Juddy&theKruezers wrote:
....what a massive opportunity for Ratts to give the boys some freedom to play on instinct. We have seen glimpses of this but only when we've had our backs to the wall...I'd like to see it from the start...
We definitely need to get off to a fast start. Geelong has won 14 first quarters and lost only four this season, ranked No.1 in the AFL, while we have won just the eight first quarters which puts us mid pack. The Cats like to smash teams early and then take the foot off the gas, but the Saints, Lions, Hawks and Crows haven't allowed them to get away easy.
On the other hand, we haven't won a first quarter by more than two goals since round 8, and have only won three first quarters since round 8 (against West Coast, Brisbane and Sydney) for three wins.
We need to back ourselves at the clearances and get quick ball forward. Hadley has to play despite his average disposal as he, Gibbs and Murphy have a massive role to play because we know Ling is the best in the business and will sit in Juddy's pocket. Quick ball won't allow their backs to zone off and without Scarlett and Taylor, they are left with Harley and Milburn who while really good at zoning off, aren't quick nor terribly good in the one-on-one's these days, Mackie (who will probably go to Fev, and will do pretty well unless one-on-one) and Enright and Corey (who are both guns, Enright in particular is the most underrated player in the Geelong team - never get beaten).
Betts has to be front and square and I believe Garlett or Robbo have to play (leaning to Garlett, even though I expect Robbo to develop into a 'big game' specialist) to provide huge 'frontal pressure' because as I said, while they are quick of mind, we can pressure them because they aren't quick of foot now in the back half.
Probably not much about Ratten, this post...whoops. No doubt my post not being about Ratten is clearly Ratten's fault. Sack him
