Comparing 1962-1969 and 2007-2014 eras

Goggin Our Best

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How i look at it - Geelong has had 2 distinct eras 1962 to 1969 and 2007-2014

From 1962 to 1969 - Geelong had a very strong side - made the finals every year - won 1 premiership - and lost one GF narrowly- definitely underachieved - could quite easily have won 3 or 4 premierships

That era ended on 1st semi final day 1969 against Richmond unfortunately in front of 100000 spectators( and it ended because Farmer and Marshall had already gone back to WA- Sharrock and West were retired prematurely - and other once top players were older ) with the biggest annihilation of all time - over 20 goals
What happened after that game debacle - Geelong didnt instantly fall off a cliff - 1970 just missed the 4 - then the aaarse fell right out of the side - 1972 - lost 1st 10 games etc

I see 07-14 Era very similar to above - with the important exception - that they won 3 flags ( didnt waste the talent) - but the Era ( flag winning) ended last night - with a performance eerily similar to 1969 1st semi
What will happen in the future - probably similar to above - Geelong will make bottom levels of 8 - but in a couple of years time - when most of the core 29-30 year olds are gone - it will interesting what happens

What last night proved - is there is no such thing as a Great Club - there are Great Sides that come and go - and when their older ( and important players) hit 30 - they become vulnerable
 

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RegHickeyStand

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I wouldn't rate the 1962-69 side with the 2007-2011 side. Some great players in the 60's, but nowhere near as good a team comparatively. The wonderful thing about this team is that is was basically a homegrown outfit. Very rare for a great team not to be bought, or created by the AFL, or be beneficiaries of the zoning days.
 
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#7
Or the 1950-1953 era.
Or the 1930-1939 era.
Or the VFA era.
1950-1954. Minor premiers 4 years running but flunked the finals in 54. Set an AFL/VFL record of unbeaten matches that still stands, a leading goalkicker in George Gonninan and a Brownlow for Bernie Smith.
 

FredLeDeux

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I wouldn't rate the 1962-69 side with the 2007-2011 side. Some great players in the 60's, but nowhere near as good a team comparatively. The wonderful thing about this team is that is was basically a homegrown outfit. Very rare for a great team not to be bought, or created by the AFL, or be beneficiaries of the zoning days.
The big difference between the 2 eras is that in the recent one, we had the great majority of the best players together at the one time, whereas in the 1960s, they were spread out over a longer period, ie there were fewer of them playing at any one time. That was largely because VFL careers tended to be much shorter, especially at Geelong, where players often tended to head back to the family farm; and in addition, players at the age of 27-30 could simply make much more money playing in the bush (or, often, Tassie) than they could in the VFL, setting themselves up for the future.
If the 1960s stars (or the bulk of them) had all played together for a period of 5-6 years, then they would have been just as unbeatable as 2007-11. But even given that result, there would have been more also rans in the best 60s side; it's just that the same was true of all sides in that era. It's a function of total numbers in the available football-playing population then compared with now.
 

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#14
I wouldn't rate the 1962-69 side with the 2007-2011 side. Some great players in the 60's, but nowhere near as good a team comparatively. The wonderful thing about this team is that is was basically a homegrown outfit. Very rare for a great team not to be bought, or created by the AFL, or be beneficiaries of the zoning days.
Bear in mind, the 60's was arguably the most competitive decade during the history of the VFl/AL. Only Melbourne and Richmond achieved more than one premiership.
 

allrighty

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#15
That era ended on 1st semi final day 1969 against Richmond unfortunately in front of 100000 spectators( and it ended because Farmer and Marshall had already gone back to WA- Sharrock and West were retired prematurely - and other once top players were older ) with the biggest annihilation of all time - over 20 goals
You just have to remind me of that day as a 14 yo standing in the outer by myself at my first ever Cats game don't you? :mad:
It's really difficult to compare teams from now and then so I'm glad you did not go there. But we do face a huge challenge now. We have maybe two years for the younglings (pun?) to come through and step up, and none of us can be sure this will happen.

We are also being killed by injuries now which is exposing our weaknesses bigtime. And our plan B and C that we had back three years ago seem to have disappeared altogether or been unravelled by the opposition.
 

RegHickeyStand

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#16
Bear in mind, the 60's was arguably the most competitive decade during the history of the VFl/AL. Only Melbourne and Richmond achieved more than one premiership.
You could also argue premierships were there for the taking as there were no dominant teams back then. Which makes our great side back then underachievers.

I was thinking of how it was put together, how long the core team stayed together. There is no comparison. Much of 07-11 team came up together through the reserves and the team was years in the making. This team is hands down the best side we have ever had.

And it is a better template going forward.
 

allrighty

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#17
We are also being killed by injuries now which is exposing our weaknesses bigtime. And our plan B and C that we had back three years ago seem to have disappeared altogether or been unravelled by the opposition.
Maybe the relentless style we have played is catching up with us and causing more accumulated stress injuries, meaning the injuries hit harder and are harder to get over.

Of course getting half of our team regularly sniped over the last few years doesn't help either.
 
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