Geelong’s long-term success has been truly remarkable, with 2014 marking their eighth consecutive year in finals. And there is no reason to expect anything different in 2015.
Geelong are on average the third-oldest team in the competition, but due to their incredible finals run, one could argue they are the most experienced.
This came to the fore in 2014 with tight wins over Richmond (Round 7), Carlton (Rounds 12 and 21), Essendon (Round 15) and Greater Western Sydney (Round 18) pivotal to ensuring a top-four finish.
It was simply Geelong’s experience that won games where other teams would have lost them. Even below their best, Geelong’s experience shone through as they willed their way to the four points, despite been seriously challenged. In 2015 this will no doubt again be a key feature once more.
Rhys Stanley and the potentially match-winning Mitch Clark give Geelong’s forward line a facelift. Nakia Cockatoo is also addded to a young brigade, which includes Jake Kolodjashnij and Darcy Lang, who have the future on their shoulders.
Despite their wealth of experience and young players, the Cats have surprisingly few players aged between 23 and 28 (11 in total) compared with fellow top-four prospects around them Hawthorn (19), Port Adelaide (18) and Sydney (14).
This effectively means that Geelong have fewer players in or approaching their prime compared to other clubs. Given that their average age is still very high, the Cat’s age comes from a lot of older players and lots of very young players as opposed to a group of players around their prime.
As the long list of older players retire, Geelong may be left stuck with a large cluster of inexperience in years to come. It is time for some of those experienced players to do what is best for the club and vacate their spots so that the young talent the Cats do have can develop.
Following the shock straight-sets exit from the 2014 finals series, Brad Scott has admitted that simple football fundamentals such as team defence have not been implemented as they would be by the top teams and that they are now behind the eight ball. It is now up to the experienced players to lead the team through this and set the younger players up for the future.
They also need to help oversee their own transition out of the team, picking the right time to leave and welcome the new era.
Experience can do a lot of things for a team. It can drag the team through matches when below its best and guide a team through tough times. Experience will make a team good, but without the future of youth constantly at their feet, experience alone cannot make a team truly great.
For the best chance at greatness, Geelong must find the balance between youth and experience for 2015 and beyond.
Having said all that, if we have learnt one thing from the Cats, it’s to ever write them off.
Prediction: Sixth.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
We’re taking a look at one player from each team that needs to make a difference this week, starting with the ANZAC Day games.
West Coast defender Tom Barrass will miss the Eagles' clash with Gold Coast, after the AFL Tribunal upheld his one-match suspension for a dangerous…
Has there ever been a team more “quietly” unbeaten and on top of the ladder, like Geelong this year? The Cats are a game…
Geelong coach Chris Scott has hit out at the AFL Tribunal's decision to clear Charlie Cameron for his dangerous tackle on Jake Lever, saying…
Round 5 of the AFL provided plenty of action, from big scorelines to upset wins and pressure starting to build on some clubs and coaches already.
The AFL Players' Association has come out swinging against the league for their decision to hand Port Adelaide forward a three-match suspension for using…
