Reputations are made and lost in finals and Geelong built their 2007-2011 reign of dominance on the back of big-time performers and performances.
Jimmy Bartel, Paul Chapman, Matthew Scarlett, Joel Corey, Gary Ablett, Brad Ottens, Steve Johnson, Cameron Ling and Corey Enright all rose took their game and the team to new levels during September.
Bartel kicked clutch goals and was given the task of shutting down Lenny Hayes in the 2009 grand final. Chapman kicked bags of finals goals, including the 2009 winner. Scarlett’s 2007 series was nearly flawless, conceding just one goal for the whole series and averaging 22 possessions at fullback.
Corey was Mr Fix-it. His smother in the 2007 preliminary final arguably changed the course of the game. He went to halfback at three-quarter time in the 2009 grand final and was influential.
Ablett kicked Geelong’s final goal in the five-point, 2007 preliminary final victory, and was Geelong’s best in the losing 2008 grand final and 2010 preliminary final.
Ottens was best a field in the 2007 preliminary final and who can forget his inspirational run down of Michael Pettigrew in the grand final? Johnson won the 2007 Norm Smith, but his heroics four years later, when he kicked four goals with a knee that needed regular painkilling injections, was more remarkable.
Ling locked down the likes of Sam Mitchell, Dane Swan and Nick Dal Santo. And, finally, Enright won two best and fairest awards during premiership years.
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Fast forward to 2017 and it is a different tale. Since their last premiership, the Cats have lost seven finals and won two, which could have gone either way.
Isaac Smith missed after the siren last year to see them escape and their 2013 semi-final win against an inexperienced Port Adelaide came on the back of a 23-point halftime deficet. Their losses have been alarming.
Fremantle shocked Geelong and the football world in 2012, kicking 5.7 to 0.1 in the first quarter and defeating the reigning premiers in Melbourne. The Dockers did it again the following year, but this time down in Geelong.
Hawthorn came from 20 points down at three-quarter time to see Geelong lose the 2013 preliminary final. It was a straight-sets exit in 2014 and last year’s preliminary final was over at quarter-time, when Sydney led by 39 points.
This year, the Cats earned a second chance after finishing the regular season in second place, and the likes of Stephen Motlop, Mark Blicavs, Lachie Henderson, Sam Menegola, Jordan Murdoch and even mature-aged recruit Tom Stewart are desperate to make their mark.
Motlop’s last five finals have only yielded three goals and he has not reached 20 possessions in any of those games. Blicavs has only averaged 13 touches a game in his eight finals appearances. Meanwhile, Henderson gathered eight possessions in each of his two finals for Geelong and a total of five marks.
Menegola’s finals possession average of 18 is well down on his career average of 24. The line-breaking Murdoch has played five finals and his best return is ten disposals. Then there is Stewart, who had a night to forgot against Richmond, dropping marks, missing targets and failing to show the poise he has displayed all year.
No one enjoys being questioned, particularly during September, however the numbers don’t lie. Geelong’s recent finals record is poor and a list of players have underperformed on the big stage.
Can they turn it around in the space of seven days and replicate their predecessors or will another disappointing performance finish the Cats’ 2017 season?
Don Freo
Guest
An interesting way of saying you don't like Scott.
Powerboy
Guest
Oh dear oh deary me, Don! Every time I read one of your posts your credibility sinks just that little bit lower. Your opinion of Chris Scott is so woefully out of step that I am starting to wonder if he is the one to replace Lyon at your club. After all, that kind of logic just screams FREO.
Don Freo
Guest
Scotty has done very well with the squad he has. No more than 5 stars in the time he has been there but they have always been at the pointy end. He has lifted some OK players to levels of excellence that would have surprised the players themselves. Bomber's influence faded many, many years ago.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Ooooh it's most definitely about defensive football, but don't mistake that for criticism when you read it. You'll need to treat it like a double entendre i.e. read it as a humorous end of season piece, or dig a little deeper. Something for everyone hopefully. Like I said to AD: it tested my writing skills being able to fulfil the bet I lost to him, make the article funny whilst combining an interesting underlying discussion. Keep an open mind and I think you guys will enjoy it.
anon
Roar Pro
Chris Scott doesn't need me to tell him. He'll be reminded by it when he's "celebrating" Mad Monday next week.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I'm sure Geelong & Chris Scott are devastated that such a weighty authority on the game thinks they're no good
Mattician6x6
Guest
Agree that a lot on the eastern sea board have zero clue to what goes on over here (case in point stevo saying wce are looking to trade gaff) but am interested in what rick has to say and the inevitable dialogue afterwards.
Lance Skelton
Roar Pro
Me thinks Catsky Gonsky.
anon
Roar Pro
Chris Scott walked into a ready-made premiership in 2011. Geelong were already one of the great sides of all-time. Probably deserved 3 premierships in 4 years between 2007-10. Scott didn't have to tweak much. He had a senior core of all-time greats at his disposal. He just had to keep out of their way and let them do their thing. Basically he seagulled that premiership in 2011. As he's put more of his imprint on this team, as more senior players from the Thompson era have left, as more and more players who have only played under Chris Scott play for Geelong, the team has become softer and flakier come finals time. It's actually quite alarming now for the Cats. The finals flakiness is a huge monkey on the back that they won't get rid of unless they actually make a Grand Final and win it. If you finish top 2, a Grand Final appearance is par.
Paul D
Roar Guru
At least you're playing finals
Cat
Roar Guru
Hello hydra.
Cat
Roar Guru
The whole 'finals fatigue' is a load of BS. Cats fans turn up in low numbers for ALL Melbourne games. It's just not as noticeable when there isn't 97k at the ground. Previous time in 2016 Cats played Richmond at the MCG only 45k showed up and Geelong supporters were still out outnumbered. The only thing Cats fans are fatigued of is playing like dog poo in finals.
Mattician6x6
Guest
My tip is Ross will be @ Richmond for the 2019 season and I'm standing by it.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I've seen one Star Wars movie in my life. Just the one.
Don Freo
Guest
I usually get you but that one passes me by.
Don Freo
Guest
Doubt that you'd know much about what's happening over here. If it's free of the usual cliched, defensive game plan, never developed a team stuff, I'll be impressed. If it doesn't recognize Freo's development of its list, it'll be pointless.
I ate pies
Guest
Home ground advantage Gecko. Just like West Coast and Port Adelaide
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Look at the Pies, Saints, Cats since 2010-2011. None have saluted since and all three have taken different paths. Remains to be seen who gets the next flag out of the three. Cats have just topped up and look slow and old. Perhaps the Saints or Buckleys Pies will beat the Cats to the next flag.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Interesting last point you make there.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Swot up on Star Wars quotes - you'll enjoy it even more if you do.