2015: The year of the Cats

I'm a cats fan, but I can't see them making it past week 2. I wonder what Gene thinks?

I was expecting a lot more from this article, I agree with the theory but you let yourself down with some points. 'Steve Johnson doesn't go through the middle much anymore', really? And Jimmy Bartel does? You also think Cam Guthrie is going to spend more time in the midfield? He was majorly an on baller last year, spending minimal time down back. Tom Hawkins going through the ruck is also laughable. HOWEVER I agree with your main point that Geelong will come back strong this year, I reckon it all comes down to Clark. If he can kick over 35 goals this year Geelong are right in the hunt, there defense is 9/10 going to be more than reliable. The midfield will also improve, with players like Duncan, Caddy and Horlin-Smith needing to take a step up to help cover Christensen.

I like the look of the cats a lot more this year than last, Clakr up forward may not get a lot of goals himslef but he will help Hawkins get more. That said teh Cats won about 8 games by less than 15 points last year and while I can't see them sliding out of the 8 (unless everything goes wrong) I can't see them challenging for the premiership either - 5th or 6th for mine.

The cats have exited in straight sets in the finals in the past 2 years. Sure getting Clarke in might be good, but a bloke who suffers(suffered) from depression caused, in part, from a horrible run with injuries, is not a bloke I would be betting the farm on. Their kids have been developing without wowing people. Bartel is more a forward who goes into the middle nowadays. Nakia Cockatoo is raw and will take a little while to really carve out an impact. Brad Hill played only 5 games in his first year, then went on to win 2 premierships after that. I would think Nakia will be starting behind a few for the best 22. The backline will be under the pump, as evidenced by 2014 where they had the 9th best defence (their percentage was 8th in the league). The talk about Freo being old hasn't been levelled at the Cats (probably becuase they're all sitting around with 3 premiership medallions around their necks) - their 30 plus list for 2015 is Enright, Johnson, Bartlel, Kelly, Lonergan, Mackie, McIntosh, Rivers and Stokes. That's 9 of your best 22...... Selwood, Taylor, Hawkins and Duncan are the only blokes under 30 with over 100 games experience. Then there's 5 more guys between 50 and 100 games. The Cats are at that stage where they are relying on the same group of blokes to get the job done, while hoping their kids develop quickly. They are also one of the teams that everyone measures themselves against. Playing the Cats is a test of where you're at, has been for the past 7 years. Knocking them off at home is a challenge a lot of up and coming teams want. For me they are a 5th-8th team, with the only difference in this years finals being the first match they lose will be the only final they play.

Sneak into the 8?? Geelong will be well and truly entrenched in the 8 this year. Lonergan-Taylor-Selwood-Hawkins-Clarke is one of the best spines in the league, if not the best. Sydney and Hawthorn the only competitors, then daylight (no surprises there about the ladder positions last year, then) These foundations won't change and these 3 teams will be in the top 4 again next year. Their younger guys like Caddy, Duncan, Motlop add a bit of youth to the mix, and then throw in the veterans like Johnson, Enright, Bartel, Mackie, some of who might have bad years, but even if only two of these 4 have a good year, they're still better than most other players in their position in the league. Big problem is the ruck, and by extension the ability to win enough clearances, but that problem is known and presumably being addressed, not the most difficult thing to fix with the experienced midfielders they have to choose from. None of the teams outside last year's 8, with the exception of Gold Coast will go close to the Cats. Geelong finished last year 17 and 5 before finals, I expect about the same or maybe one or two games less next year. They really do need to work on their finals performances though.

They didn't make the top 4 that counts losing both their Finals. They seem to have taken a conscious decision to develop youngsters rather then hold on to the glory years. This may payoff in 4-5 years but right now too much of their list is not at the peak age for success. The amount of their best 22 who are over 30 or under 23 is way too high to win a flag. There are 2 notable exceptions being Selwood & Hawkins who are at the peak of their powers but the support crew of good players at their peak is not there. Plenty of games at Skilled Park should see them sneak into the 8

I haven't done my ladder yet. I'll probably have Geelong in my 8, but not much better. Since their 2011 premiership they've lost 5 of their 6 finals, and only won their sixth one in the final quarter. Not only do they struggle against top sides these days but in 2014, their second halves were almost non-existent. It is the clear sign of a side hanging onto a dying era, and this will only be arrested if their youngsters show far more improvement in 2015 than conventional wisdom would forecast.

I think second might be a touch on the optimistic side. But I agree that the Cats are still a very dangerous side. They were well-entrenched in the top four all through last season and for a while looked like they might finish first or second. That said, the thing that changed in 2014 was that suddenly they looked vulnerable against the other top sides. Sydney embarrassed them, Hawthorn now has their measure and Freo's still their bogey team. As much as I admire the Cats, I find it hard to imagine them finishing above those three teams, or Port, this season.

Well, I guess it's good to think wishfully...