Geelong may regret their Premiership gamble

Thank you for your well thought out reply. I agree, nice to see someone giving out a comment without bagging another team.

I've been watching the Cats for 30+years. As previously mentioned we have never been way down the arse end of the ladder, even when we had crappy teams on the park.With hardly any top 10 draft picks in the past decade, we have been mid field for years before the last golden 4 years. So WHY after a few defections and still having a great list are we going to tumble down to the bottom parts of the ladder....maybe you doomsayers haven't been around long enough,one missed G'F birth doesn't mean a gigantic fall.Anyway, maybe we should sit down the bottom for years...a la Saints , Hawks, Dees,Tigers and get tons of draft picks....plus loans from the AFL...at least we are the ONLY team in Melbourne with our own stadium., not some co-tenant stuff. One town, one team GO CATS

I don't rate Essendon as a top 4 team in 2011, so no-one here is talking of premierships in 2011. In fact I dont care if the Bombers make the 8 next year, need to think further out. I've answered the Neagle comment above. Gumby needs development, his kicking will come. Mark of the year to come as well :-) The only team that troubled Collingwood this year was Melbourne. It is yet to be seen if they are mature enough to take the next step, but surely by 2012 the Pies will find them more than a handful. Collingwood's main enemy will be injuries like any premiership dynasty it can quickly come undone by a some key injuries and just a small natural drop off in desire. I agree the Malthouse departure could prove difficult.

T, Neagle is better than most given him credit for. His work ethic is the issue not his talent. The coach has something to work with, if not he'll go, but Knights failed to get the best out of the most of the players at Essendon. Neagle was not fit enough this year to get out on the lead, but he is more than a handy contested mark.

Sheahan is coming into the Bomber debate very late. It was rumoured in 2007 that Bomber was interested in the Essendon job post Sheedy but the Board/CEO of the time would not wait until the finals were over for Geelong and let slip the opportunity. It's no certainty Bomber will come to Essendon, the public airing has possibly made it difficult at the moment. As for Bomber's disposition I must say I too noticed a more cranky bloke in pressers this year. Definitely a change in mindset, I wonder if Ablett's mooted move undermined his whole tenure at Geelong. His final presser post Prelim this year he admitted the players had not adjusted to a new game plan. It would obviously not be that simple, but I think it showed he had already moved on and felt perhaps there was nothing more he could contribute to the playing group. When the players stop listening its time to go. Best for Geelong, good for Essendon if Hird can get some mentoring. Unlike Voss, Hird is a much more astute people judge with less ego, he is able to admit his weaknesses but is smart enough to surround himself with the right people. No one person is ever responsible for a premiership anyway.

I'm not so sure it matters much whether Geelong are "gone" or Essendon are "on the rise". I reckon the only team that can beat Collingwood in 2011 is, well, Collingwood. If they turn up to play, they'll win again. If that happens, the fun will be watching Eddie explain why it was necessary to flick Mick for Nathan. Of course, going back to back is not easy and even a great side, like Geelong, could not do it. What surprised me about the Maggies this year is that every player they brought in on a permanent basis improved the side from the previous year. How a side that finished 3rd in 2009 was able to get Ball and Jolly is nothing short of remarkable. Throw in the massive improvement in Toovey, McAffer, Wellingham etc. and this year's team was goals better than last year. As for the Cats, they'll still be around the place but I fear their goal scoring potential is diminishing rather than improving. Unfortunately, Michael, the idea that Hawkins might "step up" is optimistic in the extreme. The phrase, "Built like Tarzan...." comes to mind. Mooney is at best unreliable, both in scoring and attitude, Ablett is gone, Scarlett this year not the player of old. Finals again, I suspect, but no GF let alone a flag. Still, it is an ideal time for the young guys to come on and show what they've got. As for the Bombers, I share "T"'s scepticism. Gumbleton is a talent but he can't kick, Neagle is a plodder and if he's in their next premiership side I'll be very surprised. Hurley, Pears and Ryder can play a bit but it's a worry that Fletcher is still one the best couple in the side, given his age. I wish Hird the best of luck but I reckon they're a little way off the pace at the moment. As for their two wins over the Saints, frankly, I don't know what to think. Except, maybe, it shows the Saints are not really that good. If that ball from Hayes had bounced straight on or sat up for Milne we'd all be congratulating the Sainters and thinking the Maggies still have the Colliwobbles. As it stands, it looks like the Saints are done and Maggies are in for dynasty. Time will tell but, clearly, a week is a long time in footy!

lol! I wish the Max Rooke stud program all the best!!! That's gold. Re: Cats smashing - when the pies are hot they are hot. You make it sound like it is out of the ordinary... They've flogged the Cats by an awful lot more in 2006 and 2008... didn't stop the Cats winning GF's in 2007 and 2009 ;-) Re: Bomber, not sure why they wanted to retain him... maybe out of a sense of loyalty, more likely the succession plan was 1 year out. I'm a fan of what Bomber did for the Cats up until recently (who can forget him sticking up for Ottens in that press conference?). But he has been off his game since mid-year... no doubt. And while i wouldn't believe half of what Mike Sheehan has to say, his article today suggests Bomber was in talks with the Dons since July?

I was always under the impression that the whole idea of sport was to try and win now - not to waste three years in the hope that you MIGHT win in three years time. If my team decided that it would not try and win for three years I would be pretty damn annoyed.

This article has already got more comments than it deserves. Enough!

Lads, this is a Michael DiFabrizio article through and through. The fella tries but at the end of the day gets his content from Percy, Robbo and Val on talk back radio and puts it up here to increase his profile.

To much pressure builds on teams like the Saints, they must be more attacking, whether that means they will slide down the ladder if they do become more attacking only time will tell, but surely if they have Revoildt they can build a serious attack around him.

Neagle? Really? Come on. Gumby can't get his body right. The others you mentioned are good. But don't kid yourself, Bombers will still struggle with Hirdy.

Well St Kilda finished runners up, that's leaves Geelong 3rd dunnit. The Pies smashed the Cats in the Prelim, at least the Saints put up a fight to draw and then submit a week later. If Bomber was a liability from half way through the season, why were Geelong so desperate to keep him? Amazing how quickly in hindsight Cats fans dump on the coach that got them two flags. McCartney ?- My impression from Cats fans is that his loss is far from a good outcome. I think the club used the words 'reluctantly accept' his resignation. #maxrookefacts (from twitter) "Max Rooke once shotgunned an entire concrete mixer and chased it with a truck load of gravel" "Max Rooke has now been put to stud so that in 2030 Geelong will have 22 father-son selections" :)

By my count Geelong ended the home-away season a clear second? Don't know which ladder you are looking at Redb. Its hardly emergency stations at the Cattery. The Pies were hot this year and were deserved premiers (will eat nails before i say that again!). Can they back it up? Everyone talked up the Hawks after 2008 and look at them now! Cats aren't going to crumble because they lost Ablett. Nor Bomber, who was a liability by halfway through the season... wouldn't surprise me if that resulted in a sense of disinterest by the senior players. McCartney going? Pfft... he was relegated to a development role... hardly key. Looking at the older players that are quoted as under the gun - Milburn and Wojo... they had stellar seasons, and were amongst the Cats best. Both are required players regardless of their age. Its like arguing that Dustin Fletcher should be dumped from the bombers just because he is taking up a young players spot... pretty rediculous even considering the bombers premiership window has been closed for a while! on the flipside, I think people overlook the important Max Rooke was for the team. He will be sorely missed in my books. Also, Captain Ling seemed to suffer from the captain's curse this year that all other Cat's captains pre-Harley seemed to come across formwise. He really was a plodder this year!

Just conversing in the same sentiment you afforded me.

Yes, 3rd. One game off a GF. And yes, a little bit of the hunger may have been wanting. But, with the media hysteria, there's some perfect motivation for the playing group to atone in 2011. People wrote Geelong off mid 2009 I recall. They're a proud group with a strong culture.

Well maybe I'm stirring a little. :-) Essendon's biggest rivals are Carlton, Collingwood, daylight, Hawthorn with Geelong a contender from 2011. Trust me there is a backlash to come from Bomberland. Alas they are just words for now. ;)

Are you sure that's you Redb? Usually you're pretty even handed about things. I agree with Mad Mex - any aggro between Geelong and The Bombres comes from the black and red side, kinda like Sydney vs Melbourne...

Yet with 6 All Australian players you finished equal 3rd in 2010 ! Most of Geelong senior players, notably with the exception of Ablett, don't look hungry anymore. No wonder he got out.

I'm amused at all the naysayers whom are so eager to jump on the bandwagon that is writing Geelong off. At last glance, even allowing for the loss of Gaz, we still have 5 All Australian players (the most of any team) from season 2010 that will be pulling on the blue and white hoops in 2011. Coupled with this is the likes of Kelly, Bartel and Varcoe, who all enjoyed stellar 2010 seasons as well as emerging young players such as Hogan, Menziel, Gillies, Duncan and S Motlop who all tasted senior football in 2010. People also seem to forget that in Cook and Balme, the GFC have two of the best football brains in the industry. Personally I was pleased to see Dasher Milburn be offered a one year contract. He has the football smarts and ability to read the play to go around one more time. He will also be able to help with the younger players and provide them with invaluable tips. I'm pleased also that Geelong is recognising his service to the club and through the provision of an additional year, is offering him the chance to reach the 300 game club. While Laidler showed some promise, others such as Taylor Hunt, were ahead of him in the pecking order. And in such a dominant team where positions are at a premium, there are always going to be casualties. As for the departures of Bomber and Macca, meh. Yes, they played pivotal roles in bringing success to Geelong (and will be remembered positively) but frankly, Bomber has looked tired this year and if indeed his game plan wasn't getting through, then a new voice might be just the tonic. The fact we involved ourselves in little at trade week is consistent with our strategy to maximise draft picks (certianly the Ablett compensation will also help). Stephen Wells, as many would know, is arguably the best in the business at spotting young talent. So in answering the title of this article, I don't thing Geelong are gambling at all. Yes, the game plan needs some tinkering, but there are plenty of chips still left on the table to challenge again in 2011. But as we all know, they've been at the top for a long time and a salary cap and draft system will see them slide at some time in the near future. But not to the extent that some may think.