Geelong are second with two losses so far this season and too many they seem vulnerable and not as invincible as they once where. So are they still a chance to make this years grand final and win a second premiership in three years or have they been brought back to the rest of the pack?
Taylor along with 13 other regular Cats have all missed chunks of the season.
Injuries have hurt them with Ablett, Corey, Bartel, Johnson, Chapman, Ottens, Kelly, Milburn, Ling, Harley, Taylor, Scartlett, Mackie & Varcoe (14 of their best 22) all missing games this year and with a round 18 record of 16 wins, 2 losses and a percentage of 134.15% they still look invincible. In any other season, they would be sitting on top of the ladder.
However in the last 8 games their biggest win was 46 points against bottom side Melbourne and the only other win over 30 points was against Port Adelaide. In the other 6 games, they have not scored over 100 points and this includes two sides in the bottom 4 of the ladder in West Coast (10th best defense) & Fremantle (16th best defense).
In the last five weeks, they have played four top 10 sides in St Kilda, Brisbane, Hawthorn & Adelaide. The result is 2 losses and 2 wins by a margin of 3 points. In the losses, it took a last minute contender of a ‘mark of the year’ by Gardiner to kick the winning goal and in the Brisbane game they were missing 8 regular players, I doubt any team could have won with 8 of your best 22 out.
In the two wins, they played very inspiring football at time but they also allowed their opposition to gain almost too much momentum. Against Hawthorn they kicked 5.3 in the last quarter after being 28 points behind. Against Adelaide, Geelong opened up a 27 point lead but then let that slip for Adelaide to get in front before Chapman kicked the final two goals.
Even with their injury worries taken into account, I am starting to think that their reign is fast closing and 2010 may be their last chance to win a premiership with the current crop of players.
Last year following the 2008 Grand Final loss, the question marks over their forward line were asked. While the question marks remain, there is also now a large question mark on their ruck division.
Blake has failed to take that next step up after missing out on the 2007 premiership and remained on the list over King. Ottens has only played 3 games this year including his return VFL game last week and the others in Mumford & West have only showed enough for them to be back up ruckmen. They are not look likely to lead Geelongs ruck division this year, let alone the next five years.
Lonergan has played back when in the side with Hawkins & Mooney being the main forward targets. However all 3 have played up forward at times and none of them have showed they are the immediate answer. Hawkins has showed something up the ground but his & Mooney’s goal kicking is enough to give anyone a heart attack. If it was not for Steve Johnson, the forward line would really be malfunctioning who has had almost a better year than his previous two.
So the question remains, is it a case of St Kilda verses the rest or when Geelong get a few more stars back, it will again be a two horse race between them and St Kilda?
Loading ...
August 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
They’ve dropped off, but maybe not back to “the pack” just yet. I’d still back them to find a way to beat the likes of the Bulldogs, Collingwood and Adelaide come September. However…
An Ottens return would do wonders. Not as a ruckman, as a forward. The Cats can live with Mumford in the ruck and a few of the other talls helping him out at times. But if we’re leaving Stevie J and Chappy out of it, the rest of the forward line is all that flattering, particularly in comparison to ’07 and ’08. Mooney, Hawkins, Stokes, Byrnes and Varcoe are all capable of more than what they’ve been displaying the past few weeks. Someone needs to come in who can not only become a target, but someone who can actually put some pressure on for spots up forward. As it stands, St Kilda’s forward line is far above Geelong’s, and it’s probably the key difference between the two.
August 5th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
In swimming i believe it’s called ‘tapering’. The Cats swept all before them last year and belted everyone except the Pies before losing the only game that really matters against a an inferior team who peaked at the perfect time of the season. What do they have to play for? they are guaranteed top 2 so risking players and rushing them back early would be suicide. The real season starts in 4 weeks and i have no doubt that the Cats will be pumped, primed and ready. They will win the flag this year…
August 6th, 2009 at 10:38 am
Chappy has just done his hammy which dents their forward line potency even more. While I agree with you Deano that Geelong are taking a more careful approach to the finals as they are hurting after last year. What worries me however is that “playing” with your form never ends well…
Adelaide in 05-06 played with their form and they did not reach a Grand Final loosing against the Eagles both times. and how many times has the Australian cricket side rested and rotated players in the One Day Series without the result of winning the Commonwealth One Day Cup??
If Ottens can return he will be a HUGE benefit as you say “Michael D”, however can Hawkins, Mooney & Ottens fit in the same forward line? And if not, who misses out? Hawkins?
I like Ablett playing forward instead of being on the bench, he looks like the best other forward option to me.
August 7th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Now I am a big cats fan… but it has been a bit of a shame watching them play this year, they have not fought with the tenacity that we have seen in previous years. you have seen Bartel and Ablett not in their best form but still exceptional players.
But I also think that you can bring the best out of Geelong when they are as you put it Jermayn ‘vulnerable’ state. When there is a challenge they seem to give their all and you seem some of the best matches in football that you have ever seen…
Do we want total floggings dealt out or do we want to keep seeing some good close games that are action packed and high flying… thats really the question…
August 10th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Yes maybe the bad form in the regular season could be the “wake up” call the Geelong side needs. I think its safe to say though that injuries just continue to hurt them…
August 13th, 2009 at 4:30 pm
Geelong have had their time people…its only downhill from here…saints and collingwood are up and the eagles back in action 2-3 years time…bring back sampi lol