Preview AFL Round 3 - Collingwood v Geelong, MCG, 7:50PM Saturday 5 April

[Partridge]

Oh s**t I was hoping you wouldn't pull out that tired old fallback position again MC, of course they know more then us, doesn't stop them making mistakes though.

Recall you saying a few days back in a thread the MC wouldn't persevere with players to the detriment of the team (or words to that effect) but how did that work out last year with Blicavs and Varcoe?

Or Hawkins.

 

[Partridge]

Yeah but big Daws surely needs a rest two weeks into the season doncha think, and then there's always that good old team balance to consider.

Ah yes team balance. Never mind that last week we actually won 17 more hitouts than the opposition, and seeing as Leuenberger was one of them I was quite happy with that.

 

[Cattery]

Ah yes team balance. Never mind that last week we actually won 17 more hitouts than the opposition, and seeing as Leuenberger was one of them I was quite happy with that.

Think we're in a minority here regarding the importance of a winning ruck combination, but we'll keep workin' on the rest to make them see the error of their ways.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Just hope they are trying to manage Simpson, cos ruck dominance beats extra midfield run every day of the week.

Its not just you. Almost everyone with a football brain wants Simpson in.

Ruck dominance is what we've lacked and wanted, for so long! I don't understand Simpson not playing?

That's ridiculous.
Everyone knows Simpson was dropped because Burbs offered the MC a bulk intro to all his female cousins. Of whom, being Tasmanian, there are ample to go round.

Well now I understand! Yep, this makes sense. Finally, an explanation!

Let me think about it. Yes.

I would pick two and only two ruckmen. Simpson and McIntosh. Rather strangely, I would actually play them both too. If that means Blicavs plays a full game on the wing (not the worst thing for his development) in the VFL, then that's what happens.

Exactly!

But hey! Perhaps only playing one ruck, because we've only had a #2 ruck for a while now, is a new strategy developed by Geelong, may become the new rage?

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Hasn't Simpson been emg all 3 rounds so far? Might get a call up again, can see them dropping poor GHS.

 

[Partridge]

Hasn't Simpson been emg all 3 rounds so far? Might get a call up again, can see them dropping poor GHS.

Let's see.....23% game time, 9 possessions, 2 goals, clearly hasn't done enough. Out he goes!

 

[sarah.13]

Career
72Games24
5.1Kicks Per Game4.4
4.0Handballs Per Game6.3
9.0Disposals Per Game10.7
3.5Marks Per Game2.8
1.0Goals Per Game0.3
0.7Behinds Per Game0.3
1.7Tackles Per Game3.1
4.3Hitouts Per Game10.1
0.5Frees For Per Game0.6
0.9Frees Against Per Game0.5
Career averages of White on the left and Blicavs..
Can't see how White will have much more influence in the ruck than Blicavs, given he will also play CHF.
McIntosh should be able to break even or better with Grundy ( a 2nd year player)
The MC have gone for more run and speed to match Collingwood's, which is fair enough..horses for courses I say.

 

[Partridge]

Career
72Games24
5.1Kicks Per Game4.4
4.0Handballs Per Game6.3
9.0Disposals Per Game10.7
3.5Marks Per Game2.8
1.0Goals Per Game0.3
0.7Behinds Per Game0.3
1.7Tackles Per Game3.1
4.3Hitouts Per Game10.1
0.5Frees For Per Game0.6
0.9Frees Against Per Game0.5
Career averages of White on the left and Blicavs..
Can't see how White will have much more influence in the ruck than Blicavs, given he will also play CHF.
McIntosh should be able to break even or better with Grundy ( a 2nd year player)
The MC have gone for more run and speed to match Collingwood's, which is fair enough..horses for courses I say.

Can't believe White has played 72 games to be honest. They're pretty humble stats.

That said, there's one column that could hurt us - and I stress the word "could" - goals per game. That's the danger.

 

[meto]

Just hope they are trying to manage Simpson, cos ruck dominance beats extra midfield run every day of the week.

The Pies mids will be thanking our MC heaps if Dawsy the giant is left out, but I don't think that will happen.
He'll play!

 

[vinum coupe]

I can't believe people are still soaking over Blitz and Simpson.
Is this going to carry on all year?

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Let's see.....23% game time, 9 possessions, 2 goals, clearly hasn't done enough. Out he goes!

Yeah I don't get the hate for GHS, he really needs game time.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I can't believe people are still soaking over Blitz and Simpson.
Is this going to carry on all year?

Unless and until they drop Smith and/or Brown.

 

[James1970]

Been away, and have just seen the team sheets.

Daws? Wha...

 

[Zouz Kitty]

I think all Preview threads this year should just be renamed BLICAVS CHAT.

Chris Scott has said from the beginning of the season that neither Dawson nor Hamish will play all games this season. They'll be rotated through to keep them both fit. Yes, we are better with both in the team but I wouldn't go throwing hissy fits each time one is left out or managed. IF Dawson runs out for the 2s this week or is left out again next week, then I may be concerned but at this stage it just seems like we're getting what we were told would happen and some people are somehow surprised. I'm not even against the idea of Blicavs going back and learning his craft - whatever that may be - in the 2s but the endless chat and derision thrown his way in these preview threads is getting beyond tiresome. He's this year's Varcoe, apparently.

Yes! But why leave out Simpson in a game against Collingwood? If he was rested when we played less threatening teams, I'd agree.
It is unfair criticism BF, when Blitz was last year's darling. Again I say, until last season he'd only played 14 games! People forget he's a second year Kitten!
Maybe with all the success, our supporters have unrealistic expectations?

 

[catempire]

Oh s**t I was hoping you wouldn't pull out that tired old fallback position again MC, of course they know more then us, doesn't stop them making mistakes though.

I never said they don't make mistakes. In fact, pay attention and you'll see I'm critical from time to time.

Recall you saying a few days back in a thread the MC wouldn't persevere with players to the detriment of the team (or words to that effect) but how did that work out last year with Blicavs and Varcoe?

Ah, speaking of tired old fallback positions! The merits of selection decisions for the finals in 2013 - and any match for that matter - are matters of opinion, not objective fact, despite the zealotry one sees around here pretty regularly. The counterfactual is unknown and unprovable. Nobody can state with any certainty what would have happened under different selection scenarios.

The upshot of it all though is as I stated - you are effectively asking us not to merely believe that the MC are fallible - no one would contend they are not - you are asking us to believe that the MC habitually makes the same error over and over again. I for one find that much harder to believe than the more plausible explanation that they are more grounded in the reality than keyboard warriors (myself included) on BigFooty.

 

[bigfarter]

Yes! But why leave out Simpson in a game against Collingwood? If he was rested when we played less threatening teams, I'd agree.

Maybe they're being arrogant but are Grundy/White really a ruck tandem to be feared? I do get the argument that we could/should play both Daws and Hamish in this game to exploit that weaker tandem (and I agree, mostly) but I also think the MC may see it as a game where one of those guys can be managed. Again, if Simpson runs out and plays a full game in the twos, I'll have cause for concern but at this stage I'm seeing nothing that is overly surprising or horrific.

 

[Catastic82]

Weird omission.. Still I'm guessing they just want more run in the team.

Still Dawson would had eaten Grundy and stretched their small backline.

I must believe in the MC, I must believe in the MC,I must believe in the MC...

 

[Zouz Kitty]

It's not a matter of "can not". It's a question of the best combination to beat Collingwood this week and to manage the players over the course of the season. I know you're smart enough to understand that Partridge.

But is it the best team to defeat Collingwood? Or are the MC looking at the games we have in the next few weeks? West Coast, Hawthorn, Port + Richmond. One, three, five + nine on the ladder, to Collingwood's 12th. My concern is underestimating Collingwood, again.

 

[Partridge]

Yes! But why leave out Simpson in a game against Collingwood? If he was rested when we played less threatening teams, I'd agree.
It is unfair criticism BF, when Blitz was last year's darling. Again I say, until last season he'd only played 14 games! People forget he's a second year Kitten!
Maybe with all the success, our supporters have unrealistic expectations?

That's pretty much the core objection I would think. If it was Round 13 v St.Kilda, and we were 11-1 or something, absolutely, that's when maintenance becomes important. But this is a big game (we haven't beaten them since the 2011 Grand Final), and now that we've finally got a genuine ruck combination, I'd want them both out there. McIntosh gets more than enough disposals, and both have kicked goals this year.

 

[catempire]

But is it the best team to defeat Collingwood? Or are the MC looking at the games we have in the next few weeks? West Coast, Hawthorn, Port + Richmond. One, three, five + nine on the ladder, to Collingwood's 12th. My concern is underestimating Collingwood, again.

There is a completely plausible explanation for it - we would be too tall with the extra ruckman and we would be a better chance of winning with more run in this match. No doubt, managing the workloads of the two monsters is a critical factor, but I seriously doubt we are jeopardising four points for the sake of future matches.

 

[Partridge]

Maybe they're being arrogant but are Grundy/White really a ruck tandem to be feared? I do get the argument that we could/should play both Daws and Hamish in this game to exploit that weaker tandem (and I agree, mostly) but I also think the MC may see it as a game where one of those guys can be managed. Again, if Simpson runs out and plays a full game in the twos, I'll have cause for concern but at this stage I'm seeing nothing that is overly surprising or horrific.

We'll find out soon enough. If it is about management, then Simpson above all should not play a full game in the VFL. For the obvious reason he wouldn't be getting any rest at all. If he does on the other hand........

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Apologies if I've missed it but are there people saying we can't have both Simpson and McIntosh in the team? I'd think most, if not all, Cats supporters would appreciate how important the two big men are to our team this year. As I say, I'll look foolish if Simpson ends up playing in the twos or is left out against the Eagles or Hawthorn but it seems to me as if the two big rucks are mainly going to be used against the teams with bigger/better ruckmen and managed through other games. With that in mind, deriding Blicavs' inclusion is kinda beside the point because I would LIKE to think he won't be preferred over either Daws or Hamish in very important games. Now, they DO clearly love Blicavs, so I may be wrong but I'm prepared to let time tell with that one.

I'm with you there BF! Happy to be wrong or foolish.

 

[rooie]

I can't believe people are still soaking over Blitz and Simpson.
Is this going to carry on all year?

until SJ gets suspended for a bump which of course will be an AFL equalization conspiracy, or blitz comes clean and admits he has dirt on the MC.

 

[Partridge]

Simpson would have no chance around the ground against White.

Funnily enough the differences aren't that pronounced:

Simpson averages 7.5 touches a game, White 9.0.
Simpson averages 2.8 marks a game, White 3.5.
Simpson averages 2.2 tackles a game, White 1.7 (surprising stat).

So overall, White gets more of it, but not that much more.

Of course Simpson does have one stat slightly in his favour - 22.1 hitouts a game to 4.3.

 

[Vdubs]

DS was named as emergency for Crows but played. I was pissed off then happy.
He again is named as emergency, what chance that both he and Witts play?
Bit of cat and pie going on?
Going to be a perfect night for footy at the G, would love to see our rucks share the duties again and dominate, AGAIN. Makes sense, but who knows what we'll see.
Our job is to support, which should involve ALL aspects of our great club, EVEN those decisions that have been made specifically to antagonise me, how dare they drop DS when he is near my favourite player?