Can Geelong do the impossible?

[mark73]

They didnt win it from fourth or fifth though, they ended up third after home and away.

There has been no team win a flag by winning four games straight without the benefit of a double chance.

That's true. But it can be done, and whilst they're older, they're not any less talented/match hardened/worse off.

 

[Umpa Lumpa]

 

[Whiskers]

Geelong is the only club with its own suburban ground. Thats a massive advantage other Vic teams dont have, except those who have sold their souls to play a few games in Tassie.

I dont have a problem with it except when Cats fans like yourself complain that you are disadvantaged. Our suburban grounds were shut because they are too small. Geelong doesnt play Colllingwood in Geelong for the same reason.

They are not neutral. When we play at a ground like Etihad 4 times compared to the saints??? When we play at the G less than half of what Collingwood do it is not neutral.

Newsflash we are not a Melbourne side so we shouldn't be treated like one. How far do your players go to get to the G? Walk across the road yeah?

If your so upset about losing Vic Park go get your rich club to upgrade it.

When will we get to host a final at our home ground? Not our fault Collingwood don't have one. We have one so it should be used. Don't forget we are not a part of Melbourne.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Quite simply no. Not good enough.

Obviously they capable of it and good enough. Issue is the task at hand (winning 4 finals in a row without a break) is very difficult. If Geelong were in the top 4 they'd be considered a very real chance, particularly with the lack of a standout team this year.

 

[Blues_Man]

A slim chance ....but a chance just the same ..the Hawks would be shitting bricks if they have to play them in a final .

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

They are not neutral. When we play at a ground like Etihad 4 times compared to the saints??? When we play at the G less than half of what Collingwood do it is not neutral..

Geelong play at the MCG and Etihad enough times to know it well. As does every Victorian team, albeit some of them may get short changed from one year to the next. Its neutral. You either know the ground, or you dont. Teams that play there more dont know it any better.

What a ridulous claim that Geelong dont know the G.

 

[Keys]

I'd agree that if they play two interstate finals, that would be too much, but really the Adelaide loss was the only bad one. Losses to Sydney, West Coast and Fremantle by a combined fifteen points isn't terrible interstate form, in my opinion.

I guess the other thing is if Geelong's finals run was to go something like:

EF: Fremantle/North Melbourne (MCG)
SF: Sydney (ANZ)
PF: Hawthorn/Collingwood (MCG)
GF: Adelaide (MCG)

That's not impossible and doesn't look any more difficult than the path other teams have travelled to the premiership from the top four (Brisbane in 2003, Sydney in 2005, West Coast in 2006). I certainly won't be betting on them, but they're giving themselves a chance and if they go far enough, it's likely that they will only have to travel once.

Was going to post something similar but with a SF against either hawthorn or Collingwood instead of Sydney

It's possible that Geelong could end up playing two finals at the mcg against non-Victorian teams and their two other finals against teams who they have a good recent record against

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

I don;t think so. They are a very good side, but not sure they are playing that well to win 4 finals in a row. I l know all I'll cop from this is that I'm just jealous, or 9-0, or some other witty reply from Cats people, but watching them last night they still seemed to pick and choose when to go.

Talent gets you a long way, but finals will need 100% commitment for 4 qtrs, and they simply aren;t doing it.

In saying that, they are a team you'd prefer to avoid, which I realises goes against most of what I've said above

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

It's possible that Geelong could end up playing two finals at the mcg against non-Victorian teams and their two other finals against teams who they have a good recent record against

WHo dont they have a good record agaisnt? Thats why they are dangerous. The most dangerous fifth-sixth placed team in recent memory.

 

[Whiskers]

Geelong play at the MCG and Etihad enough times to know it well. As does every Victorian team, albeit some of them may get short changed from one year to the next. Its neutral. You either know the ground, or you dont. Teams that play there more dont know it any better.

What a ridulous claim that Geelong dont know the G.

I didn't claim we don't know it, we are less familiar than Collingwood though and it takes more than a walk across the rd to get there. Once we are called the Clifton hill cats and bulldoze Kardinia park I'll have no issues with playing our home matches out of the G or Etihad.

Come to think of it I have no issue now, finals are played at the G and there is nothing I can do about it and I want the exposure, plus I love the MCG lol.

Still unfair but I like it that way

 

[Bigrob_Jr]

I don't think we can, but it's exciting to even be an outside chance in a clear rebuilding year.

I reckon if we played Hawthorn we would get them, but our veterans would expend so much energy that we'd be seriously vulnerable the following week.

All I know is, no Cats fan should be too upset if we win two finals with kids in the team and get pipped in a prelim.

EDIT: on the home game thing: MCG home games are great for us, we need to play on the best ground and the GF ground. But home Etihad games against tenant clubs, especially on a Firday night when the G is unoccupied, just shit me to tears. The MCG should always be first preference for a Friday night Melbourne game.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I didn't claim we don't know it, we are less familiar than Collingwood though and it takes more than a walk across the rd to get there. Once we are called the Clifton hill cats and bulldoze Kardinia park I'll have no issues with playing our home matches out of the G or Etihad.

Come to think of it I have no issue now, finals are played at the G and there is nothing I can do about it and I want the exposure, plus I love the MCG lol.

Still unfair but I like it that way

So youre playing the travel card now? FFS!!

Its binary. You either know the ground or you dont. If you know it, and ten Vic clubs do, then its neutral.

 

[Whiskers]

So youre playing the travel card now? FFS!!

Its binary. You either know the ground or you dont. If you know it, and ten Vic clubs do, then its neutral.

There's alot of cards to be played but I'm tired of arguing something that really doesn't bother me. I like attending games in Melbourne more.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

EDIT: on the home game thing: MCG home games are great for us, we need to play on the best ground and the GF ground. But home Etihad games against tenant clubs, especially on a Firday night when the G is unoccupied, just shit me to tears. The MCG should always be first preference for a Friday night Melbourne game.

If it's a Geelong home game against St Kilda, it makes sense to play it at Etihad. Why would you play at the MCG, when you're not going to get more than 45k and it probably adds half an hour, minimum, in travel time for the supporters from Geelong, who catch the train to and from the ground?

 

[Bigrob_Jr]

If it's a Geelong home game against St Kilda, it makes sense to play it at Etihad. Why would you play at the MCG, when you're not going to get more than 45k and it probably adds half an hour minimum in travel time for the supporters from Geelong, who catch the train to and from the ground?

Just my thoughts: it removes a possible home advantage to the opposition, gives us more exposure to the Grand Final ground, and is a better ground overall.

I'm not aware of how big the travel time difference between MCG/Etihad is for Geelong residents, but if it's substantial then fair enough. Lots of Cats fans who live in Geelong seem to dislike the Friday night trip though: not sure what to do about that.

 

[Duskfire]

I don;t think so. They are a very good side, but not sure they are playing that well to win 4 finals in a row. I l know all I'll cop from this is that I'm just jealous, or 9-0, or some other witty reply from Cats people, but watching them last night they still seemed to pick and choose when to go.

Talent gets you a long way, but finals will need 100% commitment for 4 qtrs, and they simply aren;t doing it.

In saying that, they are a team you'd prefer to avoid, which I realises goes against most of what I've said above

Your right, Geelong isnt giving commitments for four quarters. But you dont think its possible they will come the Finals? The same thing happened last year; Geelong very rarely played well in all four quarters. Then the Finals came along and the intensity rose, as did Geelong. Not saying it will happen that way, but its obvious to me at least that the Cats are waiting for the Finals. Whether it will do them any good or not is a different story.

And to the OP, its not impossible, its improbable In fact, Sydney had to do it hard in 05. I know they finished top 4, but they lost the first week in a tough brutal game, and had to play three games against good opponents afterwards. I dont see that it makes much difference.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

Just my thoughts: it removes a possible home advantage to the opposition, gives us more exposure to the Grand Final ground, and is a better ground overall.

I'm not aware of how big the travel time difference between MCG/Etihad is for Geelong residents, but if it's substantial then fair enough. Lots of Cats fans who live in Geelong seem to dislike the Friday night trip though: not sure what to do about that.

I'm from Melbourne and the MCG is much more convenient for me (MCC member), but it's just the reality of the stadium deals that are in place. Etihad has to get X amount of games during a season and any Geelong home game against another Victorian club that is too big for Simonds, but is unlikely to stretch Etihad's capacity (basically just Hawthorn and Collingwood, at the moment), is a likely candidate to go there.

There's a fair argument that Geelong should not have home games in Melbourne on a Friday night and I wouldn't have a problem if they didn't have any.

 

[Timmy from Thomastown]

I'm from Melbourne and the MCG is much more convenient for me (MCC member), but it's just the reality of the stadium deals that are in place. Etihad has to get X amount of games during a season and any Geelong home game against another Victorian club that is too big for Simonds, but is unlikely to stretch Etihad's capacity (basically just Hawthorn and Collingwood, at the moment), is a likely candidate to go there.

There's a fair argument that Geelong should not have home games in Melbourne on a Friday night and I wouldn't have a problem if they didn't have any.

I have never noticed Geelong fail to pull a crowd on a Friday night. Geelong residents probably under estimate how many Cats fans actually live (or at least work) in Melbourne

 

[MisterMarcus]

Interesting to see that in the last six weeks it's gone from "Cats will have the worst premiership defence Evvvvaaa!!!" to "Cats won't make the 8" to "Cats won't make the 4" to "Cats won't win the Grand Final"

must be doing something right

 

[Senatorguesty]

If it's a Geelong home game against St Kilda, it makes sense to play it at Etihad. Why would you play at the MCG, when you're not going to get more than 45k and it probably adds half an hour, minimum, in travel time for the supporters from Geelong, who catch the train to and from the ground?

It adds 7 minutes to the travel time......

 

[Spitta09]

I doubt it, can see them definitely winning one final and possibly making a prelim.
After that not sure, given that adelaide, sydney and a side they never lose to in hawthorn and collingwood a side they beat in the grand final last year will most likely make up the top 4 anything can happen though!!

 

[ep2018]

There's always one team that is hyped to hell to make the GF from outside the top 4, and it never happens.

But there have been some close calls

Carlton last year, nearly knocked us off
Sydney in 2009 were a big chance to knock off Doggies and led by 5 goals at one stage
Adelaide in 2008 should have beaten Collingwood etc

 

[Senatorguesty]

There's always one team that is hyped to hell to make the GF from outside the top 4, and it never happens.

But there have been some close calls

Carlton last year, nearly knocked us off
Sydney in 2009 were a big chance to knock off Doggies and led by 5 goals at one stage
Adelaide in 2008 should have beaten Collingwood etc

Except those 3 arent genuine great sides who have won 3 of the last 5 flags and played in the last 5 straight prelim finals.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

I have never noticed Geelong fail to pull a crowd on a Friday night. Geelong residents probably under estimate how many Cats fans actually live (or at least work) in Melbourne

It's probably not that noticeable when the game is at Etihad (where we play most of our Friday night games). We kicked off 2011 against St Kilda at the MCG. Friday night, second v third from 2010 and the grand finallists from 2009. No weather issues. The crowd was 42-43k, which was an embarrassment, since it was supposed to be a blockbuster. St Kilda's home game, in Round 13 that year, with their season on a knife's edge, didn't even crack 40k on a Saturday night. It's no surprise that we're playing them at Etihad this year and we might even start playing them in Geelong in a few years.

The other Friday night home game we had in 2011 was against Collingwood and, not surprisingly, that drew over 80k, but that was between two undefeated teams and Collingwood supporters always show up.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

It adds 7 minutes to the travel time......

In each direction. And wouldn't you have to change trains at Southern Cross? I don't live in Geelong, so I don't know. What I do know is every five minutes on a packed train after the footy feels like about an hour.