PF: Melbourne vs Geelong

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

14 minutes ago, Dwight Schrute said:

I think our big advantage on reflection is going to be the open spaces of Optus, Geelong do seem a little bit banged up, and have had to come the hard way with an older list. if we can make the ground as big as possible and guys like Langdon, ANB and co make them chase us all day they may really struggle. 

they'll probably need us to be a little bit off in order to win

Agreed.

Oddly, Scott said Optus suited their style of play.  Yet, this was the first game they have won there in several attempts.  Maybe he was pumping up his player's confidence. Optus might suit their game but it suits ours better. 

And we have won several games there vs the Eagles and the crowd.  We can draw on that for confidence.  

Like you I think that whatever positives Geelong take out of playing at Optus ours trumps theirs.

[OhMyDees 1,342]

Cats have slapped up both the Eagles and Dockers this year and we only just beat the Eagles so we will have the neutral crowd. That and we’re the fairytale story…

If we do have the crowd surely that’s a +10 free differential out West - lucky we aren’t playing the Doggies lol 😂 

[Demon trucker 1,779]

10 hours ago, Bring-Back-Powell said:

For what’s is worth, West Coast beat Collingwood 3 times in 2018, so it can be done.

Also in 2011 the only 2 Games Collingwood lost in the H&W season was to Geelong.

[dazzledavey36 49,354]

I know some on here are pretty confident against the cats, but for me I just have this uneasy feeling that losing twice to us during the season won't sit well with this Geelong outfit. Scott is a very smart and tactical coach. They would have taken so much learnings out of the last game and I expect a much sound response.

They've also improved their side since the last round. They'll have Duncan, Touhy and potentially Higgins. Watched Touhy Friday night and he just makes them so much better off half back and wing.

I have it in the back of my head that it was only 3 weeks ago this same Geelong team were 44 points up. So when up and going they can be at their deadly best. 

The other thing to look at is their track record at optus stadium is actually pretty good. Much better record then ours. 

I know they are a bit banged up, but they always seem to find a ways to get into this position.  Their finals record under Scott is phenomenal even though the wins haven't been on their side. 

[Demon trucker 1,779]

8 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Agreed.

Oddly, Scott said Optus suited their style of play.  Yet, this was the first game they have won there in several attempts.  Maybe he was pumping up his player's confidence. Optus might suit their game but it suits ours better. 

And we have won several games there vs the Eagles and the crowd.  We can draw on that for confidence.  

Like you I think that whatever positives Geelong take out of playing at Optus ours trumps theirs.

My understanding is that Optus is the same size as  Marvel stadium, if that's true we never lose at Marvel.

[dazzledavey36 49,354]

The whole bigger crowd neutral crowd thing is one of the biggest myths in footy.

Perfect example was last night. 

[Docs Demons 1,674]

5 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

The whole bigger crowd neutral crowd thing is one of the biggest myths in footy.

Perfect example was last night. 

Exactly and whilst I reckon we will win and win easily, providing we play at or near our best, I am a little worried about the umpires. Both Dogs and Cats seem to get away with plenty and have the rub of the green. Some of those decisions and non decisions baffled me last night.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,629]

3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

Hmmmm....1 goal a minute for the opposition team is a worst case scenario.

 

So what you're telling me @Dr. Gonzo is that I won't be able to relax for the first 3 quarters and 26 minutes of the match?

I never do 🤣

[Dee Zephyr 18,019]

This is the Cats 11th prelim in the last 15 years. Phenomenal achievement whether you love them or dislike them. Like Brayshaw said, it’s bloody hard to win one game of footy, but one thing our boys have given us this season is the confidence to believe in them and most importantly it’s the belief they have in themselves. It’s been evident all year.

They’ve given themselves the best chance possible to make the GF and I hope the stadium is covered in Red & Blue. It can only be a positive for the boys in the absence of those of us that can’t get there. No doubt the nerves will creep in later in the week as the realisation sets in we’re one game away from being one of the last two. 
 

In the meantime try and have a good week everyone.

[John Crow Batty 8,307]

9 minutes ago, Dee Zephyr said:

This is the Cats 11th prelim in the last 15 years. Phenomenal achievement whether you love them or dislike them. Like Brayshaw said, it’s bloody hard to win one game of footy, but one thing our boys have given us this season is the confidence to believe in them and most importantly it’s the belief they have in themselves. It’s been evident all year.

They’ve given themselves the best chance possible to make the GF and I hope the stadium is covered in Red & Blue. It can only be a positive for the boys in the absence of those of us that can’t get there. No doubt the nerves will creep in later in the week as the realisation sets in we’re one game away from being one of the last two. 
 

In the meantime try and have a good week everyone.

It’s a great record but corrupted by the insane home ground advantage afforded them by only playing weak and interstate sides over there and the outlier non standard ground shape which makes it very difficult for visiting sides to adjust to especially when bad weather is present. No other side has those advantages. Virtually guarantees them a finals spot every season. It was surprising they were not required to make the ground more standard size during redevelopment. 

Edited September 5, 2021 by John Crow Batty

[sue 8,477]

11 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

It’s a great record but corrupted by the insane home ground advantage afforded them by only playing weak and interstate sides over there and the outlier non standard ground shape which makes it very difficult for visiting sides to adjust to especially when bad weather is present. No other side has those advantages. Virtually guarantees them a finals spot every season. It was surprising they were not required to make the ground more standard size during redevelopment. 

Surprising and yet not surprising.

[Watson11 1,932]

6 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

It’s a great record but corrupted by the insane home ground advantage afforded them by only playing weak and interstate sides over there and the outlier non standard ground shape which makes it very difficult for visiting sides to adjust to especially when bad weather is present. No other side has those advantages. Virtually guarantees them a finals spot every season. It was surprising they were not required to make the ground more standard size during redevelopment. 

Exactly.  I have far more admiration for Sydney who have played in 8 or 9 prelims over 20 years. 

[Demon17 4,638]

54 minutes ago, dazzledavey36 said:

.  Their finals record under Scott is phenomenal even though the wins haven't been on their side. 

Lost 5 prelims out of the last 6 under Scott.

Finsish top 4 due to Kardinia park advantage in H and A. Then deep finals gets them in the end.

[Demon17 4,638]

18 minutes ago, John Crow Batty said:

It’s a great record but corrupted by the insane home ground advantage afforded them by only playing weak and interstate sides over there and the outlier non standard ground shape which makes it very difficult for visiting sides to adjust to especially when bad weather is present. No other side has those advantages. Virtually guarantees them a finals spot every season. It was surprising they were not required to make the ground more standard size during redevelopment. 

It was never going to happen, as the east boundary of the ground abuts Moorabool st. so can't be widened in that direction without a full stadium and surface re-alignment and re-build.

And although the Cats have sucked huge capital out of geelong at the expense of other amenities over the year, to rebuild stadiums for what is maybe 9 games a year and setting up an elitist precinct for limited Geelong rank and file patronage (which is actually what has happened - try paying for a seat in the stadium or using the so-called 'community' facilities), there was never the huge amounts needed to do it properly.

[Demon17 4,638]

51 minutes ago, Docs Demons said:

Exactly and whilst I reckon we will win and win easily, providing we play at or near our best, I am a little worried about the umpires. Both Dogs and Cats seem to get away with plenty and have the rub of the green. Some of those decisions and non decisions baffled me last night.

Love him or hate him, Kane Cornes today is correctly mounting the campaign against Selwoods hit on Friday night, exactly the same as Toby Greenes, yet no sanction.

Will umpires be Selwood conscious now next week and not pay ducking frees to him? Id' like to think so.

I just hope we have Razor Ray and team.

[Fat Tony 4,533]

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Agreed.

Oddly, Scott said Optus suited their style of play.  Yet, this was the first game they have won there in several attempts.  Maybe he was pumping up his player's confidence. Optus might suit their game but it suits ours better. 

And we have won several games there vs the Eagles and the crowd.  We can draw on that for confidence.  

Like you I think that whatever positives Geelong take out of playing at Optus ours trumps theirs.

Didn’t the Cats give Freo a hiding this season?

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

Just now, Fat Tony said:

Didn’t the Cats give Freo a hiding this season?

Thanks, forgot that one...

[dazzledavey36 49,354]

11 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

Lost 5 prelims out of the last 6 under Scott.

Finsish top 4 due to Kardinia park advantage in H and A. Then deep finals gets them in the end.

They still put themselves in that position each year. Regardless of the win loss ratio it's still a bloody good achievement.  It's hard enough to make finals.

So? Every club has a home ground advantage. Are they not allowed too?

 

[Binmans PA 26,494]

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Has anyone in WA heard of Geelong?  Unlikely.  A backwater to them.  

We will have the neutral crowd cheering for us as well as our own fans.

Lets hope it helps the umpires make good decisions.

Polly Farmer. They've got a lot of support over there.

[Lucifers Hero 37,323]

3 minutes ago, A F said:

Polly Farmer. They've got a lot of support over there.

Really?  Sooooooooooo long ago.

Easily trumped by the Brayshaw, Jetta, Pickett, Jackson, Rivers, Farmer clans and communities.  

 

As an aside, Gus said in the GnG podcast that the WA government gave his mum an exemption to enter the state but not his dad both applications were on compassionate grounds. 

It is odd as the Brayshaw name is as close to sporting royalty as there is in WA.

Edited September 5, 2021 by Lucifer's Hero

[Binmans PA 26,494]

1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Really?  Sooooooooooo long ago.

Easily trumped by the Brayshaw, Jetta, Pickett, Jackson, Rivers, Farmer clans and communities.  

Maybe. My Geelong supporting half of the family likes to tell me they have a bit of support over there from Polly Farmer days and they seemed to pack the stadium the other night. I know half the crowd were Freo or West Coast players, but still. :P

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

1 hour ago, dazzledavey36 said:

I know some on here are pretty confident against the cats, but for me I just have this uneasy feeling that losing twice to us during the season won't sit well with this Geelong outfit. Scott is a very smart and tactical coach. They would have taken so much learnings out of the last game and I expect a much sound response.

They've also improved their side since the last round. They'll have Duncan, Touhy and potentially Higgins. Watched Touhy Friday night and he just makes them so much better off half back and wing.

I have it in the back of my head that it was only 3 weeks ago this same Geelong team were 44 points up. So when up and going they can be at their deadly best. 

The other thing to look at is their track record at optus stadium is actually pretty good. Much better record then ours. 

I know they are a bit banged up, but they always seem to find a ways to get into this position.  Their finals record under Scott is phenomenal even though the wins haven't been on their side. 

Is he?

He’s obviously a good coach but he’s had a decade of a very good list (obviously he’s part of the reason for this) but I just don’t see him being a tactical genius.

[Big Carl 333]

38 minutes ago, Watson11 said:

Exactly.  I have far more admiration for Sydney who have played in 8 or 9 prelims over 20 years. 

Agree. Now that Clarkson has gone Longmire is the best coach in the comp.

[At the break of Gawn 3,672]

1 hour ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

Agreed.

Oddly, Scott said Optus suited their style of play.  Yet, this was the first game they have won there in several attempts.  Maybe he was pumping up his player's confidence. Optus might suit their game but it suits ours better. 

And we have won several games there vs the Eagles and the crowd.  We can draw on that for confidence.  

Like you I think that whatever positives Geelong take out of playing at Optus ours trumps theirs.

That’s a weird take by Scott. Optus stadium is very similar to Marvel and a fair bit closer to the MCG rather than GMHBA

https://turfmate.com.au/boundary-sizes-to-be-reduced-at-gmhba-stadium/

Since 2018 at Optus:

Melb: 2-3

Geel: 3-4

In 2021

Melb: 1-0

Geelong: 2-0

 

[Deemania since 56 6,240]

17 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I’m already so nervous, mainly because the thought of losing to Geelong makes me feel ill.

Umpires, free kicks against us, overlooking screaming frees due to us because of the throws, holds, punches, elbow jabs and the like that the insulated Cats dish up in the name of footballing expertise, and catch-up\ keep-Geelong-in-the-game before the final quarter through the umpires' interferences in the game; all part of creating a Geelong-opposition loss that is now as ingrained, endemic and corrupt as Gillon needs and wishes it to be.

Feeling sick, CBizkit? It will be attempted - I feel sick, as well, about the game even though I wear a ring of confidence about our abilities to win and win well.

This margin of excellence we hold over Geelong will be prevalent throughout the game and will therefore be countered, eroded and killed by any means after the first bounce.

For those who, in their blindness and good faith, believe it won't happen, consider the Bulldogs win against Brisbane Lions last night. Check the free kick differential. One AFL executive wish achieved, with another to come and experimented with from the MFC/Geelong game.