Autopsy 'Remember when...' - Volume V: 1997

[SJ]

Volume I: 1994
Volume II: 2002
Volume III: 1989
Volume IV: 1993

I thought I'd revive this series during the off-season and this time look at 1997.

Even though I was a child in the 1990s, for some reason, 1997 doesn't stick in my mind as much as 1992-1996. Maybe because I don't see as much footage or as many highlight packages from that season as I do those previous.

Somehow we lost Ablett, had Burns our leading goalkicker with 50, and Hocking our second highest with 27, and yet finished 1.7% away from top spot. All done with seemingly makeshift names in Hall, McKinnon, Steinfort, Corrigan, Hargreaves and Biddiscombe playing a stack of games.

Of course, maybe these weaknesses were exposed in September as we were knocked out in straight sets.

How do you remember 1997?

Rnd      T      Opponent      Scoring      F      Scoring      A      R      Venue      Crowd      Date  
R1    A    Richmond    4.3 7.5 11.9 13.17    95    7.3 9.8 14.11 15.14    104    L    M.C.G.    48358    30-Mar-97
R2    H    West Coast    0.6 4.8 7.9 11.12    78    3.1 6.4 8.4 11.6    72    W    Kardinia Park    17988    5-Apr-97
R3    A    Port Adelaide    0.2 3.2 7.4 14.6    90    3.5 8.11 13.17 18.21    129    L    Football Park    32074    12-Apr-97
R4    H    Essendon    2.4 2.11 8.17 11.19    85    4.4 5.8 10.10 11.12    78    W    M.C.G.    54922    20-Apr-97
R5    A    Carlton    3.4 7.8 11.12 13.16    94    4.4 6.10 10.12 12.14    86    W    Princes Park    25801    27-Apr-97
R6    H    Fremantle    5.6 7.6 12.10 14.13    97    2.1 5.3 6.6 6.7    43    W    Kardinia Park    16467    3-May-97
R7    H    Sydney    4.2 5.5 9.7 11.10    76    0.2 2.6 3.7 6.8    44    W    Kardinia Park    22151    10-May-97
R8    A    Melbourne    5.2 7.5 11.8 19.14    128    2.2 5.3 7.6 7.7    49    W    M.C.G.    28989    17-May-97
R9    A    Brisbane Lions    4.3 5.3 12.6 15.8    98    4.4 12.9 15.9 19.12    126    L    Gabba    19828    25-May-97
R10    H    St Kilda    3.5 6.7 12.9 16.11    107    3.1 6.4 9.9 11.13    79    W    Kardinia Park    22731    31-May-97
R11    A    Western Bulldogs    3.1 5.2 8.6 11.9    75    2.5 7.7 8.10 14.12    96    L    Princes Park    24897    7-Jun-97
R12    H    Hawthorn    3.1 7.3 11.5 12.10    82    4.4 8.8 11.9 13.10    88    L    Kardinia Park    22871    14-Jun-97
R13    H    Adelaide    6.3 8.4 11.6 17.8    110    0.3 3.6 6.9 7.12    54    W    Kardinia Park    20236    28-Jun-97
R14    H    Collingwood    3.6 4.9 6.18 9.26    80    3.3 5.6 6.11 10.12    72    W    M.C.G.    65228    5-Jul-97
R15    A    North Melbourne    2.3 6.5 12.8 15.12    102    5.2 9.5 12.6 14.8    92    W    M.C.G.    45120    11-Jul-97
R16    H    Richmond    3.2 7.6 11.8 16.14    110    7.1 9.2 10.5 12.6    78    W    Kardinia Park    24099    19-Jul-97
R17    A    West Coast    4.1 7.6 12.8 12.10    82    2.4 7.7 15.7 20.9    129    L    Subiaco    34565    27-Jul-97
R18    H    Port Adelaide    5.2 11.4 15.9 25.9    159    2.1 4.4 7.5 11.8    74    W    Kardinia Park    21867    2-Aug-97
R19    A    Essendon    3.4 4.9 7.12 9.14    68    0.1 5.2 9.4 11.7    73    L    M.C.G.    53901    10-Aug-97
R20    H    Carlton    5.4 8.7 12.15 13.17    95    1.2 3.8 6.10 9.13    67    W    Kardinia Park    23007    16-Aug-97
R21    A    Fremantle    3.4 7.7 11.9 14.16    100    2.3 3.6 6.12 9.14    68    W    Subiaco    28751    24-Aug-97
R22    A    Sydney    4.3 6.5 10.8 15.10    100    2.5 5.7 9.9 13.12    90    W    S.C.G.    46168    30-Aug-97
QF    F    North Melbourne    2.4 5.6 6.7 9.7    61    3.4 6.9 8.10 11.13    79    L    M.C.G.    55561    7-Sep-97
SF    F    Adelaide    4.4 6.5 8.10 9.14    68    1.2 7.6 7.8 11.10    76    L    Football Park    46319    13-Sep-97

 

[Nankervis brothers]

From memory, Ablett started off the season in the reserves, being eased back from a knee injury. Kicked 10 (?) against Richmond's twos, looked set to return, then his knee went again. And that was that.

97 was Ayres' second year. The perception was that Geelong hadn't one a flag because they were lacking defensively and were not accountable enough. Ayers was going to remedy all that. I reckon we became a more dour team as a result, especially by 97. I guess you could say it was a less attacking and less 'flamboyant' brand of football than the Blight era (or most Geelong eras). We were still winning games, but by smaller margins and without kicking big scores, which was partly due to the greater focus on defence and partly to do with the bits and bobs forward line the OP refers to in the post-Ablett era. I personally preferred watching them under Blight.

There was still some good-excellet talent running around in 97 - Hocking, Stoneham, Colbert, Riccardi, Mansfield, and players like Mcgrath and Pickering had excellent years (if i recall right). Barnes was useful, and Burns was in top flight form, etc. Our back six was unusually strong.

Finished second by percentage to the Saints in what was a very even year with no team really dominating.

Then the finals were a disaster, partly due to some bad luck and largely due to problems in the then scheduling/final system of the time.

We all know the story. A second place Geelong was rewarded by playing 7th place Nth on their home ground, under lights and in the wet. Nth were wet-condition, nigh-time specialist on the G. Lost in a close one. Then our second chance was against Adelaide in Adelaide where the infamous Colbert decision, at a pivotal moment late in the game, lead to a close loss. I believe the final system was changed the following year, but could be wrong.

I actually view 97 (maybe along with 92) as the one that got away. GEE of 89 was a young team with little to no finals experience against one the VFL/AFL's greatest teams at their peak. Was a brilliant effort to get so close. We made the 94 GF through two after the siren goals, so maybe a bit lucky, and WCE were clearly the best team of that year. CARL were streets ahead in 95 and on a massive roll. I guess you could say we chocked in 92. But 97 didn't really have any dominant team, and we had more finals experience than the serious contenders. I firmly believe they would have accounted for ADE or STK on the G in a GF. But that is all woulda, coulda, shoulda, but didn't.

97 was really the last hurrah of a very strong era at Geelong that didn't result in a flag. Maybe even the strongest team/era to not win a premiership.

 

[winty]

If memory serves me correctly, I think we were pretty much level pegging with St.Kilda percentage wise going into Round 22, and were actually about 5 or 6 goals up against the Swans deep into the last quarter before they kicked the last 4 goals of the game which really stuffed up our percentage, and allowed the Saints to claim the minor premiership.

Could've been interesting to see what would've happened if we had to play a Brisbane side who limped into September (they recorded a draw and three losses in their last four games) rather than a finals hardened North Melbourne.

 

[winty]

Then the finals were a disaster, partly due to some bad luck and largely due to problems in the then scheduling/final system of the time.

We all know the story. A second place Geelong was rewarded by playing 7th place Nth on their home ground, under lights and in the wet. Nth were wet-condition, nigh-time specialist on the G. Lost in a close one. Then our second chance was against Adelaide in Adelaide where the infamous Colbert decision, at a pivotal moment late in the game, lead to a close loss. I believe the final system was changed the following year, but could be wrong.

The North Melbourne game was also played on Sunday night during the middle of a school term too, which would've made it virtually impossible for families with school-aged children to make the trip from Geelong to the MCG that night, considering the little tackers would've been tucked back in bed after midnight. First and only Sunday night final too.

 

[James1970]

Cats played footy in '97?

No memory at all - spent the year drinkin', druggin' and you know whatin' to wipe away the memories of the past 20 years following the hoops. I just couldn't do it anymore - no hope, no will. I mean, Ayres was the coach, FFS. Would drive any sane man away from it all...

 

[you pick one]

Yeah the year we went out in strait sets,gutted took the empties to the local dump up in Brisbane the next morning, there was a bloke with 2 or 3 kids I suppose between 5 and 12 years old throwing out all their Cats gear, Jumpers Beanies what have ya all good stuff.
Normally I'd say something I think,but there were no words.

 

[Senatorguesty]

From memory, Ablett started off the season in the reserves, being eased back from a knee injury. Kicked 10 (?) against Richmond's twos, looked set to return, then his knee went again. And that was that.

97 was Ayres' second year. The perception was that Geelong hadn't one a flag because they were lacking defensively and were not accountable enough. Ayers was going to remedy all that. I reckon we became a more dour team as a result, especially by 97. I guess you could say it was a less attacking and less 'flamboyant' brand of football than the Blight era (or most Geelong eras). We were still winning games, but by smaller margins and without kicking big scores, which was partly due to the greater focus on defence and partly to do with the bits and bobs forward line the OP refers to in the post-Ablett era. I personally preferred watching them under Blight.

There was still some good-excellet talent running around in 97 - Hocking, Stoneham, Colbert, Riccardi, Mansfield, and players like Mcgrath and Pickering had excellent years (if i recall right). Barnes was useful, and Burns was in top flight form, etc. Our back six was unusually strong.

Finished second by percentage to the Saints in what was a very even year with no team really dominating.

Then the finals were a disaster, partly due to some bad luck and largely due to problems in the then scheduling/final system of the time.

We all know the story. A second place Geelong was rewarded by playing 7th place Nth on their home ground, under lights and in the wet. Nth were wet-condition, nigh-time specialist on the G. Lost in a close one. Then our second chance was against Adelaide in Adelaide where the infamous Colbert decision, at a pivotal moment late in the game, lead to a close loss. I believe the final system was changed the following year, but could be wrong.

I actually view 97 (maybe along with 92) as the one that got away. GEE of 89 was a young team with little to no finals experience against one the VFL/AFL's greatest teams at their peak. Was a brilliant effort to get so close. We made the 94 GF through two after the siren goals, so maybe a bit lucky, and WCE were clearly the best team of that year. CARL were streets ahead in 95 and on a massive roll. I guess you could say we chocked in 92. But 97 didn't really have any dominant team, and we had more finals experience than the serious contenders. I firmly believe they would have accounted for ADE or STK on the G in a GF. But that is all woulda, coulda, shoulda, but didn't.

97 was really the last hurrah of a very strong era at Geelong that didn't result in a flag. Maybe even the strongest team/era to not win a premiership.

Good post.
Just 1 correction, 1997 was ayres (non capital is deliberate) 3rd year, he started in 1995 getting the Cats to the GF.
I feel 1993 was more the one that got away over 1997 though, but thats a personal opinion I suppose.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Good post.
Just 1 correction, 1997 was ayres (non capital is deliberate) 3rd year, he started in 1995 getting the Cats to the GF.
I feel 1993 was more the one that got away over 1997 though, but thats a personal opinion I suppose.

Ah, right you are. I have no real memory of 96 (Ayers second season) for some reason. Edited it out perhaps. Agreed - 93 was a chance. If only that famous meeting had happened a week or two earlier.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

When you think of 1997 it was really a farce from the AFL . Nth Melb finish 7th -beat us narrowly and then suddenly they get catipulated straight into a prelim final from 7th !

You could argue that there were some very tainted or mickey mouse type premierships won in that era . Both Adelaide flags are hugely suspect -both came off 13W 9L Seasons .One of them they finish 5th with a paltry 13 wins -get flogged in their 1st final by Melb by over 60 points -yet because of the system get a 2nd chance -what an absolute joke -and win the premiership - Contrast that to Geelong in 2008 21 wins and Stkilda in 2009 who won their 1st 20 games -and both sides ended up with nothing .

In 1997 i can still remember Wayne Jackson justifying the decision to give Adelaide that home final -by saying that " the AFL reward teams that win finals "-how suspect is that -there was no firm rule in place -he just decided that at the time.

Getting back to Geelong side of 1997 -very unfortunate not to win the flag -thats why ive always stuck up for Ayres a bit -you look at the team there was quite a few ordinary players -but they won plenty of games -and added to that fact he came in after Blight -who had squeezed every drip from the Lemon . You contrast that to say Ken Judge after Malthousee successfull era -the Eagles were diabolical -15th 16th 13th -they were shocking -Geelong wernt like that

 

[you pick one]

Any one with a copy of the 2012 VFL Grand Final who could post the 3/4 time addresses of Knights and Ayers, the difference in professionalism is outstanding.
Could we make this Bobby's penance Mods?There well worth listening to and he does off topic almost as well as me.

 

[Senatorguesty]

Any one with a copy of the 2012 VFL Grand Final who could post the 3/4 time addresses of Knights and Ayers, the difference in professionalism is outstanding.
Could we make this Bobby's penance Mods?There well worth listening to and he does off topic almost as well as me.

I'd love to see that, it seems I was the only one that used to rate Knights as a coach/developer when he was at the bombers/got knifed in the back.
Actually I'm going to "download" the VFL grannie right now, we really played a great game bar the goal kicking.

 

[you pick one]

I'd love to see that, it seems I was the only one that used to rate Knights as a coach/developer when he was at the bombers/got knifed in the back.
Actually I'm going to "download" the VFL grannie right now, we really played a great game bar the goal kicking.

There's not so much of Ayres as I though but to compensate that Knights was better than I remembered.