Geez everyone is buying into the Ratugolea hype train.

28 minutes ago, MadAsHell said:

My left field suggestion. Hibberd takes Cameron. Yes he's giving up 10cm, but matches him in the kg department.

Allows May to Hawkins, Petty to Esava and Lever can zone off from Rohan who doesn't touch it in September anyway.

Cameron would have a field day on Hibbo

49 minutes ago, Swooper1987 said:

Rohan is listed at 188 cm, Hibberd 186, Smith 191.  Hibberd to Rohan looks a reasonable match, in the air at least.  Rohan does most for pace.

Despite what some people think Pigs do not fly and Rohan has a very good vertical leap - will beat Hibbo in the air easily - not sure about that match up

Assuming Hunt is good to go, I think he is the best match-up for Rohan. I don't like like the idea of bringing in Hibberd to play on Cameron in order to free up Lever. Cameron is too good and we must play Petty on him. I'll back Lever in to play and zone off Ratugolea - will be too smart for him. 

Edited September 7, 20213 yr by RodGrinter14

13 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Geez everyone is buying into the Ratugolea hype train.

I know, he's useless

Gawn is just going to float back into defence like he used to

Edited September 7, 20213 yr by FritschyBusiness

From many wanting Smith out - now teeth gnashing when it is forced upon us!

If it comes down to Smith / Hibbard for the win, we are in trouble.  Our system down back is more important than our fourth backman selection.

Feel sorry for Smith but its no big headache with Hibberd in the wings.

 

17 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

From the Fox article.  They English speak good!

Of small conciliation is the fact he penned a deal for 2022 last month.

I was wondering who was going to buy 2022.

I hope for Smith's sake it is a better year than 2021. I bought 2021, thinking i was being clever after 2020, and it has been a disaster!

14 minutes ago, Sydee said:

Despite what some people think Pigs do not fly and Rohan has a very good vertical leap - will beat Hibbo in the air easily - not sure about that match up

Agree on leap, but if Hibberd goes to Rohan he'll physically smash him. Legally.

19 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Geez everyone is buying into the Ratugolea hype train.

The best 5 possession, 1 mark game in the history of the AFL.

You have to remember, Geelong's game is slow and deliberate ball movement. This makes it difficult for Geelong forwards to isolate and get a one-on-one. This plays into our hands massively - just look at the games we lost and how we lost them... quick ball movement and arguably defensive ground balls are our weaknesses. Geelong have neither. 

Smith is an athlete granted, but can be exposed by a smarter forward. Hibberd is not the best athlete, but is a premier defensive unit and will outsmart his opponent. Yes he is on the wrong side of 30 and is slowing down, but we don't need super fast defenders against Geelong.

29 minutes ago, Demonstone said:

From the Fox article.  They English speak good!

Of small conciliation is the fact he penned a deal for 2022 last month.

That’s a perfectly cromulent sentence. It does not embiggen you to criticize it. 🤓

17 minutes ago, leave it to deever said:

Feel sorry for Smith but its no big headache with Hibberd in the wings.

 

This.

Sad for Joel, but the fact his opponent got off the chain last game didn’t bode well for him in any case.

Hibbo provides an invaluable commodity  in finals: experience. While playing those in form is paramount, experience does matter. While Joel has been in the system for a while, Hibbo’s greater exposure at senior level makes me feel more comfortable about this.

Body made out of wet paper unfortunately.  

Sums up his career.

1 hour ago, Chook said:

No way Lever is playing on Ratugolea

Nightmare flashbacks to Round 1, 2018. And not the usual ones.

44 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Geez everyone is buying into the Ratugolea hype train.

Ratugolea won’t do much damage other than get the ball to ground. It’s a responsibility for small defenders to clean up at ground level. 

Thank god we have great backline depth ey. If it were one of the three true tall backs I would be worried.

Will be interesting you would think Hibberd comes in. He is slightly undersized but uses his big body so well. He will take Danger when he goes forward. He's been well rested and hopefully comes out with that ferociousness we've seen him have in big games. Much less of a liability with ball in hand then Smith.

The Ratugolea factor is really interesting. Statistically he's done practically nothing (6 marks in his last four games...) but obviously gives them a different look structurally. It gives them more big bodies to throw at forward half contests reducing the likelihood of our biggest weapon being our intercept marks and ability to score of turnovers. 

We're just going to have to be that bit better at the contest in the air and ground especially in the back half. I said it last game that guys like Rivers, Harmes, Salem and Sparrow would have to really step up. They will have to do the same once again to ensure those ground balls don't result in goals.

 

 

29 minutes ago, binman said:

The best 5 possession, 1 mark game in the history of the AFL.

Is he related to Rob Quiney?

9 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Is he related to Rob Quiney?

Name rings a bell. But can't place him.

Google time.

1 hour ago, Chook said:

No way Lever is playing on Ratugolea. Maybe nominally, but I suspect there will be a lot more Gawn in the backline now.

Geelong will try to create mismatches in their forward line to upset lever and may.

Esava will go deep and run at the ball where he is best. Hawkins often plays high but will go back with Esava. Rohan will try to pick up lever and run off him. Cameron plqys high as well but is dangerous deep.

Our boys are well drilled and how they manage the 'handover' is important. I think this part of theground will decide the game unless we get off a flyer. A 5 goal lead to us would see Geelong panic.

 

4 minutes ago, binman said:

Name rings a bell. But can't place him.

Google time.

He scored the greatest 9 in Test Cricket history.

2 hours ago, The Jackson 6 said:

Was ‘Hibberd to replace’ in Tom Morris’ report or was that just an opinion?

Smith was a handy match-up for Rohan.

Think the article has changed since I first read it. Originally said match committee had chosen Hibberd, then said something like Fox believe Hibberd will replace him.

Either protecting his source or his original wording was a stretch.

59 minutes ago, RodGrinter14 said:

Assuming Hunt is good to go, I think he is the best match-up for Rohan. I don't like like the idea of bringing in Hibberd to play on Cameron in order to free up Lever. Cameron is too good and we must play Petty on him. I'll back Lever in to play and zone off Ratugolea - will be too smart for him. 

Agree on all of the above and will be amazed if not implemented.

Hunt is the same height as Rohan, got him covered for speed and footy IQ

Hunt will run off him if not careful and feed the forwards . Rohan can't leave him alone.

Hunt is also a good contested mark.  Hibbered will really make me nervous.

25 minutes ago, Young Blood said:

Thank god we have great backline depth ey. If it were one of the three true tall backs I would be worried.

Will be interesting you would think Hibberd comes in. He is slightly undersized but uses his big body so well. He will take Danger when he goes forward. He's been well rested and hopefully comes out with that ferociousness we've seen him have in big games. Much less of a liability with ball in hand then Smith.

The Ratugolea factor is really interesting. Statistically he's done practically nothing (6 marks in his last four games...) but obviously gives them a different look structurally. It gives them more big bodies to throw at forward half contests reducing the likelihood of our biggest weapon being our intercept marks and ability to score of turnovers. 

We're just going to have to be that bit better at the contest in the air and ground especially in the back half. I said it last game that guys like Rivers, Harmes, Salem and Sparrow would have to really step up. They will have to do the same once again to ensure those ground balls don't result in goals.

 

 

I have no converns about these players. Proven finalists from 2 weeks ago. Including Bowey if he gets a game.