Geelong 2010

[Bum Crack]

He'll be fine. Very important member of that backline and I can't wait to have him back.

[Mr Beefy]

I certainly hope so, I just wish he would drop his discipline a bit and launch the occassional torp from full back a la Big Benny.

[Rik E Boy]

3 straight years of playing in the GF is alot of extra football. Think that will take its toll and i am tipping Geelong will get knocked out in the prelim this year.

If Geelong win plenty of games early they'll go at half rat power for about six weeks late in the year. Nine extra games spaced out over three years is hardly an unmanageable scenario when it comes to list management. Now if the Cats don't get early wins on the board, then your comment all of a sudden becomes a lot more relevant because Geelong won't have the luxury to ease off. You can't win the flag if you don't make the top four..if we spend our tickets getting there yep we are GAWNSKI but if we sew up the top four early then it's year of the Cat again.

regards,

REB

[nuggety goodness]

Geelong will again be a top 4 side no doubt...

if they make the GF again this year and win it, that'd be 4 years, 4 GFs, 3 wins. they would then be in the same bracket as Brisbane ('00-'04) !?!?!?

for interest...

Hawthorn went 7 GF's in a row (83-89) for 4 wins
Melbourne went 7 in a row (54-60) for 5 wins

[Mr Beefy]

Geelong will again be a top 4 side no doubt...

if they make the GF again this year and win it, that'd be 4 years, 4 GFs, 3 wins. they would then be in the same bracket as Brisbane ('00-'04) !?!?!?

for interest...

Hawthorn went 7 GF's in a row (83-89) for 4 wins
Melbourne went 7 in a row (54-60) for 5 wins

7 in a row was prior to draft and salary cap so was easier to build and maintain a good side. Brisbane had salary cap concessions and Cats had some luck in that some of our past players were good breeders.

[nuggety goodness]

Geelong will again be a top 4 side no doubt...

if they make the GF again this year and win it, that'd be 4 years, 4 GFs, 3 wins. they would then be in the same bracket as Brisbane ('00-'04) !?!?!?

for interest...

Hawthorn went 7 GF's in a row (83-89) for 4 wins
Melbourne went 7 in a row (54-60) for 5 wins

7 in a row was prior to draft and salary cap so was easier to build and maintain a good side. Brisbane had salary cap concessions and Cats had some luck in that some of our past players were good breeders.

i understand that, i think that the way it is heading teams will have a window of probably 3 years now with the way the draft and salary caps etc work. IMO Geelong are still riding the wave but it's breaking, last opportunity for them for a couple, after this year they will be a 5th-8th side for a couple...

[Rik E Boy]

I reckon the Cats can hang around longer but when we drop off the fall will be harder.

regards,

REB

[valleys07]

I reckon the Cats can hang around longer but when we drop off the fall will be harder.

regards,

REB

Agreed REB, when the likes of scarlett, ottens, corey go...the drop will be significant

[Mr Beefy]

I reckon the Cats can hang around longer but when we drop off the fall will be harder.

regards,

REB

Agreed REB, when the likes of scarlett, ottens, corey go...the drop will be significant

Even so, we will still have Freo, Richmond, probably the Saints and a couple of others to soften our fall.

[valleys07]

I reckon the Cats can hang around longer but when we drop off the fall will be harder.

regards,

REB

Agreed REB, when the likes of scarlett, ottens, corey go...the drop will be significant

Even so, we will still have Freo, Richmond, probably the Saints and a couple of others to soften our fall.

With hardwicks long term plan, most clubs will have richmond to soften the fall

[hearts on fire]

SNAPSHOT
Coach: Mark Thompson
Captain: Cameron Ling
Finished 2009: 1st (18 wins, four losses)
Best and fairest: Corey Enright/Gary Ablett
Leading goalkicker: Cameron Mooney (46 goals)
Leading possession winner: Gary Ablett (744)

NEW PERSONNEL
On-field: Marcus Drum (exchange period), Daniel Menzel, Mitch Duncan, Allen Christensen, Nathan Vardy, Josh Cowan, Jeremy Laidler (NAB AFL Draft), Jack Weston, Ben C. Johnson, James Podsiadly, Jesse Stringer (NAB AFL Rookie Draft)
Off-field: Blake Caracella (assistant coach)

BEST 22
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Josh Hunt, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, Travis Varcoe
HF: Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman
F: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Shannon Byrnes
Foll: Brad Ottens, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood
I/C: James Kelly, David Wojcinski, Max Rooke, Mark Blake

MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER
People correctly laud Joel Selwood's toughness, but Gary Ablett, who cops criticism in the same area, has 40 more hard-ball gets than the second-placed Selwood at the Cats, and from fewer games with harder tags. Has won pretty much everything on offer in the footy world.

UP AND COMER
Jeremy Laidler debuted in round 15 last year, when a host of Cats were rested for the trip to Brisbane, but is expected to play more games this year after being elevated from the rookie list. A running defender, he is just what the ageing Cats defensive line needs.

NEEDS A BIG YEAR
Mark Blake - with primo ruckman Brad Ottens turned 30 and having played just 22 games in the last two seasons (including just six in 2009), the Cats are surely looking for a long-term ruckman to take over when he retires. Blake began as a cult figure at the Cats, but last year was dropped late in the season before fighting back to claim the premiership medal he missed in 2007. Needs to consolidate his spot with consistent performances.

CHANGING TACK
With two flags in the past three seasons, why would you change much? A bit of tweaking, no doubt, but there's no need for anything approaching wholesale changes. The loss of inspirational skipper Tom Harley will hurt at the back, but they get Josh Hunt back from an ACL, and Travis Varcoe is tipped to move to the wing. Brad Ottens had a fight with a boat in the off-season, but is expected to play in round one, and rookie James Podsiadly could take some pressure off veteran Cam Mooney and youngster Tom Hawkins forward.

INJURY LIST
Joel Corey (knee) - 3 weeks
Mitch Brown (leg) - 3 months
Max Rooke (knee tendinitis) - 3 weeks
Tom Allwright (knee) - 6 months
Mathew Stokes (club suspension) - round 7

WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
"We know that we're probably not going to be at our best in round one, but we still should have a really good team, and we'll still be able to play really well, but we'll hopefully play better footy as the year goes on." - assistant coach Nigel Lappin.

CRYSTAL BALL
It's easy to predict the end for a side that has won as much as Geelong in the last few years, but if the hunger is there, it's hard to see the Cats dropping away. The Cats are out to show that they're a truly great team, an accolade the 2008 grand final loss had denied them. Three flags in four years would allow them to claim that title.

SEASON OPENER
March 26 v Essendon at the MCG.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/ ... fault.aspx

[Rik E Boy]

Interesting summation. While Gary Ablett is our best player clearly our most important player is Matthew Scarlett.

regards,

REB

[The Dark Knight]

Interesting summation. While Gary Ablett is our best player clearly our most important player is Matthew Scarlett.

regards,

REB

Yes very true with the Cats great midfield I'd rather lose Ablett to injury than Scarlett any day of the week, the guy is invaluable

[whufc]

Whats going on with Paul Chapman will he be ready by round 1

[Rik E Boy]

Whats going on with Paul Chapman will he be ready by round 1

Chappy will never play 22 games in a season again IMO but I haven't heard that he won't be right for round 1. I don't know about last weekend but I know that he did play and play pretty well against Richmond the other week.

regards,

REB

[Gozu]

Geelong 2010 season preview "Write the Cats off at your peril!":

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/sports/2010/ ... our-peril/

[Rik E Boy]

Geez we are very scratchy at the moment. If it wasn't for the Hawks issues in Ruck we would have gotten done today.

Johnson: Looks bloody miles off it at the moment - still diving on the ground instead of winning the ball. Cost us a goal at a crucial time today.
Ablett: Still getting the ball but fumbling and getting caught a lot.
Kelly: A player that always seems to be going at half rat power so when he's not on song often gets the finger pointed at him. Just needs to be a bit more urgent at the contest when not in top form.
Mackie: Lacking a bit of awareness at the moment.
Wojinski: Not much left IMO. Needs to find more tricks or he'll be in the Magoos when Varcoe and Stokes returns.

Every game we win at this stage of the year is almost worth two because we are at present VERY vulnerable. I reckon we might be in trouble in the West next week.

regards,

REB

[The Dark Knight]

Geez we are very scratchy at the moment. If it wasn't for the Hawks issues in Ruck we would have gotten done today.

Johnson: Looks bloody miles off it at the moment - still diving on the ground instead of winning the ball. Cost us a goal at a crucial time today.
Ablett: Still getting the ball but fumbling and getting caught a lot.
Kelly: A player that always seems to be going at half rat power so when he's not on song often gets the finger pointed at him. Just needs to be a bit more urgent at the contest when not in top form.
Mackie: Lacking a bit of awareness at the moment.
Wojinski: Not much left IMO. Needs to find more tricks or he'll be in the Magoos when Varcoe and Stokes returns.

Every game we win at this stage of the year is almost worth two because we are at present VERY vulnerable. I reckon we might be in trouble in the West next week.

regards,

REB

Still considering you are Geelong, you are the raining premiers and you have clearly been the best team over the last 3 years, somehow your vulnerable?

[the wonder elephant]

Interesting summation. While Gary Ablett is our best player clearly our most important player is Matthew Scarlett.

regards,

REB

Yes very true with the Cats great midfield I'd rather lose Ablett to injury than Scarlett any day of the week, the guy is invaluable

could be in a bit of trouble for that knee to ladson today .

[McAlmanac]

Went to the G today and have to say that Brad Ottens was the difference between the two sides, Renouf's overloaded workload notwithstanding. His vice like mark and goal at the end of the third quarter, coupled with a possibly even better one in the forward pocket in the last, were real "stand tall" efforts. I was sitting right behind the line of flight as Steve Johnson's snap (after that second mark) curled through - only thing he did all day, but a magic moment.

The Cats also seem to have found a player in Mitch Duncan - was impressed with him.