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May 26, 2006
Geelong Vs. Richmond
WHERE & WHEN: Skilled Stadium, 2:10pm (AEST), Saturday, May 27
TV & RADIO: Channel 10 (Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane), Fox Footy (Adelaide), Triple M (Melbourne), 3AW, K-Rock
HEAD TO HEAD: Geelong 90, Richmond 84, 3 Draws.
LAST TIME: Geelong 10.9 (69) d Richmond 10.8 (68), Skilled Stadium, Round 22, 2006.
TAB Sportsbet: Geelong $1.33, Richmond $3.00
GEELONG
B: Milburn, Scarlett, Mooney
HB: Rooke, Harley, Egan
C: Enright, Bartel, Wojcinski
HF: G.Ablett, Playfair, Kelly
F: S.Johnson, Kingsley, Chapman
FOLL: Ottens, Corey, Ling
I/C: Mackie, Riccardi, Byrnes, J.Hunt
EMG: Koulouriotis, Blake, Stokes
IN: Wojcinski, Byrnes, Mackie
OUT: King (calf), Tenace (knee), D.Johnson
RICHMOND
B: Raines, J.Bowden, Hall
HB: Johnson, Kellaway, Newman
C: Pettifer, Deledio, Tivendale
HF: Tambling, P.Bowden, Meyer
F: Krakouer, Richardson, Hyde
FOLL: Simmonds, Coughlan, Tuck
I/C: Knobel, Pattison, Foley, Polo
EMG: Gaspar, White, Jackson
IN: Johnson, Hall
OUT: Jackson, Hartigan
I cannot decide which is more amazing. The continual slide of the Geelong Football Club, or the bookies & punters continually having us favourites despite our quite apparent shitness.
I honestly have no confidence in our side anymore and hence cannot tell you how we will go on Saturday as I have never in my life seen such a disappointing loss as the one we suffered last week. How we the players, staff & leadership group react? This game will probably give a good insight to all of those and if we drop this one, it's pretty much time to throw any thought of finals out the window and concentrate on next season.
No real surprises with the changes to our side. Two forced with injury and David Johnson suffers the consequences of having small forwards run all over us, all season. I'm sure it probably would have been Josh Hunt if not for his better skills by foot. The ins probably picked themselves. Wojcinski is a straight replacement for Johnson with a pace upgrade as we look for some run off the half back flank, Mackie was BOG last week in the VFL and Shannon Byrnes is there for his pace, despite average form in the 2nds.
Kingsley & Playfair are lucky to be there on form, however I don't think the coaching staff had much other choice. They haven't looked like getting their hands on the ball the last couple of weeks, but they cannot be entirely blamed for last week as the midfield were absolutely stupid sitting it on top of H's head while he had 3 opponents to beat time & time again.
Richmond have some handy inclusions, mainly Kane Johnson who is a very good player and Hall could lead us having some height problems combined with Richardson, Simmonds & Knobel etc. Ottens will probably have to ruck 80% of the game at least meaning it is extremely important for Kingsley & Playfair to find some form, for the midfield to deliver it to them well and for us to find some run through the lines.
Prediction: Geelong by 1 point
Nothing will surprise me no matter what happens. I'm simply picking us because it is too painful to bare the thought of even losing to Richmond at the start of the season.
Of course the big question is whether there will be a flood at Skilled Stadium on Saturday, and I'm not talking about the weather. I'd say during the match both sides will drop players back and hold the ball up using ball possession at stages of the game, so if you really wanna see some football on the weekend head down to the VFL on Sunday at 1pm and watch Travis Varcoe in the VFL. At least he should give us something to smile about.
Posted by Sammy D at May 26, 2006 02:15 PM
Comments
"Kingsley & Playfair are lucky to be there on form"
Well I hope one of them if not both get dropped this week. I saw Ablett got in the best but I'm not sure he is the answer. I just don't think we have answers to be honest.
Callan surely must be given a go to release Corey into the midfield which I know is something you have been wanting Thompson to you. Am I right or is it wrong to play him in the spot he won a Best and Fairest in?
Posted by: Sticko at May 28, 2006 11:46 PM
Another terrible loss.
Am i wrong, but didn’t this same team (now with Ottens) almost beat Sydney (eventual premiers) in Sydney last finals?
What the F**K has happened? How can we lose by 102 points one week, and then get beaten by Richmond for the first time in 16 years at home the next?
Love to hear others opinions.
This week some heads HAVE to roll. Don’t forget those get paid a shitload of cash to run out there each week.
Club Ryno
Posted by: Club Ryno at May 29, 2006 12:25 PM