End of an era. How many times have we heard that in the past few days? The past few years, even? It’s an annual tradition now to say Geelong’s run is finally over.
Geelong’s era was meant to be ‘over’ in 2010.
Even as another flag loomed, some said it was about to be ‘over’ in 2011.
Finals exits in 2012 and 2013 were meant to signal the end of having a presence in September.
Now to 2014, and the same line is being trotted out again.
ABC presenter Beverly O’Connor tweeted that Friday night’s loss to North Melbourne was the “end of an era”, echoing countless other pundits across the country.
My Roar colleague Dan Lonergan argued the case as well, running through the list with fine detail.
But is it wise to go down this path again?
First, let’s clarify what we mean by ‘era’ here. We’re not talking about the time period where a certain group of players were together. The time to speak of eras in that context is when said players retire.
This is about calling the end of Geelong’s ability to be deep in contention for premierships.
In this context, perhaps we shouldn’t be so quick to call it over. Not because such calls have proven false in the past – there will absolutely come a time where the Cats are no longer a finals team. But rather, we should look at Geelong’s strategy. Is it even clear that they’re on the way down rather than up?
On Friday night against North Melbourne, the Cats were actually the less experienced team – both in terms of age and games played. The likes of Josh Walker, Mitch Brown, Lincoln McCarthy and Jackson Thurlow have less than 50 games between them.
Walker, McCarthy, Thurlow, George Horlin-Smith and Josh Caddy are all 21 or under.
Meanwhile at the other end, of those who played Friday only Corey Enright is over the age of 31. It’s looming for a few, no doubt, but in a year of mass retirements the Cats are hitherto unscathed.
It’s also worth turning our attention back to when Chris Scott was appointed Geelong coach. What struck me then was the timeline Cats CEO Brian Cook mentioned was being used when seeking out a new coach.
“The appointment of Chris is not simply about 2011, it’s also about 2015 and we believe that in the (long-term) interests of the football club,” Cook said at the time. “Chris is an exciting appointment for us.”
He reiterated the point in the lead-up the 2011 Grand Final.
“We didn’t want a coach who didn’t think we could make the grand final this year,” Cook said. “But we also wanted someone who could demonstrate he could lead the rebuilding of the list to make a big impression again by 2015-2016.”
Then in 2012, the Cats had extended Scott’s contract to – you guessed it – 2015, and by this point Scott was preaching the 2015 mantra as well.
“It’s more difficult (to win the premiership) for us this year than it was last year but it doesn’t make it impossible,” Scott said in March that year.
“We are in a period of transition and we need to prepare responsibly for 2015-16. I don’t think it’s a matter of doing the very best you can for five years and then starting all over again.”
So it’s painfully clear that the Cats have been building towards 2015 and not away from it. Whether that plan fails or not is another issue entirely, but now might not be the best time to write them off as being at the end of their run.
Instead, this is a club that deserves to have the spotlight put on it next season.
If the Cats can’t get it right in the much talked-about 2015, the year its list management and even coaching selection has been geared towards, then it’s time to turn the heat up.
the cat
Guest
How does the song go? wishin' and hopin' and thinkin' and prayin'.Planin' and dreamin'. Sooooo many people who wish to see the demise of Geelong! Is it jealousy or envy? Geelong has made its own success. It has not relied on special draft picks or priority draft picks. It has lost many players to retirement as all clubs eventually do plus losing the best player in the competition and is still there. Geelong has not had a draft pick below no 7 this century. compare that with any other team, all of which have picked up champion players on priority picks or 1st, 2nd or 3rd draft picks. So keep wishin" and hopin,I am proud to be a cats supporter for over 50 years and look forward to season ending 2015 comments of Geelongs demise.
Evan
Roar Rookie
You lost me at "Christensen and Horlin-Smith are outside receivers who prefer not to get their hands dirty", the others I agree, but are burst players, particularly Duncan, Murdoch and Motlop, all three critical to the run-and-carry game they play through the midfield. I agree with the aging backline, but Geelong has always chosen to send older head back, like Kelly this year and Bartel the year before. I think a lot will hinge on the recruitment of James Frawley, who is seen as a successor to Lonergan. As for blaming contentious umpiring decisions for them getting a top four position, that's ridiculous. The straight sets exit showed smacked of the lack of consistency they have shown through games, a trait of a young team, and the fact that they won so many games under 2 goals was testament to the fighting spirit the team has and is moving onto its young players.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Brutal!
Simoc
Guest
End of an Era and Window of opportunity are the lifelines of the 9 to 5 professional journos who need to get a story out by the deadline. They are essentially meaningless while of course they can present good reasons for the stories sake.
Ash
Roar Rookie
Thought North ended the era !
Bosk
Roar Rookie
Nice try Michael but its as plain as the nose on your face that Geelong are cooked. Yeah, there's every chance they'll linger around like a bad smell in the top eight for some time yet but their flag-winning days are long gone. Why? Because most of their young players lack grunt. Caddy's shown a willingness to go in for the hard ball with some success but guys like Christensen, Smedts, Hunt, Murdoch, Duncan, Burbury, Motlop, Thurlow, Varcoe, Horlin-Smith & Thurlow are most outside receivers who prefer not to get their hands dirty and often end up coughing it up under physical pressure. Way too much is left to Selwood and if he goes down with any kind of significant injury they are up the creek without a paddle. Same can be said for their forwadline where Hawkins carries the load single handed and the kids have shown next to nothing thus far. Down back, well they have the oldest backline in the competition by far, Enright, Mackie, River, Lonergan & Kelly are all close to the end. Geelong never deserved to finish in the top four this year and would not have but for a series of VERY contentious umpiring decisions late in close games which always seemed to advantage them. Without bringing conspiracy theories into it they were extraordinarily lucky and never deserved the double chance, and their straight sets finals exits proved it. Hawthorn, Sydney, Port & Freo are already better teams than Geelong. Norf will probably go past them next year, so could Richmond, Essendon and Gold Coast if the Cats lose Selwood or Hawkins for an extended period, it could even happen regardless. Geelong are no longer feared. They've lost their aura. They're now a side where too much is left to too few, and their bottom 6 players are pretty ordinary. Their time at the top is over. No ifs, no buts, this year was the last hurrah. Cats supporters like Gene the missing man have three flags to contend themselves with in the upcoming return to mediocrity.
Samuel Gates
Roar Pro
Good article, Michael. I think a club's sustained success actually has more to do with creating a competitive and winning culture, rather than having a good playing group come through. It's the reason why Hawthorn have won 11 premierships in the last 50 years and Manly have made something like 39 finals series in the last 46 years. Having the right culture attracts quality players but it also lifts the standard across the team, so average players become good players.
Nordburg
Guest
Paul D you are the messiah.Cant understand the rush for journos to write off teams in the AFL or NRL.What is classed as an era?Important players from each club leave every year so does that mean they start a new era? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Does it really matter if it's the end of an era or not? Why is there always this rush amongst commentators to be the one who "called it" on Geelong's end of the period of success. I guarantee you no-one at Geelong is thinking for a moment about the end of an era, or their legacy. They'll be focused on next season. And then the one after that. And so on. Regardless of where they finish. Sorry, but these articles have been cropping up for the last 3 years and it's really boring. Just a bunch of armchair journos sitting around sweating on Geelong crashing out of the 8. Yawn.
MAF1970
Guest
Good point you make about the age of Geelongs list - my only concern as a Cats supporter is that the 2 finals really showed up players like Kelly, Mackie and to a lesser extent Enright who have all been around for a number of years. As much as their list maybe younger in years I am a bit concerned abouit the output of players at the older end of that list. Hopefully the younger players will show enough next year to fill those gaps. I don't see us bottoming out to the extent that Brisbane did after their run but there is a big expectation that the kids you mentioned will actually be as good or good enough to continue to carry Geelong forward. Steven Wells has a proven record with recruiting good players at the middle to lower end of the draft so hopefully these kids will continue that record and he find a few more gems this year.
Nordburg
Guest
You are spot on.Same thing is happening with journos in the NRL about Manly and Melbourne.Not sure what an "era" requires to be over but I'm sure all three teams,Storm,Manly and the Cats will make their respective finals next yr. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.