Carlton 2025 = Geelong 2006?

[Havoc]

Right now.. Carlton are underperforming after being expected to challenge for a flag this year, coming off back to back finals series in the previous two years.. not too dissimilar to Geelong 2006.

The form lines over three seasons.. are remarkably similar to one another.

Carlton 2023.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Carlton 2024.. petered out in elimination final against eventual premiers Brisbane.
Carlton 2025.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, won't make top 8.

Geelong 2004.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Geelong 2005.. petered out in semi final against eventual premiers Sydney.
Geelong 2006.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, didn't make top 8.

Then there's the common denominator of Brian Cook as CEO... and the apples/apples comparison between Michael Voss and Mark Thompson.. with fans of the clubs they were coaching calling for them to be sacked, and as players.. both were premiership captains and ruthless leaders.

Brian Cook will remember what it was at like at Geelong this time in 2006, and will maintain stability at Carlton by backing the coach.. while making changes to other areas of the football department. Fitness program would be a good place to start, as Carlton have struggled to run out games.

Do you think Carlton can turn it around.. and bounce back in 2026, after a poor 2025?

 

[le dominateur]

Hahaha, No

 

[Mr Meow]

Right now.. Carlton are underperforming after being expected to challenge for a flag this year, coming off back to back finals series in the previous two years.. not too dissimilar to Geelong 2006.

The form lines over three seasons.. are remarkably similar to one another.

Carlton 2023.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Carlton 2024.. petered out in elimination final against eventual premiers Brisbane.
Carlton 2025.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, won't make top 8.

Geelong 2004.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Geelong 2005.. petered out in semi final against eventual premiers Sydney.
Geelong 2006.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, didn't make top 8.

Then there's the common denominator of Brian Cook as CEO... and the apples/apples comparison between Michael Voss and Mark Thompson.. with fans of the clubs they were coaching calling for them to be sacked, and as players.. both were premiership captains and ruthless leaders.

Brian Cook will remember what it was at like at Geelong this time in 2006, and will maintain stability at Carlton by backing the coach.. while making changes to other areas of the football department. Fitness program would be a good place to start, as Carlton have struggled to run out games.

Do you think Carlton can turn it around.. and bounce back in 2026, after a poor 2025?

The fact you are equating losing a semi final with the last kick of the game, to going 0-60 in an elimination final says it all.

Geelong were younger too.

 

[pico]

Carlton have a crap list and a crap coach.

 

[PhatBoy]

Who would you look at past their best 4-5 players and equate with what the Cats had below their best?

 

[PerthBoy86]

No, they're night and day. Geelong 07-11 were one of the greatest sides of the century, surely you don't think this Carlton group are anywhere near that.

 

[kreuze_missile]

Great thread. Agree 100%. Possibly the best thread in the history of Bigfooty.

Looking forward to premierships in 2026, 2027 (we won't lose to Hawthorn unlike the handbaggers), 2028 and 2030.

And then a decade where we make finals pretty much every single year and win a few more.

 

[Barrybran]

Great thread. Agree 100%. Possibly the best thread in the history of Bigfooty.

Looking forward to premierships in 2026, 2027 (we won't lose to Hawthorn unlike the handbaggers), 2028 and 2030.

And then a decade where we make finals pretty much every single year and win a few more.

What do you think isn't working this year that worked two years ago?

 

[kreuze_missile]

What do you think isn't working this year that worked two years ago?

We were shit for more than half of the 2023 season.

Got on a bit of a run and then the downhill skiiers went to town.

That run painted over a whole pile of cracks.

 

[Baxter Wolf]

This is too far fetched to entertain. I wish it was true, but there's not a single player we have on our list that I'd miss if they were traded.

 

[Chronz]

Right now.. Carlton are underperforming after being expected to challenge for a flag this year, coming off back to back finals series in the previous two years.. not too dissimilar to Geelong 2006.

The form lines over three seasons.. are remarkably similar to one another.

Carlton 2023.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Carlton 2024.. petered out in elimination final against eventual premiers Brisbane.
Carlton 2025.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, won't make top 8.

Geelong 2004.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Geelong 2005.. petered out in semi final against eventual premiers Sydney.
Geelong 2006.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, didn't make top 8.

Then there's the common denominator of Brian Cook as CEO... and the apples/apples comparison between Michael Voss and Mark Thompson.. with fans of the clubs they were coaching calling for them to be sacked, and as players.. both were premiership captains and ruthless leaders.

Brian Cook will remember what it was at like at Geelong this time in 2006, and will maintain stability at Carlton by backing the coach.. while making changes to other areas of the football department. Fitness program would be a good place to start, as Carlton have struggled to run out games.

Do you think Carlton can turn it around.. and bounce back in 2026, after a poor 2025?

This is your worst take yet Havoc.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

The Op might want to go and have a look at the demographics of each list in the given years.

 

[Fadge]

Nothing surer.

 

[DidakDelight]

The only difference between Geelong 2006
and Carlton 2025 is Carlton would not
Get away with employing The Weapon and Steven Dank to inject their players with peptides

 

[voorhees]

carlton wish they could turn it around in 26' and climb the mountain.
The place needs once again a big broom sweeping through it.
The place so badly lacks heart and fight

 

[Percel]

Right now.. Carlton are underperforming after being expected to challenge for a flag this year, coming off back to back finals series in the previous two years.. not too dissimilar to Geelong 2006.

The form lines over three seasons.. are remarkably similar to one another.

Carlton 2023.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Carlton 2024.. petered out in elimination final against eventual premiers Brisbane.
Carlton 2025.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, won't make top 8.

Geelong 2004.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Geelong 2005.. petered out in semi final against eventual premiers Sydney.
Geelong 2006.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, didn't make top 8.

Then there's the common denominator of Brian Cook as CEO... and the apples/apples comparison between Michael Voss and Mark Thompson.. with fans of the clubs they were coaching calling for them to be sacked, and as players.. both were premiership captains and ruthless leaders.

Brian Cook will remember what it was at like at Geelong this time in 2006, and will maintain stability at Carlton by backing the coach.. while making changes to other areas of the football department. Fitness program would be a good place to start, as Carlton have struggled to run out games.

Do you think Carlton can turn it around.. and bounce back in 2026, after a poor 2025?

No, so much no

 

[jwint43]

The fact you are equating losing a semi final with the last kick of the game, to going 0-60 in an elimination final says it all.

Geelong were younger too.

Younger is an understatement. This is a silly comparison, but it made me go and look at Geelongs list in 06. They had two players over the age of 27! If anything, the current Freo list reminds me of Geelong from this time in terms of talent, potential and age profile.

The 2009 Geelong side had 17 players who ended up being All Australian at one point. Trav Varcoe, Max rooke, Shannon Byrnes, David Wojcinski and Mark Blake were the other 5, all very handy players. They are literally one of the greatest teams ever assembled, maybe the best.

Carlton have 7 30+ year olds, and all of them except Newman are playing every week. Curnow is 28, Mckay and Weitering 27. They should be competing for a flag as we speak. The only A grade level players they have under 26 (IMO) are Walsh, TDK(going?) and Cerra. Jagga Smith could join them but he's obviously injured. They have one of the most unbalanced lists in the comp. They have enough talent to retool and not rebuild, but need to make some brave decisions.

 

[Islam Mamdouh]

Yeah, the Carlton-Geelong comparison makes a lot of sense. History shows that a slump after a couple of strong seasons isn’t unusual, especially with high expectations. Brian Cook sticking with the coach like he did at Geelong feels like the smart move, stability is key. Fixing the fitness and running capacity should definitely be a priority because that’s where Carlton’s been falling short.

I reckon if they sort out those off-field issues and keep the core group together, a bounce back in 2026 is definitely on the cards. It’s all about learning from the current struggles and not overreacting. Teams with strong leadership often find their way back up after a rough patch.

 

[Boxhead_31]

Who would you look at past their best 4-5 players and equate with what the Cats had below their best?

Can’t remember the Geelong side of 2006 being made up of 28 and above year olds like Carlton is as well

 

[Grin]

Right now.. Carlton are underperforming after being expected to challenge for a flag this year, coming off back to back finals series in the previous two years.. not too dissimilar to Geelong 2006.

The form lines over three seasons.. are remarkably similar to one another.

Carlton 2023.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Carlton 2024.. petered out in elimination final against eventual premiers Brisbane.
Carlton 2025.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, won't make top 8.

Geelong 2004.. lost preliminary final to eventual runners up Brisbane.
Geelong 2005.. petered out in semi final against eventual premiers Sydney.
Geelong 2006.. underperforming season after being expected to challenge for the flag, didn't make top 8.

Then there's the common denominator of Brian Cook as CEO... and the apples/apples comparison between Michael Voss and Mark Thompson.. with fans of the clubs they were coaching calling for them to be sacked, and as players.. both were premiership captains and ruthless leaders.

Brian Cook will remember what it was at like at Geelong this time in 2006, and will maintain stability at Carlton by backing the coach.. while making changes to other areas of the football department. Fitness program would be a good place to start, as Carlton have struggled to run out games.

Do you think Carlton can turn it around.. and bounce back in 2026, after a poor 2025?

Probably much harder these days to get people like Robinson and Dank on board.

 

[LFTWNG11]

Carlton 2025 = Carlton 2015

 

[MisterMarcus]

Ironically given the OP, the team Carlton remind me most of is Richmond during the 90s and 2000s.

They have one good season that gets everyone storming out of the woodwork and proclaiming the corner has been turned.....and then drift back down into mediocrity for the remainder of the decade.

 

[Fadge]

Yeah, the Carlton-Geelong comparison makes a lot of sense. History shows that a slump after a couple of strong seasons isn’t unusual, especially with high expectations. Brian Cook sticking with the coach like he did at Geelong feels like the smart move, stability is key. Fixing the fitness and running capacity should definitely be a priority because that’s where Carlton’s been falling short.

I reckon if they sort out those off-field issues and keep the core group together, a bounce back in 2026 is definitely on the cards. It’s all about learning from the current struggles and not overreacting. Teams with strong leadership often find their way back up after a rough patch.

Yep, this would be the perfect approach!

Do it, Carlton!

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

Oh look, another Geelong obsessed thread by the OP once again.

 

[demondavey]

No, so much no

Need Callum I reckon