Prediction How Will The Cats Fare in 2025?

[Farmer2Goggin]

Initially I thought this but cos is playing pretty well and couldn’t possibly be omitted.

Kolo has been amazing over a long period but COS seems to fit our ball movement profile better in 2025.
Having said that I think COS may need a rest before the Finals so we may see what Kolo has to offer and be able to weigh up between them both.
For me I think a dry MCG deck in September is ready made for COS.

 

[kickazz]

The thing with Kolo is he is probably better as a genuine defender than quite a few others.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Kolo has been amazing over a long period but COS seems to fit our ball movement profile better in 2025.
Having said that I think COS may need a rest before the Finals so we may see what Kolo has to offer and be able to weigh up between them both.
For me I think a dry MCG deck in September is ready made for COS.

Couldn't agree more F2G: and to think he is still only 19 years of age, what a unbelievable get COS has been for the Cats and I simply love him and like Joel Selwood at a very young age, a future captain or at the very least one of our principle leaders at club.... and GO CATS !!!

 

[Gunf]

Kolo if fit makes us a better side period.

Who comes out for him or gets moved to another role is debatable but if fit he is best 22 every day of the week.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

Couldn't agree more F2G: and to think he is still only 19 years of age, what a unbelievable get COS has been for the Cats and I simply love him and like Joel Selwood at a very young age, a future captain or at the very least one of our principle leaders at club.... and GO CATS !!!

Bit off topic but as a football devotee it's going to be fantastic to track COS , Caddy , Darcy and Curtin over the next few years - such talented athletic big boys

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Discussion on club profiles among the top 9.
Geelong with considerably the best profile against the top 9.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

The thing with Kolo is he is probably better as a genuine defender than quite a few others.

At times I have wondered about Jake but he has definitely proven himself over the journey

 

[allrighty]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/06/13/forget-collingwood-the-cats-are-the-team-to-beat-in-2025-and-they-havent-even-got-out-of-first-gear-yet/

 

[BlakeyNoFlakey]

I don't like it when the media start pumping us up. I'd prefer they had starry eyes for a side like Collingwood or Brisbane and let us fly under the radar.

 

[Mr Meow]

I don't like it when the media start pumping us up. I'd prefer they had starry eyes for a side like Collingwood or Brisbane and let us fly under the radar.

It makes no difference either way. Chris Scott and co run a very professional squad. The media fall in and out of love with us every season.

 

[allrighty]

It makes no difference either way. Chris Scott and co run a very professional squad. The media fall in and out of love with us every season.

That's a good take on it. Whether we like it or not does not make a whit of difference, not dismissing BnF's statement at all. I'm just more in line with yours on this.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

In the last few weeks we seemed to have fixed our defence.
We look very fit. Almost 2022 vibes for me.
Still a long way to go, but we are positioned perfectly.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

In the last few weeks we seemed to have fixed our defence.
We look very fit. Almost 2022 vibes for me.
Still a long way to go, but we are positioned perfectly.

Footy_fan2007: We have as good as defense as any other side in comp but it's hard to be at your top defensively when in some games we had up to 4 of our best defenders not playing which I tried to explain at the time. But now that we have everyone back fit and healthy bar Kolo..... the backline is looking 'awesome' with Bewsy and Blicavs as great back-ups for smalls and talls.

 

[Gunf]

Footy_fan2007: We have as good as defense as any other side in comp but it's hard to be at your top defensively when in some games we had up to 4 of our best defenders not playing which I tried to explain at the time.

Yep at points this season we have missed

Kolo(whole year) Who has been our best defensive defender or close to it for 2 years
Henry for a fair bit. Second best defensive defender for a while
Stewart for a few. General down back and one of our top 3 players when on
Humphries for a few. Young exciting player who makes us so much better at transition with his excellent kicking

And we may be missing SDK for a few now as well (hopefully if he misses some it isn't many)

The fact we held up so well for the first bit of the year with key missing defensive players is impressive coaching and buy-in from the others in defence.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

Yep at points this season we have missed

Kolo(whole year) Who has been our best defensive defender or close to it for 2 years
Henry for a fair bit. Second best defensive defender for a while
Stewart for a few. General down back and one of our top 3 players when on
Humphries for a few. Young exciting player who makes us so much better at transition with his excellent kicking

And we may be missing SDK for a few now as well (hopefully if he misses some it isn't many)

The fact we held up so well for the first bit of the year with key missing defensive players is impressive coaching and buy-in from the others in defence.

100% spot-on Gunf:.... great analysis and call

 

[Pure_Ownage]

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.

Collingwood are overrated. Defensively very good but very reliant on their older players and their under 23 crop is largely ordinary. If their old stars keep performing well they coils win the flag but if they drop off and I think they will I would back us against them in a GF easily.

I'm more worried about sides like gws and Brisbane in a GF as they have the gamestyle to trouble us.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Kolo if fit makes us a better side period.

Who comes out for him or gets moved to another role is debatable but if fit he is best 22 every day of the week.

100 % but I would move (I would have said oconnor but his form is great) someone like Duncan or mullin out for him not osullivan. Osullivan is too valuable.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

On where we are the Brisbane game next week is crucial. They are very good at their best but no payne helps us and at home hopefully we get it done.
Win this and given our easy draw post bye 2nd spot should be our target.

 

[Gunf]

Pressure Kings: The numbers behind Geelong's ability to turn defence into offense

Ranked as one of the competition's best tackling teams in 2025, Geelong brought the heat once again in Saturday's clash with Essendon

www.geelongcats.com.au

This really outlines one of the reasons why we have been good this year

"Another sign of the whole team approach to this campaign, five different Geelong players rank within the AFL's top 10 players for tackles inside 50 this year.

Tyson Stengle

18

Tyson Stengle

Age

27

Ht

175cm

Wt

71kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

9.3

2star

K

5.8

2star

HB

3.5

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.4

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

10.3

3star

K

5.3

2star

HB

5.0

3star

M

1.3

1star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.5

4star

D

8.8

3star

K

5.6

3star

HB

3.2

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

2.6

4star

G

1.6

5star

(29 tackles I50) leads the way for the Cats and sits second in the competition, closely followed by Tom Atkins

30

Tom Atkins

Age

30

Ht

180cm

Wt

86kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.5

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.5

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

4.3

5star

CL

1.3

3star

D

6.5

1star

K

3.0

1star

HB

3.5

2star

M

0.8

1star

T

1.5

2star

CL

0.5

3star

D

11.6

3star

K

5.0

2star

HB

6.6

4star

M

2.0

3star

T

4.8

5star

CL

1.2

4star

(23) Shannon Neale (20), Jeremy Cameron

5

Jeremy Cameron

Age

32

Ht

196cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.5

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.4

3star

M

5.4

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

2.6

5star

D

10.0

3star

K

7.1

3star

HB

2.9

2star

M

4.6

4star

T

2.0

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

8.2

2star

K

5.0

2star

HB

3.2

3star

M

4.6

5star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.0

5star

and Shaun Mannagh (18)."

 

[Mr Meow]

Pressure Kings: The numbers behind Geelong's ability to turn defence into offense

Ranked as one of the competition's best tackling teams in 2025, Geelong brought the heat once again in Saturday's clash with Essendon

www.geelongcats.com.au

This really outlines one of the reasons why we have been good this year

"Another sign of the whole team approach to this campaign, five different Geelong players rank within the AFL's top 10 players for tackles inside 50 this year.

Tyson Stengle (29 tackles I50) leads the way for the Cats and sits second in the competition, closely followed by Tom Atkins (23) Shannon Neale (20), Jeremy Cameron and Shaun Mannagh (18)."

Yep our pressure acts and tackle numbers (especially in forward half) have been close to best in the comp.

While we were missing a few crucial defenders we leaked goals on transition when teams broke our forward half press. So our first point of pressure looked good, but after that it seemed like we let opposition chain it up easily.

Since we've had something closer to a full strength defensive group, that latter effect is rarer because we are setting up to intercept or block opposition exits. That's also why our score from turnover game has gone through the roof. Which all still originates from the pressure we apply.

 

[Gunf]

Another interesting stat that bodes really well for us is our 4th quarter dominance.

We are 13-1 for 4th quarters won (Bris the only game we lost the last quarter).
If you check out First Crack they bring it up.

 

[CoolCat75]

I think baring injury, the team against Essendon will be the finals team, with maybe 3 spots up for grabs :

• Martin vs Bowes as the mid/defender utility
• O’Sullivan vs Kolo as the 3rd tall defender
• OHenry vs Duncan/Closey/Clarke/Knevit/Bews etc as the sub

 

[Mr Meow]

I decided to summarise what Geelong are ranked elite for so far, using top 6 as a cut off point.

If your stat of interest is not included, we rank middle of the road or lower for it.

Rankings by differentials

(i.e. how we compare to our opposition on a week to week basis...not just our own raw averages)

Goals per inside 50: 1st*
Scores from forward half: 1st

Scoring shots: 2nd
Expected score: 2nd
Scores from stoppage: 2nd
Transitions to score conversion: 2nd*
D50 to F50 conversion: 2nd*
Turnovers: 2nd least
Defensive 1v1 loss %: 2nd least*
Loose ball gets: 2nd
Tackles inside 50: 2nd

Scores from turnover: 3rd
Scores from centrebounce: 3rd
Score launches: 3rd
Kicks: 3rd
Kick retention rating: 3rd
Pressure acts: 3rd
Intercepts: 3rd
Ground ball gets: 3rd
Marks inside 50: 3rd
Offensive 1v1 win %: 3rd*

Post-clearance contested possessions: 4th
Marks: 4th
Scores from kick ins: 4th

Contested marks: 5th
Tackles: 5th

Kick threat rating: 6th
Contested possessions: 6th

*these selected stats are only calculated as raw averages...not differentials compared to the teams we play (like the vast majority of the stats).

 

[Gunf]

Just seen a thread on reddit that has the amount of tackles inside 50 for each team and **** me we are good at it

Geelong 218
Melb 173
Carlton 167

Are the top 3

Sydney 123
Richmond 113
ESS 99

Are the bottom 3

 

[Vdubs]

Wonder how we fare in the next 8 games.
Prefer the one week at a time approach, but people are speculating.
No game is a given, and our post bye record does not inspire confidence v Tigers.
I'd be happy with 4-4.
Saints even at Geelong will trouble us.
NM at Marvel- massive danger game.