Preview 2012 Expectations

[you pick one]

Um, why Stokes just turned 27 and coming of his best season ever,

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I knew I'd leave somebody out. I always do.

I guess I was just emphasising the point that I hope another handful of youngsters will force their way into the side by season's end. I understand your point about him but if Wojo's fit by season's end and a youngster has forced him out of the side by playing well, then surely that would augur well for our future I would've thought.

That's it. And realistically improvement comes from youngsters stepping up to the extent (ala Christensen etc) that you've got a senior player or two pushed aside ala Mooney and Milburn 11. That's where the improvement has to come from, both for our chances of winning the flag next year, but the long term future of the club as well. If we're going to give it a real shake next year, it will mean another hard story with a senior player being pushed out at the business end by improvement from a youngster. Doesn't mean it will or should be Wojo, but it will be someone, maybe more than one.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

It 's pretty hard to make a case at the moment for more than just the 2 compulsory changes to our grand final team. So if I was picking a team for "tomorrow" then it would be:

B: Scarlett Lonergan J.Hunt
HB: Enright Taylor Mackie
C: Varcoe Corey Bartel
HF: Duncan Hawkins Chapman
F: Johnson Podsiadly Stokes
Foll: Simpson Kelly Selwood
Int: Christensen West Wojcinski
Sub: Guthrie
Emerg: Hogan, T.Hunt, Smedts

This is of course assuming Menzel is still unavailable.

I have a feeling though that by years end we could see any of Stephensen, Smedts, Vardy, Menzel, T.Hunt or even Kersten fighting there way into the team. My vulnerable players (for reasons of possible injury or form) would be Corey, Chapman, J.Hunt, Simpson, Stokes and Pods.

Not vulnerable, unless you mean vulnerable to having any setbacks or issues relating to the shoulder. Brown can't play his role until he has several more years in the gym, and Kersten won't be ready for it right off the bat. One of our most structurally important players.

Same with Corey, only vulnerable to issues with his knee, walk up start otherwise.

Josh Hunt and Stokes will need to remain on their game to not be pushed out by the likes of Guthrie THunt Hogan Smedts Schroder etc etc, same for Wojo probably.

Simpson and Stephenson will probably fight it out for that main ruck role with West as the second ruck.

 

[year of the cat]

Not vulnerable, unless you mean vulnerable to having any setbacks or issues relating to the shoulder. Brown can't play his role until he has several more years in the gym, and Kersten won't be ready for it right off the bat. One of our most structurally important players.

Same with Corey, only vulnerable to issues with his knee, walk up start otherwise.

Josh Hunt and Stokes will need to remain on their game to not be pushed out by the likes of Guthrie THunt Hogan Smedts Schroder etc etc, same for Wojo probably.

Simpson and Stephenson will probably fight it out for that main ruck role with West as the second ruck.

That's exactly what I meant. It sounds like Pods' shoulder injury may really set his pre-season back - what effect that has on his fitness over the course of the season puts him on my "vulnerable" list. It was interesting though in the GF that Hawkins came into his own when Pods came off. Whether that was because he got a rocket at half time or whether having that extra space and playing deeper helped I'm not sure.

Chappy and Corey are on for the same reasons. Whether the wear and tear of another season is one too many has to be in question. I should have included Wojo for the same reasons.

All 4 though are certain best 22 players if fit and firing.

With J.Hunt and Stokes - both had excellent seasons (particularly with Josh the second half) but need to back it up. History shows that every premiership team goes through some change. Some players will be replaced. Hopefully these 2 will have equally good 2012 seasons.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Stokes had a cracking year and really put his hand up to be a senior player. Let's not forget that with shag byres coming back this year we are going to be spoilt for choice with quality small forwards....byrnes previous two years had been phenomenal and I have a feeling he has still got something to give, as too Simon Hogan who can really put his hand up this year.

Will be interesting to see if we adopt a similar kick long strategy this year or whether we look to play a more cautious approach towards forward 50 entry. If we can get output out of the big o or Simpson and West continues to show some attacking prowess, we could again be very dangerous with the direct long ball. Of course other teams will develop strategies to counter, which would most likely be the relaxation of the forward press, which in turn opens them up to corridor football. Exciting stuff!

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

I reckon we will go back2back and win it again in 2012.

Call me crazy but I get the feeling Jimmy Bartel has again elevated his game and he'll also be a short priced favorite for the brownlow medal by seasons end.
He'll play more matches forward this year rather than back as the likes of Taylor Hunt, Billie Smedts & Tom Gillies occupy considerable time in the backline.

Playing forward he will stand out a lot more often and kick more goals to attract the umpires votes and with a ready made ruckman 'Stephenson' holding his own and beating some of the best ruckman in the game, we are still the stand out side in the competition.

Hawkins, Duncan, Christensen, Varcoe just to name a few will keep on improving and with the new forwards lying in wait, Podsiadly won't just fade away and allow them to take his spot...he'll have an even greater year than this one and boot over 55 goals and again demand the best defender which leaves Stevie J, Chappy, the forgotten man 'Byrnes', Stokes, and Guthrie to weave their magic.

 

[Belisarius]

I reckon we will go back2back and win it again in 2012.

Call me crazy but I get the feeling Jimmy Bartel has again elevated his game and he'll also be a short priced favorite for the brownlow medal by seasons end.
He'll play more matches forward this year rather than back as the likes of Taylor Hunt, Billie Smedts & Tom Gillies occupy considerable time in the backline.

Playing forward he will stand out a lot more often and kick more goals to attract the umpires votes and with a ready made ruckman 'Stephenson' holding his own and beating some of the best ruckman in the game, we are still the stand out side in the competition.

Hawkins, Duncan, Christensen, Varcoe just to name a few will keep on improving and with the new forwards lying in wait, Podsiadly won't just fade away and allow them to take his spot...he'll have an even greater year than this one and boot over 55 goals and again demand the best defender which leaves Stevie J, Chappy, the forgotten man 'Byrnes', Stokes, and Guthrie to weave their magic.

Cannot question your optimism BCFM ! I have high expectations too - but I just need to see how the season pans out a little before going all out.

Call me crazy - but I do not think it is in the bag just yet. However I believe we will perform well - make the finals - and then we will see how things turn out. Just not sure how our existing injured players will return and then there will be some new injuries we may yet have to contend with.

We are still playing a little catch up with the young players who did not get enough exposure in Bomber's last year IMO.

May you be right on this post BCFM.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

can you imagine them winning it again and that tally goes from 9 to 10

And only 5 years ago they were sitting on the very underrated premiership tally of 6.

It's already awesome to have taken the premierships from 6 to 9 but number 10 would be the big one.

Comes down to motivation and that elusive tag of total greatness doesn't it?
If they were to do it again and win 4 flags in 6 years...well, they would surely stand beside only a couple of teams in the entire history of the game.
You'd reckon that would be enough motivation

 

[Claude Balls]

In summary, I wouldn't mind at all that come the first week of the finals when we hopefully run out fpr a qualifying final, our side looks like this:

B: Scarlett Lonergan T.Hunt
HB: Enright Taylor Mackie
C: Varcoe Corey Bartel
HF: Duncan Hawkins Chapman
F: Johnson Podsiadly Stokes
Foll: Simpson Kelly Selwood
Int: Christensen West Menzel
Sub: Hogan
Emerg: Gillies J.Hunt Smedts

Changes from 2011 Premiership side:

In: T.Hunt Simpson Menzel Hogan
Out: J.Hunt Ottens Ling Wojcinski

Looks good Winty, I´d only change it by putting in Wojo for Hogan.

 

[vinum coupe]

Following on from my expectations for 2012 that we keep evolving our list I just walked past some memorabilia that I have and it made me think of how dynamic a football club is.

From the 2007 premiership team only 13 players remain. With more to leave in the next 12 months.

Selwood
Mackie
Johnson
Bartel
Kelly
Corey
Chapman
Stokes
Byrnes
Scarlett
Wojo
Enright
Hunt

And then I had a look at our current list.
It's quite incredible. And should scream a message to all those that say Geelong has not turned players over.

What was the list numbers in 2007? 48 or so?

Only 18 players remain.

In addition to the 13 listed above you can add the following;

Lonergan
Hawkins
Varcoe
West
Hogan

 

[you pick one]

Following on from my expectations for 2012 that we keep evolving our list I just walked past some memorabilia that I have and it made me think of how dynamic a football club is.

From the 2007 premiership team only 13 players remain. With more to leave in the next 12 months.

Selwood
Mackie
Johnson
Bartel
Kelly
Corey
Chapman
Stokes
Byrnes
Scarlett
Wojo
Enright
Hunt

And then I had a look at our current list.
It's quite incredible. And should scream a message to all those that say Geelong has not turned players over.

What was the list numbers in 2007? 48 or so?

Only 17 players remain.

In addition to the 13 listed above you can add the following;

Lonergan
Hawkins
Varcoe
West

Hogan? VC.

 

[vinum coupe]

not sure how I missed him !

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

I reckon we will go back2back and win it again in 2012.

Call me crazy but I get the feeling Jimmy Bartel has again elevated his game and he'll also be a short priced favorite for the brownlow medal by seasons end.
He'll play more matches forward this year rather than back as the likes of Taylor Hunt, Billie Smedts & Tom Gillies occupy considerable time in the backline.

Playing forward he will stand out a lot more often and kick more goals to attract the umpires votes and with a ready made ruckman 'Stephenson' holding his own and beating some of the best ruckman in the game, we are still the stand out side in the competition.

Hawkins, Duncan, Christensen, Varcoe just to name a few will keep on improving and with the new forwards lying in wait, Podsiadly won't just fade away and allow them to take his spot...he'll have an even greater year than this one and boot over 55 goals and again demand the best defender which leaves Stevie J, Chappy, the forgotten man 'Byrnes', Stokes, and Guthrie to weave their magic.

Jimmy can go above and beyond....he is our Richoman and he will continue to be lethal in 2012. As for Chappy....carried significant injuries this year so will be all the better for 12', i'm hoping we can look to settle him in the forward line a little more permanently like in 07 so as to extend his career.

Anyways if we can continue to get a few kids to step up and reality suggests that this will happen, we have more than enough talent to keep pushing towards the final weeks of september.

My biggest hope though is that Tommy Hawkins continues on with the form he found in the finals. If he can provide that week in week out, boy, we are going to be dangerous!

 

[Selective Retention]

Stokes had a cracking year and really put his hand up to be a senior player.

A lot of the unheralded senior guys had career best (or close to it) years.

Stokes, Kelly, Mackie, Wojo, Lonergan, J.Hunt.

Certainly T.Hawk, Varcoe and West came good at the right end of the season as well.

As much as it was the younger guys that came in last year (Christensen, Menzel, Duncan) and the ones we hope come in next year, it's really these guys mentioned above that have to match or beat their 2011 output for us to stay up there.

 

[vinum coupe]

As for Chappy....carried significant injuries this year so will be all the better for 12', i'm hoping we can look to settle him in the forward line a little more permanently

Does that happen in footy anymore?

 

[meto]

Why does everyone consider Chappy had an over par season in 2011.

If I'm not mistaken I'm certain it was Paul Chapmam ranked number two for total disposals for season 2011, beaten only by James Kelly.

Carn't wait till he gets his act together???

 

[Vdubs]

Why does everyone consider Chappy had an over par season in 2011.

If I'm not mistaken I'm certain it was Paul Chapmam ranked number two for total disposals for season 2011, beaten only by James Kelly.

Carn't wait till he gets his act together???

His disposals were not of their usual lethal nature, apart from the first Hawks game. Looked to be labouring and sure you would say the same.

 

[meto]

His disposals were not of their usual lethal nature, apart from the first Hawks game. Looked to be labouring and sure you would say the same.

Possibly so, to a degree, but the numbers don't lie!

Could point to the possibility of greater things to come amongst the players come 2012, if he could achieved that much in a personal lacklustre year, in the premier team.

 

[candiehappy]

I can't wait for the next season to start, and for me there are a few key factors that will determine where we end up:

• Tomahawk, must pick up from where he left off in the GF. If he becomes a consistent power forward that kicks goals will bring team success;
• The Big O experiment. I was quietly depressed with the retirement of Ottens. For me a bigger loss that Junior because really three inexperienced players weren't going to cover for him. Now I have hope;
• Like every other team, significant injuries, and who knows there;
• Game plan - will it need to change again, what will others do? I have real confidence in this coach to tweak our game and top deal with what other coaches cook up.

I expect us to be top 4, and anything is possible from there.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Why does everyone consider Chappy had an over par season in 2011.

If I'm not mistaken I'm certain it was Paul Chapmam ranked number two for total disposals for season 2011, beaten only by James Kelly.

Carn't wait till he gets his act together???

exactly

and it was Chappy who literally helped us win some of those earlier matches. Some of those crucial goals when scores were tied and the opposition were looking for the breakthrough, it was Chapman who provided moments of brilliance to help us yet again pull away.
He seemed to slow down halfway through the season and that's when some people thought that he may be on the decline but he had a set back pre-season.

I thought his finals series campaign was absolutely superb, he wasn't brilliant like he always is but he did much of the in & under work and one percenters that allowed us to get the ball out and find free players.

30 years of age...he's in the twilight of his career but I reckon he'll have a full pre-season this time around and with Menzel out for most of the year, Chappy will be the perfect replacement and I reckon we see him play forward more so than usual.
Chapman's strength, contested marking and ability to win the ball when it's at ground level would easily see him kick over 50 goals for us.

 

[Partridge]

Simpson and Stephenson will probably fight it out for that main ruck role with West as the second ruck.

I would think West did more than enough in the second part of the year to justify being given a shot as first ruckman. Don't understand why people think he's perpetually an understudy. He's getting better all the time, can take a grab, and is capable of kicking a goal or two.

Stephenson really should be last in line. West and Simpson first, then depending on availability Vardy. If Stephenson happens to fire and go past them - that's great too of course.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Carn't wait till he gets his act together???

I remember a certain member opening a thread this year and asking for Chapman to be dropped for the remainder of the finals series

 

[vinum coupe]

That was me obviously.
If people think he wasn't labouring they are kidding themselves.
And that was the point of that thread.

Didn't he just have 2 operations FFS?

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

His disposals were not of their usual lethal nature, apart from the first Hawks game. Looked to be labouring and sure you would say the same.

dunno man, I mean he averaged 23½ disposals, 5½ marks, 1 goal per game, 4 inside 50's with 1 goal assist per game & 4½ tackles per game.
Not to mention that those averages never waived a single bit against the top teams of 2011..Carlton, West Coast, Collingwood & Hawthorn.

The games he didn't perform in to his usual high standards were against the weaker sides in which we had the game won usually by halftime anyways.
He seems to have delivered when we really needed him most like most champions do

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

he just wasn't flashy is all.

He did the same job as Kelly and it allowed the like of Christensen, Duncan even Bartel to drift around goals more often but if there was one player you would not want dropped for a final, it's Paul Chapman