How lucky are we?

[STC]

I'm sure we all ask ourselves the question from time to time, but do we truly appreciate how lucky we are to see such a brilliant team play entertaining footy week in, week out for the last four years now?

2 out of 3 flags will hopefully become 3 out of 4, and if it does we can rightly lay claim to being the greatest team of the modern era without question. Considering we did it under the current draft/trading/salary cap era with no concessions, bottoming out or priority picks, it makes it even more incredible.

Even if we don't win a third flag (and that would be a great shame), we have achieved all there is to achieve, and we've done it without boring, negative zoning/flooding. It's a testament to the boys that they are such a tight knit outfit that no single individual loss can derail them. They play as a team and they lift each other - like I always say, it is not a bad thing that most of these guys would look poorer at another club - it's a good thing because it shows that everyone in the team plays as a team and fills their role.

It's all been said before many times, but you've just got to sit back sometimes and appreciate what we're seeing. It's too easy to take it for granted, after all. After 44 years of frustration and heartbreak, the Geelong Football Club have paid us back in spades!

So as we head into a week without football, I'm sure we'll all be firing up the recorded games and enjoying ourselves ahead of another big game. Go Cats!

 

[mcwilrob]

I'm sure we all ask ourselves the question from time to time, but do we truly appreciate how lucky we are to see such a brilliant team play entertaining footy week in, week out for the last four years now?

2 out of 3 flags will hopefully become 3 out of 4, and if it does we can rightly lay claim to being the greatest team of the modern era without question. Considering we did it under the current draft/trading/salary cap era with no concessions, bottoming out or priority picks, it makes it even more incredible.

Even if we don't win a third flag (and that would be a great shame), we have achieved all there is to achieve, and we've done it without boring, negative zoning/flooding. It's a testament to the boys that they are such a tight knit outfit that no single individual loss can derail them. They play as a team and they lift each other - like I always say, it is not a bad thing that most of these guys would look poorer at another club - it's a good thing because it shows that everyone in the team plays as a team and fills their role.

It's all been said before many times, but you've just got to sit back sometimes and appreciate what we're seeing. It's too easy to take it for granted, after all. After 44 years of frustration and heartbreak, the Geelong Football Club have paid us back in spades!

So as we head into a week without football, I'm sure we'll all be firing up the recorded games and enjoying ourselves ahead of another big game. Go Cats!

Hear, hear!! Well said... Gonna be sad when we (inevitably) fall "back to the pack" (or even further...)

 

[Bangkok Ed]

My dad was the PR manager for Alcoa in the dastardly days when Harry Butler was enlisted to schill for the chopping down of Jarrah trees in the SW of WA. Although this was unhappy period for Harry's reputation, beard, bush hat, and my old man's peace of mind, one thing I remember from that period was the "Alcoa backs the Cats" flags at Kardinia. Years later, in the 90s, thanks to my press pass, I watched the Catters get repeatedly flogged at the G on the big old day. In '92 it was my old classmates Tony Evans and Lewie rubbing it in, in '94 I ducked out to the car parks at quarter time, did some welding with an Addy photographer, and never returned, then left Oz for Thailand. Hadn't watched the bhoys for ages, then got taken to the Bangkok Sheraton in '07 with a Weagles fan and got carried out at the same time as John Elliot. My Thai wife has a mild sexual obsession with the Tomahawk, so she has watched every game with me since then. In her wisdom, she knows --knows -- that we are the goods, even without that big promising (?) lug.

How good was GEE v ESS? Total certainty. I just sat there on the couch knowing that I was going to see something more special than the usual. And it was, wasn't it? Whispy-chins, savor it. This is the greatest footy team ever. Yeah.

 

[krisholio14]

Hear, hear!! Well said... Gonna be sad when we (inevitably) fall "back to the pack" (or even further...)

Not in my lifetime we won't

 

[SJ]

As YOTC said to me yesterday it is phenomenal that Geelong is setting multiple streak records in an age of a draft and a salary cap. That doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.

 

[PatrickBateman]

As YOTC said to me yesterday it is phenomenal that Geelong is setting multiple streak records in an age of a draft and a salary cap. That doesn't happen anywhere else in the world.

Yes. Incredibly high likelihood that whatever records Geelong are setting during this dynasty will never get beaten.

The AFLs primary responsibility is to foster an even competition. It is not good business otherwise. Geelong dominating is uninteresting to anyone but Geelong supporters and by the AFL's definition, is not be good for the game in general.

 

[oozeboss]

The AFLs primary responsibility is to foster an even competition. It is not good business otherwise. Geelong dominating is uninteresting to anyone but Geelong supporters and by the AFL's definition, is not be good for the game in general.

In terms of cold logic & conventional wisdom, your call is spot on.

However, I've just been reading through a bunch of other threads here-abouts, and there are numerous supporters of other clubs who make a point of catching every Cats' game that they can, because of the quality of the footy. They don't care about results - it's the style of play which is firing up their passion & enthusiasm.

I think that it would have been far more deleterious to the AFL to have had the (old) Sydney style of play being what it took to win games. Ditto Adelaide's predilection for flooding, Clarko's Cluster, St Kilda's manic zones & all the other bland and boring tactics predicated about primarily preventing the opposition scoring.

Geelong instigated an attacking brand of footy in 2007, knowing full well that turnovers would hurt us. The emphasis of vision, initiative, and sheer speed & flair of ball and player movement has transformed the game from a bore-fest into a literally breath-taking spectacle (and Karmichael Hunt, rugby league & rugby union fit as he was, was unable to match the fitness levels required for VFL last weekend, let alone the bigs).

The Geelong style of play is now being emulated most obviously by Essendon & Melbourne, and it's no surprise that these two are being hyped up as the Next Big Things. And if attacking flair and unparalleled athleticism are set to become the norm, then the game as a whole will assume a position of unprecedented dominance in the Australian sporting lexicon. Then, and only then, will we get some sense of parity.

(Thanks Bomba.)

 

[Mooney_d'King]

Great posts!

Riding the wave

Check out my join date - I joined this forum because I needed therapy. Now I don't have much to say!!

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

I have been following the Hoops for over 50 years , and whilst my optimistic nature has always found positives through the ups and downs, the ride since the 2007 Season has been euphoric.
Just bursting with pride and admiration for the way the whole Club goes about its' business these days - we are class all the way from the boot studders to the CEO.
I recall from other posts that we are heading for the most successful 100 games ever - if we can do this it will be such a fitting tribute to a truly marvellous , unparalled Team.

 

[Waverley73]

I recall from other posts that we are heading for the most successful 100 games ever

I'd be very interested in seeing what the existing record (also who and when) is and how we are tracking. Where did you see the post on this mate?

 

[SJ]

I'd be very interested in seeing what the existing record (also who and when) is and how we are tracking. Where did you see the post on this mate?

http://www.rogersresults.110mb.com/Rogers_Results/Tables/Best_Worst_Sequence/Best100.htm

 

[barmy44]

I'd be very interested in seeing what the existing record (also who and when) is and how we are tracking. Where did you see the post on this mate?

right here, buddy. also check out the 10, 25, 50, and 75 game records. very satisfying reading

http://www.rogersresults.110mb.com/Rogers_Results/Tables/Best_Worst_Sequence/Best100.htm

edit: beat me to it, SJ...

 

[barmy44]

i also believe if we win our next 4 matches, we will then be either second over 100 games, behind on % only, or if theyre thumpings, potentially first...

 

[Waverley73]

Thanks for the link guys. Wow - we're already 3rd on the list and the start of the 100 games is during our shizenhousen 2006.

 

[Catsace]

Thanks for the link guys. Wow - we're already 3rd on the list and the start of the 100 games is during our shizenhousen 2006.

We are now commencing from Round 10 2006, which was the ghastly loss to the Weagles, from which we were 3-7 for the year. Geelong lose games in 2006 in Rd 13 to the Crows, then Rd's 17 & 18, then Round 22 to Dawkthorn. So we need to lose no more than two games from here on in until we reach 100 to break that record....although losing 3 of 5 in 2007 to start with gives us some more breathing room.

In short if we play like we are now, it should be something we can pull off.

Back to the O.P, and as a Cats fan since the late 70's, i am certainly believing that this is as close to football heaven as there can be. We are playing a sublime style of footy, that has commentators and even opposition fans applauding us. We as a side are quite fair and fairy humble and no-fuss as far as any perception of arrogance goes, and we have experienced just nine defeats since Rd 5 2007. That is just remarkable, and whoever could have dreamed that what we have now could be spawned from the tribulations of 2006 and early 2007?!

This ride is certainly something all Cat fans should enjoy, take in and savour, as when in all likelihood sometime in the future it comes to an end, we will have seen an era that few would ever see for their side, and as a Cats fan, few would ever have dared to believe could ever happen. True kudos for everyone at Geelong for making this dream a reality!!

 

[g33long 4eva]

Not in my lifetime we won't

I hope that you are young and healthy!

 

[STC]

I felt lucky again tonight. What an all-round brilliant performance! Let's hope we can keep it up and bring home some more silverware!

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Agree wholeheartedly with all posts in this thread. I love how we've managed to stay up the top despite the cap, and I have no doubt some of the records we are setting won't be beaten. Would love another flag, but even if not, feel honoured to be a Geelong member and a part of the journey. Love how when we get it going, like tonight, we play such bold, attacking, faith in each other, breathtaking footy. And supporters of other clubs love it too, I went tonight with a good friend who's a longtime sydney supporter, who had no interest in this game beyond laughing everytime I screamed JPOD, but he agreed too that we play breathtaking joyous footy.

 

[Beth]

I have to keep reminding myself what the 80's and 90's were like every time I get cranky with the boys over a loss or heck even a turnover! We are extremely privileged to be living in this era. If we don't win this year I don't think it will hurt quite as much as it has in the past and for that I love these guys!!

 

[YIIIABLETTT]

I know a weeks a long time in football, But wow has the mood changed on this board from last week.

 

[TheTimeCometh]

the flip-floppin that goes on in this board puts the terd-sandwiches & giant douches on offer this satdee to shame.

 

[darren forssman]

the flip-floppin that goes on in this board puts the terd-sandwiches & giant douches on offer this satdee to shame.

is this an example of senator conroy filtering?

you cant type terd but shit is okay.

 

[TheTimeCometh]

oh, but won't someone PLEASE stop the boats!!!!


...sorry, am havin flashbacks to that girls return to sydney harbour.

 

[Beth]

oh, but won't someone PLEASE stop the boats!!!!


...sorry, am havin flashbacks to that girls return to sydney harbour.

I thought initially it was "rock the boats" and I was all ready to get my groove on...I was wrong

 

[RegHickeyStand]

I'm sure we all ask ourselves the question from time to time, but do we truly appreciate how lucky we are to see such a brilliant team play entertaining footy week in, week out for the last four years now?

2 out of 3 flags will hopefully become 3 out of 4, and if it does we can rightly lay claim to being the greatest team of the modern era without question.

Totally.

And enjoy while you can.

I'm 54, and I have never seen it before. You have to go back to 51-52 to see another great team from Geelong. In the 60's we had a potentially great team but only one flag.

This is a better team than Brisbane. Brisbane was a great team, but they never ran up against anything like St Kilda like we did last year. That was the ultimate test. Winning 80 odd games out of 90 is unheard of. Playing at that level with so much ridiculous skill, I've never seen anything like it in my time supporting the club and following aussie rules. From any team.

It won't last forever. They say that we can quickly build another great side. If we are lucky, I think. Not impossible, but history says no.

My earliest memory of supporting Geelong was listening to it on the radio of a Saturday arvo and Dad smoking his Champion Ruby and occasionally slamming his fist on the armchair and declaring we were getting robbed by the umpires. How he could tell we were getting robbed by the umpires from listening to the radio has always been a mystery to me. I remember when he took me to my first game at Moorabin and we were in a qeue waiting to get inside. The game had already started and we could hear great cheers going up inside. I said maybe (hopefully) Doug Wade must be kicking goals, and Dad said "This is Moorabin, and when they are cheering like that its more like St Kilda's kicking the goals." Unfortunately he was right. lol We were shiite back then.

So, suck it up while you can.