Does Geelong have the worst midfield in the AFL?

[Freomaniac]

It's not good enough to win the flag in 2025 that's for sure, Geelong will be just making up the numbers come September, they are miles behind the top 4 in Collingwood, Brisbane Adelaide and GWS. The Cats midfield is ordinary and they need to secure another top liner for 2026. In 2025 Geelong are down among the lower part of the 8 and will be battling for a 5th or 6th spot with the Dogs and Hawks. Some off field distractions going on this year which doesn't help, they need to pull their head in?

Playing down the cats chances? LoL.

I won't be surprised if the cats make the grand final vs the magpies again, just like 2011.

And we all know how that turned out

 

[Mr Meow]

It works when Smith and Holmes are firing. Unsurprisingly it doesn't when they're not. Stanley has battled manfully but is still liable to the odd shocker too, and everything falls apart from there.

We are absolutely a quality extractor short. Our midfield has very poor depth. In 2024, we at least had the likes of Bowes and Bruhn giving some solid but unspectacular support.

Our midfield relies heavily on Miers and Mannagh linking up as the extra around stoppages. Again, if you can stifle that or reduce their effectiveness, you can really get on top of us.

Our defenders and forwards escape criticism when their ball use, efficiency and accountability are down. The microscope should get put on them more. GWS and Brisbane especially kill us on turnovers - some of that is on Smith and Holmes, but there are other culprits.

We'll see how it holds up in September. When our forwards and defenders are on top (see the 2024 QF), it's not a major issue. When they lose their battles (see the 2nd half of the 2024 prelim) the house of cards falls down.

 

[JackFlash]

Playing down the cats chances? LoL.

I won't be surprised if the cats make the grand final vs the magpies again, just like 2011.

And we all know how that turned out

That's a nice thought, but i don't see the Cats beating any of the top 4 teams and that includes GWS who will take their place by the end of the season. Cats have too many passengers and the gap between mid-fields is too large!

 

[Mr Meow]

That's a nice thought, but i don't see the Cats beating any of the top 4 teams and that includes GWS who will take their place by the end of the season. Cats have too many passengers and the gap between mid-fields is too large!

We've beaten 2 of the other 3 top-4 sides already, and 6 of the other 8 teams in the top-9.

 

[Robroy22]

That's a nice thought, but i don't see the Cats beating any of the top 4 teams and that includes GWS who will take their place by the end of the season. Cats have too many passengers and the gap between mid-fields is too large!

Cats will be top or top 2 by the end of the year. Check the draw....

 

[Cherki]

It's a very poor midfield. Sitting ducks for finals.

 

[JackFlash]

Cats will be top or top 2 by the end of the year. Check the draw....

They will struggle against the Saints, Port won't be a push over and they will lose in Sydney! Wouldn't surprise me if North got up down in Tassie!

 

[JackFlash]

We've beaten 2 of the other 3 top-4 sides already, and 6 of the other 8 teams in the top-9.

Lost badly twice to Lions and Giants who will more than likely make a prelim? Cats have slipped!

 

[Robroy22]

They will struggle against the Saints, Port won't be a push over and they will lose in Sydney! Wouldn't surprise me if North got up down in Tassie!

The reverse mozz is strong within this one!

 

[Mr Meow]

Lost badly twice to Lions and Giants who will more than likely make a prelim? Cats have slipped!

You didn't respond to my actual point. They don't take our wins against other top 4/top 9 sides away just because Brisbane and GWS beat us twice. We've slipped all the way from 3rd to 4th in recent weeks. It's not worth having a meltdown over.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Worst midfield I'm the AFL.


no. Just no.

 

[JackFlash]

You didn't respond to my actual point. They don't take our wins against other top 4/top 9 sides away just because Brisbane and GWS beat us twice. We've slipped all the way from 3rd to 4th in recent weeks. It's not worth having a meltdown over.

Lost 3 in a row to Brisbane and 4 in a row to GWS, they will have to beat at least one of them to advance far in the finals. They have no answers to either team's dominance. Geelong have been found out.

 

[Mr Meow]

Lost 3 in a row to Brisbane and 4 in a row to GWS, they will have to beat at least one of them to advance far in the finals. They have no answers to either team's dominance. Geelong have been found out.

Well I'm fine with saying those two teams have our number. But your statements have gone far beyond that and refuse to acknowledge our strong results against all of the other top 9 teams.

 

[Aristotle Pickett the3rd]

It's a B grade midfield no doubt. What keeps Geelong in the 8 is their home ground advantage and the topping up with older players.

 

[Cyclops]

It works when Smith and Holmes are firing. Unsurprisingly it doesn't when they're not. Stanley has battled manfully but is still liable to the odd shocker too, and everything falls apart from there.

We are absolutely a quality extractor short. Our midfield has very poor depth. In 2024, we at least had the likes of Bowes and Bruhn giving some solid but unspectacular support.

Our midfield relies heavily on Miers and Mannagh linking up as the extra around stoppages. Again, if you can stifle that or reduce their effectiveness, you can really get on top of us.

Our defenders and forwards escape criticism when their ball use, efficiency and accountability are down. The microscope should get put on them more. GWS and Brisbane especially kill us on turnovers - some of that is on Smith and Holmes, but there are other culprits.

We'll see how it holds up in September. When our forwards and defenders are on top (see the 2024 QF), it's not a major issue. When they lose their battles (see the 2nd half of the 2024 prelim) the house of cards falls down.

This gives me a better grasp of what's going on, thx. On song your ball winning and rebounding is extremely effective eg when you beat us, the switches in game style, little adjustments with support from half back.

Scotts immense quality very evident in the shuffling and really tailored responses

It's almost the opposite of us, lots of pretty decent players cycling through, not a heap of actual extraction going on.

I guess we do fold up fast to support the contest too, so not entirely unlike.

Always a big tactical battle to beat Geelong. I guess it's fair to say the midfield group isn't the most star spangled, but the quality of coaching allows excellent team support from all areas.

 

[JackFlash]

Well I'm fine with saying those two teams have our number. But your statements have gone far beyond that and refuse to acknowledge our strong results against all of the other top 9 teams.

I acknowledge them alright, but in reality despite winning 4 of the last 6 against Collingwood, they might not get another chance to play them again this year unless they find a way to beat their "Bogey" sides Brisbane and GWS. They have all been terrible losses and both of those teams will be throwing a party if they draw Geelong in a final!

 

[Broski]

I am not worried about Geelong's midfield one bit. When they recruit Zak Butters

9

Zak Butters

Age

25

Ht

181cm

Wt

77kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

14.3

4star

K

7.7

3star

HB

6.7

4star

M

3.0

3star

T

2.6

4star

CL

0.8

3star

D

14.7

4star

K

8.9

4star

HB

5.9

3star

M

3.9

4star

T

2.9

4star

CL

1.1

3star

D

17.0

5star

K

9.0

4star

HB

8.0

5star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.6

4star

CL

0.6

3star

, Matt Rowell

18

Matt Rowell

Age

24

Ht

180cm

Wt

82kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

17.4

4star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

D

17.4

5star

K

7.6

3star

HB

9.8

5star

M

0.8

1star

T

5.2

5star

CL

3.8

5star

and Harley Reid, who will all play for $350,000 per year and the love of the game, they will be set for several flag tilts in the near future.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

The fact we are resorting to playing guys out of position in order to compensate for deficiencies in midfield is a red flag.
We are extremely fortunate Bailey Smith signed up because without him, we would probably have the worst midfield in the competition.

Bowes, Stevens, Knevitt, Atkins (gutsy B grader), Clohesy, Bruhn, Clark . . . . it's pretty meek. Dangerfield is still electric on his day but no longer a viable option.

Holmes & Smith and that's it.

TBF once the ball is outside the centre bounce situation and into 'open play' we don't play in a manner to maximise midfield dominance. Albeit he's rehashing what others have said about us since 2023 Goodwin goes through it last night.

-1 at the contest in exchange for +1 behind the ball.



2:55

I don't disagree on Bowes, Knevitt, Clark, Clohesy. We've seen enough of them and they aren't it.

I call bulls**t on this post.

How does Geelong have the worst midfield in the AFL?

This post was made in mid 2024. Cats made a preliminary final that year.

Cats this season looks like making top 2 or at worst get a double chance and top 4.

Cats will be in the contenders list this season

Contenders. Sure.
Play GWS or BL and we'll likely lose.

They will struggle against the Saints, Port won't be a push over and they will lose in Sydney! Wouldn't surprise me if North got up down in Tassie!

Good thing the game is at Marvel then.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

I don't think it's the worst in the AFL but probably the worst in the top 9 teams of the ladder in terms of talent.

 

[PhatBoy]

It's a B grade midfield no doubt. What keeps Geelong in the 8 is their home ground advantage and the topping up with older players.

No, winning more away from our home ground than every other team keeps us in the top 8 and continuing to ignore it just because you have complete inability to assimilate fact into your conscious or subconscious won’t change that.

 

[FreddyTwoShoes]

It's a B grade midfield no doubt. What keeps Geelong in the 8 is their home ground advantage and the topping up with older players.

Don’t forget “stand” and father-son.

 

[gungho]

Holmes and Smith are guns, then they've got some good players around them.
So no, their midfield goes alright.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

4th on the ladder yeah they're no good.


Stupid thread.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Does geelong have the worst midfield in the AFL?? Currently it has been

Bruhn, atkins, clark, blicavs, oconnor, bowes, mullin, conway/stanley

Then a handful of appearances from injury prone guthrie and dangerfield who have been out for half the season and question marks over whether they will play consistently.

Is this the worst midfield in the AFL?? If not, then who??

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