2012 team (Post Bomber Thompson)

[DanA]

How will it look, where on the ladder do you see us finishing and what will we need to develop?

IMO we'll still have the nucleus of a very good side with Selwood, Hawkins, Varcoe, Taylor, Hogan and Gillies. I'd like to trade for a gun ruckmen (ala Ottens) but those now young players along with some of our current stars that should still be around (Ablett, Bartel, S.J, Mackie & Enight). I can't see us bottoming out at all but instead be flag contenders.

How far we go though will depend on the development of Brown, Gillies, Varcoe, Hogan and some of our yet to be drafted youth.

 

[thejester]

Can't see us being a genuine flag contender with a spine of Hawkins - Brown - Blake - Taylor - Gillies. Should still be a good team in the same way that Adelaide and Brisbane have been, but wouldn't seriously challenge the top four sides. We won't go below 12th and won't exceed 5th IMO.

 

[Turkey Tom]

DanA posted this team in the Bomber thread in the AFL forum:-
FB: Kelly (28) Scarlett(33) Enright (30)
HB: Mackie (28) Taylor (26) Gillies (22)
C: Hogan (24) Bartel (28) Varcoe (24)
HF: Chapman (30) Brown (22) Byrnes (27)
FF: S.Johnson (29) Hawkins (24) Rooke (30)
R: Blake (27) Ablett (28) Selwood (24)
Int: Drum (25) Stokes (27) Hunt (30) Djerkurra (24)



Only one ruckman though...so hopefully D.Simpson can step up by then! Plus Scarlett at 33 may not be there.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

Chapman is no guarantee to be playing that long, given that his hamstring problems seem to be becoming more frequent.

 

[DanA]

I just think Scarlett is really durable. He must of missed about 5 games with injury in his career combined and he vary rarely looks to be carrying a bad injury and no history of soft tissue injuries at all to speak of.

I'd pick him to play as long as Fletcher if his heart is in it.

In that team I think the retirement of Chapman, S.J and Rooke is more likely than the retirement of Scarlett. Just because of their injury history and the way they play.

Of course another ruckmen would be nice but as I said I'd prefer to trade for that.

 

[kellykellykelly]

FB: Kelly (28) Scarlett(33) Enright (30)
HB: Mackie (28) Taylor (26) Gillies (22)
C: Hogan (24) Bartel (28) Varcoe (24)
HF: Chapman (30) Brown (22) Byrnes (27)
FF: S.Johnson (29) Hawkins (24) Rooke (30)
R: Blake (27) Ablett (28) Selwood (24)
Int: Drum (25) Stokes (27) Hunt (30) Djerkurra (24)

We would have probably lost a few more by then. As you said Scarlett will be gone, Chapman i can't see being around that long.

Add to that all the ones we will lose due to trades, the Gold coast, and West Sydney and i think we'll have a vastly different side by then.

Would like to see alot more 18-22 year olds in that side by the time 2012 comes around.

 

[hamG]

Chapman's hamstrings will have dissolved by then, but he'd be out on the park in a wheel chair kicking goals over his head anyway.

 

[Rosso]

I really can't see why our dominance can't continue. By the end of 2010 Harley & Dash will have moved on with possibly Otto and Moons (although I think 2011 will be their last). The fitness levels and lack of injuries to guys like Corey and Scarlett mean that they could prolong their careers by playing on a back flank or a pocket in that Dasher role. Simpson, Brown or even Taylor could step up to CHF or maybe Makie could return to the forward line as a lead up KPP. With a bundle of drafts and trades left to go who knows but having a nucleous of Ablett, Selwood & Bartel in the guts why wouldn't be still be challenging?

Perhaps it clicked a little this year that as long as we win enough games to put ourselves in the mix and put all our energy into peaking at the right end of the year a la Lions of early 2000's, then more success is likely. Just can't see a side still containing this quality being just competitive. Gaz could be one of the more dangerous small forwards (refer Brad Johnson or Acker) in 4 or so years and teamed with Hawkins it doesn't sound too bad.

 

[year of the cat]

I would think that Chappy would be definitely gone and SJ would be at reasonable odds to be gone as well. Hard to know with Rooke but being used as a battering ram for you're career is not normally conducive to a long career.

The core will still be there of a very good team. With some of the stalwarts gone it will be interesting to see whether the likes of Djerrkura, McKenna, Brown, Gillies and Ranga are able to step up and fill the breach.

 

[The Cork Soaker]

DanA posted this team in the Bomber thread in the AFL forum:-
FB: Kelly (28) Scarlett(33) Enright (30)
HB: Mackie (28) Taylor (26) Gillies (22)
C: Hogan (24) Bartel (28) Varcoe (24)
HF: Chapman (30) Brown (22) Byrnes (27)
FF: S.Johnson (29) Hawkins (24) Rooke (30)
R: Blake (27) Ablett (28) Selwood (24)
Int: Drum (25) Stokes (27) Hunt (30) Djerkurra (24)



Only one ruckman though...so hopefully D.Simpson can step up by then! Plus Scarlett at 33 may not be there.

I know its DanA's team, but why wouldn't he have included Joel Corey? He'll only be 30 as will be a number of them. Certainly would be the oldest list and you would wonder how their bodies will hold up over time.

 

[DanA]

I know its DanA's team, but why wouldn't he have included Joel Corey? He'll only be 30 as will be a number of them. Certainly would be the oldest list and you would wonder how their bodies will hold up over time.

Corey was one of the older 30 year olds and I just drew a line half way through them and then added scarlett.

Why is everyone saying Chapman will be done at 29. How many guys of Chapmans ability retire at 29?

 

[year of the cat]

Corey was one of the older 30 year olds and I just drew a line half way through them and then added scarlett.

Why is everyone saying Chapman will be done at 29. How many guys of Chapmans ability retire at 29?

Just the fact that he has struggled to get on the park for the last couple of years. Every year he appears more and more hampered by his back-related hammy problems. Typically as players get older these problems normally would compound rather than diminish. Seems reasonable to think he would therefore last only a couple more years before going to stud.

 

[AidanNelson2009]

DanA posted this team in the Bomber thread in the AFL forum:-
FB: Kelly (28) Scarlett(33) Enright (30)
HB: Mackie (28) Taylor (26) Gillies (22)
C: Hogan (24) Bartel (28) Varcoe (24)
HF: Chapman (30) Brown (22) Byrnes (27)
FF: S.Johnson (29) Hawkins (24) Rooke (30)
R: Blake (27) Ablett (28) Selwood (24)
Int: Drum (25) Stokes (27) Hunt (30) Djerkurra (24)



Only one ruckman though...so hopefully D.Simpson can step up by then! Plus Scarlett at 33 may not be there.

It's a bit frightning to see that so many of our stars of 2009 will be getting old by 2012, and where's Ling ?, anyway we will still have a very good side in 2012.

 

[DanA]

Just the fact that he has struggled to get on the park for the last couple of years. Every year he appears more and more hampered by his back-related hammy problems. Typically as players get older these problems normally would compound rather than diminish. Seems reasonable to think he would therefore last only a couple more years before going to stud.

So Chapman has the 2010 & 2011 season left in him before he retires? Only two more years left in the bald man's hammies before they pack up?

 

[year of the cat]

So Chapman has the 2010 & 2011 season left in him before he retires? Only two more years left in the bald man's hammies before they pack up?

I really think so. If we could get two more years from him we've done pretty well. I just see him as the sort of player that will be forced into retirement early due to ongoing injury concerns rather than a Milburn or Scarlett type that will retire as the game quickens up and they start to slow down with it.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

I know its DanA's team, but why wouldn't he have included Joel Corey? He'll only be 30 as will be a number of them. Certainly would be the oldest list and you would wonder how their bodies will hold up over time.

Geelongs is the second oldest list in the competition now (only very marginally behind the Saints) so yeah, by then it would certainly be the oldest by a long way.

I'd say the GFC know that 2010 is the last roll of the dice with this particular playing group as is. By 2012 i would hope to see a re-build in process.

 

[West123]

I'd be interested to compare difference in ages of Geelong's current crop compared to turn of the decade Bombers, the triple time Lions etc.

It seems that Geelong have peaked alot earlier than these other teams and have the chance to have a 5+ dynasty as opposed to teams that couldn't sustain their dominance.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

Geelongs is the second oldest list in the competition now (only very marginally behind the Saints) so yeah, by then it would certainly be the oldest by a long way.

I'd say the GFC know that 2010 is the last roll of the dice with this particular playing group as is. By 2012 i would hope to see a re-build in process.

We have youth coming through...people are too quick to write off Djukerra, Gamble and West in my opinion. I think these guys are really going to take off next season and push a few of our more established players out...and whats more, i think Bomber is going to actively encourage it.

I see good things from Gillies, and have big hopes on Brown, but it really depends on his work rate after coming back from a pretty horrific injury. Be interested to see if Brodie Moles gets elevated as i rate him pretty highly also. Plus we have three big unknowns in Motlop, Varcoe and Ranga....aside from Ranga there have been glimpses of capability from the other two.

From what i'm led to believe, we will start very differently next year, giving plenty of opportunities to guys like West, Gamble , Hogan, Djukerra, Laidler, Gillies, Brown and maybe one of Ranga, Moles and possibly even Scott Simpson. In Wells we trust has been our motto and i think he has done a good job in prepping us under massive restrictions....imagine if we could add Prismall and or Mumford to this development

 

[rocker_oz33]

god some people get ahead of them self's have to get though next year with the cashed up gold coast trying to steal players.And than west Sydney doing the same.but l am sure that with bomber going the cats coaches and cook and co we be doing there best to keep the best side they can.people need to enjoy the good times you cant sit on top of the world forever.

 

[GFC1859]

How time flys though. Seems like yesterday we had the youngest list in the league.

 

[LifeSpan-Void]

How time flys though. Seems like yesterday we had the youngest list in the league.

2004 was a long time ago, in football years

 

[pinion]

DanA posted this team in the Bomber thread in the AFL forum:-
FB: Kelly (28) Scarlett(33) Enright (30)
HB: Mackie (28) Taylor (26) Gillies (22)
C: Hogan (24) Bartel (28) Varcoe (24)
HF: Chapman (30) Brown (22) Byrnes (27)
FF: S.Johnson (29) Hawkins (24) Rooke (30)
R: Blake (27) Ablett (28) Selwood (24)
Int: Drum (25) Stokes (27) Hunt (30) Djerkurra (24)

then! Plus Scarlett at 33 may not be there.

Only one ruckman though...so hopefully D.Simpson can step up by

there's a lot of unknowns in there - i think it's questionable to say scarlett will still be playing at 33. it only takes one injury when you hit 30 and your football can fall away very rapidly.

you'd also think if a new coach came in they'd probably have a bit of a clear out and if there were any questions over the future of rooke, chapman, johnson and hunt (again going straight to the guys in their 30's) they'd be retired. these days a new coach is going to get a two year deal and can't afford to waste the first half of his contract on a list that won't show improvement in year 2.

i think either ablett or selwood will be at the gold coast

and i think we may still have salary cap issues, thanks to plenty of heavily back-ended contracts

that team also doesn't take into account the three drafts that will happen between now and 2012. you'd like to think that at least 4 or 5 players we haven't heard of yet will slot in somewhere.

djekurra isn't up to AFL standard and won't still be here by then

so, not that i can do anything, but how i'd edit your team taking into account those i think may be too old, those who are yet to prove they're up to AFL standard, and those who i think may move on between now and then. the question marks are where we obviously have to either draft or develop for need between now and then.

FB: Kelly (28) [ ? ] Enright (30)
HB: Mackie (28) Taylor (26) Gillies (22)
C: Hogan (24) Bartel (28) Varcoe (24)
HF: [ ? ] [ ? ] Byrnes (27)
FF: [ ? ] Hawkins (24) [ ? ]
R: Blake (27) Ablett/Selwood [ ? ]
Int: Drum (25) Stokes (27) Hunt (30) [ ? ]

although i'd like to think gamble will have worked his way into the side as a third tall(ish) forward option, and i could see one of kelly, enright or mackie playing more as a forward.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

We have youth coming through...people are too quick to write off Djukerra, Gamble and West in my opinion. I think these guys are really going to take off next season and push a few of our more established players out...and whats more, i think Bomber is going to actively encourage it.

I see good things from Gillies, and have big hopes on Brown, but it really depends on his work rate after coming back from a pretty horrific injury. Be interested to see if Brodie Moles gets elevated as i rate him pretty highly also. Plus we have three big unknowns in Motlop, Varcoe and Ranga....aside from Ranga there have been glimpses of capability from the other two.

From what i'm led to believe, we will start very differently next year, giving plenty of opportunities to guys like West, Gamble , Hogan, Djukerra, Laidler, Gillies, Brown and maybe one of Ranga, Moles and possibly even Scott Simpson. In Wells we trust has been our motto and i think he has done a good job in prepping us under massive restrictions....imagine if we could add Prismall and or Mumford to this development

The GFC's decision (IMO correct) to keep this list together suggests to me that they want another bash at it in season 10 with this list. But after next season we are entering 'aged' territory with a few too many 200 plus gamers.

But I agree, we have some exciting youth coming through. The players you mention will probably become the building blocks for a re-build after next season.

And yes, losing Mumford and Prismall is a pain. Mumford was going to be our number one ruck eventually, and Prismall an important mid-fielder (a replacement for a James Kelly type player). Yet that is the thing about winning premierships. Its not necessarily that you lose your best 22, but that you lose your young stars who will replace that 22. Your investment in the future is poached....

Not that that is a bad thing. The salary cap and draft system keep the competition pretty fair (much better than zoning through the 60's-late 80's or Free Agency in the immediate post war years). But it does mean the club have to manage its transition from this great team to its rebuilding phase (which is only a season or two away) with great care and
fore-sight.

In this way I think Bomber retiring in 2011 is a step in the right direction, as he can over-see the transition between this successful side and its rebuild in 2011-12. He will then leave the reigns to a new coach who can start to build the next Geelong team to really challenge in the future.

 

[Jef Costello]

Mitch Brown is the youngfella that excites me the most on our list. Really looking forward to seeing him play. From what little knowledge l have l see him as a genuine footballer, footy smarts and awareness. Very promising would love to see him come on over the next few years. Hopefully make it to CHF if we get 2 more years out of Mooney?

l can see our midfield still being strong (curses Mumford and Pris) but its the backline that will really need settling, experience and strength. Scarlo is irreplaceable.

 

[Ausrob]

I hope we trade some of our veteran players when it's clear we no longer have a shot at the flag so that we get value for them rather than waiting for them to retire. Free Agency might also be around.