After the first five weeks...

[iameviljez]

Well, catpeople, it's time, to be honest, to reflect upon the first five weeks of 2005 and it's not all bad. We've dropped one we thought we would win and won one that we thought we would've dropped; our defence hasn't been as strong as usual in the key posts (Mooney's stupidity not helping that one by any means) but our fowards have done well. A few notes -

BIG IMPROVERS:
The Big H - In the words of (I believe) Tim Lane - "I PICKED THIS!". He started to show glimpses of this last year with his marking but this year he has put in a BIG preseason when it was needed and is playing very good football. One of the comments in the Ottens Appreciation Thread reads that we needed H up foward... if you'dve told me we were saying that two years ago, I would've panicked about Geelong's footballing future. Now we need him because he's GOOD.
Josh Hunt - Great game against Essendon where he took on and beat a rampant Hird. Not bad against the Dees either.
Shannon Byrnes - Brilliant against the Coasters and great when given game time in the other games (something which perhaps should've happened more often but who would you drop?). Has the ability to be the best runt going round since Libba.
Corey Enright - Hasn't just taken off from where he sat down at the end of 2003; he's eclipsed it. Great game against the Tiges and a better one against the Bombers. Seems to have beaten his previously "abstract" disposal and, for a half back, is remarkably good at finding his own footy.
Brad Ottens - First five games have been a very nice pass mark. A matchwinner against Port.

STILL BLOODY AWESOME
Cameron Ling - Talk about finding your own footy - Linger has had some leather poisoning in rounds 1 and 5 (but three was a bit of a letdown) plus keeping Geelong in it against Essendon. BOG against Port and a great performance as a leader. Well done, you beautiful ugly thing.
Joel Corey - Yeh, yeh, yeh. Underrated my arse. Great clearer of the footy from congested situations. Teaming well with Bartel.
Paul Chapman - Absolute champion, this guy. Tough, strong, dead-eye for goal, and, this year, a bit more potent around the grounds without losing any of his scoring potency. Brilliant.

A BIT OF A LETDOWN
Matthew Scarlett - Hasn't actually beaten an opponent outright this year. Even Neitz - his bunny - got five on him. Somehow, despite a quiet game, Lloyd managed five (should've been four - I've always been in favour of things like that going to the tribunal) and is a bit out of sorts.
Tom Harley - Injury problems have slowed his start to the year. Not really in a lot of games and did cop a bit of a post-concussion spanking from Tredrea.

OH PLAYER, WHERE ART THOU?
Cameron Mooney - Well at least that question's easily solved. He's at the tribunal! Those famous last words - "Cam, don't do anything stupid..."
Andrew Mackie - Three goals against the Tiges in the first quarter and not seen since.
Paul Chambers - Simply not getting enough game time for someone his age.

Also...
Kingsley has done alright so far this season, especially in tandem with Ottens and H - the system finally seems to be working, though it took a while. That win at Port was worth pick 16 and Brent Moloney by itself, thankyou very much. In the absence of King, Mooney and Graham the trade becomes doubly important. A keynote is that when two of the three talls kick three or more, we have won. Otherwise... we lose.
Geelong appear a bit faster this year and this is probably due to the polish and run of Kelly, Tenace, Byrnes and Enright. Ricco has been superb as well (32yo??!!??) as not only a player but a leader; Hunt and Rooke mean that Sanderson hasn't really been missed. If only it wasn't for that abhorration against the Dees then life would be a bit rosier.

Your thoughts?

 

[Turbocat]

Agree with most of what you have noted:
Mackie a bit harsh , 02 is the long term draft. Makie is still 2 years away from holding his spot but at least he has shown somthing
Missing for me is -
Rahily , Koola , Thurley.

I think we are still missing a third tall in the backline. We ask Milburn to sort of play this role but he is not key position so I supose this is Mooney how ever he is more a sweeper type and will always be loose. Id like to see a slightly lighter player 6.3 , 6.4 in the old with spring in the backline but Im not sure we have a player like this, a slightly taller version of Ken Hinkley but im being picky

WE HAVE A VERY SOLID FOOTY SIDE BUT WE ARE STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS

 

[jim boy]

Well, catpeople, it's time, to be honest, to reflect upon the first five weeks of 2005 and it's not all bad. We've dropped one we thought we would win and won one that we thought we would've dropped;

Which one have we dropped where should have won? In which match have we gone in as favourites and lost?

 

[Rodion]

Egan needs to be given a go.

 

[linga_is_no1]

Egan needs to be given a go.

No, egan was one of the reasons we lost to the eagles

 

[fishman]

I am thinking that Mackie might be trade bait this summer. In serious though, what has he really done?

With Ottens, H, Kingsley up there and N Ablett coming on then maybe Mackie is looking thin. If Garth is added into the mix I dont think he will make it. Also there is Lonergan, Spencer and McCarthy floating around (though McCarthy aint gonna be around come end of season.)

Maybe it is time to look into another defender - someone like Sam Hunt or Luke Livingston.

 

[rizzo]

No, egan was one of the reasons we lost to the eagles

LOL, he was playing his seconds game of footy... a lil harsh dont you rekon