Geelong obviously gained a lot during the offseason, with people already saying their favourite to win the 2016 flag are the Cats. I’m not sure if that is definitely the case.
Obviously they are a fantastic side, having dominated the league for just under 10 years besides the last few seasons.
They’ve picked up arguably the best player in the game in Patrick Dangerfield, and also Lachie Henderson from Carlton and Joel Selwood’s brother Adam from West Coast.
Dangerfield alone is going to make them a whole lot better, assuming he stays healthy. He hasn’t had too many injuries at the Crows, besides a fractured hand he suffered when he ran into the post. An absolute superstar, he will boost the Cats’ confidence by just being around.
Henderson is a key fit for the Geelong jigsaw. A tall forward, he can work with Tom Hawkins or be that player who Steve Johnson was. Hawkins can’t do it all himself and we haven’t seen much of Henderson yet.
Selwood is a quick midfielder who will be able to work with his brother, which makes that midfield almost unstoppable if they are able to work together.
However, Port Adelaide looked like a premiership contender at the end of 2014 – they made the preliminary final and lost in a heartbreaker by three points to the premiers. With very high expectations, the pressure hit and they couldn’t even make the finals this year.
In the NBA, when the Lakers gained two-time MVP Steve Nash and three-time defensive player of the year Dwight Howard – to play alongside Kobe Bryant – they were considered a championship contender. Yet they straggled due to pressure, and only just clinched a playoff spot.
High expectations are great – everyone thinks you’re going to do well, and you feel good, but then suddenly pressure kicks in. Something tells you that you have to do well to keep the high expectations, and that’s when you crumble.
Geelong have a great team, and yes, they will probably be better than last year. But have they got the flag in the bag? I don’t think so.
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