Premiership Hangover

BigBadCam

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I've seen the term 'Premiership hangover' thrown around as the reason why Carlton of '96 and Essendon of '01 failed, and the same term seems to be being used widely as the reason why Geelong will fail in '08. I don't know much about what happened to Carlton or even Essendon back in those years of dominance, but as far as Geelong's situation is concerned, I think it's just a way of admitting that someone knows very little about the Geelong Football Club.

If I had to provide a short defition for the famous 'premiership hangover,' I would call it a loss of hunger. Since success has been tasted, the playing group no longer has the same desire to achieve premiership glory. After 44 years of nothing and the whole 'keeping the lid' on thing last year, if I was a no-nothing nobody it would be easy to presume as much. Knowing what I know about the club though, I know the same methodical, mechanical 'one game at a time' approach that was applied to every match in '07 is being applied to the '08 season.

Numerous interviews I have read with players has indicated that they are going about business as usual and are not going to start looking back and thinking how good they are until their careers are over. Last year, the players knew they had a job to do, and I don't think anything has changed. The injury to Egan which prevented him from being there on grand final day, and the infamous dropping of Mark Blake in favour of Steven King will provide added motivation. To say that the players don't want it is fanciful at best.

Thoughts?
 

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Rosella

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#2
Just because it happened before doesn't mean it will happen again.

I respect our leadership group and coaching staff to keep the team focused for the year
 

happy_eagle

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#3
look what happened to us after 2006

you'd probly want to keep party goers like johnson and co, safe and away otherwise 2008 might be a long year
 

Cattery

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#4
Carlton had an ageing list I seem to recall, had one last great year in them in 95, Essendon was easier to explain and it wasn't a "Premiership hangover" as much as a juggernaut called Brisbane, Dons would have gone back to back if not for them, and I don't see any team on the horizon remotely comparable to the Lions of that period in 2008.

I think the term Premiership hangover is just another way of saying that a team is pretty fragile mentally, and I'd be very surprised, in fact stunned, if this applied to us next year, after the soul searching the group went through earlier this year and what they've accomplished largely because of it I'd expect them to be just as committed next year, don't think one flag in forty four years is going to completely satisfy this group.
 

BigBadCam

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Carlton had an ageing list I seem to recall, had one last great year in them in 95, Essendon was easier to explain and it wasn't a "Premiership hangover" as much as a juggernaut called Brisbane, Dons would have gone back to back if not for them, and I don't see any team on the horizon remotely comparable to the Lions of that period in 2008.

I think the term Premiership hangover is just another way of saying that a team is pretty fragile mentally, and I'd be very surprised, in fact stunned, if this applied to us next year, after the soul searching the group went through earlier this year and what they've accomplished largely because of it I'd expect them to be just as committed next year, don't think one flag in forty four years is going to completely satisfy this group.
Well said.
 

CF

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#6
the Lions certainly didn't have a premiership hangover. Sides lose momentum for many reasons like injuries, loss of form, off field issues (footy and personal issues), loss of confidence, media pressure or scandals, loss of key personnel (players,coaches and ancillary staff), changes in the game plan that don't work out or changes in the team structure through injury or retirements, and other teams closing the gap and performing much better against us. There are probably other reason you can think off as well.

Calling this a premiership hangover is a neat label but these can happen to teams who haven't won a flag either.

I am impressed by the teams confidence and leradership at present. But that could just be some preseason hype getting to me as well. 2007 was a terrific year. I think the players will have something that successful teams/sportmen develop from winning this year. That is ruthlessness in playing and confidence in winning. They know they can deliver on the big stage. They have proven themselves. They now need to nuture that into a winning ruthlessness that you see great teams develop.

But the road to september 2008 is a long one with many known and unkown hurdles to jump over. Guessing the outcome at this stage is more an exercise of wishful thinking. Let the season start and we shall see how the lads are going, then make up your mind. Until then enjoy 2007, but don't get suckered by the preseason BS of any side.
 
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#7
Other cliches thrown around from season 2007:

Geelong are flat-track bullies - wrong
Geelong have peaked too early - wrong
Geelong doesn't have a culture of success, they won't win - wrong

etc
etc
etc

People are HOPING we have a premiership hangover, that's all it is. Just cos they think that, like all of the above, doesn't mean it will happen. :thumbsu:

Anyway, by all reports, Whorethron have already won the 2008 premiership and one more before 2012. Then apparently Collingwood are gonna win one, and of course Chris Judd is gonna win one, so I don't know if we'll be able to squeeze another one in during the next 5 years anyway ;)
 

kendall_cedric

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#8
Carlton had an ageing list I seem to recall, had one last great year in them in 95, Essendon was easier to explain and it wasn't a "Premiership hangover" as much as a juggernaut called Brisbane, Dons would have gone back to back if not for them, and I don't see any team on the horizon remotely comparable to the Lions of that period in 2008.
The fact that you, or any of us, don't see a team on the horizon doesn't mean that they aren't there. Who said Brisbane was going to smash the competition over a four year period prior to the 2001 season?
 

Turbocat

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#10
I don't put to much value on the players press talk. Talk is cheep. At the start of 2006 didn't the playing group announce their determination to right the wrong of the Swans game. No matter who say's what , the winning of the GF will have an effect on the players and some it may well be a negative effect.

Having said that the majority of the playing group will probably benefit from now purely playing to add to the premiership total rather than trying to crack the duck. Players that have been at the club a while yet were not in the final 22 will know that their time to make their make mark is dwindling , others yet to make their way , like Hawkins , Varcoe , Gamble will be desperate to get in the main game. Any player worth his salt would know the chance to play in a group of this strength is rare , it probably will be their only chance for ultimate success

When weighing it all , the playing groups age and the depth of our list any who do drop off will find that they will not last long in the 1's
 

Cattery

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#11
The fact that you, or any of us, don't see a team on the horizon doesn't mean that they aren't there. Who said Brisbane was going to smash the competition over a four year period prior to the 2001 season?
Yep you're right of course, it's merely my opinion based on observing the other fifteen teams and I don't see any of them as being on the verge of greatness, which doesn't mean one, or more, may not emerge from the pack in 08.
 

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Ashb23

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#12
Yep you're right of course, it's merely my opinion based on observing the other fifteen teams and I don't see any of them as being on the verge of greatness, which doesn't mean one, or more, may not emerge from the pack in 08.
Yes - Many WC supporters couldn't see anyone beating them for the next TEN years, let alone this year. So you never know. Having said that, IF (and thats a huge if) the playing group played as well as they did this year, and we can have another awesome run with injuries, there is no reason we can't go B2B.

I for one hope we are at least top four heading to the finals - This year I was so busy keeping a lid on it and waiting for us to fall over (and refusing to be confident after I declared us winners V Sydney when the 5 min warning came up in '05) I don't think I enjoyed it as much as I should have. Next year I plan on savouring EVERY win and seeing it as 1 step closer to ultimate success. I will go into the season believing we are the best and expecting to win!
 

Copernicus

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#14
I don't buy into the premiership hangover - teams play for one thing and one thing only, and that is a premiership. I don't think our hunger will have abated.

If anything, we might even be hungrier, if only to prove that last year wasn't a freakish occurrence. I think we'll see a very determined GFC in 2008.
 

bigdroppunt

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#15
Yep it took me 2 whole weeks to get over mine and get my voice back............................:D

I would tell all my mates that geelong fans had all lost there voice so they could sound like Frank Costa,**** know's i did for thoes two weeks
 
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