Premiership material??

[Gogeelong]

Does Geelong have the team to achieve this?

Back line looks O.K.

Midfield a touch slow

Forwardline is an unknown quantity?

Further improvement from Nathan, Stokes, Selwood and Hawkins will help in the future but what we need the most NOW is onfield leadership, someone who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck
When the heat is on we need somebody to stand up

No use saying another game that got away or we only have to worry about how many games we need to win by the end of the year.
Talk about mediocrity, if the coach thinks this way no wonder the players play the way they do

 

[finrod]

Does Geelong have the team to achieve this?

Back line looks O.K.

Midfield a touch slow

Forwardline is an unknown quantity?

Further improvement from Nathan, Stokes, Selwood and Hawkins will help in the future but what we need the most NOW is onfield leadership, someone who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck
When the heat is on we need somebody to stand up

No use saying another game that got away or we only have to worry about how many games we need to win by the end of the year.
Talk about mediocrity, if the coach thinks this way no wonder the players play the way they do

Not this year, and maybe not while Bomber is still there...

 

[Inferno]

Does Geelong have the team to achieve this?

Back line looks O.K.

Midfield a touch slow

Forwardline is an unknown quantity?

Further improvement from Nathan, Stokes, Selwood and Hawkins will help in the future but what we need the most NOW is onfield leadership, someone who can grab the game by the scruff of the neck
When the heat is on we need somebody to stand up

No use saying another game that got away or we only have to worry about how many games we need to win by the end of the year.
Talk about mediocrity, if the coach thinks this way no wonder the players play the way they do

Totally agree. We have no leadership and a lot of players (and the coach) just look like passengers atm. We need a new coach that DEMANDS respect and 100% every game from the players.

 

[Reg Hickey]

I think we have the players.

Perhaps just missing some further development of a few of the young'uns, the application, the fundamental belief, and an ounce or two of luck.

 

[Cattery]

Anyone will have a hard time convincing me that there's a vast difference in talent player wise between the Sydney Swans and Geelong, yet they've played in the last two Grand Finals while we seem to be treading water as one of a number of sides battling for a place in the bottom of the eight.

The only reason for this as I see it is that they're far more disciplined, better drilled, and have a game plan that they adhere to rigidly, which all comes back to the fact that they're simply better coached I guess.

Hope I'm wrong but it's beginning to look like the best we can do this year is get game time and experience into the youngsters [ N Ablett, Hawkins, Selwood etc. etc, ] with a view to having a real crack at it next year under a new coach.

Haven't completely given up on this year yet, this being Geelong who knows what they'll do in the coming weeks, but it was a much to familiar story at the weekend, a couple of good wins then losing a game we were expected to win.

 

[Herbs]

Totally agree. We have no leadership and a lot of players (and the coach) just look like passengers atm. We need a new coach that DEMANDS respect and 100% every game from the players.

Yes, a Leigh Matthews-esque hardnut would be great, someone like him would be out there giving hell to the players and making them work for success, not just expect it straight up.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

We don't have a dynamic or special list by any means, but in syaing that, it is not terrible. It is simply average, right in the middle.

Some average sides get the best out of their respective lists, and some don't.

We need a different mix of midfielders. Apart from the fact they are collectively slow, they need more tricks and need an increase in skill level.

 

[catman2006]

Consistency is the major problem,has been since i can remember.
Every game Geelong goes in favourites against good teams they lose.

 

[crosby123]

I'm hoping for at least a semi-final appearance this year, and really, if we don't make the prelim Bomber has to go. Next year, with no retirements, the young guns (Nath, Pris, Selwood, Varcoe, Djerrkura, Hawkins) getting some experience under their belts, the deadwood being delisted, we really will have an excellent list. This year maybe not quite there yet.

 

[della]

agree our midfield os too one paced and we don't really have anyone at the clearnaces who can get the ball and break open a pack.

one thing that upsets me as if u r slow then u better be good at clearances and we r not, opp teams continue to win the clearnaces at ease and then just run of our slow midfield players, this has to be fixed.


also our backline isnt a stregth it once was, scarlett and egan do the job, but the rest of them are not good one on one with there opp and get beaten to easily, apart from bomber we have no run also coming out of defence which hurts.


our kick ins r a joke, 2-3 yrs ago when j.hunt 1st came on the scene he would hit targets always outside 50 and away we were, now opp teams just put in a 12-14 man zone starting from 25 mtrs out and they block up the gaps and all we do is kick it 15mtrs in the pocket and then we r stuffed, we have no run coming out of defence which is my biggest concern.


overall we have an average hard working list but not premiership material by any stretch, another quick midfielder and attacking quick defender would be ideal.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Three problems:

- Ability
- Motivation
- Discipinle

 

[Selwood07]

Three problems:

- Ability
- Motivation
- Discipinle

With emphasis on the last two. Steely resolve and inspiration are lacking - we have an off-field captain again - though Tom Harley is a much more impressive leader than Steven King. We have a fairly talented list but lack Sydney's cohesion, Adelaide's accountability and West Coast's depth of skilled players to put us in the top 4. Those qualities we so clearly lack must come from the top - vacuous, wishy-washy, spent coach.

 

[Catsace]

Unless Bomber can reinvent himself in a way like Neil Daniher a couple of years ago became 'The Reverend' i feel Geelong's potential and premiership aspirations may remain locked away until a new coach can unleash them. I really think Geelong's list though is crying out for some 100% positive direction, i feel they are like 1988 in all seriousness.

Back then, you had Couch, Bairstow, G.Hocking, Stoneham, Brownless, Lindner, G.Ablett (Of course) a young Bourke, slightly older Flanigan, plus older nuts like Bos, Bruns, Yeates etc. This years Geelong has numerous players of a similar age to the Couches, Bairstows etc, plus the older nuts in Milburn, Ottens and dare i say King.

Oh for a Blighty, or any big time coach to come in and give the real direction, a playing style that could sweep the league off their feet like the exciting cats of 89-92...Just imagine what thrills us supporters would have if they can play to the skill and potential the list has. But to cut to the chase, i feel Bomber ain't that coach. But whoever gets the gig in 2008, it would be a job most coaches would die for i feel.

 

[Catsace]

I also forgot Scarlett in the older nut category. He's a much better full back than Darcy or Rogers was in the late 80's though. I also think with natural improvement, the pace of Stokes, maybe Tenace off a back flank as other posters have mooted already, Djerrkara, Varcoe can add the speed we need, all we need is someone to get a hard ball out, and have a fleet footed bloke running away with the crumb.

I still think though that with new direction, new vision and a new message, Geelong can have a few great years. But it needs to be directed from the top. People forgave Geelong's foibles under Blight, as they were special to watch, us fans knew that we had a team who could kick 25-30-35+ goals on occasions, and how good was that!!!! Tedious slogs like today just create frustration, i am sure there's a coach out there (Maybe Longmire or Voss) who can unleash the potential and turn it into action.

 

[TheTimeCometh]

*agility

*mobility

*hostility

 

[someday-somehow]

I also forgot Scarlett in the older nut category. He's a much better full back than Darcy or Rogers was in the late 80's though. I also think with natural improvement, the pace of Stokes, maybe Tenace off a back flank as other posters have mooted already, Djerrkara, Varcoe can add the speed we need, all we need is someone to get a hard ball out, and have a fleet footed bloke running away with the crumb.

I still think though that with new direction, new vision and a new message, Geelong can have a few great years. But it needs to be directed from the top. People forgave Geelong's foibles under Blight, as they were special to watch, us fans knew that we had a team who could kick 25-30-35+ goals on occasions, and how good was that!!!! Tedious slogs like today just create frustration, i am sure there's a coach out there (Maybe Longmire or Voss) who can unleash the potential and turn it into action.

Those were the days before the flood was invented, the game has changed greatly. Games are won and lost on centimetres these days

 

[Gavin Excell]

Oh for a Blighty, or any big time coach to come in and give the real direction, a playing style that could sweep the league off their feet like the exciting cats of 89-92...Just imagine what thrills us supporters would have if they can play to the skill and potential the list has. But to cut to the chase, i feel Bomber ain't that coach.

Well said

We had this chance last year to do something about it but unfortunately the lame ar$ed board decided that a coach with a 39% winning stirke rate with no obvious direction or game plan was good enough, thereby reinforcing rhe view that Geelong not only accepts mediocrity it actively searches it out and embraces it'. This year is a write off. Its all about losing ebough matches to give the board enough f...ng evidence to feel emboldened to sack the coach. Until then we are just treading water.

 

[Bengal Tiger]

That's a great idea to generate some funds for your club.

Premiership material in Geelong is so rare, that if make your handbags out of it, the players will love them and you will sell hundreds to your faithful fans.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Bengal Tier - I cannot believe a Richmond supporter (surely the AFL's greatest embarassment) can have the front to bag another club. Open your f...ng eyes to your own backyard.

How about you trod off and do some more of your rebuilding
Laughable.

 

[Bengal Tiger]

Bengal Tier - I cannot believe a Richmond supporter (surely the AFL's greatest embarassment) can have the front to bag another club. Open your f...ng eyes to your own backyard.

How about you trod off and do some more of your rebuilding
Laughable.

Thanks Gav,

I really enjoyed your performance at UNSKILLED STADIUM against the most embarassing team in the AFL.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Yes I agree. Geelongs loss to tigers was its lowest ebb last year.
Losing to Richmond is disgraceful - an embarrassment that cannot and should not be accepted by any club.

 

[Copernicus]

Yes I agree. Geelongs loss to tigers was its lowest ebb last year.
Losing to Richmond is disgraceful - an embarrassment that cannot and should not be accepted by any club.

Can't disagree there.

We all hope and pray that we are premiership material but I am starting to become a little disillusioned. Anyway, it's only four weeks in, and at times we've looked like worldbeaters and other times we've looked like bottom four. I think we have the potential over the next five years to have a real red hot go at the flag, but this being Geelong ya just never know. We have a lot of young talent who could take us all the way, or they could fall by the wayside and we'll end up middle of the road as we have been the last ten years (2004 excluded).

The potential is there, it just needs to be unlocked.

 

[Billy Ryan]

Thanks Gav,

I really enjoyed your performance at UNSKILLED STADIUM against the most embarassing team in the AFL.

It took you eleven months to come up with that one? Zing!