Pre-match: The Furries vs the Pies - The Analysis....here...

[Zakal]

Well actually, i was disagreeing with you (for the reasons i posted initially) up until the point about Scarlett getting lost, and returning to the goal square on whoever goes back.

...maybe that is the best way to manage this matchup. Force it to be changed.

If Scarlett has to play on Cloke, thats a win for us imo, because be wont able to run off Cloke like he runs off Rocca. (although Clokey hasn't had a heap of run lately).

Further on that point, Milburn (or Egan who isnt playing) is Clokes usual matchup...but Cloke is a lot bigger this year. Milburns bread and butter is guys like Silvagni who he can belt in the head behind play and show what a real champion player he is. Cloke was about 90kgs last year...hes over 100 this year. Pretty sure there was a 13kg gain over the preseason. Although this makes him more suited to Harley, Harley will be more needed on Rocca if he's going to play up the ground, leaving either a mismatched Milburn or a less effectual Scarlett to cover Clokey. Either way its probably a win for us.

[Snoop Dog]

Guys want to reply to all of them but dont have much time. The analysis is really good and enjoyed reading each post.

Clearly Wood vs Bryan is not an easy call.

Ling being out will help us a lot. Last year he blanketed Swan but would think this year he would have had Pendles. They dont have another natural tagger unless Enright or Selwood get the job.

[John Wren]

if ling is out, that's a huge loss. it was no coincidence that the pussies came to life against the bigger pussies when ling started firing.

[3rd degree]

If ling is out we will go in with a lot more confidence, but really it shouldn't matter if we want it enough we should be able to take these trumped up corio bay sook bags.

[pietillidie]

We need a third forward target for this game or we will struggle (preferably a big but mobile forward target).

If Maxwell stays in, he should play forward. It's the perfect opportunity to use his defensive skills. IMO that is the best way to help Rocca (assuming the mids play well, of course). Whatever the case it is juggling the big guys as pointed out above that will make the difference. The only question mark over the Bear is his fitness, which becomes more critical in this game than against the Saints (however, I note many posters have said he has been playing consistently well in the twos, so presumably that means he is fit enough?? Does anyone know how many minutes he played last week??).

If the Bear could manage enough game time I would go with him because he messes with the opposition with his physicality. At the moment that physicality is far more creative than what the developing Wood can contribute (he will be our first ruckman soon enough, however). This is all assuming the Bear can play with the same recklessness as last week.

It's such a hard call. If Maxwell plays forward it will make it easier to go with Josh and the Bear. However we work it, if we go in without an extra permanent forward we will be punished for it by their backline.

[STOKA35]

FOR US TO WIN
-geelong are human as well they are not unbeatable
-get the ball first
-use it well
-tackle, harrass,shepherd pressure,chase and run your arse off when we have
not got the ball.

do those basic things you will win more than you lose

[uuuuu..... The LoneSTAR]

i'm hoping for the best but preparing for an unbuckling of the belt ...

As long as we're not the one bending over....... it sounds win/win!!


In 2007 they beat us by 5pt in the PF & by 15pt RD15!.... not too bad!
In 2006 we beat them by 102pt & 25pt in RD's 8 & 11!...... also not bad!

Let's hope the cats freeze under lights!!!

[mel_kay39]

Geelong have been treading water for a few weeks now. It's early in the season and they dont want to spend all their tickets too early. They have been beating sides they should be beating by 10 goals by 3 goals..... They've been in second gear, doing what they need to... winning... without killing themselves....

They're waiting for the right opposition... the right game... the right stage....

What's the bet they 'switch on' on Friday night....?!?

I'm very worried about this match. If each player doesnt play at 100%, we're in big trouble....

Yeah, I have a feeling they're spoiling for a fight. They didn't like us getting so close in the prelim last year so I bet they want to smash us all over the park. Our boys simply must not let that happen.
On the flipside, and I'm hoping that this is the case - maybe Geelong have had their fifteen minutes, they've beaten their bogey, won their premiership, and now they're just cruising. Maybe, just maybe, they're due for a loss. And if the team that almost upset the applecart last year can't do it, who can? (well, maybe the Dogs or Hawks, but they're not playing Geelong this week. We are).
Personally, I hope they cruise tomorrow night, we win (albeit by a tight margin) and they go on to smash the Dawks. I really hope so cos I'm sick to death of hearing about Franklin, and I'd rather my home side beath Hawthorn than beat us. It's hell living here when Geelong beat Collingwood. Just try catching the train home with the bastards like we did last year.

[John Wren]

i'm hoping for the best but preparing for an unbuckling of the belt ...

As long as we're not the one bending over....... it sounds win/win!!


In 2007 they beat us by 5pt in the PF & by 15pt RD15!.... not too bad!
In 2006 we beat them by 102pt & 25pt in RD's 8 & 11!...... also not bad!

Let's hope the cats freeze under lights!!!

we are $4.50 head to head, pussies $1.18. i didn't think we would be that long.

[DaVe86]

Teams will be released shortly....very interested to see what happens.

[Dave The Man]

Geelong Team:

GEELONG
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, Josh Hunt
HB: Darren Milburn, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright
C: Cameron Ling, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman
F: James Kelly, Tom Hawkins, Mathew Stokes
Foll: Mark Blake, Gary Ablett, Joel Corey
I/C: Trent West, Andrew Mackie, Ryan Gamble, David Wojcinski
In: Stokes, West
Out: Max Rooke, Shane Mumford

[Mossi]

Guys want to reply to all of them but dont have much time. The analysis is really good and enjoyed reading each post.

Clearly Wood vs Bryan is not an easy call.

Ling being out will help us a lot. Last year he blanketed Swan but would think this year he would have had Pendles. They dont have another natural tagger unless Enright or Selwood get the job.

have another look at the games ...... Ling may have got the points in the round 14 game but Swan killed him in the preliminary!
Still one of the best individual contests to watch. They both rely on body strengh and positioning to win the wrestle. Pity Ling isn't playing otherwise id love to see Swanny Kill him once again!

[Dave The Man]

[favourites 2008]

Get over it mate, Bryan played better than your love child last week, deserves to keep his spot... not like he'll be rucking against anyone decent, more than likely just West. Gives us some much needed grunt. I think the selection was good for this game. But i dont think Fraser will play.

[johncitizen]

I would much prefer for Bryan to have been dropped as well. Wood has been good for us.