How times have changed

[Air Conveyance]

In 1995 I was sure we were going to win the GF. We'd battered the dogs and the tiges, so we were in form and relatively fresh. The blues had had a much tougher finals series, just getting over the Bears and then beating North. During the season, the Blues had just beaten us by 3 at OO, so we matched up well on the blues. Add to that 3 GF appearances in 6 years and the pain of those losses. Surely by now we knew what it would take to win that elusive flag. Surely we would finally salute. I was so confident that this was finally our turn.

Of course, instead, we played like it was our 1st GF in years and got walloped. I couldn't believe we'd managed to do it again.

16 years on and its a similar situation. The pies have had 2 tough finals while we have been comfortable in both our wins. We won the tight one against them during the year. We match up well with them. And we have lots of Grand Final experience.

But there is no comparison is there? In 95, our faith was totally misplaced, there was always that doubt there.
In 2011 the faith is justified. This team knows exactly what is required to win the big one and is hungry for success. We can feel confident, and not have that nagging doubt anymore. How times have changed - so much for the better!

 

[Grizzly_82]

I still have the nagging doubts in every GF due to the pain of growin up watching the 90's GF's.

I'm very worried that tge pies will get up and the abuse that'll follow from their filthy supporters after swing how overboard they went with the Saints.

One thing I've been proud about is how we have remained humbled and gave not reacted like they do after our GF wins.

 

[Pollywaffle]

If my memory serves me correctly weren't Carlton a team of ageing champions who had something to prove?
Sound familiar?


( plus we had gary Ayres as coach )

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

the 95 grand final was the worst ever highlight for me as a Geelong supporter. Was young at the time but was also quite confident going into that one and watched the game at our friends house who were mad Carlton fans.
I can't even remember many occasions when the ball went into forward line and we were totally beaten after the 1st 15 minutes of that game. Very sad way for the club to finish but they didn't fold like some have in the past and they came back and had a pretty good season in 1996 and played finals yet again.

Most would say 1992 was our best shot at winning that flag in that era but the 1997 season was a great one as some of our young players matured into potential stars of the game, Snell, Oysters, Riccardi, Graham, Burns and of course Colbert who was starting to dominate matches at either end of the ground. We had one of the games best emerging ruckman in King and we were basically robbed against Adelaide in that semi-final

To now see the club where it is today is a true testament to past players who stayed with the club and the incredible drive the current crop have to achieve immortality. We are only supporters of these men who run around but you have to sometimes scratch your head and think how lucky we are to have this great club bring so much happiness to us all.
Some teams have waited 40 or more years to even get a shot at winning one and most teams will wait another 20 or more years before tasting it.

 

[witsend]

If my memory serves me correctly weren't Carlton a team of ageing champions who had something to prove?
Sound familiar?


( plus we had gary Ayres as coach )

I remember going through the footy record playing list of Carlton and had spent their cap after about 10 players. Knew we were ****ed right then. Plus I'll never forgive SOS et al for inventing the arm around the chest "scragging" "cheating" defence plan.
But in 89, 92, 94 and '95 we were the 2nd best side imo.
Not any more!

 

[Partridge]

I remember going through the footy record playing list of Carlton and had spent their cap after about 10 players. Knew we were ****ed right then. Plus I'll never forgive SOS et al for inventing the arm around the chest "scragging" "cheating" defence plan.
But in 89, 92, 94 and '95 we were the 2nd best side imo.
Not any more!

Doesn't matter if we were 2nd during the season. That didn't seem to stop Hawthorn in 2008. Grand Finals are there to win. There is no other purpose.

We'd still have to be classified 2nd best this year. Collingwood did finish a game ahead and had a higher percentage.

 

[Partridge]

But there is no comparison is there? In 95, our faith was totally misplaced, there was always that doubt there.
In 2011 the faith is justified. This team knows exactly what is required to win the big one and is hungry for success. We can feel confident, and not have that nagging doubt anymore. How times have changed - so much for the better!

In 1995 we finished 2nd and were facing the top side who had only lost 2 games during the season. Same as this week.

 

[fpm84]

In 1995 we finished 2nd and were facing the top side who had only lost 2 games during the season. Same as this week.

Same as 2009.

 

[Turbocat]

Of course, instead, we played like it was our 1st GF in years and got walloped. I couldn't believe we'd managed to do it again.

Remember this song?

And can you tell me Doctor why I still can't get to sleep?
And why the Channel 7 chopper chills me to my feet?
And what's this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means?
God help me, I was only 19.

This is what I had in my mind sitting there in 95. After the close but gallant effort in 89. Then 02 , probably the game that was the realistic chance that slipped thru our hands. Then 94 where we were swamped after a finals series that was built on close escapes. The result was a side who had built a history of failure. The players were carrying mental scars.

So when the Blues start wack on the goals and we were fumbling and making mistakes , too me too many looked like had played the game before the day , they feared the result going bad again , they were "hearing Helicopters and it was chilling it to their feet". I don’t think we played it like our first GF , infact we played it like it was another chance to fail because of our history.

Skip forward to this era. How much more talented, how much better preparation , how much just plain dumb luck?

Certainly after 04 , I thought we were primed , then 05 and Nick Bloody Davis we went a long way to starting that cycle again, imo. Then the season from hell in 06 and i was worried. Were we going to waste yet another group?

But 07 changed it. 08 didn't break us in hardened us. 09 showed this hardness. The group built a legacy of success. It knew how to handle duress. Just put our old club in the 2010 situation and we would have crumbled , but not this group , they saw challenge.

I hope we win this week. I hope it falls our way. Certainly its more important for us in our time cycle than them. 3 Flags would be affirmation of greatness , which I think is due to them.. and to us. But if we don't it wont be due a mental flaw like in times of the past.

 

[Air Conveyance]

I don’t think we played it like our first GF , infact we played it like it was another chance to fail because of our history.

Thats a very good point. Either way you look at it though, it was the biggest disappointment of a GF of all for me.

 

[catswhiskers]

That 95 Carlton side was very strong. Built on a brown paper bag cash flow.

They got pinged for this and are just recovering.

Geelong was working its way toward basket case status (off field) all on its own.

The late naughties have been a wonderful balm. Lets hope for more this year.

 

[Just do something]

That 95 Carlton side was very strong. Built on a brown paper bag cash flow.

They got pinged for this and are just recovering.

Geelong was working its way toward basket case status (off field) all on its own.

The late naughties have been a wonderful balm. Lets hope for more this year.

it was a weird Grand Final 95 for me. I went to the game expecting to win as we had some great form but we all know ho it panned out. Also i had a great mate playing for Carlton that day Brad Pearce so i had strange emotions, shattered we lost but rapped that he got a premiership medal.

 

[witsend]

Doesn't matter if we were 2nd during the season. That didn't seem to stop Hawthorn in 2008. Grand Finals are there to win. There is no other purpose.

We'd still have to be classified 2nd best this year. Collingwood did finish a game ahead and had a higher percentage.

Just cos you finished 2nd doesn't mean you're 2nd best.
I'm saying that imo we were basically inferior to the eventual Premiers, and the results showed it.
Look at 2008. We were the best "performed" team through the year, but the best team at winning a GF was Hawthorn, and their form in September was better than ours. Much the same could be said in2009. Saints were the "top" team but we timed our run perfectly. That is why I am so bullish this year.
I've said all year that we were easily a Top 4 side based on the talent we have and the fact that as long as we introduced 3 kids to our finals team we'd be fresh enough. We learned from 08 that as long as you're top 4 you need to peak at the end.
I agree that Collingwood were seen as "best" prior to Rd 24 but you could see the wheels wobbling prior to that.
Their press has been worked out and nullified by all but the weaker teams, the mental and physical strain of playing such a high intensity game plan is starting to show, and as I have always asserted, without that plan working, man to man, they are NOT the most talented team in the AFL.

 

[witsend]

In 1995 we finished 2nd and were facing the top side who had only lost 2 games during the season. Same as this week.

Except we hadn't beaten Carlton twice. Also Carlton weren't showing signs of significant wear and tear to key players.
Don't underestimate the fact that it took us half a season to work out our new coach and game plan. That was something Collingwood didn't have to do.

 

[Partridge]

Except we hadn't beaten Carlton twice. Also Carlton weren't showing signs of significant wear and tear to key players.
Don't underestimate the fact that it took us half a season to work out our new coach and game plan. That was something Collingwood didn't have to do.

Good points about not beating Carlton twice, very valid. I still think though Collingwood won't be as poor again. Thomas and Shaw for starters will all be much better for the run. Not sure a heavy track favours us as it's less easy to run them off their feet as it would be on a dry day.

Too tough to call.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

1995 definitely leaves some psychological Scars . 1994 we were beaten by more -but were playing a state side and from memory we finished 6th or 7th and had to win final H and A game to make finals -so 1994 im not worried about at all

But 1995 was an absolute nightmare -ill never forget Kernahan straight after the game when players let their guard down and say what they actually really mean-he said -We thought if we kept the pressure on Geelong -there was a good chance they would Buckle. That was galling to take at the time -but lets be honest -that was Geelong to a tee pre 2007

Is there any relevance of 1995 to 2011 . The 1995 side had some very ordinary players talent wise-Mensch and Handley wouldnt get in our top 35 at present . Plus 1995 side had some mentally weak players Brownless and Ricardi to name 2 . Also Gary Hocking as good as he was had a deplorable individual playing record on GF day -only he could tell you why that happened

For mine the only hint of a 1995 gf performance from this current team -is lasts years PF performance against the same team we play on Saturday -that has to leave us a bit edgy

Thats why Saturday is a big day for the Football Club-we win and win well-then 1995 performance is nearly totally buried.

 

[Dxmxgxd]

You guys are almost as bad the faithful on the Collingwood board! Historical stats from 16 odd years ago don't mean anything!

Just like last year how everyone said in the last 8 years the team who had previously lost the last encounter between the 2 sides went on to beat them in the Grand Final. It's only coincidental stats and facts.

You guys should win in a canter, you can speculate all you want about the past but at the end of the day when it comes down to it this is just another match of footy.