Scarlett Fever
Senior List
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2004
- Posts
- 179
- Reaction score
- 10
- Location
- Geelong
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Other Teams
- Geelong
1. We are very lucky to have 10 wins this year. Each win in my view as had a big but associated with it.
but it was only Richmond.
but Essendon couldn't beat anyone at the start of the year.
but Port drew with Carlton at home the week before.
but it was only the Bulldogs on our own patch.
but the Saints were decimated by injury during the match (Still our best win for 05).
but it was only Carlton even though it was impressive.
but we got North at the right time after 3 losses and well and truly in a slump.
but we played crap and didn't deserve to beat Adelaide. Couldn't kick a goal from one end in a most unusual game.
but it was only Hawthorn
but Port were terrible and didn't look to be trying...
2. It is no coincidence that our form nose-dived once we bacame premiership favourites. Higher expectations sent a nervous epidemic thru the entire GFC and tested our frail self belief. Everytime we lose form it always starts with poor kicking for goal and then leads to inefficient use of the footy.
3. We did not go to the draft well deep enough or for long enough to rebuild our side. We have drafted well but no better than 3-4 others and then with less quality picks.
4. Thompson and co have done exceptionally well to develp young players quickly without them being of the very highest quality. This has kept us from the very bottom of the ladder and prevented access to better draft picks in the last 3 years. Further ramifications follow;
5. We have very few complete footballers. Maybe I put the microscope on Geelong more than others but nearly every player has an obvious weakness the opposition can expose. The few complete players nearly always have been drafted before we get a pick. We get left to mull over the players with a characteristic strength (eg Hunt with kicking, Bartel with ball winning) but weaknesses that will need to be patched up (eg Hunt with footy nous and Bartel for pace).
6. History shows that when a young side makes big gains like the Cats of 2004 they are likely to get injuries the next year. They fight above weight in 1 year and are not as prepared for the next.
7. The most improved Cats of 2005 have been Enright, Corey, Chapman and maybe Hunt. All were drafted prior to the famed 2001 crop so there is hope that the likes of Bartel, kelly, Playfair, Ablett, DJ, SJ, Charlie still have big improvement to come. It just takes longer than expected and improvement never seems to be straight line.
8. There is depth in our best 22 in that we can throw a heap of players thru the midfield. But there is no greater depth to our list than any other team. The coaches know it and show it by playing injured players. Our great depth as perceived at the start of the year was a myth.
9. Our focus on drafting non-blue chip talls has failed but if it continues it won't be long before our over rated and one paced midfield stumbles further. We will need to draft hard, fast and skilled midfielders and hope like hell for, Henry, Long Tom, Nathan and Son of Jack. But they will all take time.
10. The ruck was supposed to be our big strength this year and give us an edge on the comp by providing first use of the leather to our midfielders. I still think in time this will happen and there is no need to panic. We are a greater chance to get King and Ottens firing than finding 2 new gun big fellas. I would punt that they come good and resist the temptation to trade or draft ruckmen. Hopefully Blake can come thru eventually as well.
Bottom line: A lot of work needs to be done at the GFC. We can't really look back now and bottom out so we will have to find another way to the top. Father sons is the only thing I can think of that could give us a leg up on the opposition. I reckon we will just provide nuisance value for a few years until the next wave of Hawthorn's & Bulldogs with their young stars and Collingwood and Essendon with their superior facilities and cutting edge development techniques come over the top of us. The last 2 weeks suggest this may have already started.
I think Thompson and co have done well, very well but we just do not have the cattle to be a consistent top side. We have developed our side to be competitive very quickly but teams with sheer blue chip talent (St Kilda) will always eventually come thru at the end of the day. We may win a flag if it falls in our lap but it is most unlikely.
but it was only Richmond.
but Essendon couldn't beat anyone at the start of the year.
but Port drew with Carlton at home the week before.
but it was only the Bulldogs on our own patch.
but the Saints were decimated by injury during the match (Still our best win for 05).
but it was only Carlton even though it was impressive.
but we got North at the right time after 3 losses and well and truly in a slump.
but we played crap and didn't deserve to beat Adelaide. Couldn't kick a goal from one end in a most unusual game.
but it was only Hawthorn
but Port were terrible and didn't look to be trying...
2. It is no coincidence that our form nose-dived once we bacame premiership favourites. Higher expectations sent a nervous epidemic thru the entire GFC and tested our frail self belief. Everytime we lose form it always starts with poor kicking for goal and then leads to inefficient use of the footy.
3. We did not go to the draft well deep enough or for long enough to rebuild our side. We have drafted well but no better than 3-4 others and then with less quality picks.
4. Thompson and co have done exceptionally well to develp young players quickly without them being of the very highest quality. This has kept us from the very bottom of the ladder and prevented access to better draft picks in the last 3 years. Further ramifications follow;
5. We have very few complete footballers. Maybe I put the microscope on Geelong more than others but nearly every player has an obvious weakness the opposition can expose. The few complete players nearly always have been drafted before we get a pick. We get left to mull over the players with a characteristic strength (eg Hunt with kicking, Bartel with ball winning) but weaknesses that will need to be patched up (eg Hunt with footy nous and Bartel for pace).
6. History shows that when a young side makes big gains like the Cats of 2004 they are likely to get injuries the next year. They fight above weight in 1 year and are not as prepared for the next.
7. The most improved Cats of 2005 have been Enright, Corey, Chapman and maybe Hunt. All were drafted prior to the famed 2001 crop so there is hope that the likes of Bartel, kelly, Playfair, Ablett, DJ, SJ, Charlie still have big improvement to come. It just takes longer than expected and improvement never seems to be straight line.
8. There is depth in our best 22 in that we can throw a heap of players thru the midfield. But there is no greater depth to our list than any other team. The coaches know it and show it by playing injured players. Our great depth as perceived at the start of the year was a myth.
9. Our focus on drafting non-blue chip talls has failed but if it continues it won't be long before our over rated and one paced midfield stumbles further. We will need to draft hard, fast and skilled midfielders and hope like hell for, Henry, Long Tom, Nathan and Son of Jack. But they will all take time.
10. The ruck was supposed to be our big strength this year and give us an edge on the comp by providing first use of the leather to our midfielders. I still think in time this will happen and there is no need to panic. We are a greater chance to get King and Ottens firing than finding 2 new gun big fellas. I would punt that they come good and resist the temptation to trade or draft ruckmen. Hopefully Blake can come thru eventually as well.
Bottom line: A lot of work needs to be done at the GFC. We can't really look back now and bottom out so we will have to find another way to the top. Father sons is the only thing I can think of that could give us a leg up on the opposition. I reckon we will just provide nuisance value for a few years until the next wave of Hawthorn's & Bulldogs with their young stars and Collingwood and Essendon with their superior facilities and cutting edge development techniques come over the top of us. The last 2 weeks suggest this may have already started.
I think Thompson and co have done well, very well but we just do not have the cattle to be a consistent top side. We have developed our side to be competitive very quickly but teams with sheer blue chip talent (St Kilda) will always eventually come thru at the end of the day. We may win a flag if it falls in our lap but it is most unlikely.
