Cat Empire on the brink of much more success
Roar Pro
By subrasub, 29 Sep 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Pro
- Tagged:
- AFL, AFL grand final, Geelong Cats
Related coverage
What a grand final performance from the boys from Kardinia Park, a famous grand final from a team on the brink of immortality against a gallant pace setter during a superb season.
A game full of ebb and flows, but in the end, that championship characteristic brought a second flag in three years to a club that previously was on its knees, having lost five grand finals in 21 years.
If Geelong can keep its team together for another three years, it may well be able to clinch perhaps a third or fourth premiership and stamp itself as arguably the greatest side of them all.
Of course, the best is hard to decide because all the great teams are from different eras: Magpies of 27-30, Hawthorn from 85-91, North Melbourne from 93-00, and even Brisbane 01-04.
Geelong have a phenomenal structure, with Matthew Scarlett at fullback, along with fellow key defenders, Harry Taylor, Tom Harley and Andrew Mackie and dashers Darren Milburn and Josh Hunt to return nest season.
Add to that a magical midfield led by Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, James Kelly, David Wojinski and Cameron Ling.
Also, a forward line that is now perhaps the best, or at least the one with the most firepower.
The Ruck stocks look good, with Brad Ottens and Mark Blake a commendable force, and Young Mumford a bonus to have in the team.
But can the Cats keep this team of great players together?
Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.
The Crowd Says (4) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
Do you have what it takes to become a sports writer? Write for the roar
AFL articles
- More rugby league players to defect to the AFL? (160)
- Mobile madness: Optus decision bad news for codes (153)
- AFL divisions are the way of the future (106)
- Foxtel’s AFL coverage is nirvana for footy fans (89)
- AFL’s most hated club turns 120 years old (78)
- Israel Folau now ready for AFL (76)
- Optus ruling actually a good thing for AFL fans (52)
- Ling holds hope for club loyalty in AFL
- Andrew Krakouer given four weeks leave from Collingwood
- Giants inspired to prove doubters wrong (32)
- Malthouse not fazed by assistant issue
- Richo says look out for the Tigers in AFL
- AFL clubs’ leadership groups getting out of hand (15)
- Who’s to blame for the Majak Daw beat-up? (32)
- AFL clubs’ leadership groups getting out of hand (15)
- AFL divisions are the way of the future (107)
- Crows changing, but will this AFL preview change your life? (2)
- Is Heath Shaw the right leader for Collingwood? (11)
- Could a female coach succeed in the AFL? (36)
- Demons’ two captain Jacks the right leadership choice (5)
- Mobile madness: Optus decision bad news for codes (153)
- Explore:
- AFL, AFL grand final, Geelong Cats
Tom said | September 29th 2009 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
“Also, a forward line that is now perhaps the best, or at least the one with the most firepower.”
Not sure exactly what you mean here, but I don’t think anyone would deny that Geelong’s forwardline is certainly their weak spot.
Hard to imagine they’ll win again in 2010 after yet another shorter pre-season. Would be a huge achievement if they could.
davelee said | September 29th 2009 @ 9:24pm | Report comment
They’ve played alot of footy in the last 3 years and there’s some ageing players on that list. Plus, of course, who can they keep, will Stokes, Blake, Wojcinski have to go? I can’t see them winning in 2010 tbh. They’ve proven themselves.
Gibbo said | September 30th 2009 @ 11:14am | Report comment
tom hawkins will be better next year and hopefully ryan gamble will give mooney more support on the half forward line. josh hunt will come in to replace tommy harley in defence, and otherwise the side (barring salary cap enforced trades) should be just as strong as next year. people say the cats are getting old, but apart from Milburn (who had one of his best years for the club) the next oldest will be a couple of 31 year olds! Hardly in the position of the adelaide crows (goodwin, mcloud, edwards, et al).
Should be very strong again next year – bring on the saints, bulldogs and hawks, who should all be challenging.
Warren Vargas said | September 30th 2009 @ 5:05pm | Report comment
I expect to see Geelong in the top 4 again in 2010, but think they showed this year that they are starting to show signs that their run has come to an end. Their dominance went, and although they played good finals footy, were lucky in the end to get the Premiership. They have a pretty good list of players and even some of their younger players show signs of turning into really good players, such as Hogan and Gillies, but I look at players like Milburn and think he should of retired at the end of 2009, he’s slowed down and doesn’t seem to have the time to make decisions that he used to, he gets caught more often and really see this as a week link along with losing Harley, sure Hunt will fill a spot, but I don’t rate him as highly as their other defenders. I wonder how long Ottens body will stand up, he’s a vital player for Geelong especially at finals time, there is no doubt their midfield is the strength to their side, Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Ling, Chapman and Enright will all be required to keep playing at the same level. I feel that St.Kilda, Western Bulldogs & Collingwood would also be in the mix for the top 4 spots again and expect that all of them will be a little stronger in 2010, the question is can Geelong improve with them?