It's on like Donkey Kong / Friday, Sept.8 QF: Richmond vs Geelong @ the 'G

[one-eyed]

One thing all the media 'experts' have ignored is the weather forecast for Friday night:


www.bom.gov.au/vic/forecasts/melbourne.shtml

[Eat_em_Alive]

Why wouldn't they be cocky and pencil in the win? Our record v them deserves about that much respect, disgraceful. I was there last year when they ate up a 7 goal 3/4 time lead. Everyone at the ground knew it was going to happen 30 seconds into the last q.

Yep I was there too and yep We had that feeling

[Simonator]

That weather will surely suit us

[tony_montana]

Why wouldn't they be cocky and pencil in the win? Our record v them deserves about that much respect, disgraceful. I was there last year when they ate up a 7 goal 3/4 time lead. Everyone at the ground knew it was going to happen 30 seconds into the last q.

Yep I was there too and yep We had that feeling

I hate that feeling - its a well honed tiger instinct

[Lozza]

Joel Duckwood rubbish free kick milking specialist

Guarantee he milks a free at the first bounce.

[Eat_em_Alive]

Joel Duckwood rubbish free kick milking specialist

Guarantee he milks a free at the first bounce.

no...... but guarantee he will milk a free when the game is in the balance and Stevic will surely oblige

[Diocletian]

Fairly relaxed about this one, win, lose or draw as long as we give a good account of ourselves...it's the next final I'm nervous about....prelim puts us in touching distance and we don't really know yet whether having two byes is a good or bad but judging by last year.it's the latter....qualifying final and all the pressures on not to go out in straight sets and be a laughing stock for at least another year with the finals albatross only getting heavier again....if it's Sydney they'll likely still be in red hot form and have already rolled us on the G this year when they probably weren't even as good...and I couldn't imagine anything worse than being knocked out by Essendon....on the flip side, if last year does indeed prove not to be the exception but the rule with the bye week then taking the long route could well be an advantage in the prelim & then hopefully the GF....

[Hard Roar Tiger]

Fairly relaxed about this one, win, lose or draw as long as we give a good account of ourselves...it's the next final I'm nervous about....prelim puts us in touching distance and we don't really know yet whether having two byes is a good or bad but judging by last year.it's the latter....qualifying final and all the pressures on not to go out in straight sets and be a laughing stock for at least another year with the finals albatross only getting heavier again....if it's Sydney they'll likely still be in red hot form and have already rolled us on the G this year when they probably weren't even as good...and I couldn't imagine anything worse than being knocked out by Essendon....on the flip side, if last year does indeed prove not to be the exception but the rule with the bye week then taking the long route could well be an advantage in the prelim & then hopefully the GF....

Dio, I get the logic but can't help but think a win on Friday night will turn the entire final series on its head for us. The belief and guarantee of another MCG final places us in a very strong position to play in a GF. Lose, and the monkey becomes a silverback...

[YellowandBlackBlood]

Was at the club today. Players are very relaxed and quietly confident. I can tell you they were nervous against North in 2015. It's a different vibe totally now.



Whatever that means......

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

Was at the club today. Players are very relaxed and quietly confident. I can tell you they were nervous against North in 2015. It's a different vibe totally now.



Whatever that means......

Hmm....we came out strong in 2015. I'd prefer that start. Absolute worst case scenerio is for us to immediately give up a 5 goal lead. I keep hearing they're absolutely firing down at the Cattery....whatever that means.

[one-eyed]

The opposition's view: Chapman saying Geelong will again try to pressure us upfield into turnovers and restrict our inside 50s so our quick small forwards are taken out of the game.

Former Geelong great Paul Chapman says the Cats must start well and be the hunters against Richmond

LACHIE YOUNG,
Geelong Advertiser
September 6, 2017

STARTING well and testing the mettle of Richmond’s younger players on Friday night will be the key to Geelong’s chances of advancing to a preliminary final according to former club champion Paul Chapman.

The Cats lost six first quarters from nine matches against top eight teams this season, winning just two and drawing another.

In those games they averaged 16.8 and conceded 26.4 in the opening terms, giving up leads of three goals or more on five occasions.

Chapman said if Geelong could gain an early lead it had the potential to put the Tigers under the pump from the outset and allow the Cats to play proactive rather than reactive football.

“Obviously the start is a big one, and even though Geelong is a lot younger team than what it used to be they have still got that finals experience over Richmond, so I think a fast start would test Richmond out and see what they’re about mentally,” Chapman said.

“Getting off to a good start is probably the biggest thing they can control and then testing Richmond to see how they go in big games, I mean finals football is totally different.

“The speed and intensity steps up so they need to bring that to them early.”

Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield spoke this week of the need for his team to improve its poor starts, with the seven goals to nothing start in last year’s preliminary final still fresh in his mind.

Chapman said the way the Cats played against GWS in Round 23 sent a statement to the competition, and added they would again have to play the role of the hunters against Richmond on Friday night and not become the hunted in front of 90,000 people at the MCG.

“The back six is really good but Geelong’s forward line and their midfield will have to bring a heap of pressure to help out the defence,” he said.

“It’s about taking the ball off Richmond before they get a chance to take it inside their forward 50, because their forward line players have been very good this year in keeping the ball in and wanting to tackle and doing all of those one percenters.

“So if Geelong can limit their entries, then you start dictating things anyway and their forwards won’t be able to do that.

“There were three weeks were they (the Cats) had no tackles and I think they learnt a lot from that. Scott Selwood was brought in and he has been a tackling machine, but it’s going to be a cracking game of footy.”

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/afl-finals-2017-former-geelong-great-paul-chapman-says-the-cats-must-start-well-and-be-the-hunters-against-richmond/news-story/393fa1eb3851d4f98fb3c31ddc33fc79

[one-eyed]

The wet could help Richmond but the Cats are back to their contested best

CAMERON MOONEY,
Geelong Advertiser
6 September 2017

WHO is going to benefit the most if the forecast rain dumps down on the MCG on Friday night?

One of the best things I have liked about Geelong this year has been the return of the contested beast.

For years, during the premiership reign, winning the contested ball was part of the Cats’ DNA.

It was a non-negotiable, driven by blokes such as Joel Selwood and Joel Corey, but in recent years that dominance has tapered off and, so too, has the side’s performances.

Geelong was the No.1 contested ball team in the AFL in 2007, 2008 and 2009, but slipped to 10th in 2014, 15th in 2015 and bounced back to fifth last year. This year it is fourth and continuing to improve.

It’s the type of game plan tweak under Chris Scott, coupled with the addition of Patrick Dangerfield, that has Geelong primed for the hardened battle of finals footy, especially on a night like Friday when the slippery conditions mean the ball is going to be on the deck a bit more.

Not to forget the inclusion of Selwood, whose return will give his teammates such a boost.

The question mark on the Cats has been their ability to defend the bigger, wider ground of the MCG and they have been guilty at times of getting a bit lost on the flanks and turning the ball over with shallow entries inside forward 50.

So that’s one thing they will need to be mindful of again.

WHY THE WET COULD HELP RICHMOND

All year we’ve talked about their forward line and how the dynamic mix of Daniel Rioli (179cm), Dan Butler (182cm) Jason Castagna (181cm), Shai Bolton (175cm), Sam Lloyd (180cm) and the returning Josh Caddy (186cm) at the foot of Jack Riewoldt has given the Tigers a high-pressured mix at ground level.

You have to think the conditions will suit those players with the ball being on the ground more often and hack kicks into the forward line.

Geelong’s defence is taller, so once the ball hits the ground you would suspect that would benefit the Tigers.


GEELONG’S FORWARD MIX

It probably will not be a night for high marking, so what forward set-up does Geelong roll with?

Tom Hawkins and Harry Taylor should anchor the key position posts, then you assemble the dynamos around them.

I love Wylie Buzza for the way he competes in the air, the way he crashes packs and how he has managed to get shots on goal, but Geelong runs the risk of being top-heavy if he plays and I really fear for his place in the side, purely on team balance. I don’t think you can play all three.

Look for Dangerfield to spend a bit more time forward if the Cats are breaking even in the midfield.

And then there’s Daniel Menzel and Steven Motlop. These two blokes could be among the most important on the ground — Menzel for opportunistic goals, Motlop for breaking away from the congestion.

We’ve seen the pair come into a bit of form in recent weeks after their spell on the sidelines and now is the time for them to do it when it counts.

I’m expecting big things from these two players.
Harry Taylor marks against Alex Rance. Photo: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

THE MATCH-UPS

It’s a case of the two Ds — Dustin v Dangerfield — and the two Cs — captains Selwood v Cotchin.

Taylor gave Alex Rance a bath last time but all great players have off days and Rance is still the best key defender in the game.

I expect him to take Tom Hawkins. In a final, you need to go one-on-one early. The best defender needs to take the best forward. You can adjust after that if things aren’t going to plan.

At the other end, Tom Lonergan needs to take Riewoldt, even if Riewoldt isn’t playing deep forward. Jack is still their No.1 forward and Lonergan is the Cats’ best stopper.

It may end up that Lachie Henderson takes Riewoldt if he pushes too far up the ground, but I’d start Lonergan on him and see how it goes.

THE BYE

Geelong has changed a few things up this past week to avoid a sluggish start. The Cats’ history after a week off isn’t great — yes, they narrowly beat Hawthorn last year in the qualifying final but the Swans wiped them off the park in the preliminary final.

The bye has helped ensure Selwood got up, but it may have also stifled momentum the Cats built in the last three weeks of the season.

How much impact will it have? Time will tell.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/cameron-mooney-column-the-wet-could-help-richmond-but-the-cats-are-back-to-their-contested-best/news-story/2a868cd927a3f04d91df13702951fe79

[Diocletian]

Anyone enjoying the fact that Townsend is going to play finals before Treloar?

[Dougeytherichmondfan]

Anyone enjoying the fact that Townsend is going to play finals before Treloar?

I am now 

[one-eyed]

Chris Scott admits he is pondering dropping a key tall in response to Richmond’s mosquito fleet and forecast inclement conditions on Friday night.

But Cats prime mover Sam Menegola says Geelong will be ready for “trench warfare” should horrific conditions continue for the MCG qualifying final.

Scott says the Cats are seriously considering how to cover Richmond’s one-tall forward line as they assess the weather forecast — 12C and showers.

If the Cats drop a tall tonight, Wylie Buzza would be the most likely choice given Richmond’s second ruckman is 190cm midfielder Shaun Grigg.

Harry Taylor will start forward and Jake Kolodjashnij will push up onto a wing, with Selwood likely to replace Round 23 inclusion Brandan Parfitt if Buzza stays in.

All of it adds up to a vexing selection decision for Scott, given Buzza has been a revelation with five goals in six games and given real grunt in the ruck.

Menegola told the Herald Sun after training in rain and squally wind this week the Cats were ready for wintry conditions.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/geelong/key-tall-in-the-gun-for-geelong-as-cats-prepare-for-trench-warfare-against-tigers/news-story/d2a8ee60986baf111d8fd1ae979e364d