Geelong's Game Plan - The little things

[Mantis]

I'm sure we have all watched a fair bit of Geelong over the past couple of years. They're a very good team to watch with their high risk, high reward style.

What little thing's have you noticed in their game plan/ style which sets them apart OR perhaps what is one thing they fall back on when they are in trouble?

Perhaps if we all give one point we might be able to make a list of things to look out for or area's we might be able to expose them:

1. When Geelong's forwardline is struggling or in close games Geelong like to try and isolate Cameron Ling one out with his opponent. They like to position him about 30m out from goal from long ball's coming from either flank. On occassions they push him closer to the square. Ling is a strong bastard and a very good overhead mark so he usually stands a fair chance of either taking the grab or drawing a free. Ling is also a very good set shot so he normally converts his chances.

[The Coon Dog]

When Paul Chapman is tackled he is extremely strong & a) keeps his feet & b) rolls his shoulders so he slips out of the tackle. He's like a greased pig.

Cam Mooney is prone to volatility if things don't go his way so every defender should be loking to wind him up.

[bornadog]

We know that Geelong use the cluster to bottle up the corrider and their backline like to spread and try and force teams wide. We need to be absolutely accurate with our footskills and try and go long into the forward line, without just bombing it in but rather hitting leading forwards on the chest.

[LostDoggy]

They have an extrodinary ability to zone off in defence and creat a 2 or 3 on 1 situation,
they then use those extra numbers to run the ball by hands out of defence.

players like Enright, Milburn, Scarlett and co rack up a ton of possesions by peeling off and creating the link up to the midfield. Hrley takes the most marks from oppostion kicks because he plays on a weak forward and consistantly runs off him to make the contest. we need to make their backs accountable, spread wide and not give them a chance to crowd our forwards and go through Harley's opponent.

[LostDoggy]

The Geelong backs are prepared to play forward of their opposition - particularly Milburn who often positions himself 20 or more metres in front.

They are also prepared to run off their forward as soon as Geelong has the pill.

When oppostion forwards move forward of the 50 metre zone, the Geelong backs allow them to go unattended and hold their positions.

Each of these scenarios leaves them vulnerable if our players are properly prepared tactically to exploit them.

[Mantis]

They have an extrodinary ability to zone off in defence and creat a 2 or 3 on 1 situation,
they then use those extra numbers to run the ball by hands out of defence.

players like Enright, Milburn, Scarlett and co rack up a ton of possesions by peeling off and creating the link up to the midfield. Hrley takes the most marks from oppostion kicks because he plays on a weak forward and consistantly runs off him to make the contest. we need to make their backs accountable, spread wide and not give them a chance to crowd our forwards and go through Harley's opponent.

Good point. I watched a bit of the rd 16 clash last night and it was interesting to see how much latitude Harley gave Murphy, but we just couldn't find him. Need to use the ball better going forward this time around.

[LostDoggy]

Good point. I watched a bit of the rd 16 clash last night and it was interesting to see how much latitude Harley gave Murphy, but we just couldn't find him. Need to use the ball better going forward this time around.

For sure,

If I remember correctly, we spent a fair bit of our ball inside 50 trying to go over the last defender's head then double back onto to the loose ball.

That really played into their hands as they just peeled off and had massive numbers around the ball. I think Milburn had an astronomical amount of possesions in one half of footy.

We need to, as you say, use the ball better and start to spot up the players that are given space. Geelong use a similar zone to hawthorn so it's a matter of controlling possesion and using our feet better coming out of half back and into forward 50 and we will find our targets.

[LostDoggy]

We know that Geelong use the cluster to bottle up the corrider and their backline like to spread and try and force teams wide. We need to be absolutely accurate with our footskills and try and go long into the forward line, without just bombing it in but rather hitting leading forwards on the chest.

Great. That's how we play our best footy anyway. Running the wings and leading into the pockets.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Great. That's how we play our best footy anyway. Running the wings and leading into the pockets.

I would like to see rocket go in with a 3 man forward line and have the other 3 play across the center. that would enable us to kick long into space and put pressure on going the other way.

The Collingwood game went along like that with a heap of pressure around the center square
and good long kicking into the forward 50.

We need our guys to play smart and have big Will stand next to the goal umpire with Jonno at his feet. Murph, Aker need to float up to the wing and drag their opponents with them, if they don,t come they need to push to one side of the ground and leave one side open.

Geelong are not 1/2 the side when they are one out.

[westdog54]

I think Milburn had an astronomical amount of possesions in one half of footy.

From memory it was 19 in the first quarter. . Granted most of them were the under pressure, wait for an open player handballs that Geelong have made their own, but he got far too much of it.

[Mofra]

From memory it was 19 in the first quarter. . Granted most of them were the under pressure, wait for an open player handballs that Geelong have made their own, but he got far too much of it.
He killed us on the rebound. Can anyone imagine Gilbee being allowed to have 19 possessions in a quarter?

[bornadog]

He killed us on the rebound. Can anyone imagine Gilbee being allowed to have 19 possessions in a quarter?

We would win by 60points

[LostDoggy]

From memory it was 19 in the first quarter. . Granted most of them were the under pressure, wait for an open player handballs that Geelong have made their own, but he got far too much of it.

If we are going to get anywhere near them we must have the same resolve we had against Hawthorn in Tassie. Each time they got the ball we were right there to tackle or put inferred pressure on and cause the turnover.

Geelong don't turn the ball over, simple as that, so we must be switched on defensively in the forward line.

[LostDoggy]

I would like to see rocket go in with a 3 man forward line and have the other 3 play across the center. that would enable us to kick long into space and put pressure on going the other way.

The Collingwood game went along like that with a heap of pressure around the center square
and good long kicking into the forward 50.

We need our guys to play smart and have big Will stand next to the goal umpire with Jonno at his feet. Murph, Aker need to float up to the wing and drag their opponents with them, if they don,t come they need to push to one side of the ground and leave one side open.

Geelong are not 1/2 the side when they are one out.

Totally agree with the 3 man forward but do not start Minson in the goal square. He then becomes the focal point due to his size and we start bombing it in regardless of how many players are on him.
When we have started Minson in the goal square we lose. We didn't start him there last week. He was more a temporary forward whilst resting from the ruck. This is the correct way to play him.

[Bumper Bulldogs]

Totally agree with the 3 man forward but do not start Minson in the goal square. He then becomes the focal point due to his size and we start bombing it in regardless of how many players are on him.
When we have started Minson in the goal square we lose. We didn't start him there last week. He was more a temporary forward whilst resting from the ruck. This is the correct way to play him.

Yes but confidence is a wonderful thing and Big Will has bucket loads at the moment.