Geelong next year

[macca69]

We know Geelong has one of the youngest lists in the AFL, and have alot of quality youth Kelly, Bartel etc. But are there any in the wings geelong are about to unleash in the next couple of years? From what i can tell there 'younger' youngsters aren't much chop besides N ablett and Byrnes, of course im the first to admit my lack of geelong knowledge, but is there anyone else, thanx for your help.

 

[FatCat]

I've been a fan of Lonergan and Thurley in the games I've seen them.

 

[Seb]

Although it all seems like a doom and gloom situation at Kardinia Park, next season is certainly promising.

Matthew Egan, who has already shown plenty this year, particularly in the finals, is a real key position talent in defense. Together, Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett and he will form an exceptionally strong defense for the likes of St Kilda and Sydney who have 3-4 talls up forward.

Timmy Callan is very much an unsung favourite, particularly on this forum and Cats Claw. Backs back into packs tirelessly, can play on the dangerous small forwards, and can even rotate through the middle. Unfortunately, Tim's year was riddled by injury, and in many people's opinion, unfair treatment from the coach - not giving him a game in the seniors. With Sanderson retiring, i could not think of a better replacement.

Mark Blake is still relatively raw, despite having a season or two in the VFL. He was rated extremely highly as a junior, playing in the ruck for the Geelong Falcons. Played a handful of games this year and showed he has the ability to tap the ball down the throat of our midfielders. Still needs to add some bulk and improve his work around the ground, but tall, mobile blokes do take time to develop.

Andrew Mackie has had 3 years on the list, and has showed several glimpses of his class, especially around goal. He is deceptively short, actually stands around 193cm.... but of course, weighs about 20 kilos. So i'm being facetious, but most know Mackie needs to bulk up if he is going to take it to the next level. I do question his level of commitment, however. The notorious drinking session with Dog, compounded by his 'inability' to add weight spells laziness to me. Perhaps i'm being harsh and his body simply struggles to gain weight, but I don't know. Still could be a very good player.

Tom Lonergan is about to enter a 'do or die' season. Really must perform. Given our stark lack of talls up forward, it is somewhat bewildering he has struggled to win a regular place in the team. When Playfair and Ottens weren't in the team, guys like Haynes and Gardiner were considered better options.

Matthew Spencer is officially the new Simon Arnott. Played several good games down back for the VFL, and was named in our best pretty much everyweek. Admittedly, the amount we got thrashed this season says maybe it wasn't such a big honour. Still, I would love to have seen him given a game when Harley was missing. Needs to break into the senior side in 2006.

Brent Prismall has 'silky skills', or at least, so i'm told. Wears the famous number 32 and from all reports, is too good for the VFL. Will probably debut next season and is an exciting onballer with a penetrating kick. Probably needs to get in the gym over summer, though.

Then there's Nathan.

 

[Seb]

Stupid me forgot to mention my lovechild, Kane Tenace.

The speedy number 10 has plenty of class. Really matured as the season progressed i thought. Still needs to work on his kicking, especially after he has gone for a run. Fumbling was a problem this year, but it was only his second season of footy - perhaps the dreaded second year blues?

Will definitely get better in my opinion, though.

 

[della]

I am sick or hearing what about next year, what about this year, another wasted year and another chance at glory gone down the toilet, i am starting to believe we have a curse down there and its no joking matter.

 

[FatCat]

My, my you're negative, della. Look on the bright side at the good, promising young talent we have coming up, as highlighted by Shaitan's list.
I'm not saying we need to accept mediocrity; what that group did on Friday not was not mediocre and, given the injury toll throughout the season, and the learning experiences that EVERY bloke in the playing group has been through because of that, there is plenty to look forward to next year.

 

[Kegs44]

If you reli believe that, then your not a very smart man. You make your own luck in footy

 

[FatCat]

If you're addressing me, Kegs, you're making a large assumption that I'm a man for a start.
You make your own luck through hard work and dedication to a degree, but no-one can say that the majority of injuries are due to bad management, and the upside of those is the learning curve that the younger blokes went through by shouldering more responsibility and playing in different positions.

 

[GeeCat]

The continued development of youngsters aside, two players I'm looking forward to seeing next season are none other than James Kelly and Steve Johnson.

Kelly has had a rather inconsistent year by his standards (really expected him to take the next step in being a midfielder). For a guy who was considered by many to be the 'rolls-royce' of our engine room, he hardly resembled one many a time during the course of the season.

That being said, he really stepped up a notch during the finals series. If he can carry that form into next season, nothing more than exciting times await.

Likewise, we all know the type of season Dog has had. But as many have pointed out during recent weeks, his form has been nothing short of superb in the aftermath of the pub incident. If that was the kick up the arse we've all been waiting for, and Dog can put in a solid preseason, we're overdue to witness a potential great.

 

[Shell]

I am sick or hearing what about next year, what about this year, another wasted year and another chance at glory gone down the toilet, i am starting to believe we have a curse down there and its no joking matter.

Have faith mate. Remember Boston DID have an actual curse on them and they won the World Series (eventually)

Kudos too to Bomber for cancelling Mad Monday. There is nothing to celebrate in my opinion. Time to get freaken SERIOUS about this. Good stuff.

 

[catempire]

I am sick or hearing what about next year, what about this year, another wasted year and another chance at glory gone down the toilet, i am starting to believe we have a curse down there and its no joking matter.

Can we start a new thread for you and everyone else who just wants to spout negative rubbish like this? Honestly, I'm sick of reading it.

 

[LongBomb]

I am sick or hearing what about next year, what about this year, another wasted year and another chance at glory gone down the toilet, i am starting to believe we have a curse down there and its no joking matter.

What is the solution Della? follow a new club? new code?

 

[sammyg77]

Stay positive Cat fans - excellent group of youngsters and you did wonderfully well this year in what was a very trying year in terms of the amount of injuries.

IMO you are a monty for a top 4 position next year and almost a definate to play in the GF if injuries stay away.

 

[fugsy]

What is the solution Della? follow a new club? new code?

Carn the Storm!

As much as I was gutted from the weekend...where else can we look but forward? No use looking back unless we're looking to learn from it.

Bring on 2006.

 

[Jack-Packenham]

The solution is fairly simple. Most sides can improve out of site if they have a group of people willing to make the hard decisions. Live by the sword, die by the sword. If we continue with what we have we will be in the top 5 next year and be very competitive against all sides, but won't quite be good enough to win the big one. The backline is magnificent and has depth with Egan, Callan and Spencer putting pressure on the likes of Hunt, Scarlett, Harley, Milburn to perform. The midfield seems to be getting better each year. They are workmanlike but may lack 1 classy on baller who can run the lines and kick goals on the run from 50. That person in my opinion should be Garry Ablett jnr. Take him away from the forward pocket where he gets tagged relentlessly and let him run on the ball for most of the game. That leaves the problem area, the forward line. Once again we have been eliminated from a finals series when we have dominated a game we should have won. The only reason we lost because we did not have a person in the forward line who knew how to present and convert. Kent Kingsley had a good year but will never win you anything, however he should be a half forward flanker, not a key position player. Charlie Gardiner is a battler and looks like he will give away a free kick every time he contests the ball, Henry ( I think I have covered this area many times) is no good. If we sit back and think we can improve next year we are wrong. We need to change the forward structure so we don't walk out of the ground after another finals loss saying "only if we had a decent forward who could take a mark and kick a goal when needed.

The solution.

I would trade Henry Playfair and Shannon Byrnes for Lance Whitnall

If Bartel wants to leave (which I hope he doesn't) I would demand Polak or Tarrant at the very least.

Must keep our draft pick 15 and start bringing in some young onballers.


Imagine a forward line of Whitnall Ottens and Tarrant (maybe). Its got to be better than what we have at the moment. And it is achievable, but somebody has to make a tough decision and not sit back and think we are nearly there. How dissapointing will it be in ten years time and say, How didn't we win a flag with Kelly Ablett Bartel Ling Tenace S Johnson. All we needed was some decent forwards to convert.

 

[patdman]

The solution.

I would trade Henry Playfair and Shannon Byrnes for Lance Whitnall

If Bartel wants to leave (which I hope he doesn't) I would demand Polak or Tarrant at the very least.

Can't see these trades going past the 'rumor' phase
I see what you're saying, but those suggested trades wouldn't happen.
Carlton don't need (or want) Henry, they have Fev & Waite.
Freo don't need a midfielder, they just need a clue
Now Collingwood...there's a team that doesn't mind crazy trades...but Tarrant...no thanks.

Besides, what's wrong with Ottens, Nabbles, Kent, SJ?
I think Friday night showed us just how valuable Ottens had been for us all year...remember, Ottens & Nabbles haven't played in the same fwd line yet!

 

[cats2rise]

Whitnall, no thanks. Id take fevola OR Tarrent over Whitnall anyday, and i dont want Tarrant, he is more of a flanker like KK.

And as for your 'young on-baller' remark, there are huge raps on Brent Prissmal and im sure her could be the man we are looking for. Ive also heard of a guy in the draft called Varcoe (not sure) and i think he would be someone to go for as he is a very pacy, silky player who can kick goals. But people say he will get snapped up quickly.

Kinglsy Playfair SJ
N.A Ottens GAJ

WHats wrong with that? Throw in Chappy and we are laughing i rekon. We could do with a 'decent' full forward but we dont need one IMHO if it cam down to it. All we need for next year is Kingsly to kick his 50 goals, Ottens 30 (more than capable) with SJ, Ablett and Chappy to kick around the 25 goal mark. Playfair just needs to make a contest which he does.

Our forwardline will gel together better next year with Otto uninjured and playfair learning more about the CHF position.

Frankly, i dont think we HAVE to do a big trade, i think we COULD do fine without it

 

[Dinga_19]

Back on the subject scratcher neale's son will be coming through in a year or two's draft. i think he is 16 maybe 17 and is ment to be a gun.

 

[tusk]

Kinglsy Playfair SJ
N.A Ottens GAJ

You have to put Ottens in the square. He is to slow for CHF and is better used in a 1 out body on body situation.

 

[fpm84]

Agreed. In all the games we lost this year it was due to lack of scoring options (not backline not performing, midfield not creating opportunities etc). Even Friday night's game is an example of this - it wasn't Davis that won them the game, it was us missing easy shots that should have seen us 5 or 6 goals up at 3/4 time, instead of 3.

But those 6 players listed have never taken to the field at the same time. When they do - and as you mentioned, we need Kingsley to have a 50+ goal season like he did this year as well as Ottens, N. Ablett, G. Ablett, Riccardi, S. Johnson and Playfair to kick 20+ each (all more than capable). That's enough to kick a winning score on a regular basis.

Don't forget that Chappy, Ling, Bartel, Kingy, Kelly and Moons are all proven goalkickers, all whom would return 20-odd goals a year given they stay largely injury-free.

 

[G_Money]

I would trade Henry Playfair and Shannon Byrnes for Lance Whitnall

If Bartel wants to leave (which I hope he doesn't) I would demand Polak or Tarrant at the very least.

Must keep our draft pick 15 and start bringing in some young onballers.


Imagine a forward line of Whitnall Ottens and Tarrant (maybe). Its got to be better than what we have at the moment. And it is achievable, but somebody has to make a tough decision and not sit back and think we are nearly there. How dissapointing will it be in ten years time and say, How didn't we win a flag with Kelly Ablett Bartel Ling Tenace S Johnson. All we needed was some decent forwards to convert.

Jack,

We know you don't rate Henry.

And we know you love putting words in people's mouths (i.e. according to you anyone who doesn't agree with you thinks that Henry will be a star).

And we know you think that Chris '2.2 goals per game' Tarrant would be a great asset.

And we know that Footy Show Fevola would give us the 'real target' that we need.

We know all that. It's your opinion, and I don't agree, but you can hold it, state it and repeat it ad infinitum. Robert Walls agrees with you, I'm sure. that must give you some comfort.

What I don't know (and I suspect you don't know) is how we would fit those two players (Tarrant and Fevola) in our salary cap. Or even one of them.

While we can't fit them in our salary cap, they are not coming to us.

Do you think that we can fit Tarrant and/or Fevola in our salary cap? If so, then your proposed trades have as much merit as the 99% of the fantasy trades that get posted on BF. If not, could you just drop it? It ain't gonna happen.

GM

 

[G_Money]

Agreed. In all the games we lost this year it was due to lack of scoring options (not backline not performing, midfield not creating opportunities etc). Even Friday night's game is an example of this - it wasn't Davis that won them the game, it was us missing easy shots that should have seen us 5 or 6 goals up at 3/4 time, instead of 3.

They kicked 7.14, we kicked 7.11. Both sides were inaccurate. Henry, Gazza, Dash and Kingy should have goaled from set shots, and didn't. It was a discipline thing (for H, Dash and Kingy laying off when they should have taken the shot), and just a poor kick from Gazza.

O'Keefe missed a monty, O'Loughlin dropped a chest mark in fromt of goal.

 

[Jack-Packenham]

If Henry is on 200k and Byrnes is on 150k give Lance 350k . Gee that was hard to figure out.

If Bartel wants 300k plus and Tarrant is on 350k , put together with Sando retiring, Rahilly and maybe Riccardi, there must be some money about.

I know I didn't go to uni but maths couldn't have changed that much could it.

 

[royboy42]

I was a roys barracker for all my life till they were kicked out and living in syd, took up with the swans...so with the fitzroy background i know what it's like to feel gutted...BUT you guys have posted so many positive messages on the swans site that i have to congratulate you (and yr team) on being a class act! Good luck for 06 and beyond

 

[Jack-Packenham]

Put it simply

Without a new key forward we will be competitive but fall short AGAIN

We will be talking about exactly the same thing as we have the last 2 years.
The Ottens plan would have worked if Graham had stayed but he didn't.