Long time between drinks.

[Mr X]

Had not posted on this site from the moment the siren went that fateful night in September last year at the SCG, given things are worse now than then, figured it was tme to come back.

Walking out of the ground was the most gutted, bitter feeling I had felt in football, given the effort we put in for most of that night. This includes attending 4 losing grand finals....three quarters of which we were never in to begin with. The plane ride home the next morning was just painful.

Did not browse on here all season, could not bring myself to read all the crap from other supporters, or Geelong supporters who live in fantasy land about how good they think we are.

I was confident we would back up that bitterness this year with massive year, full of determination and hard nosed footy.

How mistaken I was.

Some of the soft, insipid performances that the team put in this year were enough to turn a die hard supporter away for life. Frustration and bewilderment grew to new and unexpected heights.

Many personel across the club should hang their heads in shame. The amount of indifference and lack of passion I saw and heard, both on and off the field, was frankly a disgrace, and made me wonder just how so many people kept actually turning up, and how media, club and supporters were still talking up our finals dream in Round 19.

Seriously, they are living in a better place than Willy Wonka sometimes I think. There is the GFC, and then there is reality.

Reality is, nobody has a clue what to expect next year, but prepare to finish outside the 8 to save future heartache. Knowing our members/supporters, we will still get 34K members, so everything will be peachy.

Thompson must go, either during or after season 2007, Costa, for all his good, can go with him. Hopefully with Balme now there, occasionly we may hear a spade called a spade.

Good to be back. Had to spew out a years worth of frustration in one hit.

Geelong....going backwards!

 

[And_ROOS]

I think its a case of one step back, the next steps forward. Geelong tried to be ahead of the pack with the Kangaroos in changing training to suit the new style of play the AFL seemed to promote. It backfired.

So you can be sure come round 1 Geelong will have a team that like 2004, and like 2005, CAN go the length of the season fit, and that will put the team back into the 8, maybe even top 4. After this season, ALL those involved at GFC were embaressed, and they know that there is only one way to rectify that, and that is on field.

Will Geelong win the premiership? Possibly. Will they make the finals? Probably. But the point is you will see a harder, more committed Geelong next season.

 

[RememberMe]

Last year, Geelong began the off season thinking they were king ********. Everyone agreed with them. This year, Geelong still know they're good, but everyone else has written them off. Cats have a point to prove this year, and they will prove it.

 

[catters05]

Last year, Geelong began the off season thinking they were king ********. Everyone agreed with them. This year, Geelong still know they're good, but everyone else has written them off. Cats have a point to prove this year, and they will prove it.

Geelong have gone very metro IMO. Really up themselves.

They have get back to basics and show us the hardness and spirit they had in 04 and 05, if they can do that then we will have an exciting season in 07.

 

[cat_fanatic]

Last year, Geelong began the off season thinking they were king ********. Everyone agreed with them. This year, Geelong still know they're good, but everyone else has written them off. Cats have a point to prove this year, and they will prove it.

Well said.

I think next year we will see a different Geelong.

 

[CF]

Mr X the easiest thing to do is to walk away as you have. No Cats supporter is happy with the last year including that 4 point loss to the swans in the SF in 05. If you had stuck around you might have seen that. Turning your back on the club is going to have little impact on the club. So I hope you can salvage some passion for the side and return to lend your voice for 2007.

 

[jess_555]

Welcome back Mr X. You brought back so many memories I didn't really want to hear again. Seems like some of us are still not over that awful end to season 05 which is totally fair enough (dispite what other teams supporters say). I don't think anyone can get over something until they have a chance to do it better the next time. But we didn't have a next time, we didn't get to play finals because Geelong had a crrap season. Ahhhhhhhh! Going for the GFC is a painful addiction. Is there any hope for season 07?

 

[burto]

I think its a case of one step back, the next steps forward. Geelong tried to be ahead of the pack with the Kangaroos in changing training to suit the new style of play the AFL seemed to promote. It backfired.

So you can be sure come round 1 Geelong will have a team that like 2004, and like 2005, CAN go the length of the season fit, and that will put the team back into the 8, maybe even top 4. After this season, ALL those involved at GFC were embaressed, and they know that there is only one way to rectify that, and that is on field.

Will Geelong win the premiership? Possibly. Will they make the finals? Probably. But the point is you will see a harder, more committed Geelong next season.

We seem to be saying that at the end of every season.

 

[RememberMe]

The buildup for each season since 04 has been there, and everyone has rated the cats as one of the best up and coming sides in the competition. After last year's performance, the majority of football fans (Mr.X included) have been more than happy to write Geelong off, saying, "Ah yeh. Same old ********, Geelong are just pretenders - time for them to rebuild..." In fact, one of my friends who goes for Collingwood was like, "I told you so..." ********. lol

Have any of you bothered to look at our list of late? The number of quality players we have coming in to their prime (100+ games) is unchallenged! We are coming on to a 4 year (at least) block of returns, possibly more if the Tomahawk and a few other young players fire as expected.

Don't be too quick to write off a superb list. As I have mentioned previously, with an improved pre-season, a revamped off-field list, and a jolt to the psyche of the Geelong Football Club as a whole, big things should be expected in 2007! Cats to come out hissing!

 

[jess_555]

The buildup for each season since 04 has been there, and everyone has rated the cats as one of the best up and coming sides in the competition. After last year's performance, the majority of football fans (Mr.X included) have been more than happy to write Geelong off, saying, "Ah yeh. Same old ********, Geelong are just pretenders - time for them to rebuild..." In fact, one of my friends who goes for Collingwood was like, "I told you so..." ********. lol

Have any of you bothered to look at our list of late? The number of quality players we have coming in to their prime (100+ games) is unchallenged! We are coming on to a 4 year (at least) block of returns, possibly more if the Tomahawk and a few other young players fire as expected.

Don't be too quick to write off a superb list. As I have mentioned previously, with an improved pre-season, a revamped off-field list, and a jolt to the psyche of the Geelong Football Club as a whole, big things should be expected in 2007! Cats to come out hissing!

But it's one thing to have a great list of quality players and another thing to see them perform the best they can... which we didn't see in 06. What's the chance of Geelong turning it around? Seems more logical to just play down our chances so we don't get hurt... AGAIN!

 

[Catman]

Last year, Geelong began the off season thinking they were king ********. Everyone agreed with them. This year, Geelong still know they're good, but everyone else has written them off. Cats have a point to prove this year, and they will prove it.

Would have thought Round 3 would have brought them back to reality.

 

[cats2rise]

Man, i really didnt need to re-live that game vs Syd.

 

[Soupy]

A very good post.

Funny enough most people here still think we are a good side with good players.

6th - 14th, middle of the table soft side at best.

 

[And_ROOS]

Burto, this year all players and coaching staff will know they are NOT safe, thats not something thats been at the club with this group of players. Its amazing what can happen when your livelyhood is at stake...

 

[PoidaCat]

Talk is Cheap.

Round 1....they better be ********ing busting shoulders and kicking that ********ing ball long quickly...

 

[winty]

I have got a gut feeling that 2007 will be a lot like 2004 for Geelong. I think our mediocre efforts, especially in the first half of the season, have wiped away a lot of the respect we had around the league, pretty much like we weren't that respected in 2004, as 2003 was an ordinary season as well. In 2004 we generally played the role of the "hunter" and lifted our game to match the likes of Port, Brisbane, Essendon etc. This year teams like Richmond, Collingwood and the Bulldogs seemed to lift when they were playing us. In other words, we were the "hunted". I think the former will happen more in 2007.

As other people have said as well, we have a lot more mature players on our list this time around too. Players who have played finals football and know how to win. I think 2006 was a blip on the radar for Geelong, a pretty big blip yes, but a blip nevertheless. I'm sure the likes of Kelly, Ling and a few others who had ordinary seasons last year will improve next year too. Add the natural improvement of players such as Nathan Ablett, Stokes, Varcoe, Gamble etc, a proper pre-season and who knows what we can achieve next year?

Also, King and Ottens will be having their first full pre-seasons in God knows how long, so get them fit and firing, and I'm sure they'll give the likes of Bartel, Corey etc. first use of the ball to pass it into a forward line consisting of the likes of Nathan and Gary, Chapman, Steve Johnson etc. Do that often enough and I'm sure we'll be back in the hunt for the flag next season.

 

[Metallica_Man]

I have got a gut feeling that 2007 will be a lot like 2004 for Geelong. I think our mediocre efforts, especially in the first half of the season, have wiped away a lot of the respect we had around the league, pretty much like we weren't that respected in 2004, as 2003 was an ordinary season as well. In 2004 we generally played the role of the "hunter" and lifted our game to match the likes of Port, Brisbane, Essendon etc. This year teams like Richmond, Collingwood and the Bulldogs seemed to lift when they were playing us. In other words, we were the "hunted". I think the former will happen more in 2007.

As other people have said as well, we have a lot more mature players on our list this time around too. Players who have played finals football and know how to win. I think 2006 was a blip on the radar for Geelong, a pretty big blip yes, but a blip nevertheless. I'm sure the likes of Kelly, Ling and a few others who had ordinary seasons last year will improve next year too. Add the natural improvement of players such as Nathan Ablett, Stokes, Varcoe, Gamble etc, a proper pre-season and who knows what we can achieve next year?

Also, King and Ottens will be having their first full pre-seasons in God knows how long, so get them fit and firing, and I'm sure they'll give the likes of Bartel, Corey etc. first use of the ball to pass it into a forward line consisting of the likes of Nathan and Gary, Chapman, Steve Johnson etc. Do that often enough and I'm sure we'll be back in the hunt for the flag next season.

Hopefully, but I hope we go the step further!

 

[Larry Donahue]

I have got a gut feeling that 2007 will be a lot like 2004 for Geelong. I think our mediocre efforts, especially in the first half of the season, have wiped away a lot of the respect we had around the league, pretty much like we weren't that respected in 2004, as 2003 was an ordinary season as well. In 2004 we generally played the role of the "hunter" and lifted our game to match the likes of Port, Brisbane, Essendon etc. This year teams like Richmond, Collingwood and the Bulldogs seemed to lift when they were playing us. In other words, we were the "hunted". I think the former will happen more in 2007.

As other people have said as well, we have a lot more mature players on our list this time around too. Players who have played finals football and know how to win. I think 2006 was a blip on the radar for Geelong, a pretty big blip yes, but a blip nevertheless. I'm sure the likes of Kelly, Ling and a few others who had ordinary seasons last year will improve next year too. Add the natural improvement of players such as Nathan Ablett, Stokes, Varcoe, Gamble etc, a proper pre-season and who knows what we can achieve next year?

Also, King and Ottens will be having their first full pre-seasons in God knows how long, so get them fit and firing, and I'm sure they'll give the likes of Bartel, Corey etc. first use of the ball to pass it into a forward line consisting of the likes of Nathan and Gary, Chapman, Steve Johnson etc. Do that often enough and I'm sure we'll be back in the hunt for the flag next season.

Winty makes some very good points there. We were pretty much an unknown quantity in 2004 and were able to sneak under the guard. Remember many people (incl R.Walls and M.Shaehan) picked us for the SPOON that year. Our performance was well ahead of most expectations.
A bit like the 2005 Ashes, what could go wrong, did last year for the Cats. And the work they've done so far in the off season has demonstrated a level of commitment that I reckon is well over and above what even the most optimistic GFC supporters could have expected.
Fact is, we've now got more valuable experience into the side along with some real talent. Comparitively, we lacked that in 2004/5. And don't be sucked in by the Melbo press. You know they love to build us up and then give it to the Cats when we're down. The level of expectation lumped on the club is largely press driven. If you knew our list you wouldn't be calling us flag faves after round 2 last year - far from it.
Examine the lists. Make your own mind up. And for craaps sake don't walk away from the club. That's just weak.

 

[TheTimeCometh]

just watch the cricket - we can ALL enjoy the entertainment of a true A-class team for a change.