Semi Finals

[dejavoodoo44]

It's been bugging me who Murphy Reid reminds me of; especially with his headband on. It finally dawned on me. Spanish former tennis star, Conchita Martinez, back in her playing days.

[dejavoodoo44]

Nice to see Geelong done for. I suspect that they'll react by somehow squeezing Butters, Greene and Marshall into their salary sombrero.

[longmile]

How was the umpiring? Social media was indicating it was pretty horrible bias against Geelong and in support of Freo? But we all know what social media is like

[Auntie.Gerald]

Freeo are certainly a dangerous team

my major concern is being able to negate their forwards especially with Jackson’s dominance from centre bounce.

looking forward to a great contest !!!

[SwanSand]

Fascinating game indeed. And one that was expected.
Things that I looked and thought were interesting for us.
1. Fremantle won the game in the first quarter. The other three quarters were won by Geelong. In that first quarter the difference was the complete breakdown of defence in d50 for Geelong where they were being outnumbered quite easily and many players did not even defended their man. The forward handball in the centre resulted in speed on the ball and put the defenders out of position.
2. The intent of the freo players to take on the tackler was very noticeable in the first half.
3. The dominance of Luke Jackson. He is their most important player. Everything happens through him.
4. Using handballs and then kicking to the open side was very noticeable to give one on one to their forwards in f50 was a strategy that they used well. this was to probably to go around Tom Stewart. But he had a very poor game.
5. Marking in the first quarter. They were very good at attacking the ball and marking it. Geelong were terrible. Again this could be because the defenders were out of position for Geelong but I thought their contested marks were good too while Geelong only got going in the second to third quarter.
6. Geelong small forwards were shut out of the game. Zero impact atleast for more than 2 quarters where it was decided. Our wingers and small forwards will have to be very defensive minded to prevent the ball zipping into the forward 50 for them.

Will be a great game next week

[KSAS]

Good analysis SwanSsnd. No doubt Cox and the team would have watched the game closely to hopefully come up with a game plan to nullify Freo's strengths as they did with Brisbane last week.

[Dow]

For me i wonder if we played our GF last week, that energy and emotion takes it toll and is hard to replicate

[imuninformedtwo]

Fascinating game indeed. And one that was expected.
Things that I looked and thought were interesting for us.
1. Fremantle won the game in the first quarter. The other three quarters were won by Geelong. In that first quarter the difference was the complete breakdown of defence in d50 for Geelong where they were being outnumbered quite easily and many players did not even defended their man. The forward handball in the centre resulted in speed on the ball and put the defenders out of position.
2. The intent of the freo players to take on the tackler was very noticeable in the first half.
3. The dominance of Luke Jackson. He is their most important player. Everything happens through him.
4. Using handballs and then kicking to the open side was very noticeable to give one on one to their forwards in f50 was a strategy that they used well. this was to probably to go around Tom Stewart. But he had a very poor game.
5. Marking in the first quarter. They were very good at attacking the ball and marking it. Geelong were terrible. Again this could be because the defenders were out of position for Geelong but I thought their contested marks were good too while Geelong only got going in the second to third quarter.
6. Geelong small forwards were shut out of the game. Zero impact atleast for more than 2 quarters where it was decided. Our wingers and small forwards will have to be very defensive minded to prevent the ball zipping into the forward 50 for them.

Will be a great game next week

Great summary. I’m sanguine about their tall forwards because if they can get their centre square game going where they use Bolton and Young and Reid to spit forward on a handball whilst Bradshaw and Serong sit tight defensively, it won’t really matter what our defenders do.

Brodie and the mids have a big week ahead. They were brilliant against the Lions, who are probably the equal to Freo in setting up and releasing from the centre like that. But they’ll have to go again.

[mcs]

For me i wonder if we played our GF last week, that energy and emotion takes it toll and is hard to replicate

The win wasn't built on energy and emotion. Sure, high effort footy - but it was the tactical side of that we built that win on. That is repeatable. And I have no doubt at all that we will bring more pressure around the ground then Geelong did last night.

Should be a cracking game.

[dejavoodoo44]

Seems like Butters is heading to the Bulldogs. Glad it's not to the Cats.

Possibly the reported 9 year, $1.8 - 2 million contract for a 26 year old is a touch excessive? I can see it becoming a large salary for not much return as he ages. Though of course, if he can team with Bontempelli, Richards and Darcy, to deliver a premiership in the next few years, then they probably won't really care what happens in the 2030s.