What is it about Geelong?

[someday-somehow]

I have been following the cats for 31 years. The last 15 I have been watching intently and I cannot understand why the players of this club continue to have a pisspoor attitude to playing.

There is no doubt in my mind if the players of the GFC had the commitment and the passion they would have won a flag in the early 90's as they had a fantastic team.

After 2 prelim finals and the way the team fought back to snatch the nab cup last year I though finally this team is different from what I have been seeing for the past 15 years and then......well we all know what happenned.

Is it the bubble they live in - being in a one-team town? if so why does this not affect the interstate teams.
Is it the relaxed lifestyle they lead - getting paid heaps and living on the coast?
Is it the fact that no matter how badly they play they know they will get a handsome pay packet as they will always have members pay up? - but again that doesn't affect teams like Collingwood and Essendon.

I think Thompson is good at developing players but I don't think he is a tactician and we do need that but we can't just blame him for this. Brian Cook has put a lot of effort(and money) this year into fixing the football department and to make it as professional as the big clubs yet we still have players that seem determined only to make a highlight reel for themselves.

Thoughts?

 

[azyboy]

SS, I share your frustration. And in general I think most Geelong supporters would also. Lets be honest...I can think of no other club that experiences the same roller coaster ride as what we do.
To your well made points, I think comments by Chappy yesterday summed it up. He inferred some blokes were just going through the motions, were happy with their lot in life and happy to get paid well. He mentioned Milburn and how he hasn't seen a shift in culture in his 10-12 odd years at the club.
I think this probably more than anything exemplifies Geelong. There doesn't seem to be a winning culture or more to the point a committed culture.
Also, I had a mate who was a rookie at the club for two seasons and he mentioned factions within the playing group. Old blokes not socialising with young blokes. Some blokes not getting along with others etc.
How can a team perform when a) there is no culture and b) players aren't playing for their mates because quite clearly they do their own thing off the field and will then do their own thing on it.

 

[someday-somehow]

SS, I share your frustration. And in general I think most Geelong supporters would also. Lets be honest...I can think of no other club that experiences the same roller coaster ride as what we do.
To your well made points, I think comments by Chappy yesterday summed it up. He inferred some blokes were just going through the motions, were happy with their lot in life and happy to get paid well. He mentioned Milburn and how he hasn't seen a shift in culture in his 10-12 odd years at the club.
I think this probably more than anything exemplifies Geelong. There doesn't seem to be a winning culture or more to the point a committed culture.
Also, I had a mate who was a rookie at the club for two seasons and he mentioned factions within the playing group. Old blokes not socialising with young blokes. Some blokes not getting along with others etc.
How can a team perform when a) there is no culture and b) players aren't playing for their mates because quite clearly they do their own thing off the field and will then do their own thing on it.

Chick and Embley had a dust-up but it doesn't seem to affect their on-field performance.

 

[haywood jablome]

The majority of players and weak, its clear they don't work as hard as they could, not only on the field but in practice... You can't hide effort, especially on a football field. How to fix this? Who knows; it may be the individuals view on life, a level of comfort, a disrespect for fellow players/coach, anything.

 

[someday-somehow]

The majority of players and weak, its clear they don't work as hard as they could, not only on the field but in practice... You can't hide effort, especially on a football field. How to fix this? Who knows; it may be the individuals view on life, a level of comfort, a disrespect for fellow players/coach, anything.

We had a team that was young committed and determined in 04 and 05 after a tragic 03 but something has changed and until the GFC manage to put their finger on it this will continure to happen. It is culture and all the talent in the world won't help you succeed at AFL level.

 

[The Cork Soaker]

Didn't the rumour of the coach getting up close and personal with a former player girlfriend do the rounds last year. I know it was all denied and hushed up, but where there's smoke.
Can't see how this sort of behaviour if true sets a great example for everyone to follow not to mention how much tension it would create for the individuals concerned and their mates (factions).
After Chappy's comments yesterday there is definitely something not right down at KP, and what ever "review" took place in the off season obviously failed to expose the deep rift within the playing group and the coach. Maybe the same level of openess and honesty was displayed by our players during the "review" as was by the West Coast boys on the allegations of drug use. They are only footballers at the end of the day.

 

[someday-somehow]

Didn't the rumour of the coach getting up close and personal with a former player girlfriend do the rounds last year. I know it was all denied and hushed up, but where there's smoke.
Can't see how this sort of behaviour if true sets a great example for everyone to follow not to mention how much tension it would create for the individuals concerned and their mates (factions).
After Chappy's comments yesterday there is definitely something not right down at KP, and what ever "review" took place in the off season obviously failed to expose the deep rift within the playing group and the coach. Maybe the same level of openess and honesty was displayed by our players during the "review" as was by the West Coast boys on the allegations of drug use. They are only footballers at the end of the day.

I have spoken to someone close to the club about this rumour and despite the fact that this was hushed up and denied there was some truth in it but aside from that these guys are professionals and if they are not playing to their full potential because of a dislike of the coach or other players then they need to be shown the door!

 

[The Cork Soaker]

I have spoken to someone close to the club about this rumour and despite the fact that this was hushed up and denied there was some truth in it but aside from that these guys are professionals and if they are not playing to their full potential because of a dislike of the coach or other players then they need to be shown the door!

Totally agree, and one of them was. But if you want the playing group to respect and honour the direction and decisions you want the team to head in as a coach you gotta show the same respect, commitment and discipline as an example. In other words, keeping your dick in your pants when the players girlfriend are concerned would be a good idea. Don't worry I also heard from a good source that despite all the denials there was something going on.

 

[someday-somehow]

Totally agree, and one of them was. But if you want the playing group to respect and honour the direction and decisions you want the team to head in as a coach you gotta show the same respect, commitment and discipline as an example. In other words, keeping your dick in your pants when the players girlfriend are concerned would be a good idea. Don't worry I also heard from a good source that despite all the denials there was something going on.

I believe the poor bastard wasn't shown the door...he asked if he could go as he was the affected player, if this is true then it's no wonder there are problems. How infuriating it is that 7 years is spent rebuilding a team to have a real crack at a flag only for the whole thing to be stuffed up by someone who cracked one over some bird.

The upsetting thing is if some players are not playing 100% because of a problem they have with their coach and the coach gets sacked then other players who are fond of Bomber (and there's a few) will then resent those other players and the rift goes on....what a tragic waste!

 

[The Cork Soaker]

I believe the poor bastard wasn't shown the door...he asked if he could go as he was the affected player, if this is true then it's no wonder there are problems. How infuriating it is that 7 years is spent rebuilding a team to have a real crack at a flag only for the whole thing to be stuffed up by someone who cracked one over some bird.

The upsetting thing is if some players are not playing 100% because of a problem they have with their coach and the coach gets sacked then other players who are fond of Bomber (and there's a few) will then resent those other players and the rift goes on....what a tragic waste!

Ahh yes a tragic waste ...... that about says it all for a Geelong supporter ... a tragic waste of time. My Brothers and I refer to the Cats as "The Tucker's Daughters" They build you up just to tear you down. I hope your familiar with Ian Moss.

 

[Ricardo]

The upsetting thing is if some players are not playing 100% because of a problem they have with their coach and the coach gets sacked then other players who are fond of Bomber (and there's a few) will then resent those other players and the rift goes on....what a tragic waste!

Sounds like St.kilda with the sacking of Grant Thomas......the big question is what to do?

How can you solve a rift in a team, get rid of coach? the players?
IMO it would be very difficult to make right.

 

[The Cork Soaker]

Sounds like St.kilda with the sacking of Grant Thomas......the big question is what to do?

How can you solve a rift in a team, get rid of coach? the players?
IMO it would be very difficult to make right.

The same way you resolve a rift in any workplace. You sit the warring factions down with a mediator and work through the issues and if you can root out the cause you then hone in on recognition, empathy and resolution. You then monitor and evalutate results over time .i.e. They should start behaving like a team and winning f#$%*ing games of football. Failling that you sack the coach and let the new one decide who he wants to be part of the new era.

 

[Mooney_d'King]

Ahh yes a tragic waste ...... that about says it all for a Geelong supporter ... a tragic waste of time. My Brothers and I refer to the Cats as "The Tucker's Daughters" They build you up just to tear you down. I hope your familiar with Ian Moss.

That's gold

 

[someday-somehow]

Ahh yes a tragic waste ...... that about says it all for a Geelong supporter ... a tragic waste of time. My Brothers and I refer to the Cats as "The Tucker's Daughters" They build you up just to tear you down. I hope your familiar with Ian Moss.

i am, I am also familiar with another cold chisel classic which can be pointed at our head coach "you go nothing I want"

 

[The Cork Soaker]

i am, I am also familiar with another cold chisel classic which can be pointed at our head coach "you go nothing I want"

Cha Ching........... very good, that's Gold too.

 

[Catnip]

We're Standing on the outside looking in............

 

[someday-somehow]

"Sheedy's son just stole my girl away"......have I gone too far?