Top 4 in 2010?

[Footy_Fan2007]

1 more thing.

Am I the only one worried about hawthorn next year?
they will be as hungry as ever - with there full team and a killer pre season.
Next year there will be 3 main contenders , St Kilda , Hawthorn and Geelong. IMO

Adalaide are aging but will be extremely dangerous with there forward line

Collingwood are always in the mix

Bulldogs will be hungry and no changes to there list

And finally Carlton, such a young talented midfield with big fev and there reliable backmen back from injury next year. <- a team to look out for

I'm actually more worried about this saturday. Then the following week if we happen to win.

 

[Tomozaurus]

There is a bit of negativity in here, and its not even realistic negativity.
Our team will be basically the same next year - with the exception of maybe Harley, if he retires. If we can keep a full team on the park we should be better than this year.
I'd say its more of a 75% chance of us making top 4 than a 50% chance.

 

[Varcoe2Motlop]

True that.

 

[Vegas.]

1 more thing.

Am I the only one worried about hawthorn next year?
they will be as hungry as ever - with there full team and a killer pre season.
Next year there will be 3 main contenders , St Kilda , Hawthorn and Geelong. IMO

Adalaide are aging but will be extremely dangerous with there forward line

Mate if Hawthorn are still hungry after all the KFC they ate in the last 12 months I'd be very surprised. Plus Dew is gone, none of them will be going hungry!

Oh an Adelaide are not aging at all, they have the best crop of young kids in the competition. If they can hold onto the likes of Tippett, they will win a flag within 3 years no doubt in my mind.

 

[Vdubs]

If we win the flag this year I really could not care where we finish. If we happen to keep ALL our key players=GA, SELLWOOD, HAWKINS, TAYLOR, VARCOE, MACKIE we still have a pretty good core for the future. If we lose again this year ,either game, I wonder about the spillover and whether the group will be as motivated to stay together, knowing we are nearing the end of this era of dominance.

 

[Big Fozza]

If we win the flag this year I really could not care where we finish. If we happen to keep ALL our key players=GA, SELLWOOD, HAWKINS, TAYLOR, VARCOE, MACKIE we still have a pretty good core for the future. If we lose again this year ,either game, I wonder about the spillover and whether the group will be as motivated to stay together, knowing we are nearing the end of this era of dominance.

this!

 

[DanA]

IMO we will still have the best team in the league.

Hawkins improving
Varcoe maybe moving to a wing
Gillies with an extra preseason replacing Harley
Otten & S.J hopefully fit
Hunt back after his knee
Mumford another preseason.

The only negative IMO is Milburn maybe decline. I see a lot more positives than negatives though.

 

[Big Fozza]

i sometimes forget that Hunt is back next year...

maybe i should up the bet with my mate

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Cats top 4 = easy money. Will finish top two again next year.

Lid on hey

I agree though..it's not like we'll lose heaps off our list next year so we should still be right up there. Time will tell though.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

cant work at why people keep on saying we have and ageing list yet the bull dogs are slightly older than us and st kilda are slightly younger than us yet people dont say they are ageing sides.

i think we will go close to a premiership for the next 3 years, dont forget we dont ne nead early picks to build a premiership side which is something very few clubs can say

 

[jim boy]

This year and next we are a real chance, after next, we should seriously looking at trading to GC to get some high picks to start the next gen

 

[winty]

The core of our side is around 23-28 years of age. I'm talking about blokes like Ablett, Bartel, Chapman, Corey, Enright, J.Hunt, SJ, Kelly, Ling, Mackie, Rooke, Stokes and Taylor. Those guys should all have between 3-8 years left on the list. Pretty strong core to build a team around.

Scarlett, Mooney, Harley, Milburn and Ottens might all be getting on in age, and will have 2-3 years left at most, but we have the likes of Gillies, Hogan, Selwood, Hawkins, Gamble and Mumford who are coming up through the ranks, not to mention the likes of Mitch Brown, S.Simpson, Djerrkura, Laidler and co. who have had little or no exposure in the seniors, but have been recent additions to our list, and have shown glimpses that they could be serviceable if given the opportunity.

As long as we don't lose five or more of those older guys in our best 22 at the same time, I'm sure we'll be OK for a few seasons yet.

 

[PatrickBateman]

Advantages:
- We are unlikely to be hit as hard with injuries in 2010
- Hunt back(we've missed a small key defender in '09! + his kicking)
- Kelly gets to play up the ground with Hunt back
- Youngsters get another pre-season(esp key players like Hawkins)
- Ottens - full pre-season
- Milburn playing on
- Oppurtunity for either Ablett/Ling/Selwood to thrive with the Cpt. role
- Harley no longer taking up a position in the side, which to me isn't either a key position or useful attacking defender role... kind of his own tailored role of hitting a contest as 3rd man, while not clocking up many rebound 50s or stats for that matter like another player in his position should. Disposal/decision making highly questionable at times in '09. On-field, no loss.

Disadvantages:
NONE!

I can't see any reason why they shouldn't reach top 4 in 2010. Mentally they could be consumed if they win a flag this year. It is tough for any group to be so successful for long periods these days, the competition is even enough that intensity means a LOT. Talent/skill isn't enough.

 

[maximus steel]

agreed need to focus on reclaiming the prize in 09 more than where will finish in 10
heres my top 8
1.St.Kilda
2.Geelong
3.Adelaide
4.Collingwood
5.Western Bulldogs
6.Hawthorn
7.Brisbane
8.Carlton
i believe there will be almost no difference between 3-6, maybe 1 game, dogs could easily finish top 3 same with collingwood, but adelaide look good for next year.
next years up and comer will be west coast

Geelong have another 2 years left in there premiership window, and then will slowly age. i did think we would have along time left but fringe players such as djerkurra, tenace and gamble dont look like theyll be able to continue the rein into the future.... yet.
also without harley and scarlett gillies will have to step up, maybe recruit a taller defender with this years 1st draft pick and egan will not play again.

 

[Nankervis brothers]

Recent history says dominant teams get three, maybe four years, at the top. Ess had 99,00,and 01 as clearly the best team (for just one the flag, however) before coming back to the pack in 02. BRIS got four years, though truth be told they were not as dominant a team as ESS and GEE through each season, but a september specialist. If memory serves correctly, BRIS also had a very good year with injuries in 2004 (and an easier finals draw) to get them into their fourth successive GF.

Anyway, my point is that these trends suggest the Cats will drop of a little in 2010. They will still be "there abouts", but much will have to go right for them to make another GF (few injuries, young players coming on a head of time, and so on).

All of which makes the next fortnight so important to the GFC, as they really need to get more than just one flag from this increbibly talented group of players.

 

[Whopper32]

Advantages:
- We are unlikely to be hit as hard with injuries in 2010
- Hunt back(we've missed a small key defender in '09! + his kicking)
- Kelly gets to play up the ground with Hunt back
- Youngsters get another pre-season(esp key players like Hawkins)
- Ottens - full pre-season
- Milburn playing on
- Oppurtunity for either Ablett/Ling/Selwood to thrive with the Cpt. role
- Harley no longer taking up a position in the side, which to me isn't either a key position or useful attacking defender role... kind of his own tailored role of hitting a contest as 3rd man, while not clocking up many rebound 50s or stats for that matter like another player in his position should. Disposal/decision making highly questionable at times in '09. On-field, no loss.

Disadvantages:
NONE!

Bold = Good. Italic = Bad

Harley on field no loss...kidding yourself. And you don't lose the "on" without losing the "off". What has changed in 12 months?