Opinion The next best thing to a premiership!

[catman 71]

If Geelong don't win the flag this year, I would like for us to do something else- something which would gladden my heart almost as much.

If Geelong are forced into a cut-throat Elimination Final, I would love to play Hawthorn- and beat them!

Imagine- Cocky Hawthorn, who the media have all said will be premiers, and always assume us to be easybeats, going out the first week to us- a team they hate!

While another flag is the ultimate, if we eliminate Hawthorn from finals this year, I will feel that something has come out of our finals series.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Beat them in rd 19 and their spirit and psyche will be torn to pieces if they face us in a final.

 

[Stig_90]

They'll finish top 4 unfortunately, but I love the idea and there's a small chance we could meet second week.

 

[bulletproof]

IF we beat Hawthorn in round 19 and in a Final we will be Premiers. Fairly large if.​

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Doesn't matter how well they are going at the time, we have the wood over them and they know that and if we meet in a final those mental doubts will mean a heck of a lot.

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Doesn't matter how well they are going at the time, we have the wood over them and they know that and if we meet in a final those mental doubts will mean a heck of a lot.

If we beat the in rd 19, those mental doubts will double come finals time. Big, big game in 2 weeks.

 

[Vdubs]

Doesn't matter how well they are going at the time, we have the wood over them and they know that and if we meet in a final those mental doubts will mean a heck of a lot.

Only IF CHAPPY is available.

 

[Smedtsy]

I'd rather beat them in the GF tbh

 

[Scottland2007]

I thought Jimmy winning best looking footballer was the 2nd best thing to winning a flag?

 

[Scottland2007]

Beat them in rd 19 and their spirit and psyche will be torn to pieces if they face us in a final.

Do you think that is why Clarko is punching walls and abusing under 9's footy umpires? Because he knows he has to play us again soon, (next weekend) and we should get Scarlo and Bartel back in time.

 

[Partridge]

Doesn't matter how well they are going at the time, we have the wood over them and they know that and if we meet in a final those mental doubts will mean a heck of a lot.

Unless they beat us in two weeks' time. In which case it won't mean anything.

They've been in far, far better form over the last month or so than we have too. There's no way we can presume we can just rock up and beat up. Absurd.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Unless they beat us in two weeks' time. In which case it won't mean anything.

They've been in far, far better form over the last month or so than we have too. There's no way we can presume we can just rock up and beat up. Absurd.

I would disagree, as finals are played largely above the shoulders in a way that H & A games are not. One H & A win will not erase their memories of what we did to them in the QF, or their doubts about defending it again.

That said, they definitely deserve to be favourites in two weeks and there's no way I'm presuming we will beat them.

 

[Sttew]

I'd rather beat them in the GF tbh

That would be the ultimate

 

[Jwuzzy]

i too would love to beat the hawks
...but unfortunately my gut feeling says they have our measure this year.
The longer this incredible winning streak continues, the sooner it's going to end.
I predict it ending when we play them in 2 weeks time.
Having said that, finals are a different ball game, i personnely think they would be sh&tting themselves if we met them in a final
considering what we done to them last year.
But it ain't gonna just happen for us, we need to come and play and be switched up when we face these muppets.

 

[Jwuzzy]

I would disagree, as finals are played largely above the shoulders in a way that H & A games are not. One H & A win will not erase their memories of what we did to them in the QF, or their doubts about defending it again.

That said, they definitely deserve to be favourites in two weeks and there's no way I'm presuming we will beat them.

couldnt have said it better myself

 

[Poetic Justice]

IF we beat Hawthorn in round 19 and in a Final we will be Premiers. Fairly large if.​

I follow this theory.

 

[Neville Bartos]

Hahaha well played. We've wanted to do the same to you for the last few years... So sad

 

[DavidInellaFanClub]

The next best thing to a flag at this moment in time is watching Collingwood struggle to hang onto its most important player....

 

[Belisarius]

I suppose it depends your perspective and time frame. Yes beating Hawthorn (then WC) in a GF is the one for me - but not winning the Premiership would be knock out Hawthorn and Collingwood in this year's finals/

I think the best thing to a Premiership could include -

Menzel, Vardy and Varcoe all come back next year fit and well. Ready to play footy (maybe VFL to start with).

That the talls we have coming thru continue to make progress. That means Bathie, Gillies, Hamling, Kersten, Murdoch and Smedts (tallish flankers or mids), Stephensen, Vardy, Brown, Simpson and Walker (11 players)keep making good progress. We are in the position of having a murder of tall players coming thru.

Still will have Taylor, West, Lonergan and Hawkins for sometime to come - and Mackie at 193 cm is a tall flanker.

Got a feeling at least half (5-6) of those named above will make it over the next 3 years. That is a heap of talls coming thru.

All we need now is another gun mid or two and set will be complete. I can understand GFC chasing Boak.

But if I see improvement in Walker, Smedts, Murdoch, Simpson and Brown over the next 6 or so weeks (in the VFL or AFL) - I will be satisfied. In our more recent history we have rarely had the potential tall crop of players we have at present.

Let's just hope they blossom soon.

 

[Belisarius]

Plus - we have had another 1/2 season to see our VFL boys in action and see a few more debut in the seniors - while a few others further establish their senior credentials.

West, Duncan, Bundy and THunt (4) have had quite a few more AFL games under their belts. All indications these players will be good for us for a number of years. And they will continue to get better. Established young senior players.

Motlop, Smedts, Guthrie, Stringer and Walker (5) have played enough AFL footy to show something. Likely most, if not all, will be in the best 22 in the next season or so.

Then we have Murdoch, Vardy, Simpson, McCarthy, Brown, Schroder, Horlin-Smith and Cowan (8) who have all played senior games and just might have something. Reckon at least a few of these will definately make it.

Then we still have some learning the ropes that have excited a few Cat fans - Kersten, Burbury, Bathie and Bews (4) - who all deserve another season the VFL to be better prepared for AFL game. Reckon at least one of these players will make it.

That is a total of 21 young inexperienced players that I reckon have shown something or need a bit more time to do so. Just on the Wells' young player probablity predictor (done this twice for the same result) that we will have / get 4 + 3 + 3 +1 = +11 young players at least will be in the team by the beginning of 2014.

Given the names above could even be a higher number. And I have not included Menzel in this calculation.

I am confident we have the young players coming thru to replace our aging players, and so we remain a competitive team and in the finals for quite a few more years to come.

I think that is also the best next thing to winning a GF. Seeing your team rebuild while still being competitive - and looking like improving for at least 2-3 more years creating another Premiership window.

 

[SpRiGgZy]

Ah yes, fully agree. That would be super sweet. I'm sure if chappy had it his way we would dominate the Hawks. However in reality they will probably smash our winning streak on them in round 19. Man I hope we can keep it going though, nothing would make me happier!