Bombers 1999-2000

[Wiggum]

Being a Geelong supporter, i was just wondering your guys thoughts on comparisons with Geelong's 07-08 team to your 99-00 team. I realise 99 you guys were cruely knocked out... and should have won the flag that year... but i cant help but be worried about losing 3 gun players due to the inevitable salary cap restrictions. I think Geelong's 08 team is rivaling that of Essendon 00 and Brisbane 03...and we all know teams in the AFL find it very difficult to dominate for too many years on end...

Maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself...

thoughts??

 

[nesko_25]

Being a Geelong supporter, i was just wondering your guys thoughts on comparisons with Geelong's 07-08 team to your 99-00 team. I realise 99 you guys were cruely knocked out... and should have won the flag that year... but i cant help but be worried about losing 3 gun players due to the inevitable salary cap restrictions. I think Geelong's 08 team is rivaling that of Essendon 00 and Brisbane 03...and we all know teams in the AFL find it very difficult to dominate for too many years on end...

Maybe I'm just getting ahead of myself...

thoughts??

Bit to early to tell. We'll se if they can win 20 games in a row, that bombers side was awesome and while I really rate this years cats side highly, they must first beat the other contenders

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

This Geelong team has what we did in 2000. The ruthlessness to dispose of anyone anywhere.

When Brisbane dominated after that they gave up a lot of a games and gave teams a chance.

I see this Geelong side similar to our 2000 team.

I reckon we lost more due to injuries and retirement than salary cap. Wallis, Long, Barnard, Wellman were huge losses. The fitness issues of Rioli and Rama
are well documented.

All it takes is a few key injuries and your right back to the pack. You have such a strong core in the 23-28 age bracket that if well managed should see you guys up there for the next 3 years at least(allthough thats what they said about us after 2000).

 

[Kong]

i see the cats of '07/'08 very similarly to the bombers of '99/'00.. brisbane not once finished on top of the ladder in '01-'03, and were never the best-performed team during the h&a season, let alone the monsters of the competition like the bombers were and cats are. sure, they peaked when it mattered (for example, they lost the qualifying final in '03 i believe it was, to collingwood, only to smash them in the grand final), but they were never able to dominate for an entire season.

 

[randyzany]

I don't want to dominate an entire season like the bombers from 2000. I'd much prefer 3 consecutive Premiership Cups like the Lions of 01 to 03.

 

[retroparty]

I don't want to dominate an entire season like the bombers from 2000. I'd much prefer 3 consecutive Premiership Cups like the Lions of 01 to 03.

I'd like to think that Essendon did dominate from 99-01 but sadly we were could only win 1 flag from it.

 

[monty1104]

I just dont see Geelong as beng up there with Essendon of 2000, or Brisbanes triple premiership teams. The reason you may ask? Geelong are just too nice. Essendon had guys like Barnard, Wallis, Barnes, Soloman and the johnsons. Brisbane had the Scotts, Lynch, Mal, Bradshaw and Voss. These guys were just brutal. You couldnt get away with anything while these guys were around, they acted almost like enforcers. They intimidates players. Geelong just doesnt have that in their team. They are a good team, dont get me wrong, but I dont think they are as intimidating as their predecessors.

 

[Merv]

I just dont see Geelong as beng up there with Essendon of 2000, or Brisbanes triple premiership teams. The reason you may ask? Geelong are just too nice. Essendon had guys like Barnard, Wallis, Barnes, Soloman and the johnsons. Brisbane had the Scotts, Lynch, Mal, Bradshaw and Voss. These guys were just brutal. You couldnt get away with anything while these guys were around, they acted almost like enforcers. They intimidates players. Geelong just doesnt have that in their team. They are a good team, dont get me wrong, but I dont think they are as intimidating as their predecessors.

They don't have to be as intimidating.

All they have to do is win premierships.

I think they may end up a better team than us 99-2001 as they should have an extra flag, and maybe more.

 

[monty1104]

They don't have to be as intimidating.

All they have to do is win premierships.

I think they may end up a better team than us 99-2001 as they should have an extra flag, and maybe more.

I agree, but I think half the battle is won in the minds of the players. If they are intimidated by the opposition, then they are halfway to losing the game before they step onto the field. If teams arent intimidated by Geelong, and think they have a realistic chance of matching it with them, then it will go a long way to beating them. IMO, this would be their only downfall. They are obviously a very skilled team, have talent all over the field and have depth, but the fear factor is missing at the moment.

Anyway, only time will tell.

 

[Boris_Bewick]

I cannot see them being beaten this year. They probably will be once or twice, but that's if a side get's lucky.

Football's a funny game, but there is no team that has shown anything to suggest they can match Geelong for four quarters.

 

[BomberAce7]

Geelong's style of play reminds me alot like our team of 2000. We had a better forward line than what Geelong have at the present time. I dont believe Mooney or Hawkins are capable of kicking 100 goals in a season but i still believe Hawthorn have the side to beat Geelong. They have a great forward line, there midfield is stronger imo, there backline is workman like.

 

[Minglis]

Cats 08 certainly does feel like 2000 did in the Bombers 99-01 era.

Heres hoping for cat fans that 01-05 doesnt follow the pattern the same way. Itd be a shame to see another great modern team fall victim to injuries then the salary cap despite not doing a Collingwood / Carlton and buying most their name players, a "home grown" team if you will.

Though, Geelong 07-09 doesnt quite have a Sir James Hird to whom a single injury carried into the 09 grand final might legitimately be argued to have cost them the entire year. So perhaps youll be spared that particular fate.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

I agree, but I think half the battle is won in the minds of the players. If they are intimidated by the opposition, then they are halfway to losing the game before they step onto the field. If teams arent intimidated by Geelong, and think they have a realistic chance of matching it with them, then it will go a long way to beating them. IMO, this would be their only downfall. They are obviously a very skilled team, have talent all over the field and have depth, but the fear factor is missing at the moment.

Anyway, only time will tell.

The rules have changed, I dont think intimidation by force is useful anymore. Whats the point in having an enforcer when they give someone a decent bump/hit, they get 5 weeks for it. The sport has got too weak for teams like that anymore if you could thats how you would beat Geelong. Geelong have a completely different type of intimidation

 

[lamaros]

I said it the other day and I'll say it again. There are many things pointing in this direction. However:

Geelong's team is much less likely to be broken apart by injuries, retirements and salary caps trouble. We lost Barnes, Long, Hardwick, Caracella, Wellman, Banard, Wallis, Alessio, etc within a couple of years. Geelong will have better planning about the slaray cap trouble and not as many players at the end of their careers.

But the most important thing is, Geelong doesn't play the same style of game. Their game is not as strong across the ground and relies heavily on midfield domination. Once teams work out how to counter their midfield then they will start to lose, and they will struggle to come up with another way to win games.

I don't think Geelong will win the premiership this year. I certainly don't think they will win it next year. They may well dominate, but they won't carry it into september.

Brisbane's run wont be matched again for a long time. Essendon of 99-01 and Geelong last year and this might dominate the home and away season like few in history, but Brisbane had the winning touch for finals, and I don't think Geelong do.

 

[adamcf]

I'd say the Cats of last year were like the 'Dons of '99. So the pressure's on Geelong to not lose a game all season this year.

 

[M29]

At the moment they are trhe 01 version of us. So far all I've seen is "Cats may be better than last year" which is the same sort of stuff that was said about us in the opening two rounds of 2001 when we smashed Norf and beat Port.

 

[Walesy]

All the elements are there, but the story still hasn't been told.

I think they definitely *could* do it. They were awesome on the weekend.

We'll find out in 6 months I guess...

 

[candiehappy]

"But the most important thing is, Geelong doesn't play the same style of game. Their game is not as strong across the ground and relies heavily on midfield domination. Once teams work out how to counter their midfield then they will start to lose, and they will struggle to come up with another way to win games.

I don't think Geelong will win the premiership this year. I certainly don't think they will win it next year. They may well dominate, but they won't carry it into september."

Not sure I can agree - the other teams had most of 07 to work out strategies against Geelong's midfield, what's to change? But also I think that an equal amount of drive comes from the backline. But the real key is that it's an evenly balanced team without apparent weak spots - whci of course injury can sort out. Geelong 89 - 95 showed that a good ruck, midfield, forward line can't win a flag if you have no backline.

 

[lamaros]

Not sure I can agree - the other teams had most of 07 to work out strategies against Geelong's midfield, what's to change? But also I think that an equal amount of drive comes from the backline. But the real key is that it's an evenly balanced team without apparent weak spots - whci of course injury can sort out. Geelong 89 - 95 showed that a good ruck, midfield, forward line can't win a flag if you have no backline.

Weak spots. Ruck. Forwards.

Teams had 2007 to work them out? How much time do you think teams have to change things about during the season? Not much. How much of Geelong's 07 was known at the start of 07? Not much.

Look at Essendon and Melbourne this year. Changing the team around, changing the way you play in a substantial way, requires a long adjustment period, you can't just do it in the middle of the season on the fly. You have to plan strategies, train and practice them, and then get them all sorted by doing it on the field.

It's round 2. Geelong played a team that they dominated last year in the final and a youngish team trying new things in us. There has not yet been a real test of them this year, and two rounds is far to early to judge.

I back my view, let's see if it stacks up at the end of the year.

 

[Merv]

Weak spots. Ruck. Forwards.

Teams had 2007 to work them out? How much time do you think teams have to change things about during the season? Not much. How much of Geelong's 07 was known at the start of 07? Not much.

Look at Essendon and Melbourne this year. Changing the team around, changing the way you play in a substantial way, requires a long adjustment period, you can't just do it in the middle of the season on the fly. You have to plan strategies, train and practice them, and then get them all sorted by doing it on the field.

It's round 2. Geelong played a team that they dominated last year in the final and a youngish team trying new things in us. There has not yet been a real test of them this year, and two rounds is far to early to judge.

I back my view, let's see if it stacks up at the end of the year.

How are their rucks weak with Ottens and an improving Blake?

Their Forward line, while not super strong, isn't weak either.

Mooney and Hawkins KPP with Johnson capable of anything and rotating guns like Ablett and Bartel though their along with Stokes.

 

[lamaros]

If Ottens plays another good year and Blake continues to improve I'll cede the point. But I'm not sure it'll happen.

The forward line relies heavily on that midfield. Not exactly bad, but if the midfield starts to misfire then it can impact their scoring potential more than it might for another team (that doesn't rely on the midfield to kick as well as set up the goals).

I don't think Mooney is that great. Another good year from him still needed to prove himself.

Hawkins still hasn't actually delivered anything apart from one or two games. Way too soon to start calling him a decent forward. I'm not giving marks on potential.

Both areas might get (alot) better, I'm not saying they wont. But at the moment that aren't exactly aweing me.

 

[Merv]

If Ottens plays another good year and Blake continues to improve I'll cede the point. But I'm not sure it'll happen.

The forward line relies heavily on that midfield. Not exactly bad, but if the midfield starts to misfire then it can impact their scoring potential more than it might for another team (that doesn't rely on the midfield to kick as well as set up the goals).

I don't think Mooney is that great. Another good year from him still needed to prove himself.

Hawkins still hasn't actually delivered anything apart from one or two games. Way too soon to start calling him a decent forward. I'm not giving marks on potential.

Both areas might get (alot) better, I'm not saying they wont. But at the moment that aren't exactly aweing me.

I didn't call Hawkins a descent forward, but i do believe he will end up more than handy, i was responding to your post that they have weak rucks and forwards.

While those 2 areas are not as strong as their midfield, they are not weak.

EDIT: I left out Chapman also

 

[varcoe]

who cares about losing 1 game or 10 during the home and away season, i have this argument with a few of my ess m8's, i point to them that the adel crows 97-98 was more dominant then ess due to there 2 flags even though they lost nearly 20 games in those 2 years, they had the magic of blighty, mcleod and jarman, i have no interest in winning streaks etc just want another flag, they r so bloody hard to get as u guys no esp 99 when u guys played carl who u finished 6 games higher then, we nearly had it happ to us last yr against coll, nothing is cert in this game but as i said i dont care about winning records, streaks, margings etc, just want another flag.

 

[Giggidy Giggidy]

Geelong 2007 was very, very similar to Essendon 1999.

Both had a fairly slow start to the season but by about round 10 had established themselves as the benchmark and flag favourites. Finished the season as the minor premiers & dominated their first final, only to have a real struggle against a much lesser fancied opponent in the Prelim. The difference between Geel '07 & Ess '99 was effectively one goal. They won by 5 points; we lost by 1.

Of course Geelong's injury run last season was probably also a difference - Hird & Lucas out for majority of the '99 season cannot be underestimated.

Geelong do look set for a 2000 like year - whether they have the motivation that spurred us on is another question though.

 

[bomberz08]

I just dont see Geelong as beng up there with Essendon of 2000, or Brisbanes triple premiership teams. The reason you may ask? Geelong are just too nice. Essendon had guys like Barnard, Wallis, Barnes, Soloman and the johnsons. Brisbane had the Scotts, Lynch, Mal, Bradshaw and Voss. These guys were just brutal. You couldnt get away with anything while these guys were around, they acted almost like enforcers. They intimidates players. Geelong just doesnt have that in their team. They are a good team, dont get me wrong, but I dont think they are as intimidating as their predecessors.

Mooney perhaps?