View Full Version : Year that Could have Been
jacross
30 Sep 2006, 21:13
The two grandfinalists this year were West Coast and Sydney. With Eagles 1 point premiers.
We had a 50 point lead against the Eagles until we threw it away. We beat the Swans convincingly in Round 21.
We could have been premiers if we had've played to our potential. Instead this year was wasted. How long will it be until we get a chance again and what will we do with it?
CatmanForever
30 Sep 2006, 21:39
well we will get a chance again next year, and the year after and the year after that and so on.
You can't honestly think that our year this year was "one that got away" We had a crap year and didn't deserve to make the finals. Judging by the lack of ticker our guys had this year, they would never have won the GF if they were lucky enough to get there in the first place.
jacross
30 Sep 2006, 22:55
...My point was that while we physically had the potential to, it was the attitude and 'ticker' that let us down.
cats2rise
30 Sep 2006, 22:56
Dont start this 'what if' crap.
We were not good enough.
No good crying over spilt milk, time to move on, hopefully the changes will be positive.
No good crying over spilt milk, time to move on, hopefully the changes will be positive.
Speaking of the changes, does anybody know when the review results will be posted on the gfc website? I read somewhere that they would be
Speaking of the changes, does anybody know when the review results will be posted on the gfc website? I read somewhere that they would be
Good question, the review results were made public seemingly ages ago. Can we blame the Telstra webmasters?:p
Good question, the review results were made public seemingly ages ago. Can we blame the Telstra webmasters?:p
There was a story in the Geelong Advertiser on Tuesday or Wednesday last week saying an abridged version of the review (20 pages or so) will be sent out to all adult and country members in the next week or so, and then it will be posted on the website.
cattalist
1 Oct 2006, 14:06
It is interesting to see how others view Geelong in terms of next years predictions. In the West Australian newspsper today (after 15 pages or so of Eagles premiers crap) there was a predictor of the ladder next year. Geelong wasnt in the top 8, and the teams predicted to be competitive for the 8 outside of those 8 teams were Hawks, Essendon and Lions. So, the cats are 12 or lower? are we deserving of this? or is this a knee jerk reaction to the poor year - the simplistic attitude that we are a side on the way down.
CatmanForever
1 Oct 2006, 14:19
It is interesting to see how others view Geelong in terms of next years predictions. In the West Australian newspsper today (after 15 pages or so of Eagles premiers crap) there was a predictor of the ladder next year. Geelong wasnt in the top 8, and the teams predicted to be competitive for the 8 outside of those 8 teams were Hawks, Essendon and Lions. So, the cats are 12 or lower? are we deserving of this? or is this a knee jerk reaction to the poor year - the simplistic attitude that we are a side on the way down.
yes we deserve this as the club has lost respect. Wether it is true is another story and we can only wait and see who we pick up during the trade/drafting periods (apart from the one we know) to see if Bomber can get the personel to improve the areas that would make us competitive.
I heard Mike Sheahan say on WLF a few nights ago that he would expect a top 4 finish still for us.
cattalist
1 Oct 2006, 14:32
so is the fact that we are perceived this way in our favour? compared to the hype of last year after the NAB cup and winning Rds 1 and 2 so convincingly?
or is this going to just increase the pressure to perform?
cats2rise
1 Oct 2006, 19:00
I think I was a Student Concesion for a childrens membership (as I am 17) IIRC. I better get the results otherwise I will get cut.
nananana catman
1 Oct 2006, 21:12
Saying stuff like this allows players to rest on their laurels rather than work hard over the summer catching upwith the best in the comp. I certainly hope plauers dont share this sentiment.
chapmanmagic35
1 Oct 2006, 22:30
so is the fact that we are perceived this way in our favour? compared to the hype of last year after the NAB cup and winning Rds 1 and 2 so convincingly?
or is this going to just increase the pressure to perform?
I reckon the pressure is just as high, because we are still expected to do something.
In no way did I mean that the players deserved it. There is a potential, but you have to live up to your potential.
Living up to your potential is decided not on luck, nor fate, it is not a roll of the dice. The players blew it, THEY BLEW IT. There was something that they blew. Carlton didn't blow anything this year. We did. Just like we've blown it all my life. So don't say that I'm accepting mediocrity, because I'm not. This topic is me being sickened at the club accepting mediocrity, of resting on its laurels, of thinking that showing up some of the time is good enough. I bled blue and white all season, all my life. I'm sick of saying (there's next year and next year and next year and next year and next, next, next). Because there is no next year. There hasn't been a next year for 43 years. How long are you prepared to wait? I look at this season as a wasted opportunity, so **** you if you don't mourn like I mourn. For you are the ones who applause defeat with the clarion call of 'next year'.
I reckon the pressure is just as high, because we are still expected to do something.
We expect them to do something but I think the football media and public probably don't have those expectations of Geelong anymore. Certainly not like they did this year.
someday-somehow
2 Oct 2006, 10:19
In no way did I mean that the players deserved it. There is a potential, but you have to live up to your potential.
Living up to your potential is decided not on luck, nor fate, it is not a roll of the dice. The players blew it, THEY BLEW IT. There was something that they blew. Carlton didn't blow anything this year. We did. Just like we've blown it all my life. So don't say that I'm accepting mediocrity, because I'm not. This topic is me being sickened at the club accepting mediocrity, of resting on its laurels, of thinking that showing up some of the time is good enough. I bled blue and white all season, all my life. I'm sick of saying (there's next year and next year and next year and next year and next, next, next). Because there is no next year. There hasn't been a next year for 43 years. How long are you prepared to wait? I look at this season as a wasted opportunity, so **** you if you don't mourn like I mourn. For you are the ones who applause defeat with the clarion call of 'next year'.
Wow, that's real bleeding heart stuff, I don't think that they have blown it for 43 years straight, it's not an easy thing to win an AFL flag, they came close for a number of years and were put away by better teams but I will agree with one sentiment, this year the group that we all thought would be different showed once again that they belong to a mediocre club
I was a broken man last night.
Partridge
2 Oct 2006, 11:52
I'm sick of saying (there's next year and next year and next year and next year and next, next, next). Because there is no next year. There hasn't been a next year for 43 years. How long are you prepared to wait? I look at this season as a wasted opportunity, so **** you if you don't mourn like I mourn. For you are the ones who applause defeat with the clarion call of 'next year'.
Brilliant post. I've found a kindred spirit. Good luck finding many Geelong fans who hate losing - and I mean really hate losing - however. You'll see them cheering the team off after losses next year though, guaranteed.
CatmanForever
2 Oct 2006, 14:16
I really don't understand your "there is no next year" and "you're all accepting mediocrity if you say that"
Firstly get a life.......
Secondly, at this stage of the year I am sorry to inform you but the Flag has been done and dusted and, in case you weren't aware, we didn't win it. So all we have (like 14 other clubs) is to press on, go back to the drawing board and see if we can improve our situation next season (ie year). I am so sorry you are bleeding, i suggest you seek medical attention because it is making you delerious.
Firstly, as I said, the storm got to me last night.
Secondly, explain to me how what you said is anything different from what I said originally? Seriously, break it down and explain how I disagree with you.
But there's always next year guys, woot woot.
snowycats
2 Oct 2006, 19:50
The big problem with the side is poor disposal, lack of pace and a key forward who can take a pack mark - perhaps the last one can be solved by Hawkins and Nathan and Mooney being consistent but they really need good delivery - Ling, Kelly, Tenace, Bartel, Wojinski, D Johnson, S Johnson at times, Mackie, all suffer from either lack of penetration with disposal or just very average under pressure. Corey and Enright and Ablett and Chapman are OK - need to recruit some players with these basic skills - quick but really good kicks - alas they got rid of Moloney
cattalist
2 Oct 2006, 21:34
The big problem with the side is poor disposal, lack of pace and a key forward who can take a pack mark - perhaps the last one can be solved by Hawkins and Nathan and Mooney being consistent but they really need good delivery - Ling, Kelly, Tenace, Bartel, Wojinski, D Johnson, S Johnson at times, Mackie, all suffer from either lack of penetration with disposal or just very average under pressure. Corey and Enright and Ablett and Chapman are OK - need to recruit some players with these basic skills - quick but really good kicks - alas they got rid of Moloney
all those points are good - however I think that a lot of the problems at the Cats are to do with whats between their ears and thats a lot harder to put the finger on.
other problems, such as
- a lack of leadership/unity (just look at how other sides work for each other, Swans and dogs come to mind)
- poor coaching - players that are playing out of position, decisions are not being made regarding which players deserve to play etc
- poor fitness - well documented, started to come good at the end of the season
these have to be adressed too, but lets move on and look at the positives - this year is over.
..........having said that these are the positives IMO
1. Hawkins, not just that he will play for us and that he has real potential, but we are getting him as a 3rd rd pick, no doubt he would have gone top 5 otherwise. I know we dont want to add pressure, but it is what it is
2. The review has exposed problems, even if they havent fully been addressed and acted upon - at least they are recognised - eg coaching staff
3. King no longer captain, Harley making inroads to unify team
4. Pressures on Bomber, after the review effectively has made his job easier - (added staff member to take some of his load) no more excuses now, if we underperform again.....blind fred could see he is gone.
5. Kingsley gone, $$ salary room
6. We played much better in the last third of the season, better than our ladder position tells.
7. Good young players showed promise such as stokes, prismall.....rooke undervalued by others, Nathan on the rise.
Hey I might be wrong....:rolleyes: