Adjusting to Geelong's position in the AFL in 2014

Jimmy Yamazaki

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Jun 17, 2010
Posts
6,354
Likes
6,121
AFL Club
Geelong
Though not at the elite level yet Mitch Duncan is a fantastic young player, he has improved noticeably every year and can at points now really influence and impact a game and though not a walk on i confident he would get a game in any midfield in the AFL at the moment.
Doesn't have the consistency just yet and can go missing for times but i think he is very underrated on this board, posters talk about our young talent and mention Guthrie, Horlin-Smith, Christensen, and Vardy but always seem to forget Duncan or chuck him on as an afterthought.
I think most on here know how good Duncan can be, he just needs consistency. If he keeps improving, he will be a very good player for us.

Fore mine, he's in the same as Motlop, doesn't need as much talking about because he's proven he is good enough.

GHS and some of the others are finally getting a shot and now get a chance to show how good they're on a weekly basis.

Will be very exciting times ahead if they can all keep improving and really stamping themselves in this Geelong line up.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Gavin Excell

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Apr 22, 2007
Posts
25,237
Likes
25,405
Location
Bentleigh
AFL Club
Geelong
While I think Thursday v Swans was an aberration, there's no denying we aren't the dominant team we once were.

With the loss has come a lot of criticism of the playing list and the MC and even decisions about moving players on last year.

Reality is that it will be impossible to think we can replace our champions and expect the same level of output. I think we are managing the transition as well as can be expected. With that will come losses and poor performances. There has to be a general understanding of that. Its not "accepting mediocrity" as some have it - its more accepting reality.
 

barmy44

BigFooty Guy
Joined
May 14, 2009
Posts
7,569
Likes
10,393
Location
Brisbane
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Man City, England Test Team, Sturt
in order to set out my views on this required 'adjustment', im going to adapt a post i made on bay 13:

we are definitely not at the same level as the main contenders this year... 7-3 is a good win/loss record, but a % of 101 is very sub-standard.

guthrie is a hell of a player, horlin-smith is terrific, blicavs is looking dangerous down back, caddy was playing very well, motlop is excellent, duncan and christensen are both very good. vardy needs time, which he will unfortunately miss this year. murdoch had a poor game against sydney, but i love him.

we are just a decent, average team right now. no shame there... im looking forward to watching how the next few years unfold, and i couldnt really care less if we cop some floggings along the way. its never fun watching your team get belted, but it happens. weve dished out more than enough floggings in the last 7-8 seasons, and i expect a few more as we lose the last of our old guard, and bring in the new.

the 'luck' was all with sydney thursday night, because they were the better team by a factor of 5. its amazing how 'lucky' you can look when youre a good side outplaying an inferior side. we were made to look average because, as it stands, we are average. we may still be top 4, and on our day can deal with anyone. its just not our day 9 out of 10 like it used to be. fair play sydney, they were absolutely amazing to watch.

im content with that. i dont mind watching my team develop, and if that means we struggle at times, then we struggle. i couldnt think of anything worse than supporting a team like the greek soccer side olympiacos, who since 1997 have only lost the title in 2004 and 2010. what the f***s the point? how can any success be thrilling anymore?

i support geelong whether we are stringing together 20+ win seasons, or trying to fight our way to the top. im totally fine with us dropping outside the 8, and ill still enjoy watching every week.

im fine with other sides taking over as the dominant forces in the comp. as much as i love my team, i also love a comp where different teams win the premiership regularly.

if i could arrange for geelong to win at 80-5% for the rest of my days following footy, and winning the flag more often than not, id decline to do so. it would get old very fast.

being up means nothing if youre never down.
 

leorex

Team Captain
Joined
Jun 7, 2008
Posts
552
Likes
315
Location
melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
"develop" has to be the mantra now
nothing wrong with it if we do it right. Maybe exciting too.

we missed out on Taylor Adams last trade period
can not let it happen again. Must be more homesick kids up in Greater Western Sydney.
 

pollywaffle

Club Legend
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Posts
2,628
Likes
2,835
Location
adelaide
AFL Club
Geelong
if i could arrange for geelong to win at 80-5% for the rest of my days following footy, and winning the flag more often than not, id decline to do so. it would get old very fast.
Not for me ;) Been through enough pain in earlier years... But I get where you are coming from.
Be interesting to see what Wells could come up with, given some earlier draft picks though.
 

barmy44

BigFooty Guy
Joined
May 14, 2009
Posts
7,569
Likes
10,393
Location
Brisbane
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Man City, England Test Team, Sturt
Not for me ;) Been through enough pain in earlier years... But I get where you are coming from.
Be interesting to see what Wells could come up with, given some earlier draft picks though.
i bet the '07 flag felt amazing though, right?

but it probably would have felt very pedestrian in comparison if we had won '91, '93–'96, '98–'99, '01, '03–'05.

do you remember feeling halfway through the 3rd quarter like we needed one more goal to make it safe, despite being 80 odd points up? i think most of us would have. that is what made that day so freaking huge!

cant hit the very highs if you dont go through the very lows. granted, my age makes '89–'95 quite indistinct recollections, but that 'dam-busting' feeling is huge. manchester city recently ended a 44 year title drought in the most dramatic way, with 2 goals in the last 3 minutes. the explosion amongst the fans was huge. the crowd scenes before those 2 goals were amazing. tears everywhere due to how close they were to f***ing it all up again.

if olympiacos had lost the greek title by not getting those final 2 goals in the dying minutes, the difference in emotion would not be comparable. quite a consolation having won 15 of the last 17 titles.

'getting used to the feeling' is why junkies keep shooting up more and more... got to keep striving for a bigger high.

i personally would much rather scrap and fight for irregular flags that feel amazing to watch, than start a season knowing its almost a formality that the title will be ours.
 

catseye

Debutant
Joined
Jul 5, 2011
Posts
72
Likes
21
Location
Adelaide
AFL Club
Geelong
I don't want to sound pessimistic
Having a look at our fixture for the rest of the season, it looks pretty good
Only have to travel to play Sydney, then only twice more to Gold Coast and GWS
North at Simonds - tough but favourites to win
Sydney at SCG - probably lose
Carlton at Etihad - should win
St Kilda at Simonds - win
Gold Coast at Metricon - tough but would back us to win at this stage
Essendon at Etihad - should win
Bulldogs at SImonds - win
Melbourne at MCG - win
GWS @ Skoda - win
North at Etihad - tough
Freo at Simonds - who knows but Simonds factor helps
Carlton at Etihad - should win
Hawthorn at MCG - win :)
Brisbane at SImonds - win

although we will probably drop a couple of winnable ones it isnt a bad run home, should be top 4 but there are 6 or 7 teams that could all push for top 4
Interesting. When a crack at the ladder predictor, the top 8 seems to be clear cut. If we lose to Essendon, there is a slight chance we might not make the 8. All hypothetical of course.
 

pollywaffle

Club Legend
Joined
Apr 2, 2008
Posts
2,628
Likes
2,835
Location
adelaide
AFL Club
Geelong
i bet the '07 flag felt amazing though, right?

but it probably would have felt very pedestrian in comparison if we had won '91, '93–'96, '98–'99, '01, '03–'05.

do you remember feeling halfway through the 3rd quarter like we needed one more goal to make it safe, despite being 80 odd points up? i think most of us would have. that is what made that day so freaking huge!

cant hit the very highs if you dont go through the very lows. granted, my age makes '89–'95 quite indistinct recollections, but that 'dam-busting' feeling is huge. manchester city recently ended a 44 year title drought in the most dramatic way, with 2 goals in the last 3 minutes. the explosion amongst the fans was huge. the crowd scenes before those 2 goals were amazing. tears everywhere due to how close they were to f***ing it all up again.

if olympiacos had lost the greek title by not getting those final 2 goals in the dying minutes, the difference in emotion would not be comparable. quite a consolation having won 15 of the last 17 titles.

'getting used to the feeling' is why junkies keep shooting up more and more... got to keep striving for a bigger high.

i personally would much rather scrap and fight for irregular flags that feel amazing to watch, than start a season knowing its almost a formality that the title will be ours.

Interestingly, the only time we have been 'certainties' was 08 (and look what happened then). So your analogy is a tad flawed.
However, as i said, there is some substance to what you say. Psychology ( especially that involving sports fans) is a wonderful , scary ,subjective thing.
For my part ,the thought of dropping down the ladder and becoming 'also rans' again fills me with dread
 

geelong_crazy26

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Posts
18,387
Likes
8,695
Location
melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
geelong
in order to set out my views on this required 'adjustment', im going to adapt a post i made on bay 13:

we are definitely not at the same level as the main contenders this year... 7-3 is a good win/loss record, but a % of 101 is very sub-standard.

guthrie is a hell of a player, horlin-smith is terrific, blicavs is looking dangerous down back, caddy was playing very well, motlop is excellent, duncan and christensen are both very good. vardy needs time, which he will unfortunately miss this year. murdoch had a poor game against sydney, but i love him.

we are just a decent, average team right now. no shame there... im looking forward to watching how the next few years unfold, and i couldnt really care less if we cop some floggings along the way. its never fun watching your team get belted, but it happens. weve dished out more than enough floggings in the last 7-8 seasons, and i expect a few more as we lose the last of our old guard, and bring in the new.

the 'luck' was all with sydney thursday night, because they were the better team by a factor of 5. its amazing how 'lucky' you can look when youre a good side outplaying an inferior side. we were made to look average because, as it stands, we are average. we may still be top 4, and on our day can deal with anyone. its just not our day 9 out of 10 like it used to be. fair play sydney, they were absolutely amazing to watch.

im content with that. i dont mind watching my team develop, and if that means we struggle at times, then we struggle. i couldnt think of anything worse than supporting a team like the greek soccer side olympiacos, who since 1997 have only lost the title in 2004 and 2010. what the f***s the point? how can any success be thrilling anymore?

i support geelong whether we are stringing together 20+ win seasons, or trying to fight our way to the top. im totally fine with us dropping outside the 8, and ill still enjoy watching every week.

im fine with other sides taking over as the dominant forces in the comp. as much as i love my team, i also love a comp where different teams win the premiership regularly.

if i could arrange for geelong to win at 80-5% for the rest of my days following footy, and winning the flag more often than not, id decline to do so. it would get old very fast.

being up means nothing if youre never down.
Stopped reading after the second bolded. Absolute bullshit. We are equal second on the ladder(forget percentage at round 10), we have beaten hawthorn and collingwood with them having near full strength teams, who are both being talked up as premiership threats, and we outplayed them both when we met.

Reality is your going to lose football games. I'm ok with the loss to Fremantle port Adelaide and Sydney away. The margin against Sydney was unacceptable, but blowouts to very good sides happen time to time, especially given how modern day football is played, it only takes small drop offs in Intensity and your gone. Don't forget that in 08 we got smashed by 86 points in the HA season, we had an even worse performance in the 10 prelim being 80 points down 10 minutes into the third qtr against collingwood, then with a less talented list beat them in the grand final 12 months later. The Great Brisbane side during one of their premiership years I can even recall being belted by 76 points up at the gabba by west coast!!

Every so often, a very horrible dog day happens to very good sides even. It is not a sign of the apocalypse or the end. Given what we have shown this year to deliver out to some very good sides along with the fact we are sitting equal second with a easy run coming up ahead, I don't see a need to panic at all.

We could easily win the next 5 and be sitting 12-3 sitting second and comfortably in the top four.

To say we are an average side is simply untrue
 

Biggy_Boy

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 8, 2007
Posts
20,668
Likes
20,990
Location
Tas
AFL Club
Geelong
"develop" has to be the mantra now
nothing wrong with it if we do it right. Maybe exciting too.

we missed out on Taylor Adams last trade period
can not let it happen again. Must be more homesick kids up in Greater Western Sydney.
Eh, I'm not too fussed about missing out on Adams in hindsight. I don't think he's that special, and he seems to have a pretty poor attitude.

I agree that watching the youth develop may be exciting, though, provided it's done right. Think some of the fat needs to be trimmed from the list so the club can hit the draft hard this year.
 

Seeds

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Posts
27,873
Likes
23,968
Location
I don't know
AFL Club
Geelong
Stopped reading after the second bolded. Absolute bullshit. We are equal second on the ladder(forget percentage at round 10), we have beaten hawthorn and collingwood with them having near full strength teams, who are both being talked up as premiership threats, and we outplayed them both when we met.

Reality is your going to lose football games. I'm ok with the loss to Fremantle port Adelaide and Sydney away. The margin against Sydney was unacceptable, but blowouts to very good sides happen time to time, especially given how modern day football is played, it only takes small drop offs in Intensity and your gone. Don't forget that in 08 we got smashed by 86 points in the HA season, we had an even worse performance in the 10 prelim being 80 points down 10 minutes into the third qtr against collingwood, then with a less talented list beat them in the grand final 12 months later. The Great Brisbane side during one of their premiership years I can even recall being belted by 76 points up at the gabba by west coast!!

Every so often, a very horrible dog day happens to very good sides even. It is not a sign of the apocalypse or the end. Given what we have shown this year to deliver out to some very good sides along with the fact we are sitting equal second with a easy run coming up ahead, I don't see a need to panic at all.

We could easily win the next 5 and be sitting 12-3 sitting second and comfortably in the top four.

To say we are an average side is simply untrue
the underrating of our team on this board this week has been pathetic. we are equal second on the ladder, have played all the top teams away (not one at home) and have had the longest injury list in the afl for most of the year. but oh we are not worthy to be top four even Freemantle who are still a game under us are more worthy. I almost feel sick reading some of the stuff on here.
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

geelong_crazy26

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Posts
18,387
Likes
8,695
Location
melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
geelong
the underrating of our team on this board this week has been pathetic. we are equal second on the ladder, have played all the top teams away (not one at home) and have had the longest injury list in the afl for most of the year. but oh we are not worthy to be top four even Freemantle who are still a game under us are more worthy. I almost feel sick reading some of the stuff on here.
People have short memories on here and get carried away with their emotions. People need to step back and look at the big picture and not only the Sydney game. We are currently in a good position going forward to set ourselves up in the top four heading into the last quarter of the season with a very good run of games over the next month, the biggest challenge being Gold Coast away. If we can't do that over this stretch coming up, then maybe we aren't good enough. But we will have to wait and see how it all unfolds. All we need to do is make the top four and be up and firing at the right time, then anything can happen. The competition is very even this year, anything can happen on a given day. Those counting us out already are doing it very prematurely
 

RegHickeyStand

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Sep 29, 2009
Posts
13,851
Likes
12,841
Location
Belgrave
AFL Club
Geelong
Thread starter #138
I think you can still enjoy supporting your team without having the super high expectations.
the underrating of our team on this board this week has been pathetic. we are equal second on the ladder, have played all the top teams away (not one at home) and have had the longest injury list in the afl for most of the year. but oh we are not worthy to be top four even Freemantle who are still a game under us are more worthy. I almost feel sick reading some of the stuff on here.
The other side of the coin to your opinion of other posters here is that if you are going to enjoy supporting your team over the long haul, then you have to accept lean times.

If you can't or won't, then you start hating on the coaching staff, the players, and whoever else you can think of who fail to give you your weekly fix of victory (entitlement). I don't think 2014 will be our year, and while I did not specifically predict a 110 point flogging, I did mention early on in this thread to get prepared for losses the type of which we haven't had for years. Thats just the way it is, even when the team is trying its guts out. Cycles and stuff.

High expectations from supporters and filtering into the club mentality is what had kept Richmond down, has kept Carlton down. Yeah, Malthouse was going to lead them to the entitled promised land, before that it was Cruzer, before that Judd. The entitled ones were dropping manure down at Punt Rd. I reckon the mentality of where that comes from is a contributing factor to Richmond's long drought.

Can you still barrack for Geelong if 2014 is not our year?
 
Last edited:

barmy44

BigFooty Guy
Joined
May 14, 2009
Posts
7,569
Likes
10,393
Location
Brisbane
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Man City, England Test Team, Sturt
Stopped reading after the second bolded. Absolute bullshit. We are equal second on the ladder(forget percentage at round 10), we have beaten hawthorn and collingwood with them having near full strength teams, who are both being talked up as premiership threats, and we outplayed them both when we met.

Reality is your going to lose football games. I'm ok with the loss to Fremantle port Adelaide and Sydney away. The margin against Sydney was unacceptable, but blowouts to very good sides happen time to time, especially given how modern day football is played, it only takes small drop offs in Intensity and your gone. Don't forget that in 08 we got smashed by 86 points in the HA season, we had an even worse performance in the 10 prelim being 80 points down 10 minutes into the third qtr against collingwood, then with a less talented list beat them in the grand final 12 months later. The Great Brisbane side during one of their premiership years I can even recall being belted by 76 points up at the gabba by west coast!!

Every so often, a very horrible dog day happens to very good sides even. It is not a sign of the apocalypse or the end. Given what we have shown this year to deliver out to some very good sides along with the fact we are sitting equal second with a easy run coming up ahead, I don't see a need to panic at all.

We could easily win the next 5 and be sitting 12-3 sitting second and comfortably in the top four.

To say we are an average side is simply untrue
fair enough... i think we are a fair way off the pace this year. but we can easily turn it around, and wouldnt at all be surprised to see us top 4 come finals.

its reality, we wont be up for ever. the point i was trying to make is that you can get an enjoyment (granted, a different sort of enjoyment) out of the 'building years' much like the dominant years. and in some ways, you cant enjoy one without the other.

weve all seen our team can play very good football this year, but its no longer our default setting. cant wait to see our response for the rest of the year, good or bad.

its just a difference of opinion, really. you make good points though.
 
Last edited:

Partridge

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 12, 2002
Posts
35,393
Likes
37,286
AFL Club
Geelong
If you can't or won't, then you start hating on the coaching staff, the players, and whoever else you can think of who fail to give you your weekly fix of victory (entitlement). I don't think 2014 will be our year, and while I did not specifically predict a 110 point flogging, I did mention early on in this thread to get prepared for losses the type of which we haven't had for years. Thats just the way it is, even when the team is trying its guts out. Cycles and stuff.
Who actually "hates" the coaching staff or players though?
 

Partridge

Hall of Famer
Joined
Nov 12, 2002
Posts
35,393
Likes
37,286
AFL Club
Geelong
Haha I can think of a couple of posters who display a pretty vitriolic and unforgiving attitude, certainly towards the MC, the coaching staff and several players.;)
Questioning their decisions and thought processes (which I absolutely do and admit to) isn't exactly the same as vitriolic and unforgiving I wouldn't have thought.
 

romeoh

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Oct 23, 2011
Posts
6,199
Likes
4,029
AFL Club
Geelong
Questioning their decisions and thought processes (which I absolutely do and admit to) isn't exactly the same as vitriolic and unforgiving I wouldn't have thought.
True enough-I didn't actually have you in mind though Partridge, because as cranky as you can be, I do think that you are quite thoughtful and diligent about it all.
 

Pivo

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Feb 1, 2008
Posts
10,390
Likes
11,036
Location
Melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
WWT Eagles; Detroit Pistons
True enough-I didn't actually have you in mind though Partridge, because as cranky as you can be, I do think that you are quite thoughtful and diligent about it all.
"Tough. Uncompromising. No-holds-barred. No-beg-your-pardons."

A particular generation with a certain sense of humour will know exactly where that is from.
 

geelong_crazy26

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Jan 13, 2006
Posts
18,387
Likes
8,695
Location
melbourne
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
geelong
fair enough... i think we are a fair way off the pace this year. but we can easily turn it around, and wouldnt at all be surprised to see us top 4 come finals.

its reality, we wont be up for ever. the point i was trying to make is that you can get an enjoyment (granted, a different sort of enjoyment) out of the 'building years' much like the dominant years. and in some ways, you cant have one without the other.

weve all seen our team can play very good football this year, but its no longer our default setting. cant wait to see our response for the rest of the year, good or bad.

its just a difference of opinion, really. you make good points though.
Fair response. Legitimate questions can and should be asked after a 110 point loss no doubt. What irks and annoys me is when people want toss out our season and belittle our potential to excel based on it. We are definitely far from being out of it.

I don't think we will win the premiership this year. I think port is the best side by far in the AFL this year, it evens out after port sitting at the top in my opinion. I see it as one of those open years thought where if you get a top four spot anything can happen. A bit like 2012 with Sydney rolling hawthorn at the finish line, being that extra bit more conditioned come finals
 

barmy44

BigFooty Guy
Joined
May 14, 2009
Posts
7,569
Likes
10,393
Location
Brisbane
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
Man City, England Test Team, Sturt
Fair response. Legitimate questions can and should be asked after a 110 point loss no doubt. What irks and annoys me is when people want toss out our season and belittle our potential to excel based on it. We are definitely far from being out of it.

I don't think we will win the premiership this year. I think port is the best side by far in the AFL this year, it evens out after port sitting at the top in my opinion. I see it as one of those open years thought where if you get a top four spot anything can happen. A bit like 2012 with Sydney rolling hawthorn at the finish line, being that extra bit more conditioned come finals
totally, yeah... and my post was never meant to belittle the side or our potential. its been a difficult year, yet look where we are.

my post was meant to be an affirmation, not a condemnation.

considering where we are now (and where we have stayed '06 aside) so many years after our first real finals push in '04, its truly remarkable. look at brisbanes equivalent years after their finals run, and the difference couldnt be more stark.
 

manboob

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Feb 11, 2009
Posts
28,075
Likes
34,782
AFL Club
Geelong
Other Teams
#rompingwins
we are just a decent, average team right now. no shame there... im looking forward to watching how the next few years unfold, and i couldnt really care less if we cop some floggings along the way. its never fun watching your team get belted, but it happens. weve dished out more than enough floggings in the last 7-8 seasons, and i expect a few more as we lose the last of our old guard, and bring in the new.
As long as the club can identify cracks that are being papered over now by the likes of Kelly down back and Bartel in the middle we should be OK going forward. That's the catch...
 
Top Bottom