Changes, or, The End for Smelly, Monty & Chas

This week, long time frustrations Shannon Byrnes and Josh Hunt have been dropped. The week before it was Chas Gardiner finally getting his VFL stripes. So, has ‘Lips’ Thompson finally wised up? In the short span of 4 games this season the changes to the Geelong team would appear, on the surface, to be minor, but they have been quite significant. Now, not all of the changes have been Thompson’s doing – injury and circumstances forcing his hand somewhat, and perhaps we shouldn’t underestimate the Neil Balme influence – but whatever the case, each factor that has had an influence on the improvement of the side has been helped by some other factor as well as having a flow on effect to the following factor. It’s all very cyclical; without one, the other can’t happen and so on. Here are four things I believe have improved this season, and thus have improved each other. That make sense? No? Well, it’s too late now.

1. Team Selection
The previously mentioned omissions have been long overdue; Josh Hunt has been leaking goals like an incontinent pensioner for a few seasons now; ‘Point’ Byrnes (12.27 career scoring rate) has the requisite speed and apparently some strong blackmail material; and Chas Gardiner, really, should never have been in the best 22. On top of this, ‘Lips’ seems to have put an end to the Hank Playfair experiment and the Harley injury has been a happy accident. These omissions have made way for impressive rookies such as Selwood, Varcoe and Hatchet Hawkins. And, of course, the correct selection allows for the correct…

2. Player Positions
Mooney being permanently stationed at centre half forward, along with the forward rotation of ‘Sex Fingers’ Ottens, ‘Nablett’ and ‘Hatchet’ Hawkins has given the forward line some structure, consistency and ridiculous nicknames. Cameron Ling has returned to a tagging role – where he should stay until he can learn to look forward when he gets the ball. Joel Corey has played predominantly half-back giving Gary Junior and Paul Chapman their rightful opportunity in the centre. Crucially though, the injury to Harley has led to Mackie finally finding his spot, in the backline, where he has been impressive, along with the returned to form David Wojcinski, in running out of defence, which leads to…

3. Forward Line Delivery
When I say this, I refer not to every pass hitting the chest lace out, but more so where the incoming ball to the forward line is kicked from and subsequently where it’s kicked to. The best spot for the midfield to be kicking from, to deliver the ball to the most dangerous spot for the forwards, and the most uncomfortable spot for the defence, is the middle of the ground, about halfway between the centre circle and the forward 50 line. This way both sides of the ground are available, a decent kick puts the ball deep into the goal face and Cameron Ling has no chance to chip sideways to a 2-on-1. For players to get to this position quickly, however, they physically need to be able to run in numbers out of defence, which is only possible with good…

4. List Management/Fitness
Blamed for last year’s problems, this is something that already seems to have been handled a lot better. The team is fighting it out for four quarters, whether winning or losing. The youngsters Selwood and Varcoe have been played and then rested, to give their bodies a break and relieve any pressure. Niggling injuries to Brad Ottens and Nathan Ablett have been handled with precautionary kid gloves, and more long-term problems, such Hatchet’s pre-season issues, Jarad, ahem, Max Rooke’s dodgy hamstring and Travis Varcoe’s lack of a nickname are being thoroughly dealt with. These things, not to mention keeping the pissheads, such as ‘Dog’ Johnson, on a short lease, means more fit and well prepared players are available… which leads to better team selection… which leads to better, well, you know what I mean.

It also leads to fewer excuses, for the players and for Thompson. We’re willing to give the Tasmanian fiasco a ‘mulligan’ due to the shitty weather, the close margin and the fact that we had our chances to win; but not so this week. It’s time to see the best of the Cats again, before it’s too late.