Wizard Cup grand final {R}

[babytiger2001]

Geelong versus St. Kilda, Saturday night (here) at Telstra Dome in Melbourne.

Picking the Cats here, obviously-- seven years without any kind of a grand final appearance and a whopping 41 years without a championship of any kind, Geelong will have to be the sentimental favourites.

But with both clubs riding a wave of younger talent behind their recent revivals towards what they hope is an ultimate glory for the home-and-away season starting at the end of the month, it should be an interesting match this weekend.

Bear in mind, though, that these two clubs will face off at the same venue for their Round 1 meeting on March 27. So will either coach-- Mark Thompson of the Cats or Grant Thomas of the Saints-- want to show off too much?

And what game is really more important, in the big picture-- this one, with a trophy at stake, or the season opener a fortnight later?

I'll update this with news links throughout the week.

Discuss the showdown, y'all...

[babytiger2001]

And, oh yeah... GO CATS!! :D

I'm picking Geelong by 27 points here.

[babytiger2001]

Tuesday's news links over here...

Thomas notes draw irony -- St Kilda's official site (http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137106)

Wizard final one of contrasts -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137094)

Speedster Tenace hot in debut -- Geelong's official site (http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137023) Watch this rookie... he may be the real deal

Big future, says coach -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10805)

Cats a big chance -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10803) "Crackers" Keenan column

Fans catch finals fever -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10812)

Anthem drills urged -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10811)

Simply the best -- Geelong's official site (http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137024) A mirroring of Fiona Welsh's article in Monday's Geelong Addy

In-your-face Saints make heavy impact -- The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/08/1078594297170.html)

Cats face changes if Bartel is rubbed out -- The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/08/1078594297179.html)

Junior Cats match Saints -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8908141%255E20322,00.html)

Geelong sweats on tribunal -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8910049%255E19766,00.html)

Harley throttles back on '04 hopes -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8891613%255E19766,00.html)

Cats' Loats blow -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8891607%255E19766,00.html)

Koschitzke rated a big chance -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8908135%255E19772,00.html)

Saints glimpse the holy grail -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8898800%255E19772,00.html)

[OldFanatic]

Do they even show this live anywhere in Australia (specifically in Victoria, and other states)? What sort of TV ratings does it get in the Greater Melbourne area?

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by Chandu
Do they even show this live anywhere in Australia (specifically in Victoria, and other states)? What sort of TV ratings does it get in the Greater Melbourne area?

The normal television consortium of Nine, Ten and Fox Footy Channel have been showing all the games, live and on tape-delay-- and Fox Footy Channel's been airing replays all week, every week of the competition.

Ten's got the live game this Saturday night, across the nation and not just in Victoria, and the blackouts are generally lifted in Melbourne for Ten's live games (preseason and regular season).

No idea on TV ratings, but I'll try and dig that up.

[Craig the Aussie]

Yep, Live into Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania. On delay in NSW & Queensland.

I am guessing it will rate well in Melbourne (lets face it - it's footy, 2 Victoria teams and there is nothing else on)

[Spartacus]

I haven't seen anything in the run-up to the Cup Final on the form of Stephen Milne for the Saints. I've read he's had his struggles but he's a scary player when he's on form. Any ideas where he stands for this weekend?

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by Spartacus
I haven't seen anything in the run-up to the Cup Final on the form of Stephen Milne for the Saints. I've read he's had his struggles but he's a scary player when he's on form. Any ideas where he stands for this weekend?

If what he did against the Bombers is any indication, he's someone Geelong had better keep an eye on, aside from the usual suspects like Gehrig, Riewoldt and others.

Milne had only 11 disposals against Essendon, but managed to kick three goals.

This according to the stats link on St Kilda's official site (http://saints.com.au/).

[hiddink_magic]

Saints by 40 points

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by goaldrush
Saints by 40 points

Not a chance. :p

Geelong may not score a lot of points or kick a lot of goals consistently, but the defence is solid. I'll take the Cats' back six-- even with Cameron Mooney, a converted forward, at centre half back in there-- against anyone else's in the league.

With that defence, we never get blown out. Keeps us in a lot of games, in fact.

To wit, with Matthew Scarlett on Fraser Gehrig, Jarrod Rooke on Milne and Cameron Ling on Nick Riewoldt, I think the matchups suit Geelong pretty well.

[ScouseCat]

Bartel cleared for Wizard final
Tue 9 March, 2004

Geelong midfielder James Bartel is free to play in the grand final of the Wizard Home Loans Cup after being cleared of a charge of attempting to trip Melbourne’s James McDonald by the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.

http://afl.com.au/cp2/c2/webi/article/137279ah.jpg

Bartel, who was one of the Cats best players in their one-point defeat of the Demons in last Friday night’s semi-final, pleaded not guilty to the report and argued that his movement towards McDonald’s legs in the dying seconds of the game was involuntary.

Click on the below link to view the remainder of the story.

http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137283

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by babytiger2001
Not a chance. :p

I agree with babytiger2001, Geelong's time has come and I really believe we're a big chance to beat the Saints this week. St Kilda is a team Geelong beat more often then not, and hopefully we can continue on with that in the Grand Final and further develop a winning culture around our club.


Originally posted by babytiger2001
To wit, with Matthew Scarlett on Fraser Gehrig, Jarrod Rooke on Milne and Cameron Ling on Nick Riewoldt, I think the matchups suit Geelong pretty well.
I think Cameron Ling will once again be given the job of running with Robert Harvey. I'd play Tom Harley on Nick Riewoldt, Matthew Scarlett will take Fraser Gehrig, (I agree) and Cameron Mooney will get Aaron Hamill.

[babytiger2001]

More news links, from Wednesday's assorted media...

Bomber puts case for forgotten Cats -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137412) Mark Thompson, the Geelong coach, has his say... a bit of "mind games", perhaps?

History no milestone: Graham -- Geelong's official site (http://gfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137252)

Thomas easy on Saints celebrations -- St. Kilda's official site (http://saints.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137382)

Bartel cleared of tripping charge -- The Age (http://www.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/09/1078594362330.html)

Saints embrace finals experience -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8922220%255E11088,00.html)

Time for Cats and Big Ben -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8922214%255E20322,00.html)

Saints firming for Wizard glory -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8922210%255E19742,00.html)

Time for success -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10820)

Also, the squads for Geelong and St. Kilda will be announced tomorrow and unveiled on tomorrow night's (Thursday night's) season-premiere edition of "The Footy Show" here.

[Spartacus]

Translated to Pacific Standard Time what time is opening bounce? Is it around 4am Friday? Or 4am Saturday?

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by Spartacus
Translated to Pacific Standard Time what time is opening bounce? Is it around 4am Friday? Or 4am Saturday?

Not even that late, I think.

A 7:45 p.m. Saturday start in Melbourne translates to a 12:45 a.m. Friday opening bounce, I think. In any event, we're 19 hours ahead of the west coast of the USA.

Thursday's news round-up is coming right up...

[babytiger2001]

News round-up for Thursday...

Cats keep feet on ground on eve of final -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/10/1078594429232.html)

Thomspn says his young Cats can match St. Kilda -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/10/1078594429586.html)

So far so cool as Saints prepare to have a crack --The Age

[url=http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/10/1078594429574.html?from=storyrhs]Ten prepares for football, the extended version -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/10/1078594429583.html?from=storyrhs) Not entirely Wizard Cup-related, but newsworthy nonetheless

Personal intros for Wizard Cup finalists -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137485)

Don't forget us, says Thompson -- The Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8931083%255E20322,00.html)

Saints to hold nothing back -- The Herald Sun (http://heraldsun.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,8932248%255E19742,00.html)

What's all the fuss? -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10830)

Make your own history -- Geelong Advertiser (http://www.geelonginfo.com/readarticle.asp?articleid=10829)

Up to three out as Cats patch Loats loss with tag-teaming backups -- Ballarat Courier (http://www.thecourier.com.au/detail.asp?class=sport&subclass=national&category=general%20sport&story_id=291038&y=2004&m=3) From a couple of days ago, but still relevant

More later, as well as the squad news tonight...

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by babytiger2001
So far so cool as Saints prepare to have a crack --The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/10/1078594429583.html?from=storyrhs)

Ten prepares for football, the extended version -- The Age (http://realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/10/1078594429574.html?from=storyrhs) Not entirely Wizard Cup-related, but newsworthy nonetheless

Fixed these. :)

[babytiger2001]

Squad news article -- afl.com.au (http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=137547)

The highlights have Justin Koschitzke in for St. Kilda at the expense of Nick Stone, while Geelong are forced to make two changes, with injured pair David Loats and Shannon Byrnes sacrificed in lieu of Tim Callan and David Johnson.

The squads:

Geelong: Tom Harley, James Bartel, David Spriggs, Ben Graham, David Haynes, James Kelly, Kane Tenace, Joel Corey, Peter Riccardi, Charlie Gardiner, Tim Callan, Kent Kingsley, Cameron Mooney, Henry Playfair, Matthew McCarthy, Brenton Sanderson, David Johnson, Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Paul Chambers, Brent Moloney, Jarad Rooke, James Rahilly, Paul Chapman, Darren Milburn, Josh Hunt, Corey Enright, Cameron Ling.

St Kilda: Justin Peckett, Aaron Hamill, Xavier Clarke, Andrew Thompson, Austinn Jones, Heath Black, Lenny Hayes, Fraser Gehrig, Steven Baker, Nick Riewoldt, Brett Voss, Luke Ball, Stephen Powell, Brendon Goddard, Luke Penny, Allan Murray, Matthew Ferguson, Justin Koschitzke, Nick Dal Santo, Jason Blake, Leigh Montagna, Matt Maguire, Trent Knobel, Brent Guerra, Robert Harvey, Troy Schwarze, Brett Moyle, Stephen Milne.

[ScouseCat]

Originally posted by babytiger2001
[i]Geelong: Tom Harley, James Bartel, David Spriggs, Ben Graham, David Haynes, James Kelly, Kane Tenace, Joel Corey, Peter Riccardi, Charlie Gardiner, Tim Callan, Kent Kingsley, Cameron Mooney, Henry Playfair, Matthew McCarthy, Brenton Sanderson, David Johnson, Gary Ablett, Matthew Scarlett, Paul Chambers, Brent Moloney, Jarad Rooke, James Rahilly, Paul Chapman, Darren Milburn, Josh Hunt, Corey Enright, Cameron Ling.
Hopefully this is the group of players which will win our first Premiership of any sort since Bob Davis led us to the 1963 day Premiership.

[babytiger2001]

Originally posted by ScouseCat
Hopefully this is the group of players which will win our first Premiership of any sort since Bob Davis led us to the 1963 day Premiership.

I like our chances, especially if we can get our running game going. If we can do that, and combined with our quality in defence, we'll be hard to beat.

However, I'd feel even better about our chances if Chambers and Moloney were able to win their fair share of battles in the ruck. With neither King nor Loats available, that levels things in that matchup area quite a bit.