The 2019 AFL season came to a close for both Geelong and Collingwood after they fell short in the preliminary finals on the weekend.
Both sides would, obviously, be unhappy with how their season finished up. Once the dust settled, however, who will look back on 2019 the fondest?
Geelong may have spluttered after the bye on route to another disappointing finals campaign, but it’s easy to forget that pre-season expectations for the Cats were far lower than where they ended up.
Collingwood may have only scraped into the top four, but they were dogged by injuries all season.
Who gets the higher grade for their efforts this season?
We were joined by Roar AFL expert and editor Josh Elliott on the Game of Codes podcast to put both losing preliminary finalists under the microscope and make a call on who had the better season.
Listen to the debate:
After making a call on who had the better year, we turned our eye to the future. Which losing preliminary finalist is more likely to be there next season?
Visit our Game of Codes hub to catch the full episode and be sure to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you’re listening.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Full of it
RT
Roar Rookie
Fair enough, I'll rephrase. I guess I am saying that you still get something out of a season when you don't win the flag, otherwise sport would be to painful too follow (*except for Hawks supporters). Better to have followed one of these teams than Suns.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Don't think I told you what to do or follow, everyone can have an opinion RichieTiger.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
How often in reality does the draft run to allocation? Even where this is true, it is usually at the bottom 40 picks and half the time the players presented in those positions are passed down the line, many to selection oblivion. That is not unreasonable in itself, natural selection and all. My point is that the top 20 or maybe 30 picks each year virtually never follow pick allocation because of the rank trade power imbalances in this competition. The clubs have gamed the system into a virtually free market.
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Geelong at least have Tim Kelly carrot that will get them possibly 2 1st round picks.... What does Collingwood have as bait? I think Cats in relatively ok spot.
RT
Roar Rookie
If you only follow football for that 1 in 18 chance of winning the premiership then you would be best finding something else to do. Same for any sport really.
Chris
Guest
Collingwood's dradft picks are:- 31, 49, 62, 67 Geelong's draft picks are:- 18, 36, 54, 90 Neither club can really say that they have got the draft pícks to lay the foundations to build a solid team for the next five or so years to come. Outstanding recruiters and good trading are required to improve both clubs. I can't see it with Carlton,North Melbourne, Hawthorn, St. Kilda Port Adelaide, Fremantle and Essendon on the rise!
Chris
Guest
Both teams are on their last Final Four legs. Unless there is a major clear out at Victoria Park, there will be a progressive slide down the ladder. The players that have questions raised next to their names are:- Daniel Wells, Jamie Elliott, Tyson Goldsack, Lynden Dunn, Travis Varcoe, Sam Murray, Ben Reid, Nathan Murphy, Ben Crocker, Ben Reid, Tim Broomhead. Eleven new names in 2020 and that means a lot of trading in October because the first round picks have been thrown away on the Dayne Beams deal.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
I understand your points, but it’s an opinion and in my opinion we only have one winner in the AFL, the runners up is just the first loser. No matter how good your teamed was throughout the year they only make one Premiership Cup.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Geelong easily.
Mario Lia
Guest
Geelong had the better year, they came from finishing 8TH last year to finishing on top of the ladder home and away ladder. Collingwood were runners up last year and they were lucky to make the top four because of hawthorn beating west coast in the last round. Both teams had form slumps and struggled after the bye. Pies had won 4 games in a row leading into the finals, but their form was very misleading, because they only beat Goldcoast, Melbourne the 2 bottom teams and Adelaide and Essendon and both of their form at the end of the season was like 2 bottom 4 teams.. Interesting that both Geelong and Collingwood had both about 8 players playing for them from other clubs over the weekend and they also quite a few other players from other clubs that were not playing due to form and injury. Over the last 5 years or so both clubs have always recruited players from other clubs to top up there list in which has not worked because they have not won a premiership during that period. Geelong need a top class ruckman going forward and Collingwood need a top class Key position forward. Both sides in my opinion are running out of time to win a premiership in the near future.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Cats.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
It’s how you see it, I see 2 sides that failed to win the premiership so their season has the same result as the Gold Coast.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I think the Cats. Most people were picking them to drop out of the eight. Disappointing prelim but at least they gave it a crack. They might have been outcoached in two of their three finals. Wonder what Collingwood will do with Sidebottom and Pendels. Bit like Ablett. Old but still playing well. Sadly I think Varco is gone. Loved the man. Never forgot his grand final contribution... against the Pies.
Neil from Warrandyte
Roar Rookie
Both had great seasons, however with the expectation of making the grand final being a ‘forgone conclusion’, I think Collingwood supporters will be the most heartbroken this week.
hawker
Guest
Hmm splitting hairs but I think Geelong. Apart from the game at the Gabba early in the year Collingwood didn't seem to hit top gear at any stage in the season.