Hawthorn vs Geelong

[Dry Rot]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Why? If we are playing close our to optimum level, we should account for Sydney IMO.

When did we last do that?

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Well, Rd 11 v St. K good, R.12 v Bris good, r.13 v Coll patchy, r.14 v Port(Darwin) patchy but training run really, rd 15 v Melb poor, rd. 16 v Geel, poor. So, about 4 games. Gotta have a 'lull' at some stage I guess. Has our training 'tapering' theory gained any credibility yet?

[G-Mo77]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

When did we last do that?

Against Brisbane. We hammered Port but I really didn't think they were really good that night. Hopefully we start to peak again just before the finals start it would almost be impossible from here to not get a top 4 spot.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

I didn't see too much of it last night (I was at the Casino after a work function of all places) but last night was a PERFECT night for football. Still, G in great nick - Skilled Stadium on a windy day it wasn't. Well done to Hawthorn for hanging in there and even hitting the lead in the last quarter, I'm convinced Geelong - as great as they are - are beatable. Hawthorn will walk away thinking they're absolutely a legit flag chance, and I hope we realise last week's 2nd half was unnacceptable, and at our best we're in the same boat.

We win tomorrow and that puts 6 points between 1st/2nd & 2nd/3rd. It appears highly likely that will be the structure of the top 3, strange that 6 weeks out you can almost guarantee we'll play Hawthorn the first week of the finals.

If we do play Hawhtorn, it will likely be at the G - dependant on Sydney finishing 4th, and playing Geelong at the Dome perhaps. Also depends on who finished 5th & 6th as well I guess and whether the Dome will get a run for one of those games.

We'll beat Sydney in Canberra should we return to form tomorrow. I want to see a convincing 6 goal win - no disrespect to Carlton, they've improved signifigantly and will beat us if we don't switch on.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Pretty good game last night, the pressure from both sides was fairly reasonable, but I for one didn't think Geelong really got their game going.

Luke Hodge, who is one of my favourites was shocking when it counted. The Hawks still lack a few more goal scoring options, and until guys like Mitchell, Hodge, Rioli and Williams can consistently help put on scoreboard pressure they are going to struggle.

[Desipura]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Lets not forget the Cats had Milburn, Ling, Ablett out as well as losing Chapman to a hammy while Hawthorn had who out?
Things can change in footy very fast, injury and form contributing to this.
The last 2 weeks we have been out of form, hopefully that changes from tomorrow onwards..........
Geelong were out of form earlier in the year and came out of it unscathed. If our bad form patch equates to a bad loss against the best team going around at the moment, I'll take that.

[Topdog]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

And what's been the form line of the two teams since?

When was the last time we played really well? We have been playing like shit since, IMO.

Well seeing as Hawthorn have lost 2 in a row our form line has been better.

Hawks are a very over rated unit and will be exposed in the finals.

That is the most turnovers I have seen Geelong create by themselves in the past 37 matches (as Bruce told us its been that many). They had guys playing on when 40m out straight in front handballing backwards. That has nothing to do with pressure, just poor play. Make no mistakes the Cats played well well below their best yesterday and Hawthorn did everything they could.

[The Pie Man]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Well seeing as Hawthorn have lost 2 in a row our form line has been better.

Hawks are a very over rated unit and will be exposed in the finals.

That is the most turnovers I have seen Geelong create by themselves in the past 37 matches (as Bruce told us its been that many). They had guys playing on when 40m out straight in front handballing backwards. That has nothing to do with pressure, just poor play. Make no mistakes the Cats played well well below their best yesterday and Hawthorn did everything they could.

I agree, Cats are a better unit, but imagine Buddy kicking straight - the Hawks could be anything

[LostDoggy]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Well, Rd 11 v St. K good, R.12 v Bris good, r.13 v Coll patchy, r.14 v Port(Darwin) patchy but training run really, rd 15 v Melb poor, rd. 16 v Geel, poor. So, about 4 games. Gotta have a 'lull' at some stage I guess. Has our training 'tapering' theory gained any credibility yet?

How is it a 'theory' when Rocket, Scott West, Tim Callan, Aker, Peter Street, Adam Cooney, Brad Johnson and Gia all talked about it in one forum or another in the last four weeks, starting just before the break until (the last one I heard) the Tuesday the week we were playing Geelong? It doesn't need any 'credibility' because that's exactly what's happened.

Just because you don't know something doesn't mean it's not true...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

I agree, Cats are a better unit, but imagine Buddy kicking straight - the Hawks could be anything

Imagine Stewie Leowe or Richo kicking straight. The Saints or the Tiges could have been anything.

That's the whole point rhnbtlr.. those of us who don't rate Franklin have always said his inaccuracy has always been his archilles heel and there has never been any indication that anything has changed, and he will thus remain unreliable and inconsistent.

Until he fixes it, you can imagine all you want, because that's the only way the Hawks could be 'anything'.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Pretty good game last night, the pressure from both sides was fairly reasonable, but I for one didn't think Geelong really got their game going.

Luke Hodge, who is one of my favourites was shocking when it counted. The Hawks still lack a few more goal scoring options, and until guys like Mitchell, Hodge, Rioli and Williams can consistently help put on scoreboard pressure they are going to struggle.

exactly Griff. Very good point re: Hawthorn midfielders scoring -- said it time and again, they will not be a contender because gold-scoring midfielders are like hen's teeth and every great, premiership winning side has had a handful of them. These midfielders also pop up to add 'scoreboard pressure' in grand finals when full-forwards (apart from a few notable exceptions) are well held.

Hawthorn have NOT A SINGLE consistent goalscoring midfielder. Not even Hodgey.

[Raw Toast]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

What interested me most was the way the Cats played - if I was one of the barrackers I'd be a bit disappointed and pretty nervous about big finals games. When they turn it on they can blow almost anyone out of the water, but their biggest strength - their self-belief - can also be a huge weakness I reckon.

It looked to me like they really just tried to smash the Hawks for most of the night, rather than playing smart footy. They had no patience, and just pushed and pushed and pushed, which led to lots of turnovers. And when they couldn't create a free man, they were really slack and imprecise. In other words, they didn't seem at all like they wanted to grind out a win (which ironically enough, they sort of ended up doing, but not by design, and they needed a pretty large slice of luck as well).

When we played the Hawks our emphasis of course was on fast ball movement and risk-taking, but we were also prepared to move the ball slowly and with care every now and then, when the odds were stacked against forcing the ball through them.

Geelong's very good, they really missed Ablett, and they are deserved premiership favourites, but they sure are giving other teams a chance as well...

[Bornadog]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Simple really. Hawks > Dogs NB over the last few weeks.

.

Lets look at some facts here.

1. Hawks have won four lost four in last eight games. We have won 6, lost two. ( one by a kick)

2. Last night Geelong without Ling, Ablett, Milburn, Wozinski, lost Chapman early. Hawks virtually full strength.

3. We didn't play Kardinia Park very well, in windy conditions, I thought we controlled the game early but didn't put them away.

4. We have beaten Hawthorn, and beat them well.



I can't see how you can make an off the cuff remark that Hawks are better then Dogs.

[Sedat]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Structurally, Milburn is one of the pivotal players at Geelong. His presence eases the load on Scarlett, Harley, Mackie and Taylor (when he plays). He cuts off supply beautifully by working the angles, creates 2-on-1's in Geelong's back half, provides great rebound drive and can adapt to a defensive game if need be. He absolutely murdered us last week in windy conditions that he has played/trained in for 12 years, and he was missing last night - Geelong has not looked so jittery in defence for a long time. Factor in Chapman being injured for the 2nd half and it throws their midfield/small forward rotations into chaos.

We were as close to Geelong as Hawthorn were approaching 3/4 time. Just because Geelong blew the margin out late doesn't mean that we are suddenly also-rans this season. I mean Lake up forward at the start of the last qtr?? Haven't seen that since 'Our Mastermind' was in charge of the controls.

I still firmly believe that we are in the frame this season. Last night's game has done nothing to take away this belief. We were far better at exploiting the Hawthorn cluster than Geelong were, and Hawthorn still possess a heavy reliance on their key forwards to kick a winning score. This season is not done and dusted by a long stretch.

[GVGjr]

Re: Hawthorn vs Geelong

Lets look at some facts here.

1. Hawks have won four lost four in last eight games. We have won 6, lost two. ( one by a kick)

2. Last night Geelong without Ling, Ablett, Milburn, Wozinski, lost Chapman early. Hawks virtually full strength.

3. We didn't play Kardinia Park very well, in windy conditions, I thought we controlled the game early but didn't put them away.

4. We have beaten Hawthorn, and beat them well.



I can't see how you can make an off the cuff remark that Hawks are better then Dogs.

I know what you are saying but I still rate the Hawks highly. On a big stage last night they handled things well and could have easily won it. When you compare that to our performance the previous week, it's hard to argue that they are at least as good in not slightly better. The next two weeks will tell the story.