Hypothetical #2

[Pollywaffle]

If we hadn't lost last years GF, do you think we would still have won this years ??

 

[markedone]

They mentioned this exact 'what if' in one of the post-match panels. Can't remember who said it, but one of the commentors did touch lightly on this and briefly said as a side comment 'if Geelong had won it last year, they mightn't have found the will to win today'

Of course, you could also look at it from the other side: A chance for a third straight premiership (if we won last year) and to cement the club as one of the all-time greats would have been a pretty good motivator anyway. But we didn't win in '08, so you could say with some degree of confidence that the pain of last year drove the players to dig deeper and play as if it was the last quarter of footy they'll ever play. (Which it was, for Harley at least. )

 

[True Blue Cat]

Actually thought about it more than a couple of times. Honestly i am not sure. We would of had the ability but whether we would have had the will to get over all our injuries if we had already won 2 i am not to sure. Would love to think that we would have but i really don't know.

 

[Sttew]

No, we may have got to the GF, but it was the hunger in the last quarter that got us over the line. I don't think that hunger would have been there if we'd won in 08.

 

[Hinkley29]

I don't place much credence in the whole "last year's failure made us want it more this year" argument. They are professional footballers who would have been motivated to win the flag no matter what.

But, I do think that last year's defeat taught us a fair bit in the way that way managed our squad this year in the 2nd half of the season and the lead up to the GF, as well as ensuring that we kept some tactics up our sleeve until the end of the year. If we had won last year, we might not have changed anything from the way we prepared last year. This probably would have cost us against the Saints, who in my opinion were a far more formidable opponent than Hawthorn were in 2008, as strange as that sounds given that we got rolled by Hawthorn.

 

[winty]

But, I do think that last year's defeat taught us a fair bit in the way that way managed our squad this year in the 2nd half of the season and the lead up to the GF, as well as ensuring that we kept some tactics up our sleeve until the end of the year. If we had won last year, we might not have changed anything from the way we prepared last year. This probably would have cost us against the Saints, who in my opinion were a far more formidable opponent than Hawthorn were in 2008, as strange as that sounds given that we got rolled by Hawthorn.

I agree with all the above. Where the disappointing season in 2006 turned out to be a blessing in disguise because we gained a high enough pick to draft Selwood, in hindsight, the 2008 GF loss could have had a minor benefit, in that we learnt we had to manage our list a lot better than we did that year. We know we have the game plan to win games, but that is of little use if we don't have the cattle on the park to make it work.

 

[Warwick Capper]

Would we have developed those Plan B and Plan C game plans and flexibility in our players??? Definitely a big factor in winning the GF

 

[pinion]

the butterfly effect .... who knows

but i think the motivation towards the end of the year to win 3 in a row would have been just as great as 2 out of 3. after all, people still say we're not as good as brisbane was

 

[BotsMaster]

I couldnt believe we didnt decide to invest in a plan b last year. The evidence of not having a back up plan was shown quite clearly in the 2007 GF, where port failed to change their style of play to combat ours.

But I guess we were all blinded by the beauty of our plan a.

 

[ATSAM]

yes we would have, they are professionals whose goal is to win the games and GFs. And having finally watched the whole game rather than repeated viewings of the last 15 mins ( and make sure that you watch the K-Rock commentary it is so much better than the pro St Kilda Channel 10)we were the better team. St Kilda were too busy going down like shot rabbits playing for free kick, watch the agony on Kings face when Stevie J gives him a love tap in the gut- 2nd quarter I think.

 

[Vdubs]

Despite our win in 07, Hawthorn showed us what it took to win a GF with having enough fit and healthy players left at the end of the year when it counts. This year it was us in the last 5 minutes. Last year it was Haw in the 3rd/4. We didn't lose last year , Hawthorn won it, same as we actually played winning footy in the last / 4 this year. All these results were meant to be, so I can't answer that hypothetical. Which now begs the obvious question--willl St. Kilda have learned enough about how to win a GF to go 1 step further next year, and will we be hungry enough to go for 3 out of 4? Saints look to have recruited wisely and may likely keep Ball. We look to have kept our list together pretty well--waiting on Wojo--but that is the likely 2010 GF, unless Dogs/ Hawks improve.
If we win it next year , my answer to this hypothetical is YES, but how hard is it to win consec flags?

 

[Vdubs]

Would like to revisit this question in 12 months

 

[pinion]

yes we would have, they are professionals whose goal is to win the games and GFs. And having finally watched the whole game rather than repeated viewings of the last 15 mins ( and make sure that you watch the K-Rock commentary it is so much better than the pro St Kilda Channel 10)we were the better team. St Kilda were too busy going down like shot rabbits playing for free kick, watch the agony on Kings face when Stevie J gives him a love tap in the gut- 2nd quarter I think.

um ..... when it comes to being fair and balanced K-rock hovers somewhere below fox news.

the saints were probably the better team for most of the first 3 quarters. but we did what we had to do to hang in, and when the game was there to be won we were all over them.

 

[Pollywaffle]

well it looks like we are divided on this one
My humble opinion is that we would still have won if it came down to a close last quarter. The question then has to be, would we have been as close at that stage without the desperation that kept us in the contest up to 3/4 time ?
Stay tuned for my next hypo coming soon.....................

 

[vinum coupe]

I'd say no. The commitment from the players to believe in the fitness program would have come from that hunger (partly)

We'll know in 12 months really.

But I have a feeling that as good as they are, the intensity will drop in 2010due to a feeling of fullfilment.

We'll see.

 

[Vdubs]

I'd say no. The commitment from the players to believe in the fitness program would have come from that hunger (partly)

We'll know in 12 months really.

But I have a feeling that as good as they are, the intensity will drop in 2010due to a feeling of fullfilment.

We'll see.

I think I agree, sadly. That + older players, and a few departures if WOJO leaves. I really think we have to keep all our X factor players who have unique speed as that was our advantage against Saints in that amazing last/4. Have seen it 9x and Byrnes, Wojo Varcoe all had significant roles while Saints looked flat footed, hence their recruiting of Peake and Lovett. Does anybody else those 2 inclusions at the expense of say Dempster and McGwalter would HYPOTHETICALLY have altered the result? Or make a difference next year?
The Saints seem very reactive to us, but hopefully always a year behind us, and maybe we have some new innovative trendsetting ploys for next year that they haven't accounted for.
I am talking as if they are our only threat but really in 09 it was the story of SAINTS and CATS. Who knows whether Hawks, Dogs can come back and surpass us, or Crows, Pies etc.
This time last year the talk was Hawks Cats again as if that would be the GF, and we were favourites going in to this season based on redemption and hunger.