Nice irony - heath scotland - I like it
I worry about this game.
Geelongs midfield is very very good - as we know - and young and fast and everything you would want. (Can you tell I rate it highly) While it is true we have a better forward line than Geelong, I reckon they'll have a lot more oppourtunities, so this game will probably be won or lost in our backline. Johnson on Ablett will be a teriffic battle if it eventuates - and I hope it does - I reckon Johnno could cover Ablett this week, it's a tough ask but he's good enough.
Ottens will start up forward I think - no reason for him not to - Wakes or Presti? Probably Presti, Wakes and Clement on Kinglsey and Playfair are good matchups for us if our boys can keep up with them - should be able to.
Interesting to see Scarlet on T. Cloke - again I hope (and think it will) happen, will be a big test for the young kid, even though Scarlet isn't in good form as already pointed out.
I think if we're a chance this week our midfield will have to put a lot of pressure on the kicks into Geelongs forward fifty, and out short backmen will have to run it out sucessfully. If we can't get some positive forward movements out of our backline - ie. if our backline can't win enough of the ball or if we turn it over midfield - I doubt our midfield will win enough for us to take the points. Luckily Clement, Shaw, Johnno and Swan are in pretty good form atm, so it might eventuate.
One thing that might work for us will be if Fraser can drop forward and kick a couple - while playing in the ruck - meaning King /Ottens wont be able to drop forward as they like to do. For this to happen we'll have to win a bit of the ball - and that I think is the big 'if'.
Midfield I would like to see Malthouse go with the same attitude of the last two of weeks - less tagging more positive play - although Licca on Bartel and Holland on Enright might be safe moves at least initially. It'll be very interesting if Burns, Licca and Lockyer get on top early - what will Thompson do? He's got a few options, but he runs the risk of turning the game into a slow moving, flooding contested posesion game - which would be better for us then for them.
This game will not be over til the final siren - look at the legs on Geelongs bench and I don't think we'll have a repeat of last weeks fade out against Freo - I hope it isn't but I can't help feeling that if our tall forwards (The Clokes, Tarrant and Fraser) can't get on top early and provide direct channels to goal, we'll be relatively stuffed by 3/4 time. Here's hoping for another huge one from T. Cloke.
I hate to say it but I've got a bad feeling about his one....
- Ben
