Prediction How Will The Cats Fare in 2025?

[patience]

Jack Bowes could be Eden Monaro.

Antony Green is stepping down. He used a football analogy when talking about knowing when its time to go.

 

[catempire]

Antony Green is stepping down. He used a football analogy when talking about knowing when its time to go.

He likes playing the big matches (election night) but preseason gets harder and harder. Or something like that.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Ruck / mids still on life support, the most likely ways that we could have improved in that area heading into this season all look shaky already.... Equal to any midfield last half of last season and we were a Holmes non-injury away from probably winning flag and now we add Bailey Smith and have Toby Conway who will be in the top 3 ruck's in comp in time available in 2nd half of year, plus Danger will play 75% to 80% on-ball, NOT forward like last night.

Conway, out for half the season.... club currently signing Toby with two year extension on contract coz unlike some here on Geelong BigFooty, the club hierarchy are diligently aware of how important he will be to our side once he is back and firing.

Smith, other knee blew up after one game.... NO it did NOT blow up after one game but rather with a session of pilates of all things and will be definitely available by all reports for Brisbane game next Thursday night.

Bruhn, hit that 50-100 game mark where players can really kick on, interrupted pre season & currently injured.... has an injured index finger which can happen to any player that may also need surgery but he'll be back sooner rather than later and it was clear even with last night's practice game against Bombers how important Tanner Bruhn is to our midfield thru his clearance work and all-round toughness, which for a young player finding his feet is great to see.

Cuthrie, interrupted pre season & currently injured, any glimmer of hope of getting anything out of him looks gone now.... no doubt it's going to be a battle for Cam to get right but no one had Cam featuring in our side preseason because of those concerns and anything positive that can possibly come out of the 2nd half of year will be a welcome surprise and bonus but 'we all' wish him well and the best of luck.

I, unlike you Hamingja: do see Geelong's 2025 prospects very differently, with all my life being an extra positive person in a 'realistic manner'..... seeing a glass half-full rather than half-empty when 'it's justified' which has been extra fruitful and rewarding being this way and I sure hope the Geelong players and coaching staff have the same positive approach towards the 2025 season, rather than your surprisingly negative approach..... coz they have many very good reasons to think and feel this way.

 

[Cataholic]

I, unlike you Hamingja: do see Geelong's 2025 prospects very differently, with all my life being an extra positive person in a 'realistic manner'..... seeing a glass half-full rather than half-empty when 'it's justified' which has been extra fruitful and rewarding being this way and I sure hope the Geelong players and coaching staff have the same positive approach towards the 2025 season, rather than your surprisingly negative approach..... coz they have many very good reasons to think and feel this way.

I think what Hamingja is trying to say is that our 2025 prospects have been hampered by the issues they listed.

Club, coach, players and supporters are all still positive, but it's going to be just that little harder now.

There's a lot of dependence on SDK and Blitz in the ruck as we essentially have no-one else, and the loss of Cuthrie and Bruhn hurts our midfield.

It's a fair assessment I reckon.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

I think what Hamingja is trying to say is that our 2025 prospects have been hampered by the issues they listed.

Club, coach, players and supporters are all still positive, but it's going to be just that little harder now.

There's a lot of dependence on SDK and Blitz in the ruck as we essentially have no-one else, and the loss of Cuthrie and Bruhn hurts our midfield.

It's a fair assessment I reckon.

AFL is a marathon and all clubs at different intervals are going to have their issues and short comings but for someone positive like me, I just seen his post as unnecessarily negative and I responded accordingly. Coz since last night there has been so much unjustified and panic negative posts here at Geelong BigFooty, some avid Cat supporters really do need to see the bigger picture which thankfully for us Chris Scott and the boys are great at doing.... thanks btw for concern and imput!

 

[Cataholic]

AFL is a marathon and all clubs at different intervals are going to have their issues and short comings but for someone positive like me, I just seen his post as unnecessarily negative and I responded accordingly. Coz since last night there has been so much unjustified and panic negative posts here at Geelong BigFooty, some avid Cat supporters really do need to see the bigger picture which thankfully for us Chris Scott and the boys are great at doing.... thanks btw for concern and imput!

For sure......every season brings all sorts of twists, turns and fortunes to every club, and every club simply has to deal with it.

We're no different.

But it is natural for supporters to look at our prospects in isolation at times, and in that context, our ruck / MF worries do have the potential to impact our chances.

Then again, how our worries play out vs those of other clubs is part of the fun, and the season's journey.

 

[smotherking]

I am more confident going into the season than the last.

I see growth from many of the younger brigade (Holmes, O.Henry, Bruhn, Dempsey etc) whilst still seeing some of those key performers hit their usual heights or thereabouts (Cameron, Stewart, Danger).

Fairly confident in the forward and back lines but the biggest question mark is the midfield and hopefully that’s where natural growth and the addition of Smith can help.

I’m looking forward to the teams ability to move the ball with speed and getting down to more games than I did last year!

You just can’t write the cats off

 

[Mr Meow]

I think what Hamingja is trying to say is that our 2025 prospects have been hampered by the issues they listed.

Club, coach, players and supporters are all still positive, but it's going to be just that little harder now.

There's a lot of dependence on SDK and Blitz in the ruck as we essentially have no-one else, and the loss of Cuthrie and Bruhn hurts our midfield.

It's a fair assessment I reckon.

Cuthrie! We must be in 2022.

 

[Cataholic]

Cuthrie! We must be in 2022.

Well, there were hopes of his resurrection this year but alas, it appears it's not to be.

 

[Mr Meow]

Well, there were hopes of his resurrection this year but alas, it appears it's not to be.

Even if fit, I could only see him replacing Duncan at half back in a sweeper role. His last strong game in midfield was in 2022.

We need the likes of Bowes, Bruhn, Smith and Holmes to have good, consistent (career best) years. There are question marks on durability or form with a couple of those. But that's where I see our midfield prospects being determined. We know about what to expect from the rest.

 

[And_ROOS]

The only preseason result that would have me concerned for the season ahead would be if we got battered in a game by Richmond, who are going to be everyones percentage booster this season.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Still too 4 and premiership contender if injuries luck fall our way.

 

[Vdubs]

Even if fit, I could only see him replacing Duncan at half back in a sweeper role. His last strong game in midfield was in 2022.

We need the likes of Bowes, Bruhn, Smith and Holmes to have good, consistent (career best) years. There are question marks on durability or form with a couple of those. But that's where I see our midfield prospects being determined. We know about what to expect from the rest.

Any chance we see Humphries play as a mid?

And Miers? - Stokes ended up with a fair amount of MF time. Not sure they are similar.

Mullin? Poor last night as a BP.

 

[And_ROOS]

Any chance we see Humphries play as a mid?

And Miers? - Stokes ended up with a fair amount of MF time. Not sure they are similar.

Mullin? Poor last night as a BP.

I don't think Humphries has the body size to play mid, but off HBF he is free to roam up the field and last year/against the Bombers from what I saw he did.

Miers could play midfield, im sure at times he will rotate in there, but then again the coaches have him at HFF and have him roam up the field as he sees fit. Would love if they had a heat map for the Essendon game he was up on the wings and middle of the field a fair bit.

 

[Mr Meow]

Any chance we see Humphries play as a mid?

And Miers? - Stokes ended up with a fair amount of MF time. Not sure they are similar.

Mullin? Poor last night as a BP.

The next poster sort of answered what my thoughts are.

I see Humphries and Miers as midfield support rather than actual midfielder rotations. They strengthen the plays we generate when we do win it at the coal face, but likely won't be those in and under players themselves. Mannagh is another one. Potentially he will end up at more stoppages as he has a slightly more contested element to his game.

 

[And_ROOS]

The next poster sort of answered what my thoughts are.

I see Humphries and Miers as midfield support rather than actual midfielder rotations. They strengthen the plays we generate when we do win it at the coal face, but likely won't be those in and under players themselves. Mannagh is another one. Potentially he will end up at more stoppages as he has a slightly more contested element to his game.

In open play Miers is up the field and in midfield spaces all the time. I just don't know if he has the tools to be at centre bounces. Right now his best attributes are his dink kicks and grass cutters that never really go more than 30m, and his wicked endurance.
Are they skills we need at a CB?

 

[The rabbi]

Underrated is Blight isn't he?
I have spoken to many people who have watched the game all their lives and he often gets mentioned as one of the best ever.
In some ways, not too dissimilar to Mo Salah for Liverpool. Underappreciated when it comes to the world scene.

I always thought that he was a fantastic player.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Our start is difficult, but if we can get through the first half of the season with a decent w/l ratio and a reasonably healthy list we have a soft draw on the way home.

• We have Richmond x 2
• North
• Essendon at home
• Saints at home (yes they beat us last time but that's at Marvel where they're a much better team at)
• Port although it's at KP, we lost to them their last year, can easily be a win this time though.

We only have 2 real loseable games.

• Swans at SCG
• GWS in NSW

Could easily be 6 wins from our last 8 and could allow us to secure a top 4 spot if our first half of the season was good.

Just gotta start well.

 

[Mr Meow]

Our start is difficult, but if we can get through the first half of the season with a decent w/l ratio and a reasonably healthy list we have a soft draw on the way home.

• We have Richmond x 2
• North
• Essendon at home
• Saints at home (yes they beat us last time but that's out Marvel where they're a much better team at)
• Port although it's at KP, we lost to them their last year, can easily be a win this time though.

We only have 2 real loseable games.

• Swans at SCG
• GWS in NSW

Could easily be 6 wins from out last 8 and could allow us to secure a top 4 spot if our first half of the season was good.

Just gotta start well.

I'm hoping (realistically) we can go 10-5 from the first 15 games we play. A strong finish from that easier run home would then have us knocking around top 4.

 

[strauchnyy]

The key players for us this year that we need to lift that 5-10% that move the dial for the team are:

SDK - if he returns to 2022 form. I mean, crashes packs, flies for marks, physical. It’s all mental for him. He needs to turn the corner from his facial injuries, mentally.

Bruhn - needs to up his output with his tog%. It must be fitness. He needs to get the ball two more times a quarter. He’s our clearance beast but he needs to be our Mr consistent. Our centre man we can rely on all game rather than a burst player. I think if he makes this leap he becomes a critical long term player, if he doesn’t, may as well delist.

Mullin - must become more confident and become more weighted towards an attacking player rather than mostly defensive. I feel in Ireland he was a superstar due to his attacking instincts, but he’s over cautious in AFL. I’d like to see him become our Wojcinski.

A gun inside mid, gun fb relief ruck and gun attacking fast back man move our dial, assuming everyone else remains consistent

 

[CHAWKTS]

So as we get closer to Opening Round, and post the practice games, I have been re-assessing my views…and again end up in same position…I am hopeful but really have no clue!

Coming into 2024 I was pessimistic about team success (based on 2023) but actually excited to see how our u25 players developed with a view to 2025 and 2026. I wasn’t unhappy about the prospect given my expectations were low from 2023.

But 2024 has increased my expectations and therefore the chance for me to be unhappy!

I think about it in a few ways.

1. Will our over 30s collectively fall off a cliff?

Can’t expect over 30s to drive the improvement but if they hold then that can support growth in the next two categories…

Losing 2E, Hawkins and Chucky frankly doesn’t hurt us that much given none were best 23 at the end (Hawkins may have been and maybe 2E should have been in front of Duncan -but all 3 were around the margin). Guthrie who knows but again contribution won’t be lower than 2024!

Danger is still a key for me to our premiership chances. Funny less important for top 4 (he needs others to help do that) but if we are thereabouts he can drive us at back end of season into finals. I don’t his output to be better but maybe he doesn’t need to drop off in the 15+ games he ends up playing?

Stewart needs to be as good as he has been. Not so much for defence (we are pretty good with Zach talking that role) but as a swing man to plug some gaps. Both he and Danger are key to not being beaten up in contests.

Cameron I think can stay at same (elite) level. No sign of drop off. And could improve - kicking for goal

Stanly and Duncan will need to be relegated to depth for us to be top 4. And think they will. Maybe even from the start. But Duncan wasn’t really best 22 at end of last year so no loss. Stanly will be a loss (funny enough) if SDK/Conway don’t improve. Bews in same category but we do need Mullin (or Atkins if squeezed out of MF) to improve and replace that role.

Kolo will turn 30 and I think could improve and certainly can’t see him going backwards

Blitz, based on his last few games in 2024 in defence and practice games, I think could actually improve output this year from last. Maybe can’t expect back his utility best but I am excited that he might not yet be done!

Jack Martin could be wildcard over 30 - I can see him “doing a Mannagh” for us in the back end of season. If so, our over 30s could actually be better for us in 2025

2. Will our 22 - 28 year old drive improvement in the club?

This is where you can get the biggest improvement as a collective. In 2024 we got it from continued and massive improvement in Zuthrie, Miers and Holmes, the addition of Mannagh in that age group and Ollie Henry and Stengle improving over 2023 with Close continuing his form.

We need every one of those to take another step forward - and they can.

This year I think we could also get great improvement in J Henry (best pre season for a while) and I think Shannon Neale also could take that next step of importance for us and contribute much more than 2023 (him and Hawkins combined). O Henry could be a 50+ goal player

Bowes might end up being key to our improvement. If he can do what he did last week consistently then all of a sudden we look much better. Obviously Smith is an improvement to our MF rotation too - and that should get better each game.

Dempsey and Humphries (who were last years break outs) could in my mind stagnate or even go backwards a little. If others improve that will be ok - we should be able to cover “second year blues (post break out)”. Of course they could also take that next level jump up - in which case I think we will definitely be better overall than 2023!

SDK. I love him…and I switch between being optimistic and pessimistic. I do not see any reason why he can’t go to next level like TDK has done. But remember TDK did it last year and is 2 years older…so maybe SDK isn’t quite at that stage to break out (again). If he does Cats will be much better

3. Break outs

So last year we have Mannagh (new) and Dempsey and Lawson (came from nowhere). In 2022 it was SDK (and maybe others?). I think we need another 2-3 players that become automatic best 23 through the year and by definition therefore upgrading the average.

We start with Smith as a no-brainer and could have (even though old) Martin if his body is right (but that is true bonus).

I think we NEED to have Knevitt build like Dempsey did last year. I am hoping he has that “break out game” early (opening round would be nice!) to build confidence in his place in the team and then he builds. Doesn’t have to be in the best every week but once a month maybe - and play the role for the rest.

Could the other come from Toby Conway? In the back end of the season. Unlikely but…. What about Ted? Clark? Maybe but then we would have 2 of those players in the MF and I think be too young at back end of the year?

I am not sure we really have that break out story this year (of course you don’t know until it happens!) so for us to be better we need the Over 30’s not to drop off (I am confident in that) as a collective but we must get improvement out of our 22-28yo, in particular out 24-28 yo.

I think we will when you go through it! Maybe we know more in 5 days time

Go Cats

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Our start is difficult, but if we can get through the first half of the season with a decent w/l ratio and a reasonably healthy list we have a soft draw on the way home.

• We have Richmond x 2
• North
• Essendon at home
• Saints at home (yes they beat us last time but that's out Marvel where they're a much better team at)
• Port although it's at KP, we lost to them their last year, can easily be a win this time though.

We only have 2 real loseable games.

• Swans at SCG
• GWS in NSW

Could easily be 6 wins from our last 8 and could allow us to secure a top 4 spot if our first half of the season was good.

Just gotta start well.

I agree which is why apart from tinkering with the ruck position (and that's largely forced as Conway is injured and Stanley cooked) I don't think we will be too creative with selection in the first month as we will want to bank wins. Guys like knevitt will come in but you won't see lots of really raw kids.

 

[Warhorse]

Midfield still a little light on. Sit 6th-10th imo

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Anyone seen this graph for ball movement from last season? Most of the other teams are all in a tight cluster but we're an outlier for moving the ball fast & direct. I reckon we'd have been in the bottom left quarter pre-2022. The ball movement in the praccy match - particularly the 1st half was look very sleek too, and that's probably when we look at our most dangerous.

Too old too slow ... ?

 

[CoolCat75]

So as we get closer to Opening Round, and post the practice games, I have been re-assessing my views…and again end up in same position…I am hopeful but really have no clue!

Coming into 2024 I was pessimistic about team success (based on 2023) but actually excited to see how our u25 players developed with a view to 2025 and 2026. I wasn’t unhappy about the prospect given my expectations were low from 2023.

But 2024 has increased my expectations and therefore the chance for me to be unhappy!

I think about it in a few ways.

1. Will our over 30s collectively fall off a cliff?

Can’t expect over 30s to drive the improvement but if they hold then that can support growth in the next two categories…

Losing 2E, Hawkins and Chucky frankly doesn’t hurt us that much given none were best 23 at the end (Hawkins may have been and maybe 2E should have been in front of Duncan -but all 3 were around the margin). Guthrie who knows but again contribution won’t be lower than 2024!

Danger is still a key for me to our premiership chances. Funny less important for top 4 (he needs others to help do that) but if we are thereabouts he can drive us at back end of season into finals. I don’t his output to be better but maybe he doesn’t need to drop off in the 15+ games he ends up playing?

Stewart needs to be as good as he has been. Not so much for defence (we are pretty good with Zach talking that role) but as a swing man to plug some gaps. Both he and Danger are key to not being beaten up in contests.

Cameron I think can stay at same (elite) level. No sign of drop off. And could improve - kicking for goal

Stanly and Duncan will need to be relegated to depth for us to be top 4. And think they will. Maybe even from the start. But Duncan wasn’t really best 22 at end of last year so no loss. Stanly will be a loss (funny enough) if SDK/Conway don’t improve. Bews in same category but we do need Mullin (or Atkins if squeezed out of MF) to improve and replace that role.

Kolo will turn 30 and I think could improve and certainly can’t see him going backwards

Blitz, based on his last few games in 2024 in defence and practice games, I think could actually improve output this year from last. Maybe can’t expect back his utility best but I am excited that he might not yet be done!

Jack Martin could be wildcard over 30 - I can see him “doing a Mannagh” for us in the back end of season. If so, our over 30s could actually be better for us in 2025

2. Will our 22 - 28 year old drive improvement in the club?

This is where you can get the biggest improvement as a collective. In 2024 we got it from continued and massive improvement in Zuthrie, Miers and Holmes, the addition of Mannagh in that age group and Ollie Henry and Stengle improving over 2023 with Close continuing his form.

We need every one of those to take another step forward - and they can.

This year I think we could also get great improvement in J Henry (best pre season for a while) and I think Shannon Neale also could take that next step of importance for us and contribute much more than 2023 (him and Hawkins combined). O Henry could be a 50+ goal player

Bowes might end up being key to our improvement. If he can do what he did last week consistently then all of a sudden we look much better. Obviously Smith is an improvement to our MF rotation too - and that should get better each game.

Dempsey and Humphries (who were last years break outs) could in my mind stagnate or even go backwards a little. If others improve that will be ok - we should be able to cover “second year blues (post break out)”. Of course they could also take that next level jump up - in which case I think we will definitely be better overall than 2023!

SDK. I love him…and I switch between being optimistic and pessimistic. I do not see any reason why he can’t go to next level like TDK has done. But remember TDK did it last year and is 2 years older…so maybe SDK isn’t quite at that stage to break out (again). If he does Cats will be much better

3. Break outs

So last year we have Mannagh (new) and Dempsey and Lawson (came from nowhere). In 2022 it was SDK (and maybe others?). I think we need another 2-3 players that become automatic best 23 through the year and by definition therefore upgrading the average.

We start with Smith as a no-brainer and could have (even though old) Martin if his body is right (but that is true bonus).

I think we NEED to have Knevitt build like Dempsey did last year. I am hoping he has that “break out game” early (opening round would be nice!) to build confidence in his place in the team and then he builds. Doesn’t have to be in the best every week but once a month maybe - and play the role for the rest.

Could the other come from Toby Conway? In the back end of the season. Unlikely but…. What about Ted? Clark? Maybe but then we would have 2 of those players in the MF and I think be too young at back end of the year?

I am not sure we really have that break out story this year (of course you don’t know until it happens!) so for us to be better we need the Over 30’s not to drop off (I am confident in that) as a collective but we must get improvement out of our 22-28yo, in particular out 24-28 yo.

I think we will when you go through it! Maybe we know more in 5 days time

Go Cats

This is a great summary CHAWKS and deserves a double thumbs up.

To me, depth in the midfield if we have injuries is our achillies heal. For the first game we may have Smith and Bruin out, and Danger playing majority forward. Starting centre bounce may be Holmes, Knevitt and Atkins with Dempsey and Bowes on the wings. And then Clarke and maybe O’Connor/Duncan rotating off the bench. Maybe we put Danger into the guts for the first game?