2023 - A year of regression before the final ascent...

[freo1997]

Taberner has been in the system for a decade.

He's never kicked over 40 in a season, he won't start now.

Treacy is not going to get close to 40, let alone 30.

Amiss & Jackson will need to the heavy lifting.

Amiss reads the play so well that alone will get him goals. His body won’t be ready yet though to be leading the attack and dominating. Still he should be b22 and aiming for 20-30.

We need a fwd who can kick 40-50 for us to take that next step…in saying I thought we had a good spread this year. 5 players kicking over 20.

 

[Lach72]

Right. So the same thing people have been saying for years eh. They have just shown in the last trade period that as a club they are hungry as well as the ability to sustain regular appearances every finals season.

Taberner wouldn't even get a game at Geelong, and would at best be depth for them if he had a list spot. Do we have a forward who would be in their best 6? I'm not even certain what our forward best 6 looks like. It would be difficult to see us going past them until that is evened up.

Agreed
The cats just lost Selwood and replenished the list with Bowe's, Bruhn, Henry and pick 7.

They're not dropping off

 

[RonnieRaven]

Is this a troll thread?!
We ain’t going backward unless there’s a Webber like injury list!
Fyfe taberner omeara Jackson amiss Erasmus back in to the team that played most of 22.
A hungry Hamling wilson Sturt Treacy Johnson Henry and co chomping at the bit to be part of the team.
Every year since 2016 we’ve suppose to go backwards and even with a war like medical room we never have.
FFFFRRRREEEEEEOOOOOOOO
FFFFFRRRREEEEEOOOOOOOO

 

[FDH16]

Is this a troll thread?!
We ain’t going backward unless there’s a Webber like injury list!
Fyfe taberner omeara Jackson amiss Erasmus back in to the team that played most of 22.
A hungry Hamling wilson Sturt Treacy Johnson Henry and co chomping at the bit to be part of the team.
Every year since 2016 we’ve suppose to go backwards and even with a war like medical room we never have.
FFFFRRRREEEEEEOOOOOOOO
FFFFFRRRREEEEEOOOOOOOO

We just traded out 5 players, bought in 3.

It's a lot of turnover, chemistry takes time - our scoring capacity is the issue, expecting Taberner to turn into a star with a deteriorating body, or Jackson to step in and kick 40+ in his first year is a stretch.

Foundation is there, but attrition of players, new men into the system will take time to refine.

To think otherwise is naive.

 

[ignoramus]

We ain’t going backward unless there’s a Webber like injury list!

this is the unknown for me. We had very few injuries this year. Sure, Fyfe was out for much of the season, and Tabs was injured at crucial times, but I don't feel our depth was tested for sustained periods over the season. If, by some miracle, we have a repeat next year, then forward, ho!

It's what happens if we have even AFL average injuries next season that is the question mark.

 

[Purple Suit]

Agreed
The cats just lost Selwood and replenished the list with Bowe's, Bruhn, Henry and pick 7.

They're not dropping off

If they don't win the flag next year then they dropped off. I recon they make finals but not the GF, they had a dream run with injuries for that old of a list.

 

[Mags98]

If they don't win the flag next year then they dropped off. I recon they make finals but not the GF, they had a dream run with injuries for that old of a list.

tbf they managed their oldies quite well, danger and selwood i remember being rested often throughout the season

hawkins is a bit of a miracle in of himself though

 

[Mags98]

excited to see what next season brings, im not sure which way well go but the individual form and development of players like young, amiss, freddie, NOD and serong (thats without mentioning a handful of our other players) are exceptional and have me at least content with the direction the clubs going

also we need to get freddie the ball more often, with his avg of 10.9 touches a game hes getting 4.6 score involvements! if we can get his disposals up to a tom papley

11

Tom Papley

Age

29

Ht

177cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.1

4star

K

9.1

4star

HB

5.0

4star

M

3.7

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

12.3

3star

K

8.9

4star

HB

3.4

2star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.5

2star

G

2.4

5star

D

13.4

4star

K

8.0

3star

HB

5.4

4star

M

3.4

4star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.6

5star

level then well have an elite small forward easily, already become dead eye in front of goal as well

 

[Purpletown]

tbf they managed their oldies quite well, danger and selwood i remember being rested often throughout the season

hawkins is a bit of a miracle in of himself though

Reports coming in that Hawkins has a foot issue that may see him unavailable for round one. If true that could be significant for Geelong as he is arguably their most important player.

 

[Mags98]

Reports coming in that Hawkins has a foot issue that may see him unavailable for round one. If true that could be significant for Geelong as he is arguably their most important player.

could be a big blow but lucky enough for them they have their other arguably most important player lining up next to him

god i reckon if the AFL was fair dinkum about equalisation theyd divvy up the all the elite key forwards equally, sick of having to go up against hawkins and cameron, or mckay and curnow while we hardly get one smh

 

[GingerDocker]

could be a big blow but lucky enough for them they have their other arguably most important player lining up next to him

god i reckon if the AFL was fair dinkum about equalisation theyd divvy up the all the elite key forwards equally, sick of having to go up against hawkins and cameron, or mckay and curnow while we hardly get one smh

This post belongs in the Politics thread, comrade!

 

[SiempreFreo]

excited to see what next season brings, im not sure which way well go but the individual form and development of players like young, amiss, freddie, NOD and serong (thats without mentioning a handful of our other players) are exceptional and have me at least content with the direction the clubs going

also we need to get freddie the ball more often, with his avg of 10.9 touches a game hes getting 4.6 score involvements! if we can get his disposals up to a tom papley level then well have an elite small forward easily, already become dead eye in front of goal as well

Couldn't agree more re Freddy. His growth and development have been fantastic.

Been working my way through our season - I've got as far as our Brisbane win at Optus where a confident and poised Freddy kicked 3 goals - and he is clearly one of THE standouts of our year.

 

[anchor man]

Agreed
The cats just lost Selwood and replenished the list with Bowe's, Bruhn, Henry and pick 7.

They're not dropping off

Oh to have the clout to be able to do that.
Strange strange things happen for Victorian clubs.

 

[theGav56]

Oh to have the clout to be able to do that.
Strange strange things happen for Victorian clubs.

Apart from that pick 7 we probably compare OK in the trade period on the "ins". And we've had our feed off GCSs in the past.

 

[myfreodom]

• We've lost a key forward who averaged a goal a game over the course of the 4 years he was at Freo. He could also ruck but didn't want to. Easily his best season with us in 2022, the other years were ordinary.
• We've lost a winger who could run all day, and who seemed defensively accountable most of the time but also was a big part of our inefficiency entering i50. Easily his best season with us in 2022, the other years were ordinary.
• We've lost a key back we were playing as a key forward because he wasn't in our best back 7 who scored 8 goals this season across 20 games. Played a role but not dangerous at all. Had some good performances as a KPD last year but also had some shockers.
• We've lost a fringe midfielder who was behind plenty and would've been behind even more in 2023 if he had stayed.
• We've lost a backup ruck who wouldn't even been 2nd in line if he had stayed.
• We've lost a club legend who always gave his all and would have been immense from an on-the-ground leadership perspective. But it was the right decision for him to retire because we need to develop other options who are perhaps also more accountable defensively.

Unless we have mass injuries I don't see our backline being any worse - more likely better as the youngsters develop. Our midfield should improve and seems more versatile now.

Our forward line really only loses a tall target who generally only got shots on goal from marks on a lead anyway. I was impressed with how much better our small forwards have looked in their first year under Graham. I'd back him to get even more out of them in 2023 when we will only be fielding one defensive liability up forward rather than two like we mostly have the past few years.

It's possible we regress but don't see anyone we lost as critical pieces. If we were basing our assessment on these players in 2021 we'd be laughing about losing them.

 

[Purple Jesus]

If they don't win the flag next year then they dropped off. I recon they make finals but not the GF, they had a dream run with injuries for that old of a list.

Too simplistic a view. Other teams are also in the equation.

 

[Dump Truck]

tbf theres maybe one or two tall forwards who get into geelongs side

And unfortunately two of them play for Carlton

 

[Mags98]

And unfortunately two of them play for Carlton

give me tom lynch over the both of them

 

[FDH16]

• We've lost a key forward who averaged a goal a game over the course of the 4 years he was at Freo. He could also ruck but didn't want to. Easily his best season with us in 2022, the other years were ordinary.
• We've lost a winger who could run all day, and who seemed defensively accountable most of the time but also was a big part of our inefficiency entering i50. Easily his best season with us in 2022, the other years were ordinary.
• We've lost a key back we were playing as a key forward because he wasn't in our best back 7 who scored 8 goals this season across 20 games. Played a role but not dangerous at all. Had some good performances as a KPD last year but also had some shockers.
• We've lost a fringe midfielder who was behind plenty and would've been behind even more in 2023 if he had stayed.
• We've lost a backup ruck who wouldn't even been 2nd in line if he had stayed.
• We've lost a club legend who always gave his all and would have been immense from an on-the-ground leadership perspective. But it was the right decision for him to retire because we need to develop other options who are perhaps also more accountable defensively.

Unless we have mass injuries I don't see our backline being any worse - more likely better as the youngsters develop. Our midfield should improve and seems more versatile now.

Our forward line really only loses a tall target who generally only got shots on goal from marks on a lead anyway. I was impressed with how much better our small forwards have looked in their first year under Graham. I'd back him to get even more out of them in 2023 when we will only be fielding one defensive liability up forward rather than two like we mostly have the past few years.

It's possible we regress but don't see anyone we lost as critical pieces. If we were basing our assessment on these players in 2021 we'd be laughing about losing them.

Lobb had 32 contested marks, he wasn't a lead up forward under Longmuir.

We have never been particularly fluid under Longmuir, especially going inside 50 - he directs his ball carriers from slow plays to bomb it into the pockets where Lobb was either taking a contested mark, or creating a contest - leading to a throw in or behind.

Defense set up behind this model.

We've lost our best winger who was in AA form prior to injury - he also happened to be our player of the finals...

The rest you can argue are meh players, but betwen Lobb, Acres and Mundy, we've taken a serious onfield hit.

Time will be needed for Jackson and Omeara to assimilate.

 

[edward powlett]

Lobb had 32 contested marks, he wasn't a lead up forward under Longmuir.

We have never been particularly fluid under Longmuir, especially going inside 50 - he directs his ball carriers from slow plays to bomb it into the pockets where Lobb was either taking a contested mark, or creating a contest - leading to a throw in or behind.

Defense set up behind this model.

We've lost our best winger who was in AA form prior to injury - he also happened to be our player of the finals...

The rest you can argue are meh players, but betwen Lobb, Acres and Mundy, we've taken a serious onfield hit.

Time will be needed for Jackson and Omeara to assimilate.

Lobb had 32 contested marks, he wasn't a lead up forward under Longmuir.

We have never been particularly fluid under Longmuir, especially going inside 50 - he directs his ball carriers from slow plays to bomb it into the pockets where Lobb was either taking a contested mark, or creating a contest - leading to a throw in or behind.

Defense set up behind this model.

We've lost our best winger who was in AA form prior to injury - he also happened to be our player of the finals...

The rest you can argue are meh players, but betwen Lobb, Acres and Mundy, we've taken a serious onfield hit.

Time will be needed for Jackson and Omeara to assimilate.

When Amiss was first selected Longmuir said it was good to have a foward who led at the ball carrier and yet you say he directs players to bomb it long.
I would suggest that players who can't get separation from their opponents lead to the boundary and into pockets.
Taberner and Lobb are classic examples.

 

[theGav56]

Lobb had 32 contested marks, he wasn't a lead up forward under Longmuir.

We have never been particularly fluid under Longmuir, especially going inside 50 - he directs his ball carriers from slow plays to bomb it into the pockets where Lobb was either taking a contested mark, or creating a contest - leading to a throw in or behind.

Defense set up behind this model.

We've lost our best winger who was in AA form prior to injury - he also happened to be our player of the finals...

The rest you can argue are meh players, but betwen Lobb, Acres and Mundy, we've taken a serious onfield hit.

Time will be needed for Jackson and Omeara to assimilate.

I think Omeara is plug and play, and at worst Jackson will have an impact while he integrates.

I do think there is a disruptive loss from losing Lobby, Acres and Mundy, but not even close to a terminal loss.

I agree with your summary of how our forward line has structured and this is where I think we have a problem.

Theoretically Jackson can fill that but I don't know that he will be better in that role than 2022 Lobb. I think it is not clear how Jackson will be used.

Strategically it is also a way too predictable strategy and I think we need more weapons and a smarter coaching strategy to improve it. Maybe we have the weapons, and maybe we have the strategy: a couple of big maybes for 2023. If that stuff clicks the lid comes off.

 

[Mikevk123]

You guys will play well but the loss of depth may hurt next year imo.

 

[theGav56]

When Amiss was first selected Longmuir said it was good to have a foward who led at the ball carrier and yet you say he directs players to bomb it long.
I would suggest that players who can't get separation from their opponents lead to the boundary and into pockets.
Taberner and Lobb are classic examples.

Seems pretty clear the club wanted to keep Lobb so he was probably doing what was asked of him.

 

[myfreodom]

Lobb had 32 contested marks, he wasn't a lead up forward under Longmuir.

He probably took a handful of contested marks that led to shots on goal but I remember a lot of his shots at goal being from outside 50. Even just looking at his highlights video for 2022, there are only 2 contested marks in the whole package. Almost everything else is long shots at goal.

 

[dominguez]

We lose a couple of fringe players and we add 2 x Rising Star winners and 2 Brownlow medals....Load up on Flagmantle for the Premiership!!!!!!!!!!