The scary part? Geelong’s only just getting started
Columnist By Michael DiFabrizio, 15 Apr 2009 Michael DiFabrizio is a Roar Expert
Max Rooke of Geelong & Nick Maxwell of Collingwood chase the ball during the AFL Round 03 match between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies at the MCG. Slattery Images
The hype right now might be about how good St Kilda have been or how bad Richmond have been, but Geelong’s quiet yet unbeaten start to the season is a story in its own right. If you include the NAB Cup, this year the Cats have eight wins from eight matches.
In the season proper, they’ve reversed last year’s grand final result against Hawthorn, withstood a surprisingly-hungry Richmond (if only the Tigers played like that every week!) and last weekend overcame the closest thing they’ve had to a bogey team in recent years, Collingwood.
The latter performance was described by Gary Lyon as the “best win of the season” so far.
It’s a fine start, and it is one made all the more remarkable by the side’s pragmatic approach to early season matches.
You could hardly call it vintage Geelong footy, but the Cats are simply doing whatever they have to do – and little else on top of that – in order to come home with the four points. It’s obvious that, for the most part, they’re not playing at their full capacity.
The aim of peaking around September must be firmly in their minds.
This approach has, admittedly, led to some unconvincing periods of play – such as Collingwood’s first quarter or Richmond’s third – but Geelong’s ability to close out games like few others has made it possible to keep on winning.
You can’t help get the feeling during games that at any moment, their intensity will lift and their opposition will be blown out of the water.
The only real problem areas – not that there have been many – appear to be the club’s defensive stocks and the accuracy of its forwards.
The former may end up being nothing more than a result of the side’s injury woes.
Josh Hunt’s season-ending knee injury has been cause for adjustment and captain Tom Harley is due back in the next couple of weeks, so an end to those troubles may be near.
The accuracy concern has been lingering since the loss to the Hawks last September. However it must be said the Cats have been running extra goal kicking sessions since the pre-season and it may take some time for these to bear fruit. We’ll have to wait and see.
But as extra insurance, the Cats have a wildcard in the form of third-year player Tom Hawkins. The “Tomahawk” showed early signs last week of assuming a role not too dissimilar to Nathan Ablett’s in 2007 – Ablett’s third year at the club.
Evidently, the so-called “problem areas” are another example of the side’s room for improvement.
So far, they’re just getting the job done. It’s scary to think what may lie ahead.
As the season rolls closer to September, their intensity is only going to lift. Add to that the expected return of Harley and Brad Ottens, as well as a couple of young guns taking their games up a notch, and it seems like another stellar Geelong season is on the cards.
Just one question remains, though: can they go one better than last year’s efforts?
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April 15th 2009 @ 11:45am
Redb said | April 15th 2009 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Ok, so you basicially agree with the above? Richmond were not even mentioned.
Redb
April 15th 2009 @ 11:52am
matta said | April 15th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
yeah sorry, I agree with you.
Just making a general statement in ref to some of the non-original content the starting article and a couple of others.
April 15th 2009 @ 12:51pm
Kurt said | April 15th 2009 @ 12:51pm | Report comment
Michael – re. the Saints, everyone has been saying for the past few years they need to add some steel to their game, be tougher close in etc. It seems a bit harsh to suggest that this will now lead to them fading out later in the season. Of course this style of play is not sustainable for 22 games, but the Hawks managed it for most of last season and it played in a big part in their premiership. I’m not necessarily predicting a St Kilda premiership, but I think we all know that there is a reasonable amount of talent on their list and if they can keep them on the park and in reasonable form all year they are a threat.
As for Geelong there is little doubt they will be there or thereabouts in September, but they have shown themselves to be mentally weak when it counts, a fact concealed by Port’s complete and utter incompetence in the 07 GF.
April 15th 2009 @ 1:16pm
Redb said | April 15th 2009 @ 1:16pm | Report comment
It’s just hard to beleive the Saints can maintain form and pressure – they are not Hawthorn by a long stretch who have built their style of tough play over a couple of years. The Saints played crap football last year and you have to wonder when the bubble will burst.
However, if you look at their draw they have a dream run…
Fremantle (Rnd4)
Port Adel
Bulldogs – a test but winnable.
Collingwood
Essendon
Bris lions
Melb
Nth Melb
Carlton (Rnd12)
Richmond
Geelong (Rnd 14)
then Hawthorn not until Round 19
Top 4 for the Saints, they play Geelong and Hawthorn only once and that is in the second half of the season, could drop one or both and not find out jjust how good they are until the finals. That’s a long time to exist in a winning bubble if they remain injury free.
Redb
April 15th 2009 @ 1:26pm
Michael DiFabrizio said | April 15th 2009 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
Kurt,
For now I remain a Saints sceptic. They do have a history of having us all in awe after the early rounds, only to fade later on. And their tacking rates make for another excuse to think it will happen again. But just like Redb said, until they play Hawthorn or Geelong, the jury is still out. If they can beat either of them, they may just win me over.
April 15th 2009 @ 2:06pm
Redb said | April 15th 2009 @ 2:06pm | Report comment
Did anyone hear Dennis Cometti commentating during the North Melb and Hawthorn game say… “now Adam Simpson’s got it on the wing, ohh maybe I shouldn’t say that”
Redb
April 15th 2009 @ 5:35pm
Kurt said | April 15th 2009 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
I can understand everyone being sceptical about the Saints, just as I can understand everyone expecting the Tiges to finish ninth (although that is starting to look wildy optimistic), it’s just that it gets a bit annoying when every year people predict the exact same teams to do well, and then get really surprised when a team performs above expectations and makes the GF (Hawks last year, Port year before etc.). I just have a hunch that this might be the Saints year.
April 15th 2009 @ 7:01pm
Rich_daddy said | April 15th 2009 @ 7:01pm | Report comment
Geelong main concern is their arrogance. After round 2 2006, everyone including themselves thought they would win the premiership. They failed to make the finals.
In 2008 about round 18 , Mark Thompson was talking about a Brisbane Lions style dynasty at Geelong. Despite being the standout side for the year, in the gf they were beaten by a better team on the day.
Although their arrogance has lulled a little bit, Billy Brownless was certain the Cats would make the gf again this year.
Sure they have the talent and form, but there is always an up and coming team trying to take the top spot. Each player only has to be 5% (like in last year’s gf )and they will get beaten.
Cats are a very good side but it isn’t a guarantee they will make the gf, let alone another premiership
April 15th 2009 @ 7:24pm
Michael C said | April 15th 2009 @ 7:24pm | Report comment
The ‘potentially great’ Essendon side of around 1999-2001 only won one premiership. In 2000, they had a golden run with stuff all injuries and stuff all suspensions. It couldn’t have been better, and they won and looked dominant. In the other years, they perhaps didn’t have quite the same amount of good luck, or good management, or, there just happened to be someone better on a given day. Perhaps Essendon were arrogant in the ’99 prelim, perhaps they had already missed the boat by the time Brisbane got them in 2001.
Dynasties are super hard to achieve, the Lions Threepeat must be respected. Teams should avoid comparison until at least 2 silver cups are deposited in cabinet between the Escort Cup and the Commodore Cup….
April 16th 2009 @ 8:27am
Redb said | April 16th 2009 @ 8:27am | Report comment
MC,
Hird was injured for the entire 1999 season, I’m sure he would have made a huge difference to the ’99 prelim and possibly GF. But err thanks for mentioning it.
Take Voss out for any of the flag years for the Lions.
Redb