The Age - 2005 review: Geelong

[Conan Troutman]

2005 review: Geelong
September 21, 2005

Melissa Ryan looks at Geelong, one of the best performed Victorian teams this year.

What went right?

Remarkably little for the team expected to, along with St Kilda, sail easily into the last weeks of September. Yet despite all the hindrances, the Cats were still only three seconds away from reaching a second consecutive preliminary final. Despite their severe personnel problems, the Cats also confirmed pre-season predictions that they, and St Kilda, would be the two best-performed Victorian teams of the year.

What went wrong?

An injury list that at times was so sizeable that Geelong could have had its own hospital ward dedicated for the use of its languishing soldiers. The Cats had only 24 players available when they had to travel to Sydney in round 15, and over the course of the year, they missed more than 130 games because of injury.

Disappointments

Brad Ottens. Did not have the impact in his first season with the club that had been hoped for, but was carrying injury throughout the year. Tom Harley. A huge disappointment for the Cats not to have this top-line defender for big chunks of the year, with the coach believ ing the Cats would have won more games had Harley been available.

Worst performance

The Cats lacked respect when they played the Western Bulldogs in round 17, and were made to pay by being whacked for it, losing by 35 points. But the results that hurt the most: losing to Melbourne by a point at Skilled Stadium, the first time since 1988, and the heartbreaking defeat inflicted in the semi-final by Sydney, with Nick Davis' last-gasp goal.

Best performance

The thrashing of West Coast in round 21 was a day out for the Cats and injected a significant bout of confidence ahead of finals, while the victory over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium in round five was an important breakthrough for the club, which had lost its past 13 interstate trips.

Rising stars

The Cats were forced to play Nathan Ablett this year, but the younger Ablett made an immediate splash at Skilled Stadium, with his four-goal half against West Coast promising plenty for the future. Matthew Egan gained valuable senior experience playing 15 games, including holding a key defensive position from round 12 onwards.

Best and fairest

Darren Milburn, third in last year's count for the Carji Greeves Medal, again will feature strongly after a superb year in which he was also unlucky to miss out on a spot in the All-Australian team. Unobtrusive but productive midfielder Joel Corey also should poll well, having failed to get fewer than 20 possessions in a game only three times this season, while Cameron Ling and Matthew Scarlett also will be prominent.

Coach

A tumultuous year for Mark Thompson, beset on many fronts as he struggled to put a competitive team together in the face of injury and live up to the promise of last year. His stern defence of Brad Ottens — "You people (the media) . . . All of you. All of you. It's rubbish. Leave him alone" — was certainly a talking point, and he was even criticised for his body language late in the season.

Players used

37

Games missed by top five players

(King, Ling, Scarlett, Harley, Ottens) 27.

What do they need?

The Cats have a list that should be reaching its prime — with a healthy level of experience but not overburdened by ageing players — but they need new dimensions to take further steps, particularly in the form of explosiveness, of a gamebreaker who can break the shackles and lift the team. The key forward structure also remains an area that needs tinkering.

By the numbers

1st in marks

2nd in contested possessions

4th in disposals

12th in first possessions

14th in errors

16th in one percenters

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2005/09/20/1126982059545.html

 

[Unwritten_Law]

100% spot on.

You could argue the Fremantle game tops the WB game given the Doggies late charge to September, never the less it was a ********house performance. Good review.

 

[Fall Out Boy]

No complaints with that at all.
Quite accurate and fair to the club.

Melissa Ryan > Robert Walls, Mike Sheahan, Patrick Smith

 

[Kegs44]

So true

 

[catattack]

Very good report there.

 

[The Hoops]

I noticed that last stat of 16th in one percenters this year. Most games we lost we didn't look switched on from the start and didn't do the little things. However in games like the West Coast win the guys were doing the little things.

Something we have to improve on for next year.