Prediction We will make the top 4

[HaroLad]

I know this is a strong claim, but I know we can pull this off. Above you can see our best result against the top 8 for this year.

SOME BAD LOSSES

FREO - This was just a bad loss at the beginning of the year, nothing much to it.
EAGLES - Another bad loss, possibly our worst for the year, again it was in Perth
HAWKS - I honestly believe we would have won this if we had kicked straight. Anyone watching will know we had the opportunity to kick AT LEAST six goals in the last quarter, and missed some very easy shots at goal
NORF - A close game, this is were Danger or Smith (Not here yet, but let's assume he does come) could have made a big difference.

We also had a draw against the Saints, lost to MELBOURNE, and a few others that if we were playing properly, we could easily have won.

LOOK AT OUR POTENTIAL LINEUP


That midfield is one of, if not, the best in the competition.

INJURIES

Mitch Duncan only played 11 games this year and it's fair to say he wasn't at his best. Mitch Clark, someone who will take the pressure off Hawkins, didn't really play this year at all. There were many more injuries that we had to deal with, and with each one coming back to footy, we will also see players in neighbouring positions play better too (Tagging).

Don't forget Menzel, who knows what he could do

LIST IS A YEAR OLDER

Some may argue this is a bad thing for an "old" team like Geelong, but Selwood, Taylor, Hawkins, Danger, Hendo, S.Selwood will all be entering the prime of their careers, as well as youngsters such as Motlop, Duncan, Caddy, Blicavs, Guthrie, Cockatoo, Gregson, Lang, Murdoch, Bews, and Kolo will be much better after another pre-season.

All the players named above make up almost all of our best 22 on gameday, and being a year older for these players is a good thing.

ADDITIONAL PLAYERS

This is an obvious one, but these 4 players will really make a difference at this club. Take a look at the stats below:



That's why Dangers arrival not only means a top-class player will be putting on the hoops, it also means he will be crucial in aiding us in statistics we do poorly in. Also, the best tagger will now be on him, not Selwood, meaning Selwood could have a career-best year next season.

EASIER DRAW

This is a big, big factor. We are a much better team against easier teams, and we only missed out on the 8 by a game this year. How can we not make it?

IN SUMMARY

Make sure next time someone is talking smack about Geelong, you redirect them to this thread. I believe it is a certainty that we will play finals football next year, and so should they.

If you think of anything else I can add to this, please tell me.

 

[mac_cat]

I'm on the bandwagon too, and I'm certainly going to continue with my premiership membership next year

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Will wait until the FIXture has been released as that plays a part. Finals however should be the minimum.

 

[caitsith01]

Will wait until the FIXture has been released as that plays a part. Finals however should be the minimum.

We should get a better run next year as it's partly based on previous year's ladder position, I believe.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

We should get a better run next year as it's partly based on previous year's ladder position, I believe.

It is based off last year and we'll get more double up games against those around us (7-12). Some I'd prefer to others. Would be happy with Port twice. The dogs not so much for example. So I'll wait until we know who we play twice, what interstate trips we have etc.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Will wait until the FIXture has been released as that plays a part. Finals however should be the minimum.

I will await both the fixture, and "Medical Room" on the Tuesday before Rd 1.

 

[Footy_Fan2007]

If reasonably injury free then yes.

 

[Lana]

I will await both the fixture, and "Medical Room" on the Tuesday before Rd 1.

If Blicavs is a rucking for us in round 1 I'll cry

 

[FredLeDeux]

If Blicavs is a rucking for us in round 1 I'll cry

Me too. I'll probably recover, but if it's Josh Walker....

 

[Lana]

Me too. I'll probably recover, but if it's Josh Walker....

It's okay he is just going to be a double agent for us, it's the last thing the opposition will expect when he betrays them half way through the 2nd quarter.

 

[FredLeDeux]

It's okay he is just going to be a double agent for us, it's the last thing the opposition will expect when he betrays them half way through the 2nd quarter.

Blood will out, you reckon.

 

[Biggy_Boy]

We should get a better run next year as it's partly based on previous year's ladder position, I believe.

Sides ranked 7-12 on the ladder will have a minimum of one double-meeting with sides ranked 1-6 on the ladder and a maximum of two meetings with sides ranked 1-6. They will have a minimum of two double-meetings of sides ranked 7-12 and a maximum of three double-meetings of sides 7-12. They will have a minimum of one double-meeting of sides ranked 13-18 and a maximum of two double-meetings of sides ranked 13-18.

So while we had three double-ups against top 6 sides from 2014 this year (Hawthorn, Sydney, and North), we should only have two next year (my guess is Hawthorn and Adelaide). Probably get double-ups against Port, Pies, and St. Kilda or something similar, too.

 

[Lana]

Blood will out, you reckon.

Either it's reference to a book released in the last 2 years with solid sales or some words are missing, either way I'm terribly confused.

 

[AM]

Luck and keeping our stars on the park will be the primary determinants.

 

[wcadams88]

First easy draw in a long time hopefully

 

[Cronin]

First easy draw in a long time hopefully

If we drop games to teams like Melbourne next year then our draw won't mean boo

 

[fpm84]

Don't underestimate the draw factor.

This year we played Hawks, Swans and North Melbourne twice each - all top 4 teams from the previous year (and all finished top 6 this year).

Adelaide made the finals by a game and a half over us, and played each of those teams once each. The Hawks and NM games were at Adelaide Oval

Even Hawthorn got to play Carlton twice!

We are really due for a double up against Carlton/Gold Coast/St Kilda etc - and while the St K game this year showed that we need to be switched on every week or we'll get rolled, we will certainly get an easier draw for 2016 which could be the difference between making finals or finishing top 4 and genuinely challenging.

 

[Cronin]

Also, getting teams like West Coast, Sydney and Port at home rather than away will make a big difference. Plus I don't think we've ever played GWS at home either so it's about time they got their arses down here

 

[Teriyakicat]

Blood will out, you reckon.

It's certainly thicker than water, at any rate.

 

[Teriyakicat]

With all the player movement at the end of this season, I wouldn't be surprised if the AFL changed their extremely easily manipulated and loose rules regarding the fixture and gave us double up games against Adelaide, Carlton (yay), gulp... West Coast and, for old time's sake or maybe just for the lols... the Hawks!

 

[Strangled Cat]

Also, getting teams like West Coast, Sydney and Port at home rather than away will make a big difference. Plus I don't think we've ever played GWS at home either so it's about time they got their arses down here

We have. GWS' first year (2012) they travelled down to Simonds Stadium. I was there. I think the final margin was 62 points.

 

[evolutionbaby]

We must get an easier draw unless we have pissed off the AFL with our anti-equalisation strategy.
Will stick my neck out and think if 8 home games are allocated we will win them all. A good building block for top 4.

 

[Cronin]

We have. GWS' first year (2012) they travelled down to Simonds Stadium. I was there. I think the final margin was 62 points.

Well there you go, cheers

 

[Cronin]

We must get an easier draw unless we have pissed off the AFL with our anti-equalisation strategy.
Will stick my neck out and think if 8 home games are allocated we will win them all. A good building block for top 4.

4 Sat / 4 Sat(n) games would be nice

 

[Galaxy]

I reckon we have the second best midfield in the league

1. Neale Barlow Fyfe Mundy Hill Bennell

2. Duncan Selwood Caddy Guthrie Dangerfield Selwood Motlop