Team V Cats: No change

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Does anyone else feel like the rain has eliminated any real advantage that we had? Typical.

I can't see us stealing this now, the Cats are better than West Coast and Essendon.

Oh well...

[ABloodsMan]

We can't kick the ball, ridiculous.

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Well we're gone, really disappointing not only to lose but the way we've lost is just terrible. We have the bye next week, maybe we can practice how to kick.

[kangle4]

Frustrating tonight. I know ball handling would be down on a night like tonight but ours was really poor, Cats still had enough players who were pretty clean.
Also frustrating to see Scarlett float around the backline with no one near him and continuously just rebound the ball with ease, not enough competing in the forward line when the ball was kicked in.

[dimelb]

The stats will show that possessions weren't that different, but Geelong used their opportunities much better than we did. Too many hail mary kicks and their skills in the wet were better than ours. Also we lost our forward structure, and when a wild kick forward came to earth, it always seemed to be a Geelong back - Scarlett, and later on Milburn - who took an uncontested mark.
They made better use of their sub with Milburn coming on, and although Jetts worked hard the conditions didnt suit him and I'd ahve preferred him to be subbed off, Everitt to go forward (he wasn't a lot of use down back) and Reid to go back (his radar wasn't working tonight).
Disappointing, but them's the breaks.

[lwjoyner]

most disappointing how the backline played again, Reg I think needs a spell in ressies. shaw the same his kicking is pathetic. Bevan went missin after the first qrt, and Jesse also, Why were the cats defenders by themselves so much. Jesse also needs a spell he is not bringing the ball to the ground. Also Bird iwas pathetic tonight and a spell in the ressies will do him no harm also. All in all very disappointing I can mention some others who were not there tonight . Okeefe, Goodes had no chance . Coach needs to reassess things.

[ABloodsMan]

Would love to see McNeil in for bird next week, you would think he's earned a call up after the start he's had in the ressies this year.

[Nico]

Plenty of our blokes are clearly not wet trackers. So many passengers none more than Hanners with 3 stats.

It seemed to me after quarter time that they took the attitude that we just can't beat this mob.
It was mentioned Scarlett just roamed the backline; true but when the ball went to a contest on our forward line Geelong always had someone who dropped behind the pack.
Our forward line pressure was lamentable after quarter time.
Small forwards contesting pack marks instead of dropping behind or in front of the pack. It just allowed an easy clearance by Geelong. This is basic stuff taught at Auskick.
My best: Richards, Jack, Kennedy, Shaw, Mumford.
Disappointments: Hanners, White, McVeigh (had a snooze in the 3rd Q)Everitt (mistake turned the game) Jetta (his turn as sub), ROK.
It is difficult watching on tele but why did we stop going through the corridor? Did Geelong pack the corridor? We seemed to go wide regardless of the situation.
What happened to Everitt to the forward line?
I think Rohan should now start every week. Sure he had a big hand in us beating WCE but it seems a waste of talent having getting cold on the bench.
We were beaten by a better team, our poor disposal and the inability of our forwards to make any space or even get on a clean lead after quarter time.
Did the road trip to Perth have an affect?

[Nico]

Would love to see McNeil in for bird next week, you would think he's earned a call up after the start he's had in the ressies this year.

On a day like that Bird's kicking is really found out. I suspect his stats though will be way better than Hanners. Bird seemed to give away a number of frees for sloppy head high tackles.

[Nico]

most disappointing how the backline played again, Reg I think needs a spell in ressies. shaw the same his kicking is pathetic. Bevan went missin after the first qrt, and Jesse also, Why were the cats defenders by themselves so much. Jesse also needs a spell he is not bringing the ball to the ground. Also Bird iwas pathetic tonight and a spell in the ressies will do him no harm also. All in all very disappointing I can mention some others who were not there tonight . Okeefe, Goodes had no chance . Coach needs to reassess things.

Bit harsh on the backline as they only kicked 11 goals. I thought Shaw was someone who played well all night. That errant kick to Varcoe was a howler but gee I thought he was in our better players.

You really wonder why no one gets back into our forward line. It is probably because we try to get so many players to a contest, however there were a few times where the perceived pressure got to our blokes and they just didn't look where they were kicking and found those loose Geelong players.

[happy]

just disappointing all round ...

...less said the better

[Swans500]

...No excuses from me this week. They had Geelong confused in the 1st qtr, also did attempt some attacking footy. Just no ****ing good reason to turn it around like they did.

Agree....why did Everett not go forward????....Seems little coaching effort was made to rectify things while we were still "in the game"....

[Nico]

What Geelong do well is run fast forward when a player gets possession on the wing. Our blokes got found so many times on this, best being Chapman who just runs hard to the HFF.

[giant]

Too good, too tough, too poised, too polished. Basically all the reasons we beat Dons & Eagles were the same reasons Cats beat us tonite. No need for kneejerk changes, take the break and move on to the Blues. As Mick Malthouse said, who wants to be playing your best footy in May?

[Auntie.Gerald]

very strange game plan

ie win the clearances and tackle count but just kick forward and hope...............our guys are good enough to go backwards or sideways before just kicking downfield

i liked our midfield intensity and we looked very good in the midfield for large parts of the game but it became obvious to everyone we were kicking immediately forward from the contest and Scarlett just sat in the hole all night

I didnt like Goodes not being a target up front for half of the game as per recent weeks - I know it was wet conditions but at the end of the days the Pod worked as a very good target

I do feel a little cheated that 3 of their goals came from 70m over the back of everyone

overall exciting potential and a full season for Reid, AJ and a fair few others will have us at a totally different level of experience

PS - I was happy Hannes played tight tonight and not open for disposals as his decision making last few weeks has sucked a bit like Rok's

PSS -McGlynn and Jack playing more open has looked great IMHO

PSSS - they are a class side with an exceptionally classy backline

Still our skills are below our best and maybe that has to do with such high focus on the contest and our defence which is the right foundation for the season anyway