How will we go?

[Bubbles DeVere]

How does everyone think we will honestly go this year? I am hopeful we can get top 4 but last year has me worried. If we play like that again we can kiss finals goodbye.

 

[Big Nasty]

top 4 and prelim at the very least.

 

[RememberMe]

Premiership.

 

[thehoff]

As long as we peak at round 22 instead of Round 2, we'll be having a fair say in the finals series.

 

[Jack-Packenham]

Hoping for a top 6 finish. I still think we are a couple of years away from our best. 2009 with N Ablett and Hawkins as the key forwards and a revamped midfield including Selwood, Djerrkura, Prismall, Corey, Bartel and Varcoe etc.
Scarlett, King, Harley, Ottens and Milburn will still be around.

 

[Sttew]

Hoping for a top 6 finish. I still think we are a couple of years away from our best. 2009 with N Ablett and Hawkins as the key forwards and a revamped midfield including Selwood, Djerrkura, Prismall, Corey, Bartel and Varcoe etc.
Scarlett, King, Harley, Ottens and Milburn will still be around.

Swans proved in 2005 that anything is possible. we have to aim for top 4, and that is not unrealistic. My only reservation is the coach!! It has been heard said that management is NOT expecting big things in 2007 because Bomber is still there.....

 

[RememberMe]

We are the only club without a player above 30. We will dominate over the next few years if we can keep our squad together.

 

[Bubbles DeVere]

Swans proved in 2005 that anything is possible. we have to aim for top 4, and that is not unrealistic. My only reservation is the coach!! It has been heard said that management is NOT expecting big things in 2007 because Bomber is still there.....

I agree really have my worries about Bomber especially if all the rumours floating about are true

 

[CF]

time will tell. remember we were flag favourites at round 2 last year and then we look what happened. So predicting this is impossible at this stage. We have some good young talent and what looks like a fit side. So ask me again at about round 6 then I might be able to make an educated guess.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

I agree really have my worries about Bomber especially if all the rumours floating about are true

I'm sure that Bomber would feel as aware as we all do of where things stand. We had a disappointing season last year, pretty much all the things they identified as problems have had solutions thrown at them and I think that if he's serious about being a successful coach (and who wouldn't enter into something like this without thinking that - imagine leaving it feeling you're a failure) then he will make changes, as long as he has awareness and acceptance of whatever those things are. I think he will do well this year, which I know is not a popular opinion here, and I think we will do well too. Even just the communication/leadership stuff they've done can't help but have benefits. I'm gonna say top 4 by September, that's my gut feeling, but I still have the self-protection/cynical mindset because of our history, the whole "nah, no way" thing.

PS. Harley as captain is an excellent thing.

 

[winty]

Top 4 should be the bare minimum that we strive for.

I'm curious about all the anti-Thompson sentiment. True he had a bad year last year, but almost everyone at the club did, from the top down. I wonder if the same Thompson bashers were sticking the knives in when Geelong performed out of their skins and were a kick and a half away from a GF berth in 2004.

I hope with the review and all the rumblings about team unity and the like that Harley seems to be keen on rectifying we'll have a 200% improvement on 2006.

 

[mckinale]

Top 4 should be the bare minimum that we strive for.

I'm curious about all the anti-Thompson sentiment. True he had a bad year last year, but almost everyone at the club did, from the top down. I wonder if the same Thompson bashers were sticking the knives in when Geelong performed out of their skins and were a kick and a half away from a GF berth in 2004.

I hope with the review and all the rumblings about team unity and the like that Harley seems to be keen on rectifying we'll have a 200% improvement on 2006.

true, but it is his job to keep the players motivated and come up with gameplans that will stand us in good stead against quality opposition.

 

[Ricardo]

I think first and foremost the club will be aiming at making the finals, after missing last years finals series i would hope the players are more pumped this year then even at the start of last season.....

I hope we make the top four (and think we are a top 4 team) but will predict us finishing 6th this season.

 

[Rosso]

We have a pretty reasonable draw so that will certainly help our cause. What we really need to ensure is that we make Skilled Stadium a place where opposition teams fear to tread. If we can get it back to what is was in 04 then we should snag 7 or 8 wins. That sets us up with winning 4 or 5 of 14 away from the cattery to get back to some finals action. When you look at it in that context then we have a simular advantage to the Interstate sides.

Put simply last year we got ahead of ourselves and basically worked it out too late to save the season. A late charge added a bit of respectabiliy but not much else. We certainly looked fit in the NAB Cup (over ran teams in the last qtr in most games) and rounds 1 & 2 were awesome. From there did our fitness levels drop, I don't think so but our heads sure got a lot bigger thats what started the rot. Injuries then kicked in and a lack of leadership dragged the run of losses out when it should have been nipped in the bud much earlier. With the injuries and thanks to our win/loss record, blokes were brought back in too early to re-occurrances of injuries and lack of match fitness hurt us.

This preseason "has been the best/toughest/most grueling one yet" and "we're flying in comparrison to last year" is the catchcry of every AFL side going around. But for Geelong it may actually take effect. Kent was hurling quite frequently at his first few sessions at Tigerland because he wasn't nearly as fit as he should have been. Was this a result of him slacking off after quitting the cattery or was it the fact that we just didn't train hard enough to get players to the AFL level? The Crows were the talk of the town for the majority of the year with their sports science based training reigime so to snag one of their main men will hopefully get our players to the elite level.

With Egan having another strong season under his belt he should allow a fit Tom Harley to play on a flank or in a pocket where he can zone off and create the play. With the key posts covered our defense is still one of the best in the league.

The reports have us trying to put an end to our 'one paced midfield' by recruiting for speed and adapting to a play on at all costs game style. Combine this with the dozen or so players that we can rotate through our midfield and all of a sudden we're a bit quicker and hard to match up with. What it also does is create quicker ball movement into our forward line and that's where our much maligned forward line can take advantage.

Moons looks to be the go to man at CHF in 2007. A move that sits well with me. No offense intended but we certainly look more threatening with Moons streaming up the ground demanding the ball instead of Henry. Cam had a big effect on a few games last year and one would imagine that he will only get better and on a more consistant basis. I still don't think Otto's a key forward but if he's played 50/50 ruck/forward then he should snag 30 odd goals throught the year. Nath and Tommahawk will also get their fair share of action up forward and the little fellas need to stay home more and crumb off our big targets. Too many times last year was the ball swept away with ease by the opposition when it hit the deck. Gaz, Chappy and Stokesy can all kick bags if they wait in the hot spot.

Combine all this with a young list with something to prove to the football world and it shapes up well for the Geelong Football Club. As for Bomber, lets face it, he's got nothing to lose (except for his job) so I wouldn't expect him to hold back the kids with big wraps on them. Hawkins, Jerka and Selwood will all play early as will Varcoe (no use saving them for 2008 when someone else may be at the helm). I expect too see us playing in September this year, and a top four finish isn't out of the question either. Lets hope that 2007 is the year of the cat!!!

 

[Mooney_d'King]

We have a pretty reasonable draw so that will certainly help our cause. What we really need to ensure is that we make Skilled Stadium a place where opposition teams fear to tread. If we can get it back to what is was in 04 then we should snag 7 or 8 wins. That sets us up with winning 4 or 5 of 14 away from the cattery to get back to some finals action. When you look at it in that context then we have a simular advantage to the Interstate sides.

Put simply last year we got ahead of ourselves and basically worked it out too late to save the season. A late charge added a bit of respectabiliy but not much else. We certainly looked fit in the NAB Cup (over ran teams in the last qtr in most games) and rounds 1 & 2 were awesome. From there did our fitness levels drop, I don't think so but our heads sure got a lot bigger thats what started the rot. Injuries then kicked in and a lack of leadership dragged the run of losses out when it should have been nipped in the bud much earlier. With the injuries and thanks to our win/loss record, blokes were brought back in too early to re-occurrances of injuries and lack of match fitness hurt us.

This preseason "has been the best/toughest/most grueling one yet" and "we're flying in comparrison to last year" is the catchcry of every AFL side going around. But for Geelong it may actually take effect. Kent was hurling quite frequently at his first few sessions at Tigerland because he wasn't nearly as fit as he should have been. Was this a result of him slacking off after quitting the cattery or was it the fact that we just didn't train hard enough to get players to the AFL level? The Crows were the talk of the town for the majority of the year with their sports science based training reigime so to snag one of their main men will hopefully get our players to the elite level.

With Egan having another strong season under his belt he should allow a fit Tom Harley to play on a flank or in a pocket where he can zone off and create the play. With the key posts covered our defense is still one of the best in the league.

The reports have us trying to put an end to our 'one paced midfield' by recruiting for speed and adapting to a play on at all costs game style. Combine this with the dozen or so players that we can rotate through our midfield and all of a sudden we're a bit quicker and hard to match up with. What it also does is create quicker ball movement into our forward line and that's where our much maligned forward line can take advantage.

Moons looks to be the go to man at CHF in 2007. A move that sits well with me. No offense intended but we certainly look more threatening with Moons streaming up the ground demanding the ball instead of Henry. Cam had a big effect on a few games last year and one would imagine that he will only get better and on a more consistant basis. I still don't think Otto's a key forward but if he's played 50/50 ruck/forward then he should snag 30 odd goals throught the year. Nath and Tommahawk will also get their fair share of action up forward and the little fellas need to stay home more and crumb off our big targets. Too many times last year was the ball swept away with ease by the opposition when it hit the deck. Gaz, Chappy and Stokesy can all kick bags if they wait in the hot spot.

Combine all this with a young list with something to prove to the football world and it shapes up well for the Geelong Football Club. As for Bomber, lets face it, he's got nothing to lose (except for his job) so I wouldn't expect him to hold back the kids with big wraps on them. Hawkins, Jerka and Selwood will all play early as will Varcoe (no use saving them for 2008 when someone else may be at the helm). I expect too see us playing in September this year, and a top four finish isn't out of the question either. Lets hope that 2007 is the year of the cat!!!

Magnificent work

 

[cat_fanatic]

Great post Rosso!
Agree with everything you mentioned. Mooney at CHF will be intimidating and I too believe NAB and Toma will be used liberally throughout the season, not only for Bombers sake but I really think (hoping) Toma will be geared up and ready to go to make a surprising impact this year. Looking forward to Monica showing extreme pace and ball handling skills after a year back from damaging his ACL. The debuts of Djerrkura and Selwood will be exciting as well as Varcoe and expect a much better year from Kelly and 16 rippers from Dog.

Question though… Who will captain the team should Harley fall victim to an unfortunate injury?

Top 4

 

[Shell]

How does everyone think we will honestly go this year? I am hopeful we can get top 4 but last year has me worried. If we play like that again we can kiss finals goodbye.

Every year there is one team outside the eight that makes... yadda yadda.. think we all know that stat. Hope it's us.

Anyway, for the first time in a long time, I really have no idea as to where we will finish, come Round 22. Anything from top 4 down to about 12th (as much as it pains me to say it) would not suprise me.

And keep your eye on Dermotts predictions. He seems to have an uncanny ability to predict exactly where Geelong will end up.

 

[WE Are Geelong]

It is too difficult to really say right now but I think its important to not expect too much too soon. I dont expect to be top of the table come round 5 or 6...maybe we will be now that I say we wont which wouldnt bother me one bit...but I really feel with the bigger size of our bodies, with our fitness up from last season and the fact we have a large core of our players in the right age group we will get stronger as the season goes on. Just about any side these days up and running with a pre season behind them can look pretty good but keeping it up is the key and I think down the stretch we will gain some ground as the season wears on...even in 2006 we won 7.5 of the last 12 matches...

 

[Partridge]

I'm curious about all the anti-Thompson sentiment. True he had a bad year last year, but almost everyone at the club did, from the top down. I wonder if the same Thompson bashers were sticking the knives in when Geelong performed out of their skins and were a kick and a half away from a GF berth in 2004.

It's very simple - it's called personal responsibility. Thompson is the boss (of the football team anyway), so if we win, he deserves the credit. And equally and correctly, if we lose he gets the backlash. Remember it wasn't his first season - he's now had 7 years in the job. That is more than long enough. If he isn't accountable then who is?

 

[Copernicus]

Nice post Rosso, though I can see the optimism oozing out in rather large quantities I'm not so optimistic myself, but I hope this bangin' pre-season that the club keeps going on about is really as helpful as they're all saying it is. All I want to see is a better style of football, better usage of the ball and hopefully it'll all come together. We have the ability to be top four - that is proven. We just need the guts and the confidence to back it up.

I can't see us missing the eight one way or another.

 

[Catnip]

Bloody good post there Rosso. You even managed to cheer up a perputually grumpy old git like myself. Let's hope you are OTM. For me Ling is the barometer, if he can penetrate with his many possessions we will be a more effective side. A decent pre-season from our talls is also a key.

GO CATS

 

[RememberMe]

"I'M STARTING TO GET THAT FEELING...."

 

[winty]

I think the greatest thing to come out of this pre-season is that players and coaches are aware that if we have another season like last year, then careers are on the line. If that doesn't encourage them to pull their collective fingers out and put in a 101% effort week in, week out I don't know what will.

Hopefully we'll see this renewed vigour and hunger from the first bounce of the first NAB Cup game right up until the final siren on the last Saturday in September.

 

[Hello Newman!]

I'm curious about all the anti-Thompson sentiment. True he had a bad year last year, but almost everyone at the club did, from the top down. I wonder if the same Thompson (Kingsley) bashers were sticking the knives in when Geelong performed out of their skins and were a kick and a half away from a GF berth in 2004.

Yet Kingsley continues to get blamed for last years performance and others get off scott free?

 

[JUBJUB]

Yet Kingsley continues to get blamed for last years performance and others get off scott free?

Not sure where you get that idea from.
Yes KK copped blame and rightly so.Lot's of others also copped it and rightly so.