Geelong V Western Bulldogs R11, Thursday 22/5/25 at GMHBA Stadium at 7:30pm

[Bornadog]

I don’t disagree we need more polish inside 50 (I watch someone like Jamie Elliot & I’m so envious of his finishing ability) but if Darcy & Weightman play last week, we probably win. We have the cattle to contend, but 2 important pieces are injured but at least the most important piece is coming back soon.

I think the backline is more of a concern this year. Last year we were the best defending team but we have dropped off and leaked too many goals.

[hujsh]

Until we recruit genuine forwards we are never going to go anywhere. Our guys freeze in front of goals because kicking goals is not their primary skill. McNeil and others never get a crumb because they are in the wrong positions due to not learning this early in their careers. The sliding doors moment for us was Hawthorn offering the pick before Sanders (Watson) for Bailey Smith and we said no. Imagine the difference if that took place. Im leaning towards play Kennedy (Chugga) more time in the forward line as his outputs seem to be what we need. Harmes is also composed around goals.

People have denied that is true btw.

[Angak]

Until we recruit genuine forwards we are never going to go anywhere. Our guys freeze in front of goals because kicking goals is not their primary skill. McNeil and others never get a crumb because they are in the wrong positions due to not learning this early in their careers. The sliding doors moment for us was Hawthorn offering the pick before Sanders (Watson) for Bailey Smith and we said no. Imagine the difference if that took place. Im leaning towards play Kennedy (Chugga) more time in the forward line as his outputs seem to be what we need. Harmes is also composed around goals.

We've been trying to fix the small forward issue since we drafted Cody. Weightman just flies too much to be a genuine small, and he doesn’t offer much between the arcs.

We’ve got a couple of NGA smalls coming through in the next year or two, and I rate both Arty and Dolan. Arty came in at 68kg and clearly hadn’t been taught how to train or build an AFL ready body. But I remember his draft chat with Harf on RSN and just thought: High character, good energy. Definitely has a chance.

The raps on Dolan are massive. Super clean below his knees, doesn’t fumble, makes smart decisions that kind of composure is rare at his age. Between him and Arty, I reckon we’ve finally got a couple of genuine small forwards coming through. Both 12 months away from cementing themselves as best 22.

Sanders is likely to go back to Tassie. Hopefully we get a top 5 pick back for him. I think he is developing at a good rate, but I don't think he'll ever become a star because he lacks the raw physical tools.

[jeemak]

I think the backline is more of a concern this year. Last year we were the best defending team but we have dropped off and leaked too many goals.

Are we sacrificing defence to ensure we're getting enough scoring opportunities in lieu of the personnel we have/ have missing?

[Bornadog]

Are we sacrificing defence to ensure we're getting enough scoring opportunities in lieu of the personnel we have/ have missing?

Has the personal changed much in the backline? Duryea was the general down there but he is just about passed it, so do we have leadership in the backline?

[jeemak]

Has the personal changed much in the backline? Duryea was the general down there but he is just about passed it, so do we have leadership in the backline?

Personnel has changed, for sure, but what I was getting at is I think we're playing a little differently to try and generate enough scores in lieu of not having Darcy and JUH in the side as targets. Needing a bigger spread of goal kickers means more players need to be working into aggressive positions, which means we're exposed from a team defence point of view.

A lot of the goals that get kicked against us have more to do with what's happening in our front half versus the personnel in our back half.

[SquirrelGrip]

AFL Coaches votes.

9 Jeremy Cameron (GEEL)
6 Max Holmes (GEEL)
5 Ed Richards (WB)
5 Bailey Smith (GEEL)
4 Matthew Kennedy (WB)
1 Shannon Neale (GEEL)

Possible breakdown:

Bevo:

• Jeremy Cameron – 5
• Ed Richards – 4
• Max Holmes – 3
• Matthew Kennedy – 2
• Shannon Neale – 1

Scott:

• Bailey Smith – 5
• Jeremy Cameron – 4
• Max Holmes – 3
• Matthew Kennedy – 2
• Ed Richards – 1

[Hotdog60]

Is that one coach picking Smith to say look what we got and the other one saying he wasn't really a factor.

[JanLorMill]

Has the personal changed much in the backline? Duryea was the general down there but he is just about passed it, so do we have leadership in the backline?

Game question. Where was Dureya when Cameron kicked the first? The ease he was able to wheel on his left for what seemed a long time and distance from the mark, screamed of an inexperienced backline with no general.

[Flamethrower]

Finally got around to watching the game this afternoon...

As someone who umpired in the WFNL I am usually reluctant to criticize my brethren but that WORST UMPIRED GAME since Fitzroy were murdered against Adelaide.

[jeemak]

Finally got around to watching the game this afternoon...

As someone who umpired in the WFNL I am usually reluctant to criticize my brethren but that WORST UMPIRED GAME since Fitzroy were murdered against Adelaide.

I had a feeling it would be a lot worse on second viewing (which it always seems to be when watching Geelong's mollycoddled shit****ery), so I think I'll give the replay a miss!

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Finally got around to watching the game this afternoon...

As someone who umpired in the WFNL I am usually reluctant to criticize my brethren but that WORST UMPIRED GAME since Fitzroy were murdered against Adelaide.

Even Jimmy Bartel said that Geelong hit the run of the green.

the good news is that at a neutral venue we will easily get over them.