How do we beat the Cats this wknd ??

[barry]

I'd play the reserves down in Geelong. Be good for the rookies to get a taste of AFL.

Organise a "friendly" with the Giants for the Seniors here in Sydney.

[bloodbrother]

yes agree, not really important to win this at all, just play hard footy.just a sneaky stat ,the team that has lost this round 22 encounter in the past two seasons has gone on to win the flag..

[Triple B]

Organise a "friendly" with the Giants for the Seniors here in Sydney.

..played out at ANZ of course

[Go Swannies]

Man up - and don't pass the ball to them, a la Pies and Saints?

[Triple B]

On a serious note, I'd be happy to rest anybody who genuinely will benefit from the rest (eg Mitchell last week), but there are still too many scenarios to play out that mean we would benefit greatly from beating Geelong this week to just rest players for the sake of it.

Whilst unlikely, Norf are not completely without hope v the Hawks at the indoor dome and if Port take the same game to Pattersons that they played against us they are quite capable of beating a Sandilands and Ballantyne-less Dockers.

If both happen, a win over Geelong opens up top spot and if just one happens, it opens up second spot.

In a macabre way, I would find it amusing if the Hawks lose their last two and Geelong lose to us with Freo winning both. That would setup Freo and Sydney as 1-2. Imagine the rumblings if they win both qualifying finals and the reality hits home that there will be no PF in Melbourne.

Of course my amusement would be short lived if their was some contractual arrangement which meant we had to forfeit a home PF to play in Melbourne, but I'm pretty sure that was changed after Brisbane were forced to play a home PF in Melb in 2004(?).

[ScottH]

On a serious note, I'd be happy to rest anybody who genuinely will benefit from the rest (eg Mitchell last week), but there are still too many scenarios to play out that mean we would benefit greatly from beating Geelong this week to just rest players for the sake of it.

Whilst unlikely, Norf are not completely without hope v the Hawks at the indoor dome and if Port take the same game to Pattersons that they played against us they are quite capable of beating a Sandilands and Ballantyne-less Dockers.

If both happen, a win over Geelong opens up top spot and if just one happens, it opens up second spot.

In a macabre way, I would find it amusing if the Hawks lose their last two and Geelong lose to us with Freo winning both. That would setup Freo and Sydney as 1-2. Imagine the rumblings if they win both qualifying finals and the reality hits home that there will be no PF in Melbourne.

Of course my amusement would be short lived if their was some contractual arrangement which meant we had to forfeit a home PF to play in Melbourne, but I'm pretty sure that was changed after Brisbane were forced to play a home PF in Melb in 2004(?).

Yes, it would be hilarious reading the unbiased Melbourne media about the lack of footy in Melbourne in the penultimate week of the season.
Could still happen, regardless of your ramblings above, as long as Freo and Sydney avoid each other in the 1st round of finals.

Still sillier things have happened.

You would hope that the contractual arrangements have been sorted out, but this is the AFL!!

[ugg]

Yep it was changed

The AFL and the MCC reworked their deal soon after but, as Matthews notes, "it was a year too late for the Lions".

Read more: Matthews still 'feels sick' over 2004 preliminary final

[Triple B]

I've tweeted Patrick Keane of the AFL asking the question. I'll post the answer if it's forthcoming...

[Doctor]

Definitely sorted. They use some kind of banking or credit arrangement now, so that if the MCG hosts two finals games in a weekend, it has accrued one bonus game which can be withdrawn if there are two games outside Victoria. Of course, the run of non-Victorian clubs all making finals ended soon after this anyway. 2006 was the last time it was a genuine "problem" IIRC, with the top 4 all being from outside Victoria (Sydney, WCE, Adelaide, Freo).

[Bloodthirsty]

How do we beat the Cats? That depends on how good Stewie Dew and Stewie Maxfield are with baseball bats in the Cats' dressing room.

[stellation]

Yep it was changed

I always though the Lions were screwed there, they deserved the home final- ridiculous, Melbourne centric approach taken by the AFL.

[rojo]

On a very serious note ..... who do we beat the Cats with!

As I see it, we have 18 who are pretty much assured of places. Then we have White, Everitt, Lamb, Mitchell and Morton (he has been declared ready for selection this weekend) and Rohan. Six players and 4 spots available! Which 2 are going to miss out? I would say definitely White and Rohan in, possibly Everitt too. I want Lamb to stay in but how can you leave Mitchell out this week too, and it would be good for Morton, the forgotten one, to get a game. I am so thankful that I am not a selector!!!!

[crackedactor]

Good one

Reduce the long bombs into our forward line or else we'll play right into the hands of Taylor, Mackie, Bartel & Enright. Bartel and Enright are not as good defending on forwards who lead up quickly so we need to mix it up more than we have in recent weeks. A card up the sleeve I'd leave until finals but something like sending Kennedy forward more I think would disrupt them. If he wasnt such a great mid I'm sure he'd make a pretty good forward....he can mark, kick and has nous around goals. Another card come finals would be to send Smith to either Selwood or Johnson. I rate Smith highly and I'm confident he good do the job on either player and win possessions as well (think back to a Hawthorn game in Tassie).I think Geelong's most important players are Taylor, Selwood and Motlop. Motlop may not play due to a hammy ..if he does I'd put Shaw on him. Whoever our forward is that is picked up by Taylor should take him towards the pocket/half forward and lead back strongle towards the square. Like most good backmen who can take a grab or spoil I don't believe Taylor is as good running back towards the goals.

Excellent analysis of the way to beat Geelong. They prey on the fact that 90% of the time the opposition bomb the ball into the forward line and that's were they get most of their drive from. Even though Tippett is very good he will not be able to handle Harry Taylor plus Enright or another Geelong player coming over the top in marking contests. The Swans need to be much smarter with their forward entries. Benny Mcglynn becomes a very important player against Geelong.

[DK_]

On a very serious note ..... who do we beat the Cats with!

As I see it, we have 18 who are pretty much assured of places. Then we have White, Everitt, Lamb, Mitchell and Morton (he has been declared ready for selection this weekend) and Rohan. Six players and 4 spots available! Which 2 are going to miss out? I would say definitely White and Rohan in, possibly Everitt too. I want Lamb to stay in but how can you leave Mitchell out this week too, and it would be good for Morton, the forgotten one, to get a game. I am so thankful that I am not a selector!!!!

Sadly, I don't think Morton will get another run and I think Lamb will go for Mitchell as great as I think they are.

White is cementing himself in the team further every week. His defensive work, marking, work around the ground and imposing presence are excellent. Seems to have a great partnership going with Tippett as well. Don't know if he'll be ensconced deep enough to hold off Goodes though!

Everitt is needed for height down back and ability to swing forward. I think he's safe for now, at least until Reid comes back. Even then, I doubt Horse will toy with a working and settled back 6.

Next week will be even harder if tonight's injury update was anything to go by. Who would you drop for Jetta if he goes well this weekend? Is it Rohan v Jetta or do we play two speedsters? I suspect one of these two will probably be the sub for every game from now. However, I hope Rohan gets a full game this week so he gets a real chance to show what he can do. And where does Reid fit in?

Some very good players are going to lose their spots or miss out in the coming weeks. We will certainly have the most imposing emergencies in the AFL!

[Bloodthirsty]

Why is Simmonds Stadium so difficult to win at? Shallow pockets? Winds? Hostile crowd? Seems they historically have a ridiculous home ground advantage.