Pre Match: Pies v. Cats - all comments please

[HAL]

I see. Micks 'swingman' is Micks 'swingman' ? I really couldn't say for sure.

[Sultan of spin]

The team selection is very interesting with lots of experienced players left out despite it being a massive game, I think if this was a final then Fraser, Lockyer and Presti would all be in the team and Jack and Anvil would be right in the mix. We may not necessarily have selected our best team to win this match but we are selecting a team that will benefit us in the long term with Brown, Reid, Caff and to a lesser extent Wood exposed to what will be as close as possible to a finals atmosphere.

With the VFL not playing this week id expect a few players to be rested/rotated next week after what is likely to be a tough/hard contest in the seniors and with another road trip to come.

[mattys123]

bloody hell geelong look strong

They look strong but they could look a lot stronger.

Geelong Cats
B: Josh Hunt, Matthew Scarlett, Andrew Mackie
HB: Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Darren Milburn
C: James Kelly, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel
HF: Steve Johnson, Cameron Mooney, Travis Varcoe
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, Gary Ablett
Foll: Mark Blake, Joel Selwood, Paul Chapman
I/C: Shannon Byrnes, James Podsiadly, David Wojcinski, Tom Lonergan

Weaknesses for mine are Brynes, Lonergan, Podsiadly, Milburn and Josh Hunt.

Pods hasn't kicked many goals away from Geelong, Lonergan is being carried in a top side, Byrnes is just a forward pocket and Milburn has struggled so far this year (too old??)

Yes they still have the nucleus of a great team, but their are more holes in their side then in previous years.

I am confident, simply for the fact we have been winning without Wellingham, and with him back, we will grow another leg and perform above expectations.

I still think we will win, selection hasn't changed that for me.

[AN_Inkling]

Wellers' return is big.

Hate seeing JA dropped, but with Jolly pushing forward there was probably no choice.

The youngsters get backed in to take on Geelong's forwards. We've gone slightly quicker, they've gone slightly slower.

Looking forward to it.

Tipping Leon for a big game - he has been working hard, so his luck is due to turn.

Yes. Wellers back is great.

Not so sure about the makeup of the team this week, though. Some potential concerns:

Wood: Is not a second ruck, and will be playing on Hawkins, who is not a ruck at all. Should win the taps, but that's not such a huge advantage. Has potential to be seriously exposed for lack of around the ground ability. Will need plenty of help. I'd have Fraser ahead of him, without question. And even if Fraser weren't ready, Leigh Brown would have been an excellent matchup for Hawkins.

Reid: He's not a good body on body defender. Geelong have three tall forwards. I've no concerns about N.Brown taking either Pods, Mooney, or Hawkins when he goes forward, but would have questions about Reid's ability to shut down any of them - remember the job he did on O'hAilpin.

We've gone in a forward lite. Not sure I'd have brought Lockyer in, but with Medhurst out and Anthony omitted (the right call; three talls and two rucks is just too big), there is a slight concern. Hopefully we'll see Macaffer play more of a forward role and have a greater offensive impact than we've seen from him so far.

Not a bad team, but could have been better. I just hope we're not taking the faith in inexperience a little too far. Will be a good test for some of these players, but will be interesting to see which direction we take when picking our fair dinkum best 22.

[STOKA35]

7.40 start time so you would think the match comitee think it will be more of a ground ball game (dew factor) with Anthony omitted. They think they can win with multiple goal kickers and a big rotatation number for this one, big test for Reid.

[jimbeam]

Geelongs main weakness is pace and small forwards...

Should suit us but will miss Medders, the real test is when they start to pile on the pressure, thats when we must continue to tackle and run hard..

Cannot wait, go pies.

[RICHO1991]

[DT]

[Dave The Man]

Caff can swing to a shut down role, Jack can't. Versatility is the key with that one I reckon

Posted this a few weeks ago.
He is Micks 'swingman'. Can play any role at any given time and i guess he's best suited to a half forward role, even if it is a defensive one, as he came through his junior football as a forward, more so a marking forward option too, in the Medhurst mould (not so much ground ball ability but better over head, just a medium marking option).

So he is our Utility

[jackcass]

Although I predicted there may have been up to 4 changes I really like the message we have sent with this team.

We've stuck with the kids who have played a major part in the reason we're 7-1 and made players like Fraser really have to earn there recall for the first time in a very long time.

Anthony is unlucky but the Wellingham inclusion is huge.

I now expect Macaffer to be used as a defensive forward on Mackie or Enright but hopefully if left forward for significant periods can display his ability as a goal kicker which I believe he possesses.

Most of us expected Presti to return this week or last but it's getting to the stage now that even he mightn't be the automatic inclusion we believed him to be.

And funnily enough, Blair is the only player who has a chance to impress the coaching staff as the VFL has the inter-league match against WA this weekend. A weekend off won't hurt Fraser, Leroy, Lockyer etc but I'm guessing they'd all rather have a chance to push for senior selection.

[jackcass]

The team selection is very interesting with lots of experienced players left out despite it being a massive game, I think if this was a final then Fraser, Lockyer and Presti would all be in the team and Jack and Anvil would be right in the mix. We may not necessarily have selected our best team to win this match but we are selecting a team that will benefit us in the long term with Brown, Reid, Caff and to a lesser extent Wood exposed to what will be as close as possible to a finals atmosphere.

With the VFL not playing this week id expect a few players to be rested/rotated next week after what is likely to be a tough/hard contest in the seniors and with another road trip to come.

Actually on form I'd say we have.

[stui magpie]

Guess this is Caffs chance to solidify a spot.

6 games on the trot would suggest that his spot has already solidified wouldn't you think?

Thickened up nicely but not solidified yet.

Dissapointing for Jack that he's been dropped but like some others can understand why and it's not necessarily his fault.

geelong is going 2 1/2 tall forwards and 1 1/2 ruckmen. We've gone 2 tall forwards and 2 ruckmen. If Wellingham is fit he has to come back in, he's been brilliant this year.

3 tall forwards against the cats...........only if all 3 are in great form. I like Jack, and this may sound strange, but for a 50 goal kicker he's going to have to work his arse off to get back in the team on a regular basis as atm Dawes is ahead of him for a tall and medders would be selected ahead as a medium lead up target.

Sorry for Jack but what a damn good problem to have for a team.

[swoop42]

Age comparison for the big clash!

Collingwood

Aged 30 and over
Shane O'Bree 31.2 months

Aged 27-30
Ben Johnson 29.1
Leon Davis 28.11
Darren Jolly 28.6
Alan Didak 27.3

Aged 24-27
Nick Maxwell 26.11
Dane Swan 26.3
Luke Ball 25.11
Heath Shaw 24.6

Aged 21-24
Harry O'Brien 23.6
Alan Toovey 23.2
Travis Cloke 23.2
Cameron Wood 23.2
Dale Thomas 22.11
Scott Pendlebury 22.4
Brent Macaffer 22.3
Chris Dawes 22
Sharrod Wellingham 21.10
Nathan Brown 21.5
Ben Reid 21.1

Aged 21 and under
Dayne Beams 20.3
Steele Sidebottom 19.4

Geelong

Aged 30 and over
Darren Milburn 33.1 months
Matthew Scarlett 30.11
Cameron Mooney 30.8

Aged 27-30
David Wojcinski 29.4
Cameron Ling 29.3
Corey Enright 28.8
James Podsiadly 28.8
Paul Chapman 28.6
Josh Hunt 28.2

Aged 24-27
Steve Johnson 26.10
Jimmy Bartel 26.7
James Kelly 26.5
Shannon Byrnes 26.1
Gary Ablett 26
Tom Lonergan 26
Andrew Mackie 25.9
Matthew Stokes 25.6
Mark Blake 24.8

Aged 21-24
Harry Taylor 23.11
Travis Varcoe 22.1
Joel Selwood 21.11
Tom Hawkins 21.10

13 out of Collingwoods 22 are 24 and under.

Just 4 out of 22 are under 24 in the Geelong team.

Makes you excited about our future and puts into perspective how much younger our team will be tomorrow night

[Tannin]

puts into perspective how much younger our team will be tomorrow night

Nonsense. They will, in fact, be a day older tomorrow night.

[thompsoc]

Amazed that MM hasn't picked his old time favourites! has the leopard changed his spots! Even if we lose MM has made a great statement. All hail MM for this weeks selections