Preview Changes vs Cats in the Semi Final

[ep2018]

AFL Finals 2019: Geelong’s home semi-final against West Coast set to be played at MCG — not GMHBA Stadium

Sorry, Cats fans — your home AFL final dreams have been dashed

www.foxsports.com.au

We're boned.

 

[YippeeYiYeo]

Hmm i wish there was room for Cameron. He just has better kicking skills than Waterman. Every time Waterman lines up for goal its a lottery where the ball flies off to.

 

[Capriati]

AFL Finals 2019: Geelong’s home semi-final against West Coast set to be played at MCG — not GMHBA Stadium

Sorry, Cats fans — your home AFL final dreams have been dashed

www.foxsports.com.au

We're boned.

I saw this coverage and it was all speculative by Ralphy. He is just stirring the pot to get reactions. Highly doubt it will be at KP.

 

[amazingjoshy]

AFL Finals 2019: Geelong’s home semi-final against West Coast set to be played at MCG — not GMHBA Stadium

Sorry, Cats fans — your home AFL final dreams have been dashed

www.foxsports.com.au

We're boned.

would be out and out cheating by the VFL, make no mistake. Can't let the 4th placed side play a home game against the minor premiers, and a week later completely change it all up just because...

 

[Cuzz09]

would be out and out cheating by the VFL, make no mistake. Can't let the 4th placed side play a home game against the minor premiers, and a week later completely change it all up just because...

You forget who we're dealing with.

Absolutely nothing would surprise.

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Capriati]

would be out and out cheating by the VFL, make no mistake. Can't let the 4th placed side play a home game against the minor premiers, and a week later completely change it all up just because...

I forgot to mention that Jon Ralph is a massive tigers fan. He is probably stirring the pot to send us down to Geelong cos he doesnt want Richmond facing us again.

 

[CM9000]

I like Hickey and I'm not clamoring to replace him but jesus christ his ruckwork is terrible. I dont know if you lose anything playing Allen instead? Vardy is probably a better tap ruck even and do you make the focus all about the clearances? God I hope Nics ankle held up.

Yeah I like Hickey but I feel like having Allen as an another decent runner through the middle (not as unco) would be very valuable

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

In: Allen
Out: Hickey

Not something we're likely to trial in a final, but I'd like to see the following setup:

• Nic as the primary ruckman
• Allen providing centre square relief when Naita is off
• Darling taking forward 50 ruck contests when Naita is off
• Barrass taking defensive 50 contests when Naita is off

Provides more mobility than Hickey, while giving Naita appropriate support and not brutalising Allen too much.
It would be relatively tricky to manage rotations as it's not as simple as ruck on/ruck off.

Taking HickGod out of the Eagles would put us back so far, further than we were in 2007, that we'd probably be looking at two decades without a flag.

The Hickster stays.

 

[amazingjoshy]

You forget who we're dealing with.

Absolutely nothing would surprise.

On SM-G925I using BigFooty.com mobile app

nope not forgotten.... just calling it out before it happens

 

[Bacchus]

I would consider Allen for Hickey if we play Geelong

A burst ruckman and a kid who's a token in a cut throat final? Interesting. Naitanui can only play with a solid back up. He's not up to 60% time let alone 70 or 80%. The only choice apart from Hickey is Vardy. Allen could replace Waterman but not Hickey.

 

[Bluke]

I can’t see it. There are to many West Coast Victorian Gold and Platinum members who are guaranteed seats to WCE finals in Victoria to have it in Geelong. It would violate our membership terms and conditions if those seats didn’t materialize and that only happens if the games at the G or marvel. A Friday night game will draw 60 - 70k easily. The AFL won’t lock out 30k - 40k paying footy fans.

 

[amazingjoshy]

Nic played 53% game time. The reason he can come on and smash it is because we have a competent ruck when he isn't on. Terrible calls to drop Hickey imo. There's no way NN can ruck enough time already to drop him and pinch with Allen as 2nd ruck.

 

[Bluke]

Just to add to... that would be forgoing circa $1.5m - $2.5m in revenue from ticket sales alone. Not to mention food and beverage sales. If everyone of those 40k spend on average $15 that’s a further $600k.

That’s just bad business, and Gil isn’t a bad business man.

 

[Bacchus]

Hutch to tag Kelly & yeo to go head to head with Dangerfield.
I’d back Nelson in to run on Ablett.

Nelson on one of the smartest players to ever play? I have a few doubts on that one.

 

[daddy_4_eyes]

Just to add to... that would be forgoing circa $1.5m - $2.5m in revenue from ticket sales alone. Not to mention food and beverage sales. If everyone of those 40k spend on average $15 that’s a further $600k.

That’s just bad business, and Gil isn’t a bad business man.

The AFL is something like a $1.5b industry every year with attendance at 7 million people so far in 2019.
Don't think the AFL will lose sleep over $2m in lost revenue or 40,000 people missing out on tickets.
Not that you will get 95k at the MCG next week anyway, probably looking at 65,000.

What the AFL wants is to showcase its sport in the grandest way possible to generate marketing and telecast revenues. You don't do that by playing finals in a country town, you do that by playing at the MCG.

 

[wce4premiership]

Hmm i wish there was room for Cameron. He just has better kicking skills than Waterman. Every time Waterman lines up for goal its a lottery where the ball flies off to.

Waterman has a great set shot! Kicked some big goals for us from set shots. Those two from the boundary, not many get them. Probably could have gone the snap but obviously not confident in that technique.

 

[Bluke]

Sorry, I just don’t agree. $2m in revenue is noting to sneeze at for a not for profit sporting body that is subsidizing a bunch of clubs and looking to expand its men’s, women’s and grass roots competitions.

Also that number $2m is based on the assumption of 60k - 70k @ $55 per ticket. Conservative assumptions to say the least. The ticket take could be double that when you factor in corporate packages.

Agree with your second point about showcasing. Absolutely. And that works hand in hand with driving revenue growth through availability of seating due to capacity.

 

[Ishmael_]

It's my birthday next Friday. I'm now living in a foreign land, battling time differences to barrack like a lunatic. And it would be so very nice for the boys to get it done in a week.

If we manage to nut Geelong twice, first by sending them packing and second when they hand over Tim Kelly, I will be a very happy man. And although i will have left the 27 club by then, i'll be happy to depart in the 28s, because Lordy, I think my life will have peaked.

 

[Balls In]

AFL Finals 2019: Geelong’s home semi-final against West Coast set to be played at MCG — not GMHBA Stadium

Sorry, Cats fans — your home AFL final dreams have been dashed

www.foxsports.com.au

We're boned.

That would be blatent inexcusable bias after the Collingwood game. Also Kardinia park is not fit for finals with its unique dimensions. I dont know how its even fit to play AFL.

 

[Biggie]

Hickeys last game v Geel at bullshit alphabet soup stadium

25 Disposals
32 HO’s (unsure of advantage which is the important stat)
7 marks
5 tackles
1 goal
143 Champion Data points

He won’t get to those numbers with the Angry Fijian in the team but shit on a brick those two will have a great game at the G.

Go Eagles

 

[frenchconnection]

This almost sums it up for me.

OAllen has been very good this year. Good overhead, good below his knees, applies pressure and is a very smart footballer. Can't really not play him if fit.

Agree that against Geelong he could replace Hickey as Geelong are not a rucking midfield. Doing that against Brundy would be putting a lot of pressure on NN and be a risky move.

But against the Pies I differ from you in that he could replace Waterman. Unlike some of the Waterman haters on here, I actually think he's been pretty good. But OAllen is better. Replacing good with very good is no criticism on Waterman, more acknowledgement on how good Oscar has been.

Duggan for Nelson works with Hutch fit as the tagger. Or possibly Watson if we want that style?

Duggan had a stinker last game due to coming back from injury and the fact he's had no game since to find form, I would say definately no Duggan unless Nelson is concussed. Even then would Cole be a better fit?

 

[frenchconnection]

Should have the answer to that in a couple of days if he does or doesn't play the WAFL Final

Didn't Simmo apply to the WAFC or whoever to allow Duggan to play in the WAFL but was knocked back?

 

[DickDunn]

I can’t see it. There are to many West Coast Victorian Gold and Platinum members who are guaranteed seats to WCE finals in Victoria to have it in Geelong. It would violate our membership terms and conditions if those seats didn’t materialize and that only happens if the games at the G or marvel. A Friday night game will draw 60 - 70k easily. The AFL won’t lock out 30k - 40k paying footy fans.

Yeah the more I think about it, the more I just can’t see the AFL taking that hit. They’d get plenty of neutrals for a game like that too. Fits with what Caro wrote about this recently too, and she’s pretty tight with AFL types

 

[Ok Boomer]

A burst ruckman and a kid who's a token in a cut throat final? Interesting. Naitanui can only play with a solid back up. He's not up to 60% time let alone 70 or 80%. The only choice apart from Hickey is Vardy. Allen could replace Waterman but not Hickey.

I wouldn’t change the ruck set up and knowing the club they won’t.

But Geelong clearly have no faith in any of their rucks so do we match them for mobility or go for ultimate ruck dominance?

 

[wc_eagles_since86]

Same team.. except Nelson has to go. He was a liability.
I think he'll be a fantastic, hard hitting defender with a cool head and solid hit in future. However, at the moment he's too green and coughed up some awful stuff on Thurs. Can't have that in finals: especially not against top teams such as Geelong.

Who to replace him with?

Edit: after reading through suggestions: Watson was outstanding and reliable.

 

[Biggie]

First Semi Final: Geelong Cats v West Coast Eagles, MCG, date and time TBC