The Geelong Cats have won four in a row to start the 2013 season, after beating the reigning premiers the Sydney Swans at the SCG.
This Geelong outfit has been impressive; they continually find a way to win, even when everyone else has written them off.
They play a consistent brand of football and always seem to find new talent, as was highlighted by George Horlin-Smith winning the Round 4 rising star nomination.
What makes the consistency that has been shown by Geelong since 2007 even more impressive is the depth of talent and maturity that the club has lost over the last few seasons a list that is headed by such players like:
– Tom Harley, 198 games (dual premiership captain)
– Cameron Mooney, 221 games and 297 goals (dual premiership player)
– Cameron Ling, 246 games (triple premiership player)
– Matthew Scarlett, 284 games (triple premiership player)
– Brad Ottens, 245 games (triple premiership player)
That is 1,194 games of experience, and you can add to that list the loss of Gary Ablett (arguably the competition’s best player) to the Gold Coast Suns and the loss of experienced campaigners like David Wojcinski and Shannon Byrnes.
It would appear that the Cats would be subject to what is now referred to by most coaches as a ‘rebuilding phase’. However this is not the case; as the most recent Geelong game has shown that they can still mix it with the elite of the competition.
Despite being currently ranked last in the AFL for clearances per game (32.2). Geelong has shown that this team can generate their goals from other avenues. They are currently ranked fourth highest in the AFL for goals per game (16.5).
When history compares the great teams, everyone has their own opinion. The Collingwood team of the 20’s and 30’s that won four premierships in a row, the Hawthorn team from the late 80’s to the early 90’s, the Bombers team from the late 90’s to the early 2000’s and the dominant Brisbane team that won three premierships in a row from 2001-3 all come into calculations.
To put in perspective the true consistency of this Geelong team, if you compare this Geelong team from 2007-2013 with the Collingwood team from 1925-1932 you get a true appreciation for how good they are.
Here is a comparison of the best result from 150 consecutive matches from the two teams, starting from Round 3, 2007 to Round 4, 2013 for the current Geelong outfit. Geelong has won 123 matches and lost just 27 times over that period, collecting three premierships during that time.
When compared to that mighty Collingwood team whose best 150 game streak consisted of 119 wins, 30 losses and one draw from Round 2, 1925 to Round 10, 1932 collecting four premierships during that time.
Being able to compete that consistently over a large period of time shows the true professionalism at the Geelong Football Club and with a large group of youngsters coming through the ranks there is no reason why the club should not continue its consistent ways and continue to be a premiership threat in 2013 and beyond.
Mikey
Guest
The Cats have now won 82% of their last 161 games. No team has ever had a period as good as that. They have won 13 of 15 games this year (86.6%) while regularly playing 8 or 9 players aged from 19 to 22 years. It's an amazing record that doesn't look like stopping for a while.
joe
Guest
Since 1987 dynasties have become much harder with salary cap, draft picks and travel. Taking those things into account i think that geelong's consistency wins.
Seano
Guest
Salary cap was introduced in 84' the bombers have won 4 an played in 6 in that time, which is a better result than the cats old mate.
Kev
Guest
Geelong is certainly up there but they still have some way to go before they can be spoken of in the same light as Hawthorn in the 80's and early 90's. 8 GF appearances in 9 years for 7 wins is simply staggering considering how hard it is to win just even 1 flag.
Chacks
Guest
You do realise that from 07 - 12 Geelong only finished on top twice?
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
That's fair enough. I just think every sport has a different way of doing it - I love the system for Australian rules, but with the Premier League and FA Cup combination, obviously it's a bit different over there. The Americans have their Super Bowl, which is fantastic for a competition of 32 franchises. I think the A-League should perhaps scrap the finals series to bring it in line with worldwide soccer competitions, as no one would argue the Western Sydney Wanderers were the most consistent and successful team of 2012/13, and that's the way it works in that sport. The Aussie Rules tradition states we play off for the ultimate prize with one game, and that's part of the folklore. If the teams are truly great they will stand up on that last day.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
How many have they won since the implementation of the salary cap? Since the evening of clubs has occurred look has fared the best.
Brendan
Guest
The g/f was brought in to seperate Collingwood /Sth Melb equal on points in the 1890's.I like the Premier having to win a Grand final but dont like the present system that gives little reward for finishing first.All the great sides of eras past have lost G/f 's its part of the folklore of footy .
Phelpsy
Guest
I love the gf too. I just see it as a seperate comp to the home a d away . Just my way if viewing it though.
Phelpsy
Guest
I know that .... Just my thoughts that's all. For mine , and I know in in a vast minority , who finished on top is the best side for the year.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
Then why have the finals series? Half of AFL players couldn't name the trophy clubs receive for finishing on top - they just know that if you're in the Top 4, you're in sight of a premiership. It's Australian footballing tradition, and there is nothing better than that last Saturday afternoon in September, spring just breaking, sun shining, while the teams battle for the premiership. Geelong weren't unlucky to lose in 2008 - they blew their chance through wayward kicking and an inability to counter Alastair Clarkson's cluster defence and rolling zone. Premierships in Australian football are built on breakthroughs in structure - Think Sydney's flood, Geelong's quick movement of the ball through the corridor while still defending half back, Clarko's Cluster, Saints Footy, Malthouse's zone.. Some teams may escape with a lucky premiership but that's the beauty of it. For the most part, the AFL Grand Final tests the mental and physical strength of the two sides that were good enough to reach it. This may be the attitude of a dyed-in-the-wool Aussie Rules lover, but a premiership decided weeks before the end of the season in some cases is of no interest to me. The fact that it is all or nothing on one day is the beauty of it.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
http://www.users.on.net/~rogersresults/Rogers_Results/Tables/Best_Worst_Sequence/Best10.htm Give this a look it should make more sense then.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
I knew I forgot someone!
Australian Rules
Guest
Very true re Colingwood of the 20s and 30s.
Seano
Guest
Over the history of vfl/afl footy Essendon and Carlton have won 16 premierships, the equal most, all other arguments as to who is the best or most consistant are invalid. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
me, I like football
Guest
You forgot Dasher Milburn, who was a better player then Harley over the course of their careers, and at least equal over the successful period.
TomC
Roar Guru
Not quite sure what you mean about a ladder over a 150 game period, but the Demons finished on top of the ladder for six consecutive seasons in that time, and I'd suggest that points to a greater level of consistency than the Cats. I've always felt that footy was about winning premierships rather than individual games, in any case. Agree on the demands for a current team. Plus salary capping makes dynasties much harder to come by. I suppose ultimately they're not really comparable.
Swampy
Guest
Collingwood of the 20's and 30's basically bought all their success - there was no salary caps and players were being paid up to ten times more at the Pies than other clubs. The Pies pretty much bought the elite players from every other team. It's very hard to judge VFL records before the 60's as that was when clubs started to move towards semi-professionalism. What Geelong and Sydney have been able to do in the last 10 years is far more impressive under all the equalisation schemes - though Sydney is given a salary cap advantage... -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Isaac No-roo-zee
Guest
I disagree, I think Port Adelaide is the most consistent and best team of all time.
Brendan
Guest
i support Geelong and am continually amazed at our consistency.Premierships are the name of the game but in this expanded competition of 18 teams to make a preliminary final and thus be better than 14 teams is a fair effort.Geelong has made six preliminary finals between 2004 and 2011 a remarkable feat in this modern era.Given the low draft choices high finishes on the ladder result in some of the recruiting at Geelong is phenomenal and has contributed to the consistency of the team.Rooke walks into the club from nowhere plays in two flags, Egan rookie listed then All Australian before injury destroys his career,Taylor picked up as a 21 yr old in the 08 draft the year after Geelong wins the flag,Podsiadly as a mature age recruit and this season Blicavs the athlete who is running other ruckmen ragged.