Prediction How Will The Cats Fare in 2025?

[catempire]

Same prediction I’ve made for the last 10 years or so:

Bottom half of the eight.

Brisbane is the only team clearly superior to us. Then we are in a ruck with a large bunch of teams. Fortunes among them (and us) depend on how many gems are uncovered and luck with injuries.

 

[Lana]

Same prediction I’ve made for the last 10 years or so:

Bottom half of the eight.

Brisbane is the only team clearly superior to us. Then we are in a ruck with a large bunch of teams. Fortunes among them (and us) depend on how many gems are uncovered and luck with injuries.

I don't see Brisbane as being in a better position then us.

Our problems are the same as last year. Midfield/Rucks, lack of running power, most of our better player well over 30. We had enough tools to get around those last year. Up to Scott to move the magnets around. Smith helps.

Clubs are going to take the wrong lessons from the finals and go for the running game early in the season. Which I'd prefer over a methodical build up. It'll be turnover central.

 

[CHAWKTS]

Ok. So ladder predictors are worthless…one game choice can make huge swing…but I did it anyway…

A few surprises to me…

1. No surprise I have Cats on top given i am one of those optimistic cats fans! I did have us winning all home games which hasn’t proven to be the fortress over past few years so…

2. No suprise to me about GWS as I rate them. Also having Brisbane off to slow start (optimistic Cats fan!) isn’t heroic given premiers of last few years. I rate them enough that they work to get back into 8

3. I am surprised where I had Goldcoast. But I think their home games have become likely wins and they just need to do better away from home - they have a good draw

4. Also Port if you asked me I would say they would miss the 8 - but when I picked the games they get in,

5. Of course note that there is 1 game between 3rd and 12th so these orders change with upsets - lots of “8 point games”

6. Hawks might reflect my Cats bias!! Although I do think they could have a bit of a flat year

 

[Gee Class Loco]

I see us playing in a prelim.... as usual.
How we go depends on where, the personal available and what way the ball bounces on the day.

 

[Mr Meow]

I don't see Brisbane as being in a better position then us.

Our problems are the same as last year. Midfield/Rucks, lack of running power, most of our better player well over 30. We had enough tools to get around those last year. Up to Scott to move the magnets around. Smith helps.

Clubs are going to take the wrong lessons from the finals and go for the running game early in the season. Which I'd prefer over a methodical build up. It'll be turnover central.

Who are your top 10 players for Geelong, from the current list?

I can only find 3 of them over 30.

 

[catempire]

I don't see Brisbane as being in a better position then us.

Our problems are the same as last year. Midfield/Rucks, lack of running power, most of our better player well over 30. We had enough tools to get around those last year. Up to Scott to move the magnets around. Smith helps.

Clubs are going to take the wrong lessons from the finals and go for the running game early in the season. Which I'd prefer over a methodical build up. It'll be turnover central.

Lack of running power?

 

[catempire]

Who are your top 10 players for Geelong, from the current list?

I can only find 3 of them over 30.

Ages from the 2024 Carji gives a fair indication:

1st - Max Holmes (164 votes) - 22
2nd - Zach Guthrie (120) - 26
3rd - Jeremy Cameron (118) - 31
4th - Tom Stewart (117) - 31
5th - Tyson Stengle (107) - 26
6th - Gryan Miers (95) - 25
7th - Ollie Dempsey (73) - 22
8th - Ollie Henry (69) - 22
9th - Brad Close (66) - 26
10th - Patrick Dangerfield (65) - 34

It's not in any way 'most'.

 

[Lana]

Who are your top 10 players for Geelong, from the current list?

I can only find 3 of them over 30.

Problem is those three are bloody important. They hold on for another year, and younger guys go through some natural growth we're looking at top 4. Those three don't then we're not probably not much of a threat.

 

[Lana]

Lack of running power?

Yeah, in the context of covering kms with place.

I wish I had the advanced metrics to provide evidence, but we have a mix a good runners and guys who are cooked. I think our structure will be taller. Last year We reserve what we have for offense, plus play an extra at the around the ground stoppages.

We've lost a few vets and a few more could be out of favour this year so, it could improve.

 

[catempire]

Yeah, in the context of covering kms with place.

I wish I had the advanced metrics to provide evidence, but we have a mix a good runners and guys who are cooked. I think our structure will be taller. Last year We reserve what we have for offense, plus play an extra at the around the ground stoppages.

We've lost a few vets and a few more could be out of favour this year so, it could improve.

I see it quite differently. It has been a strength to our transition game to have the likes of excellent runners in Close, Miers, Dempsey and Holmes. I struggle to think of a team with better running power but I suspect you are using the term differently to how I use it.

If there has been a flaw it's that we've lacked a player like that off half back which is why Holmes has been given that role. Smith's addition might allow us to do more of that but of course we need Holmes at stoppages too. That's the big weakness.

 

[Mr Meow]

Problem is those three are bloody important. They hold on for another year, and younger guys go through some natural growth we're looking at top 4. Those three don't then we're not probably not much of a threat.

Okay, but then it doesn't match up with "most of our better players are well over 30".

Cameron was our bonafide over 30 A-grader in 2024. Stewart had an up and down season and Danger, while still important, was on his 2/3 of season games played, 2/3 of each game on the field regimen. After those 3 our veteran quality actually markedly thins out compared to 2020-2022. Our 20-26 year old cohort is leagues above where it was a few years ago and a lot of our fortunes are down to what level those types reach.

 

[Mr Meow]

I see it quite differently. It has been a strength to our transition game to have the likes of excellent runners in Close, Miers, Dempsey and Holmes. I struggle to think of a team with better running power but I suspect you are using the term differently to how I use it.

If there has been a flaw it's that we've lacked a player like that off half back which is why Holmes has been given that role. Smith's addition might allow us to do more of that but of course we need Holmes at stoppages too. That's the big weakness.

Yeah I'm 100% on you with this one.

If anything, our weakness is now in the contested stoppage work and marking/contesting high balls. Things that used to eb strengths. Our defensive spread/agility on the D50 ground balls is a weakness (so I guess run related?) but there's certainly no running weakness in terms of generating play and breaking the game open.

 

[catempire]

Yeah I'm 100% on you with this one.

If anything, our weakness is now in the contested stoppage work and marking/contesting high balls. Things that used to eb strengths. Our defensive spread/agility on the D50 ground balls is a weakness (so I guess run related?) but there's certainly no running weakness in terms of generating play and breaking the game open.

Yep. When I think running power I think of players who can run hard for long periods. I think we have that covered well and it is an area of advantage for us. Those other areas you mention aren't what I think of as running power.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Yeah I'm 100% on you with this one.

If anything, our weakness is now in the contested stoppage work and marking/contesting high balls. Things that used to eb strengths. Our defensive spread/agility on the D50 ground balls is a weakness (so I guess run related?) but there's certainly no running weakness in terms of generating play and breaking the game open.

It's weird how supporters see things so differently sometimes.

A lot of that divide makes sense, we're all different people...but you'd think something like strengths and weaknesses would be a universal thought.

I'm with you. Our biggest structural need is a contested ball and clearance machine. It's the player we simply don't have on our list.

We're fine for pace and creativity on the outside with Smith, Miers, Dempsey, Holmes, Close, and Mannagh.

That's arguably our greatest strength, and when our game is up and going it's our running-in-waves and swarming the contest that drives us forward.

What we lack is that Rowell, Serong, or Neale type to get those players the footy, and average those 7-10 clearances a game by themselves.

That's not a slight on the club, as those players are hard to find, but it doesn't change that it's true. Our equivalents in Atkins and Bruhn just aren't on that level.

Outside of that, it's probably our contested game in the air going forward (Dogs and Saints games were just awful there) and our lack of a genuine lockdown small with Bews looking shot, so similar again to you.

We'll wait and see how those issues are masked by Scott as the season goes on. Whether it's Stewart in the midfield, Neale developing and crashing packs, or Mullin becoming a lockdown defender as some examples.

Running power isn't even on the radar though for mine.

 

[Play it Sam]

Speaking of old guys like Danger, this is a slightly humourous take on our supporting actor, Geelong's Brad Pitt.

https://www.neds.com.au/blog/2025/02/once-upon-a-time-in-geelong/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIiRgdleHRuA2FlbQEwAGFkaWQBqxbT5ScEcAEdbg2ORF1JoYEmGomsMHLiT35UTdGPPoNFCMbOi8VLuYT5gXz8QW60jnsc_aem_UU4u4YsuvIpcDij98fZ5wg

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Problem is those three are bloody important. They hold on for another year, and younger guys go through some natural growth we're looking at top 4. Those three don't then we're not probably not much of a threat.

You are 'grossly' under rating our younger players Lana:.... they are now becoming the 'collective key influence' to our side with Holmes going down in Prelim. an excellent example, it's not just Dangerfield or Cameron or bust, not by a long shot. And for the record, Jeremey Cameron is 'the worst' wet weather footballer who is a champion footballer that I have seen, yet we still win games in wet more times than not with him performing so poorly.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

It's weird how supporters see things so differently sometimes.

A lot of that divide makes sense, we're all different people...but you'd think something like strengths and weaknesses would be a universal thought.

I'm with you. Our biggest structural need is a contested ball and clearance machine. It's the player we simply don't have on our list.

We're fine for pace and creativity on the outside with Smith, Miers, Dempsey, Holmes, Close, and Mannagh.

That's arguably our greatest strength, and when our game is up and going it's our running-in-waves and swarming the contest that drives us forward.

What we lack is that Rowell, Serong, or Neale type to get those players the footy, and average those 7-10 clearances a game by themselves.

That's not a slight on the club, as those players are hard to find, but it doesn't change that it's true. Our equivalents in Atkins and Bruhn just aren't on that level.

Outside of that, it's probably our contested game in the air going forward (Dogs and Saints games were just awful there) and our lack of a genuine lockdown small with Bews looking shot, so similar again to you.

We'll wait and see how those issues are masked by Scott as the season goes on. Whether it's Stewart in the midfield, Neale developing and crashing packs, or Mullin becoming a lockdown defender as some examples.

Running power isn't even on the radar though for mine.

100% spot on KG:..... Rowell's the one I'd love for us to get coz he's the real contested beast with "Smith, Miers, Dempsey, Holmes, Close, Mannagh, etc" as you stated the beneficiaries. I don't care a damn about Rowell's outside game coz as you say KG: we've got the rest. Matty Rowell's the one we really need above any other and if we had him along with Toby Conway up and running in 2026 then our midfield would be effen 'awesome'. It's no wonder the club 'astutely' had a private meeting with Matty Rowell as I'm sure they've identified him as being the 'number one' missing piece to the midfield puzzle. Of course if Harley Reid indicated that he wanted to come to the Cats in the near future less the big money, then things could change pretty quickly, but realistically that just doesn't seem plausible at this stage.

 

[Tony Barber]

Seasons are a great thing.
Everything gets sorted. But right now we look like being 9th.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Seasons are a great thing.
Everything gets sorted. But right now we look like being 9th.

Your obviously lost , on the wrong club board

And FWIW Richmond (who are stone cold certainties to go back to back Wooden Spoons ) in the late 50s early 60s they wernt known as Ninthmond , because they were actually known as Tenthmond !!! . Sandwiched in between yet a couple more Wooden Spoons 56, 58 61 and 63 the Mighty Tigers ( which they have never been ) were called Tenthmond

 

[Mr Meow]

Your obviously lost , on the wrong club board

And FWIW Richmond (who are stone cold certainties to go back to back Wooden Spoons ) in the late 50s early 60s they wernt known as Ninthmond , because they were actually known as Tenthmond !!! . Sandwiched in between yet a couple more Wooden Spoons 56, 58 61 and 63 the Mighty Tigers ( which they have never been ) were called Tenthmond

Coupey Vinum is addicted to contrarianism, so there was nothing more certain than him tipping Geelong to miss finals given the collective have said 3rd-7th on average.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Seasons are a great thing.
Everything gets sorted. But right now we look like being 9th.

Whatever drugs you're on TB: I don't wanna be on, or are you just wanting to be controversial or seek attention.
However TB: if you really do the believe the 'sassy Cats' won't make the top 8 then you can get $3.25 with Sportsbet, so now would be your time to cash-in as there's dollars to be made.

 

[catstorm]

		W	L	D	%
1.	Geelong	18	5	0	123.3%
2.	Hawthorn	18	5	0	120.0%
3.	GWS	17	6	0	115.3%
4.	Carlton	17	6	0	114.5%
5.	Brisbane Lions	16	7	0	116.8%
6.	Sydney	15	8	0	111.5%
7.	Western Bulldogs	14	9	0	111.1%
8.	Collingwood	14	9	0	106.5%
9.	Fremantle	13	10	0	105.5%
10.	Gold Coast	13	10	0	103.5%
11.	Port Adelaide	12	11	0	101.6%
12.	Melbourne	12	11	0	100.9%
13.	Adelaide	9	14	0	94.7%
14.	Essendon	8	15	0	90.4%
15.	St Kilda	6	17	0	89.5%
16.	North Melbourne	3	20	0	73.7%
17.	Richmond	1	22	0	72.7%
18.	West Coast	1	22	0	72.5%

QF1: GEELONG v Carlton
QF2: HAWTHORN v GWS
EF1: BRISBANE LIONS v Collingwood
EF2: SYDNEY v Western Bulldogs

SF1: CARLTON v Brisbane Lions
SF2: GWS v Sydney

PF1: GEELONG v GWS
PF2: HAWTHORN v Carlton

GF: GEELONG v Hawthorn

That’s what I’ve got doing the ladder predictor.

Will I be right? Absolutely ****ing not, but I’m very bullish on Geelong this year.

 

[Play it Sam]

Yeah I'm 100% on you with this one.

If anything, our weakness is now in the contested stoppage work and marking/contesting high balls. Things that used to eb strengths. Our defensive spread/agility on the D50 ground balls is a weakness (so I guess run related?) but there's certainly no running weakness in terms of generating play and breaking the game open.

I hope I don't sound too excited when I say SMITH is an absolute bull. Watching the praccy - He looks (physically prime) like he could follow all day, he's that keen. I'm expecting him to be right in the thick of those stoppages and a ball hunting hound centre bounce/clearance. Maxxy going to excel where ever he plays, but I secretly (stupidly) like him on the outside more, if only to ensure he has a greater chance of remaining injury free.

 

[Play it Sam]

Seasons are a great thing.
Everything gets sorted. But right now we look like being 9th.

You could say every team looks like being ninth right now.
Except us.
We won't be farking ninth.

 

[And_ROOS]

I see us playing in a prelim.... as usual.
How we go depends on where, the personal available and what way the ball bounces on the day.

Sounds like it really depends on Max's hammys again.

Thats basically the difference between us hammering the Swans and sitting at home watching the Lions get gifted an easy flag.