News The Lid's Back On

[numbwombat]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hawks-stitch-up-top-guns-20120216-1tbvv.html

WHILE Collingwood is under significant pressure to retain key players this year, the club widely regarded as its main rival for the premiership, Hawthorn, will feel little anxiety about losing important players to rival clubs in the first year of the free agency system.

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/hawks-stitch-up-top-guns-20120216-1tbvv.html#ixzz1mayRNvhu
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what a joke. already written off, a la preseason 2011, the same team (minus ottens and ling, admittedly big outs) that beat these two twice each last season plus once each in finals

???

 

[numbwombat]

(apologies for putting up such an unashamedly pro-hawks fluff piece)

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

it's a bleeping joke isn't it!

Go watch the new Foxfooty preview channel and it's all Hawthorn on there as well.
It's as if their preliminary final performance was the pinnacle of the 2011 AFL season and it will somehow carry over into the 2012 season.
But the fact is...Collingwood were quite ordinary in that game and yet they still were able to beat Hawthorn who played above their own capabilities.

The Geelong boys must love all the media hype placed on these Melbourne-based teams

when it all starts again...Kelly and the gang will reaffirm what greatness truly is

 

[SJ]

We do well when the lid is on.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

We do well when the lid is on.

true
but we can't help it if the lid is starting to bobble, it's getting mighty full after all those champagne bottles and silverware....at some point, it's bound to come off though

 

[Partridge]

We do well when the lid is on.

Sounds right to me.

I've always thought sporting clubs who don't feel the need to tell the world how great they are seem to be settled, professional, and focused only on letting actions speak for them. It's worked pretty well for us the last 5 years.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Well- those other teams were unlucky 'limping' in to our finals games while we were 'lucky' to be hitting our peak
That couldn't happen again could it?

 

[Copernicus]

Can't say I am too worried, let the meedja talk up the Pies and the Hawks ad nauseum as we swoop by below the radar.

 

[randyzany]

They can have the hype and the media hacks jizzing themselves silly over them for all I care.

I'll take the Premierships thanks.

 

[numbwombat]

I've always thought sporting clubs who don't feel the need to tell the world how great they are seem to be settled, professional, and focused only on letting actions speak for them. It's worked pretty well for us the last 5 years.

don't get me wrong, i'm all for both the club's humility and observers failing to realise how good they are (the humility needn't extend to supporters imo )

it just gets a bit frustrating when this is said for the second year in a row, with a flag in between, by full-time footy journos. baffling that they can be so oblivious. and jake niall isn't normally such a hack.

 

[you pick one]

I was a big lid fan in 07,but I removed it at 3/4 time in the 07 GF and then unceremoniously chucked it off the end of Cunningham Pier in 08 while I was down for the raising of the flag.
Three flags in five years what does it take for Cat fans to come out of their shells,come on enjoy the now it won't last for ever.

 

[joe444]

I was a big lid fan in 07,but I removed it at 3/4 time in the 07 GF and then unceremoniously chucked it off the end of Cunningham Pier in 08 while I was down for the raising of the flag.
Three flags in five years what does it take for Cat fans to come out of their shells,come on enjoy the now it won't last for ever.

Sometimes, reading the thread title is not enough.

Agree with OP - the lack of recognition is odd. Much like last year, the media are just bored with saying Geelong are good. They can't say we'll slide either. So we just cease to exist.

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

he must have forgotten about Geelong is all...

 

[jaykay72]

To be fair, ask yourself this questions: are your expectations higher or lower this year?

Yes, last year we'd lost our coach & 'best player' - but it was the torn apart 'game plan' that was probably the biggest reason we were written off, and yet none fo these were insurmountable.

This year we have lost more players who probably can't be as easily replaced in our game plan as GA Jr was (yes, Ottens & Ling again) but my biggest concern is the number of injuries that have occurred in the pre-season. That, coupled with our tough early draw, has me saying I'll be 'satisfied' if we manage to make Top 4 - from there of course it's anyone's for the taking. But it's certainly not a given in my mind (as in past years).

 

[witsend]

To be fair, ask yourself this questions: are your expectations higher or lower this year?

Yes, last year we'd lost our coach & 'best player' - but it was the torn apart 'game plan' that was probably the biggest reason we were written off, and yet none fo these were insurmountable.

This year we have lost more players who probably can't be as easily replaced in our game plan as GA Jr was (yes, Ottens & Ling again) but my biggest concern is the number of injuries that have occurred in the pre-season. That, coupled with our tough early draw, has me saying I'll be 'satisfied' if we manage to make Top 4 - from there of course it's anyone's for the taking. But it's certainly not a given in my mind (as in past years).

Our main challengers you would expect to be Collingwood and Hawthorn and Carlton.
Collingwood were found out for alleged depth and a picked apart game-plan last year. Lost MM and a LOT of players who give them x-factor. Krakeour looks shaky, Davis (AA) gone, Jolly not any younger and struggled last year.
Exactly where will the improvement come from?
Hawthorn will always be dangerous with their Top 6 and in particular Buddy, but they simply don't have a back line or rucks worth a pinch of emu droppings. Structurally unsound but dangerous. No doubt both teams will point to up and coming young hopefuls but they are not a patch on our kids.
Menzel (when returns) Duncan, Bundy et al are seriously solid Top 22.
Carlton could be a worry. Their MF is a s good as any and the addition of Duigan has actually strengthened their back line.
The key will be Kreuzer for mine.
If he has a breakout year then they could seriously challenge.
Until proved otherwise, Geelong should be acknowledged as reigning Premiers and firm favourites in 2012. Considering we played the aforementioned teams 7 times last year for 7 wins and one of those teams hasn't beaten us in the last 7 encounters, then it's hard not to mount a case for our chances.

 

[witsend]

To be fair, ask yourself this questions: are your expectations higher or lower this year?

Yes, last year we'd lost our coach & 'best player' - but it was the torn apart 'game plan' that was probably the biggest reason we were written off, and yet none fo these were insurmountable.

This year we have lost more players who probably can't be as easily replaced in our game plan as GA Jr was (yes, Ottens & Ling again) but my biggest concern is the number of injuries that have occurred in the pre-season. That, coupled with our tough early draw, has me saying I'll be 'satisfied' if we manage to make Top 4 - from there of course it's anyone's for the taking. But it's certainly not a given in my mind (as in past years).

Higher than this time last year.
2nd year with the coach and game-plan, transition plans well under way. We blooded so many players last year.
I do think our first 8 games or so will be challenging due to a few injuries but then so are other teams like Collingwood. Wouldn't be surprised to see us turn the corner 4-4 or 5-3 but that would be a solid enough base to challenge for Top 4. From there anything is possible.
I expect us to be serious Premiership contenders.

PS Think back to this time last year and ask yourself if you really, truly expected a flag after losing GAJ, Bomber and getting humiliated in the PF?

 

[bobbycatsfanme]

Think back to this time last year and ask yourself if you really, truly expected a flag after losing GAJ, Bomber and getting humiliated in the PF?

yes!
the players were never up for that PF and it was justified on the night.
Am positive there were a few other Cat followers who really thought we'd win it in 2011.

I reckon we go back2back this year because we have 3 of the very finest midfielders in Kelly, Bartel, Selwood. Corey is a year older but he'd still amongst the top 20 midfielders when fully fit.
Steve Johnson has to be one of the best forwards in the game along with LeCras, Milne, Riewoldt, Franklin, Cloke and the others who are consistently good for 50+ goals a year.
Chappy is tearing up the track and finally having one his finest pre-season's in years.

We lose a truly super ruckman but we gain a champion VFL ruckman who will be younger than Otto and from all reports, will hold his own without any worries (barring injury).

Throw in the defenders and the continued upside of Christensen, Duncan, Menzel, Varcoe, Hawkins, T. Hunt etc and I think we could be looking at being around 9-2 or 10-1 come the halfway point of the season.

 

[funk44]

stop being so precious, who cares if the media are talking us up or not...

 

[darren forssman]

too right funk, the dawks are playing tonight, hence the puff piece.

 

[Farmer2Goggin]

From the Media perspective , sustained success becomes mundane and doesn't sell papers so to speak. Let's hope we remain controversy free and fly a little under the radar because I think that suits our culture best - we're not chest beaters , we're more like smiling assasins.
I don't know what it is but I'm so pumped about 2012. I'm still warm in the pants about 3 from 5 years but this year I can't wait to see which youngsters step up , how Scotty performs 2nd year in , our evolving game plan and what other innovations we bring as we are clearly well ahead of the curve in a lot of areas. Bring it on !!

 

[dazbroncos]

Respect is earned not given.

We have definitely earned. Do we get it.. not really..

Does that matter... nope.

I'd much rather have a few of the Chappy, Jimmy, Sel types that went through 08 instill that gut wretching hardness and hatred that you need to call on when its all on the line and instill the "playing with a chip" rather than having all the media gushing about the greatness to come without a ball being bounced.

I'll give the Hawks credit for managing their list in March... and i'll be the first to remind them in September that it did them sweet **** all good as we beat them again...

What matters goes on inside the walls of the Cattery, not what offseason footy jounos write for February fluff...

Go Catters...

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

We do well when the lid is on.

Let's keep it that way, even when we start the season 14-0.

"It's on it's on"

 

[InnocentBystandr]

Jake Niall is probably right...here's why:

According to Malthouse it was only the last half hour where Collingwood lost the premiership, therefore Collingwood were the 'moral' premiers, and

According to Jeff Kennett, Hawthorn should have defeated Collingwood in their PF, and 'always beat Geelong in Grand Finals'.

The logic is flawless, and remember this is the guy (IIRC) that wrote circa early '07 that two maybe three Geelong players would make Port Adelaide's best 22.

 

[Big Fozza]

Can't say I am too worried, let the meedja talk up the Pies and the Hawks ad nauseum as we swoop by below the radar.

agreed !

 

[marshhhhh]

Pretty sure a certain C. Scott will never allow the lid to come off.
There's a reason the premiership cup doesn't have a lid - because that's when it's the right time for the lid to come off.