, I dont think that Geelong played well, we should go into this one  with a lot of confidence.

Every side that remains is a good side but our players have nothing to worry about.  They have proven over the course of the year that they can find a way to beat all comers.  I think the extra tall in the Geelong forward line suits us.  We have struggled most against ground ball in our defence and now Geelong will need to go aerially.  It probably means that Smith stays and certainly means Max spends more time back but neither of those really diminish our chances of victory.  Parfitt is a big loss for them.  He's a very good player and has relatively good pace compared to their other mids.

GWS were ripe for the picking and Geelong did what all good sides should do.  However, they are running out of legs and have played only average footy for about 5 weeks now, other than the 15 minute burst against us. Hawkins has a corkie, we'll see how that comes up.  They can be pretty problematic a week after.  

The game will be won through the midfield and also down back. 

Yes they have some ageing and banged stars in Selwood, Duncan and Dangerfield, but don't underestimate them to lift in a game like this.

Geelong did what they had to last night, win and get through the game with minimal injuries. 

Parfit is a loss for them, but they could bring in Shaun Higgins or Sam Simpson as a replacement.