Round 17: Hook, Line and Sinker
For the first ¾ of the season I have swallowed the company line that the Cats are just biding their time, waiting til September.
They’ve been there before, and know that flags are not won in July, I tell myself. They’re resting and rotating. Trialling and experimenting. Going half-paced and just doing enough. This is clever, smart strategy, I wrote as recently as last week.
But this weekend Geelong must show its premiership credentials again. Bare the fangs. Land a knock-out blow. Find the eye of the tiger. The stage is perfectly set; Saturday arvo, the MCG and a hated rival, just coming into form.
They have to do it. They just have to. And there are so many reasons; 1) it would be a reminder about Geelong’s credentials, especially to St Kilda; 2) it could potentially end Hawthorn’s finals hopes, which would not only be satisfying but also prudent; 3) it would give the players enormous confidence coming into the pointy end of the season; and 4) it could kick-start a run of “ok, we’re serious now, we remember how this goes, get out of our effing way” games that would flow on to September.
Do we have any reason to believe this will actually happen? I mean, Geelong’s last three weeks have included two losses and a win over a Melbourne team whose best player is thinner than Nathan Deakes and speaks English as his third language (and is also in my Supercoach team). However, like Jon Bon Jovi, I have kept faith.
The biggest game Geelong has played in since the Grand Final was round 14 against St Kilda. The Cats, not used to the frenetic pace, pressure and, really, the challenge, were shell-shocked and gave the Saints a 5 goal start. But, tellingly, they woke up, and were able to hang 85 points (from 52 inside 50s), in essentially 3 quarters, (on a team that is allowing the fewest points per game since the invention of the ‘out of bounds on the full’ rule) and lost on a last minute, once in a year grab. Is this week’s game as big? Not to the media, but to the club, it should be.
This is it, Bomber. Get angry, play the best team we can play and show us that you’re the real deal. Because the alternative is something I just can’t swallow.
Captain: Coll, Geel, WC, Bris, StK, Syd, Ess, Adel
Season Tally: 95-33
Mrs Watson: Carl, Haw, WC, Bris, WB, Syd, Ess, Adel
Season Tally: One less than Gillard.
(P.S. Love the comments this week. Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter @BigLeagueLittle)
For the first ¾ of the season I have swallowed the company line that the Cats are just biding their time, waiting til September.They’ve been there before, and know that flags are not won in July, I tell myself. They’re resting and rotating. Trialling and experimenting. Going half-paced and just doing enough. This is clever, smart strategy, I wrote as recently as last week.
But this weekend Geelong must show its premiership credentials again. Bare the fangs. Land a knock-out blow. Find the eye of the tiger. The stage is perfectly set; Saturday arvo, the MCG and a hated rival, just coming into form.
They have to do it. They just have to. And there are so many reasons; 1) it would be a reminder about Geelong’s credentials, especially to St Kilda; 2) it could potentially end Hawthorn’s finals hopes, which would not only be satisfying but also prudent; 3) it would give the players enormous confidence coming into the pointy end of the season; and 4) it could kick-start a run of “ok, we’re serious now, we remember how this goes, get out of our effing way” games that would flow on to September.
Do we have any reason to believe this will actually happen? I mean, Geelong’s last three weeks have included two losses and a win over a Melbourne team whose best player is thinner than Nathan Deakes and speaks English as his third language (and is also in my Supercoach team). However, like Jon Bon Jovi, I have kept faith.
The biggest game Geelong has played in since the Grand Final was round 14 against St Kilda. The Cats, not used to the frenetic pace, pressure and, really, the challenge, were shell-shocked and gave the Saints a 5 goal start. But, tellingly, they woke up, and were able to hang 85 points (from 52 inside 50s), in essentially 3 quarters, (on a team that is allowing the fewest points per game since the invention of the ‘out of bounds on the full’ rule) and lost on a last minute, once in a year grab. Is this week’s game as big? Not to the media, but to the club, it should be.
This is it, Bomber. Get angry, play the best team we can play and show us that you’re the real deal. Because the alternative is something I just can’t swallow.
Captain: Coll, Geel, WC, Bris, StK, Syd, Ess, Adel
Season Tally: 95-33
Mrs Watson: Carl, Haw, WC, Bris, WB, Syd, Ess, Adel
Season Tally: One less than Gillard.
(P.S. Love the comments this week. Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter @BigLeagueLittle)
posted by the captain at 5:57 pm
8 Comments:
loving @BigLeagueLittle updates via mobile phone.
Interesting to read Garry Lyon's article about Chris Tarrant this week. Apparently, Carlton, Hawthorn and Geelong should all trade for him.
That's a cracker of an idea, Garry. But what happens when these teams play each other? Does he go for the spoil and run it out of defence or go for the grab and kick a goal?
I think we can all agree that Blake's game for the seniors last week was one of his best performances for the club - he provided more around the ground than ever before and I look forward to another solid peformance this week as well.
Once again, couldn't agree more with your comments - and was particularly pleased with your choice of photo - Hodge presenting for Buddy to come over and service him is a pose he is well used to I imagine.
The "just doing enough to win" approach does grate after awhile, and if there was ever a team we should enjoy beating the suitcase out of, it has to be the Mayblooms. Thankfully, I don't think we have any systematic problems - our midfield is still top class, our defence (when Lonergan isn't in it) is very solid, it is just a question of whether Moondog remembers what forwards are paid for (protip - its kicking goals) and Fatty Hawkins decides to earn my man-crush.
Great analysis Captain,
I look forward to Scarlett once again wiping his feet on the Great Buddy Franklin, look for Franklin to be throwing his hands into the air, trying desperately to catch the umpire's eye! Lazy cunt!
The burning issues:
Will some of the commentary elite at Ten will sit up and take notice of the blue and white hoops if we roll this gold and brown fodder.
Will Wallsy have an interesting take on the game, so accurate that he will flip-flop on 2 or 3 occasions minimum.
And Huddo, so diplomatic, so hard to know who he follows.
Are we gonna get that chick doing commentary again? Heres hoping she takes out the nose plugs this week. Oh and learns the players names, that might come in handy!
...fustercluck...
I went to a baseball game tonight. I really enjoyed it.
-Tee from Vancouver
Gentlemen if you please, a little tune I penned Saturday evening, to the tune of Jingle Bells:
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax;
Hoax!
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax.
Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax, Hoax;
Hoax!
We are not nearly square with those smug bastards yet, but for the moment, life is beautiful.
...fustercluck...
Happy days. I'll dine out on this one for a while.
Shame Essendon and Port couldn't create a bit of daylight, though.
That was one of the most satisfying wins in a long time. I went from thinking we couldn't win the premiership this year to something resembling close to belief in a little over 25 minutes.
-Tee from Vancouver
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