- Jun 19, 2006
- 12,891
- 27,740
- AFL Club
- Geelong
With the bye before finals it's much much easier to win by playing 4 finals than it was before that.
-
AFLW 2025 - AFLW Trade and Draft - All the player moves
-
Mobile App Discontinued
Due to a number of factors, support for the current BigFooty mobile app has been discontinued. Your BigFooty login will no longer work on the Tapatalk or the BigFooty App - which is based on Tapatalk.
Apologies for any inconvenience. We will try to find a replacement.
Prediction How Will The Cats Fare in 2025?
- Thread starter The rabbi
- Start date
- Tagged users None
🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.
With the bye before finals it's much much easier to win by playing 4 finals than it was before that.
- Oct 14, 2012
- 4,973
- 8,598
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Other Teams
- West Ham DEN Broncos BOS Celtics
The way we play there i'd take a Saturday night in South Oz.
I love AO. So do our blokes i reckon.
Sure. But we're talking about from the top 4. We've only had one side (Richmond 2020) lose a QF and take home a flag since the 2016 introduction of the pre finals bye. They happened to play another QF loser in the GF and there were shorter quarters.
Top 2 (with a decent chance of home advantage) is a better aim than simply securing 3rd.
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
The next 3 weeks are crucial. If we can get to the bye 11-4 or even 10-5 after that we have a soft draw
4 games at gmhba post bye
Richmond twice, NM (marvel), St kilda (crucially at home not marvel), ess, Sydney Port and gws.
By the time we get Sydney and Port they will probably be out of the finals race.
Realistically we should be aiming to win every game except possibly the Giants one.
That means 17-18 wins and a top 2 spot isn't out of the question.
And the so called top teams this year are average crap. So are we but we are a real shot at it.
4 games at gmhba post bye
Richmond twice, NM (marvel), St kilda (crucially at home not marvel), ess, Sydney Port and gws.
By the time we get Sydney and Port they will probably be out of the finals race.
Realistically we should be aiming to win every game except possibly the Giants one.
That means 17-18 wins and a top 2 spot isn't out of the question.
And the so called top teams this year are average crap. So are we but we are a real shot at it.
Log in to remove this Banner Ad
- Sep 7, 2009
- 7,871
- 9,313
- AFL Club
- Collingwood
- Other Teams
- Real Madrid, Chelsea, Nuggets, Panthers
What I think will happen
Pure_Ownage
TheBrownDog
Coll will win more games than that much as I don't like them they finish top 2 (hopefully with us).
Brisbane and Adelaide will be close behind gc will slide a bit (their draw was soft) but will get into 6th/7th.
The top 8 is basically set (just a matter of the order) Carlton won't win enough games to get there
The only team outside the 8 that is good enough to sneak in is the dogs as their % indicates.
Way, way off with Collingwood, they'll finish top two for certain and more likely top of ladder on the provision they don't have shocking injury run. For what it's worth, I did a ladder predictor for the first time this year only 3 days ago and had Collingwood and Geelong clearly as top two. Brisbane were the better side last night against Adelaide on the Crows home deck and should have one. When I seen the Gold Coast vs Adelaide game earlier in the year it was clear in that game that those two sides were going to be the big improvers this year with Adelaide a slightly better side.
But even so, I still don't see either side being a Premiership threat unless they make even further improvements which I guess they can but they'll need too. Pies, Cats and Lions still reckon are the three to beat with the Bulldogs an outside chance with their young star ''Sam Darcy' coming back into side but they were disappointing against Hawks and they'll need to come from a long way back. Hawks I guess are still a long shot but they'll still need to improve a fair amount to get to grand final, and the same with GWS and Fremantle but still interesting times ahead for ALL concerned.
Last edited:
- Jun 3, 2019
- 4,665
- 9,313
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Other Teams
- are jealous, Geelong is living #RentFree
dazbroncos
Max Rooke Appreciation Society
- Oct 9, 2010
- 55,892
- 96,440
- AFL Club
- Geelong
- Other Teams
- Denver Broncos, Red Bull Racing
- Moderator
- #309
You the same bloke that starts all the GFC wins it all stuff on the MB?
If so - dont expect to to be functional very long bringing that here.
I hope I dont head over there and find what im looking for bc if you think you can bring that shit in here for a laugh knowing full well what you post elsewhere... think again.
GO Catters
We should be close to flag favourites.
Only injury should stop us.
Only injury should stop us.
- Jun 17, 2010
- 8,531
- 11,384
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Lloyd and Damo on us to make the GF
And wait for it..... Kingy has us as his number 1 ranked team at the moment even over the Pies.
Dunno if we're now doomed or not.
And wait for it..... Kingy has us as his number 1 ranked team at the moment even over the Pies.
Dunno if we're now doomed or not.
- Jun 19, 2006
- 12,891
- 27,740
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Putting us above the pies right now is a bit silly. They've been much more impressive and are a game ahead with a game in hand.
We're in it up to our necks but right now I'd have us 3rd in line behind Collingwood and Brisbane.
We're in it up to our necks but right now I'd have us 3rd in line behind Collingwood and Brisbane.
Reckon come finals time, there's 27 players that can make the final 23, don't think there is anyone else on our list on current exposed 2023 form that can make it and no matter which way we choose to go or who we choose to select we'll have a very strong team, here's hoping.... and GO CATS !!!
Kolo's the one big question mark to whether he can be 100% right but if he is, then he has to be in side but regardless, the final 23 on the assumption of 'no injuries' means it will be a very tough call for final selection, especially for a handful of players with the final decision perhaps being decided by what team we are playing.
Connor O'Sullivan.... Jack Henry.... Lawson Humphries
Zach Guthrie.... Sam De Koning.... Tom Stewart
Mark Blicavs.... Max Holmes.... Oliver Dempsey
Gryan Miers.... Jeremy Cameron.... Brad Close
Tyson Stengle.... Shannon Neale.... Patrick Dangerfield
Rhys Stanley.... Tom Atkins.... Bailey Smith
Shaun Mannagh.... Jack Martin.... Mark O'Connor.... Mitch Duncan
Jack Bowes.... Ollie Henry.... Jake Kolodjashnij.... Oisin Mullin.... Jed Bews
Unlikely LONGSHOT - Toby Conway if he can make it back in time to be 100% finals fit but at this stage highly unlikely but regardless Reece Stanley is doing a wonderful job anyway.
Kolo's the one big question mark to whether he can be 100% right but if he is, then he has to be in side but regardless, the final 23 on the assumption of 'no injuries' means it will be a very tough call for final selection, especially for a handful of players with the final decision perhaps being decided by what team we are playing.
Connor O'Sullivan.... Jack Henry.... Lawson Humphries
Zach Guthrie.... Sam De Koning.... Tom Stewart
Mark Blicavs.... Max Holmes.... Oliver Dempsey
Gryan Miers.... Jeremy Cameron.... Brad Close
Tyson Stengle.... Shannon Neale.... Patrick Dangerfield
Rhys Stanley.... Tom Atkins.... Bailey Smith
Shaun Mannagh.... Jack Martin.... Mark O'Connor.... Mitch Duncan
Jack Bowes.... Ollie Henry.... Jake Kolodjashnij.... Oisin Mullin.... Jed Bews
Unlikely LONGSHOT - Toby Conway if he can make it back in time to be 100% finals fit but at this stage highly unlikely but regardless Reece Stanley is doing a wonderful job anyway.
Well summed up.
It's going to be hard to pick 5 from those 9 on the bench, if all are fit (rarely is this the case).
1. Mannagh of course is an absolute lock.
2 + 3. The Irish boys in their current roles seem close to locks.
4 + 5. I guess these are the "open" spots. One probably goes to Duncan or Martin - form, fitness, injury status dependent. Then the last spot split between two players with very different roles - Bowes and Henry.
My guess is keeping Dangerfield permanent forward may exclude Henry, whereas if he has more of a forward/mid split then Bowes may be the unlucky one.
I can only really see Kolo coming in if they dropped COS. I have no idea if his body will let him find the necessary form or fitness. If COS keeps building, then it's hard to see Kolo on low preparation forcing him out.
Bews as depth.
The football we're producing has me more bullish than usual about our chances. I think we should really be contending this year. Not saying we're favourites but with our personnel and system I'd be disappointed if we didn't at least push it close.
I still think the main question mark remains the midfield. I acknowledge that the prevailing wisdom in pre-season about our clearances deficiencies was off the mark, and I bought into that as much as anyone, but nonetheless I have this nagging feeling we're still a quality on-ball rotation short against the absolute elite teams. Is there a way to proactively manufacture this by making bold calls like using Stewart through the middle in bursts at times , or do we just back our current group in against the Lions and the Pies?
I trust Holmes, Smith and Atkins, but I'm still not confident in our depth rotations. I've never treally rated Bowes and I'm unsure if Mullins' game will hold up in finals.
I still think the main question mark remains the midfield. I acknowledge that the prevailing wisdom in pre-season about our clearances deficiencies was off the mark, and I bought into that as much as anyone, but nonetheless I have this nagging feeling we're still a quality on-ball rotation short against the absolute elite teams. Is there a way to proactively manufacture this by making bold calls like using Stewart through the middle in bursts at times , or do we just back our current group in against the Lions and the Pies?
I trust Holmes, Smith and Atkins, but I'm still not confident in our depth rotations. I've never treally rated Bowes and I'm unsure if Mullins' game will hold up in finals.
When we (the Cats) had a bad/poor run of losses last year, the turn-around and big change that occurred outside Shannon Neale becoming our permanent full forward, along with Shaun Mannagh and Lawson Humphries both coming into our side, was Paddy Dangerfield coming back from injury. We then had both Danger and Tom Stewart going into middle giving us contested grunt which made a world of difference with the best example being the Hawks game at Kardinia Park where Danger and Stewart terrorized and bullied the Hawks midfield as we completely dominated that game.
The great thing this year is that both through injuries and not having the need but also experimentation with some of the younger players in Mitch Knevitt, Jhye Clark and to a lesser degree Ted Clohesy, we really haven't had either of Danger or Tom Stewart play much in the middle with Tom Stewart virtually not at all. And this has been in-line with Bailey Smith coming into team and taking the competition by storm, with his partner in crime Max Holmes taking his football to another level with his game against the Gold Coast on Saturday being 'off the charts'. So collectively, between both Max Holmes and Bailey Smith they have become very quickly the most dynamic on-ball duo in the AFL with both being built for the MCG which is so exciting for all of us Cat fans come finals time.
But we've also seen further improvements from our own Mr Reliable in Tom Atkins (the tackling machine) who has been magnificent in 2025. Rhys Stanley has continued on from his excellent form over recent weeks, ably supported by Mark Blicavs who continues to play well in any role that he is asked to play. Further-more, our role players in the two Irishman in Mark O'Connor and Oisin Mullin along with Jack Bowes have more than played their part with Jack Bowes 'brilliant' in the last quarter against the Pies, but I'd like to give special praise to Mark O'Connor who has taken his game to another level in 2025 in a big way.
So as it stands now, our midfield is just fine but if we do have brief periods during games including finals where we are struggling, then we have 'as a back-up' Paddy Dangerfield but also Tom Stewart if necessary up our sleeves to quickly rectify matters and we know to be sure that they are more than capable of doing that with the 2nd half of 2024 season proving that point. So overall, we are simply a better side in 2025 with the inclusion of Bailey Smith being an enormous bonus and we're still a relevantly young side that keeps improving as each month passes-by, making us a real finals threat and at this juncture as good a chance at winning the 2025 flag as any other team.... and GO CATS !!!
Last edited:
Who goes out for kolo? I dont see anyone you could kick out. Oconners form is now good enough that kolo doesnt take his spot. The only way i could see us fitting him in is if henry or dekonning went foward of stewart went to midfield. I see neither happening this year without more injuries.
🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.
Although it's unlikely Seeds:... but if Kolo came back in the next 2 to 3 weeks and regains his best form which is also unlikely given the long absence and issues with his back that can certainly still linger or hamper, then I do see him being in the side. How that is done I don't know, all I do know is that at his best he would be in side.... however unlikely that maybe Seeds:
- Jun 17, 2010
- 8,531
- 11,384
- AFL Club
- Geelong
Champion Data has Geelong as the best profile (offense and defense) in footy and it's by a considerable margin.
- We have the best record against the top 9 (6-2) with our 2 losses less then 12 points combined.
- We have the best offense with ball in hand (Hoyne said what we do with it is perfection) and there is no greater threat then when Geelong has the ball
- Still need to work on our defense.
Initially I thought this but cos is playing pretty well and couldn’t possibly be omitted.
Also JY: at 38:36 Max Holmes with 40 disposals is the 2nd youngest Cat ever to have recorded 40+ disposals, the youngest being Joel Selwood !!!
Who has the best profile against best 9 teams in comp: Geelong EASILY @ 8:18
Max Holmes 40 disposals vs GC was 2nd youngest by a Cat ever @ 38:36
Similar threads
