News Cameron Ling will be top Cat again at Geelong

[SJ]

Channel 10 sport has just confirmed this.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Channel 10 sport has just confirmed this.

Confirmed what? Ling captain?

 

[darren forssman]

Confirmed what? Ling captain?

probably took a while to hit their sydney biased news desk.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

I know Lingy will be back to some good footy in 2011.... Seems to be a penchant for people to write off blokes in their late 20's after one bad year which was probably hampered by sustaining injuires through the year.

Might be that he adjusts his role somewhat as others push towards the midfield, but Ling is hardly a spent force. Great candidate for a defensive forward and i still think he will be able to rotate through the midfield effectively.

Furthermore, he is a good choice for captain, offers stability, is clearly popular and more importantly bleeds blue and white (with an odd tinge of the ginge!)

 

[SJ]

http://www.gfc.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/106997/default.aspx

Geelong has undergone some significant changes since the end of last season, but the Cats highly rated player leadership group (PLG) will remain relatively unchanged in 2011.

The Cats PLG will feature Cameron Ling as skipper, Joel Selwood as vice captain, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, James Kelly and Harry Taylor. The only change to the group is the loss of Gary Ablett who moved on to Gold Coast.

http://www.gfc.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/106997/default.aspx

 

[AM]

I'd have preferred Joel to have been given the reins. However, it's a top notch leadership group.

 

[you pick one]

I'll probably be the the odd man out but I was hopping for change,but good luck to Cameron.Really wanted Scott to take control and set the agenda,hope he's not going to be a puppet.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Disappointed, nothing against Linga but am worried about him re best 22. Hopefully Scott will be prepared to drop him if necessary.

Very happy to see Joel elevated to vice captain, I really look forward to him continuing to show wonderful leadership for such a young man in preparation for taking the reins next year.

 

[maxy87]

I'd have preferred Joel to have been given the reins. However, it's a top notch leadership group.

Too right. I think regardless of who is the actual skipper, the leadership group is solid with a good blend of older guns and players that are still young enough to relate to the second generation caters (ie post 2005 draft). With that it mind, Ling is still a great choice, speed and form an issue but he will lead by example in terms of preparation, work ethic and heart. This bloke lives, breathes and sh**s gfc. In other words, it's "in his DNA". Boy wonders time will come. As amazing as it sounds, he's still only 22 and stands to learn a lot more still before he is given the reigns

 

[you pick one]

Too right. I think regardless of who is the actual skipper, the leadership group is solid with a good blend of older guns and players that are still young enough to relate to the second generation caters (ie post 2005 draft). With that it mind, Ling is still a great choice, speed and form an issue but he will lead by example in terms of preparation, work ethic and heart. This bloke lives, breathes and sh**s gfc. In other words, it's "in his DNA". Boy wonders time will come. As amazing as it sounds, he's still only 22 and stands to learn a lot more still before he is given the reigns

Just hope it's at Geelong Max, reminds me of some one else,what's his name again,captain of of the Suns or something.

 

[Sttew]

If the players, coaches and the board think Lingy is the best choice then he is..

Agree! Ling is the sort of guy who wouldn't have put his hand up to lead the club in 2011 if he didn't think he was up to it.

The elevation of Selwood to VC is great news too. Have we actually had a dedicated VC in recent years, or just a "leadership team"?

 

[noclashjumpers]

Harley recently said in an interview that about halfway through 09 he knew his body was giving out on him and he was picked for the GF largely because he was captain (i.e. he didn't think he would have been picked otherwise).

I'm worried about the same thing happening with Ling with the state of his body, I certainly think there's a considerable risk it'll go the same way.

I think there's recognition of that possibility in the appointment of Selwood as a stand alone Vice Captain.

To me it says (or at least I hope it says) If Ling's not right, we've a more than capable Vice to take the place.

Also, the club would be well aware of Harley's situation in 09 and would be keen not to repeat it. The fact that Ling's dropped some kgs over summer suggests to me that he's doing all he can not to fall behind.

 

[dazbroncos]

I know we are all talking about writing Lingy off a bit, ( at our peril i might add as I think he will prove us wrong but the critisism was warranted) but if we can rotate GAJ from the mid to HF why can't Lingy do the same to spell him a bit.

He clearly has the marking and lead up skills to play forward and has had success here and his engine is big enough to cover the leads and get back again.

His issue has been pace over the duration but i believe on the burst (and yes i'm using burst a little loosely ...lol) he would have success as a forward. He reads the play well and would provide an decent contest to any defender.

Also, his defensive pressure is better than say Stokes so I think he holds his place on skill alone and can rotate on the ball with Jimmy for example. I would have no issues with these two swapping like this.

Maybe its a bit rose coloured glasses but I think he has earnt the chance to still be there.

Joel Selwood is probably the next C but Harry and group as a whole is very strong.

Go Catters

 

[you pick one]

I know we are all talking about writing Ling off a bit, ( at our peril i might add as I think he will prove us wrong but the critisism was warranted) but if we can rotate GAJ from the mid to HF why can't Lingy do the same to spell him a bit.

He clearly has the marking and lead up skills to play forward and has had success here and his engine is big enough to cover the leads and get back again.

His issue has been pace over the duration but i believe on the burst (and yes i'm using burst a little loosely ...lol) he would have success as a forward. He reads the play well and would provide an decent contest to any defender.

Also, his defensive pressure is better than say Stokes so I think he holds his place on skill alone and can rotate on the ball with Jimmy for example. I would have no issues with these two swapping like this.

Maybe its a bit rose coloured glasses but I think he has earnt the chance to still be there.

Joel Selwood is probably the next C but Harry and group as a whole is very strong.

Go Catters

Were a weird mob alright there's blokes writing Ling off raping Drum up, go figure whats going no there, must be the off season.

Now Lingy has retained the captaincy resting him up forward may be a good option with shorter spells on the ball, depending on how the games going.

 

[vinum coupe]

Were a weird mob alright there's blokes writing Ling off raping Drum up, go figure whats going no there, must be the off season.

Now Lingy has retained the captaincy resting him up forward may be a good option with shorter spells on the ball, depending on how the games going.

What role does he play when he is in the midfield?
06 was the last time he played as a ball carrier, and we all know how that went.

 

[you pick one]

What role does he play when he is in the midfield?
06 was the last time he played as a ball carrier, and we all know how that went.

Thats why I started with (now Lingy has retained the captaincy)so he's going to play most games you would think, how many other options do we have other than on the ball or forward.

What will he do in the midfield tag I suppose

Your wright vc about 06 I was calling for his head, some of those dinky half kicks in the back fifty resulting in turn overs gave me night mares at the time.

 

[CatFan79]

Bad decision. With Ling's abilities diminishing this only backs us into a corner selection wise.

Captaincy should be given to Selwood asap.

Ling has been a great servant to the club but like Harley in '08 he's well in the twilight and we dont want another instance where we need to find a spot on the park to 'hide' the captain.

I know captaincy involves a lot of off field leadership and press work but unless the captain is in the top 4 or 5 players in the team they would find it difficult to effectively lead a team on the ground. Actions speak louder than words.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I think there's recognition of that possibility in the appointment of Selwood as a stand alone Vice Captain.

To me it says (or at least I hope it says) If Ling's not right, we've a more than capable Vice to take the place.

Also, the club would be well aware of Harley's situation in 09 and would be keen not to repeat it. The fact that Ling's dropped some kgs over summer suggests to me that he's doing all he can not to fall behind.

Personally I took it more as a recognition that he will be captain next year than anything else. If Ling was to not play, we would have very capable stand in options regardless of who the VC was. But yeah you may be right about Selwood being VC in case Ling goes early.

It does really worry me. I hear Sel in the media today talking about us improving defensively, and I think well, no matter how much we love Ling, if he's as slow early in the season as he was late last year, and can't chase and tackle people, and if we're fair dinkum about improving the defensive side of our game, and challenging for the flag, then we have to be ruthless enough to drop him. I feel disloyal saying it, but it seems true, if I was analysing an oposition team objectively without the emotion (love for the club) that I have in this case, it's probably the conclusion I'd come to given the available data. Let's hope I'm wrong, and a good pre season has helped Ling rejuvenate his body and he's capable for this year. Like you, I'd like to hope we'd make the call if it becomes obvious he's necessary, but I don't really have that hope, I can't think of many historical examples where captains get dropped, usually the team decides to keep carrying them ala Dogs 2010. Hopefully we won't make the same mistake if it comes to that.

Thats why I started with (now Lingy has retained the captaincy)so he's going to play most games you would think, how many other options do we have other than on the ball or forward.

What will he do in the midfield tag I suppose

Your wright vc about 06 I was calling for his head, some of those dinky half kicks in the back fifty resulting in turn overs gave me night mares at the time.

He can't. His speed means he can't get to them so it doesn't work. We saw that in the prelim and a number of other games.

Ling continuing on means he will play as a permanent forward, he may do a little bit midfield as under the new interchange rules everyone will need to go in there at some stage, but he will essentially be a permanent forward, probably replacing Stokes, and we have to hope like heck he's got the legs to get the ball on the lead offensively, and lay tackles when the ball's coming out. There's no real other option.

 

[OldStyle2007]

I can see Lingy spending more time up forward in 2011. Meaning guys like Varcoe and Stokes will get some more midfield time. I think the club and Ling know this will be his last year. Selwood will be groomed this year and will take over for 2012.

Stokes in the midfield? Hahahahaha

No way

Think Scott's going to be happy with some bloke running forward of the pack by 10 metres and hoping for a cheapy from Selwood? No way

 

[rizzo]

Stokes in the midfield? Hahahahaha

No way

Think Scott's going to be happy with some bloke running forward of the pack by 10 metres and hoping for a cheapy from Selwood? No way

You're selling Stokes short.

 

[OldStyle2007]

You're selling Stokes short.

Selling the worst statistically performing Geelong small forward behind Varcoe and Byrnes short. Hmmmmm

Stokes will be lucky to still be in the seniors by the end of the season

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You're selling Stokes short.

Not really.

He's talented but lazy and one way.

And Scott doesn't strike me, given the way he played, as the sort of coach that will tolerate that. We'll see if I'm right.