It was a typical Geelong performance in a final.
Leading by 22 points in the second quarter of a grand final, things looked to be going swimmingly. But then a 50-point turnaround which led to a 30-point put a halt to their quest for their elusive tenth premiership.
Now the Cats have one last chance to win a flag before an inevitable rebuild will be forced – nearly all of the 2011 premiership side have vanished and very few current players will be present the next time they will lift the cup.
The current crop
The current squad has an indication of premiership or bust for Geelong in 2021. Overall in 2020 Geelong has the third-highest average squad age, coming it at 26.2 years old. The Cats are the equal oldest team to take the field in the AFL era. The average age of the oldest Geelong 22 that took the field this year is 28.9. It’s no surprise that this is true, as if you look at the core group of their squad, they are all coming to the twilight of their career.
Tom Hawkins
Despite having one of the better seasons of his career, the tomahawk will end the 2021 season as a 33-year-old and his attempt to play sustained and constant senior footy at a high level may be past him, especially with the arrival of Jeremy Cameron. Can they both coexist in the same forward line?
Joel Selwood
He too will end the season as a 33-year-old but didn’t quite have the impact that Hawkins did in 2020. Not an outstanding season by his standards, and despite being an absolute lock for this side in 2021, his days might be numbered. The skipper would certainly look to end his career how he started it.
Joel Selwood (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Rhys Stanley
The big ruckman has had an interesting AFL career, displaying elite athleticism and stamina as well as being good around the ground. However, his ruck craft has drastically decreased over the years, with this year being especially poor. He was below average in both hit-outs and hit-outs to advantage.
Zach Tuohy
The running halfback showed much of the same in 2020. His elite kicking is always a feature and he’s a surprisingly underrated as a lockdown defender. But the 31-year-old is running on empty as he is trying to squeeze the last out of impressive AFL tenure.
Gary Rohan
He’s the definition of a pressure forward who kicks goals. He’s very rarely high in possession but is always giving it his all, and he doesn’t look to be slowing down with age. But with how physically demanding his role in the side is, how long can he do it at an elite level?
Gary Rohan (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images)
Mark Blicavs
The lockdown defender with extremely good ball use has had a shining 2020 season, having taken the job of the No. 1 forward nearly every week and doing it very well. However, turning 30 before the start of the season, how long can he maintain this level of performance?
Granted, these players might not be the be-all and end-all of the Geelong Football Club. However, they have been integral to the way they have played for a long time and this instinctive cohesion has gone a long way into the success they have managed to build.
All these players will be 30 by the end of next season and will be entering the twilight of their careers. How long can they continue to perform at an elite finals level without hindering the development of the younger crop of players coming through?
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Ins and Outs
When looking out to identify a club ideology going forward, the recruitment strategy is a very good indication, and when looking at Geelongs ins and outs it’s clear to see the way they are approaching the future.
Over the last few off-seasons the Cats have made space for some older and more experienced players in the hope of instant success.
Josh Jenkins
I think it’s a unanimous verdict that this move hasn’t worked. The 31-year-old has played one game for Geelong in the only year he has been with the club and he isn’t breaking the door down to start in 2021.
Issac Smith
Hawthorn to Geelong was a very controversial move with the aim of instant success. He has the quality and no doubt he is a very good footballer, but how many miles does he have left in the tank?
Shaun Higgins
The rough and ragged 32-year-old inside midfielder had a standard 2020. Rarely outstanding while never disappointing, Geelong knows exactly what they are getting into when buying into the consistent midfielder for one maybe two years.
Getting three players over two seasons aged 31 or over shows the short-term success plan that Geelong are implementing. Further, getting rid of young players like Lachie Fogarty to Carlton and Nakia Cockatoo to Brisbane and offloading three first-round picks for Jeremy Cameron is another indication that they have put the eggs in the 2021 basket.
Is there a future?
There is a future for the Geelong Football Club. They still have quality young players who will carry the next generation once the old guard passes the torch. The likes of Gryan Miers, Jordan Clark, Brandan Parfitt and Mark O’Connor will have very bright futures and the Cats will have success down the line.
But in the meantime it may take a couple of years of suffering should they complete their aim and get that tenth flag in 2021.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
But they traded away Fogarty without giving the kid a chance to make it or step up, yes teams should try to win, but looking at Richmond they rebuilt their list and then added 3 players before the 2017 and have won 3 flags in 4 years, are you saying Richmond got it wrong and Geelong got it right, I seem to remember Geelong rebuilding its list with young players back in the early 2000's and with a mix of senior players went on to win a couple of flags. So your happy as a paid up member of Geelong FC to play off in the finals without winning a flag? What happens from this point, if Carlton win a flag before Geelong, who would have then been the more successful club, since Carltons rebuild which started (reported to have started) 2016, Clearly Carlton... All I'm saying in my opinion I don't think Geelong have improve as a Club, where other clubs have improve and the younger players on there list will improve as they get more preseasons into their bodies. No matter what happens, it will be interesting to see what happens, I hope Geelong does win a flag, it would be fantastic for Danger, Joel, Hawkins and co. Fingers crossed it works for them.
Cat
Roar Guru
If they fill a need that none of the players on the list have stepped up and claimed as their own then why wouldn’t they? Teams should try to win every year. No quit for five and hope someday they might come good.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
So your saying Geelong will continue down the same path of bring 30 yo plus players to play 2 years of footy in the hope of winning a flag?
Cat
Roar Guru
No guarantee Fogarty will be playing in 5 years. From what I saw in his time at Geelong (he was drafted when we basically had no small forwards too) is he isn’t AFL level. Youth doesn’t mean talent is there. I wouldn’t be surprised if Fogarty is delisted and playing state leagues in two years. Fogarty played 15 games for the Cats in 2018 free or a return of 5 goals. Not good enough to keep his place. Never did enough to earn more time than a handful of games since.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I understand your point and your 100% right going to be interesting, but I think Collingwood's many issues will take most if not all the focus this season and couple early losses will then place huge amounts of pressure on the coach, as much as I would love to bag the Tigers they make it very hard to do.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Oh, did I say no one at Geelong gets to play a game, expect the 24 players marked for a seniors, can you please show me when I said that? Lachie Fogarty went to Carlton and is 21 years old why did they do that, isn't he any good? will he be a better player in 5 years time than Shaun Higgins 32yo, simple answer is yes as Fogarty will still be playing and Higgins won't be. All I'm saying is Geelong have a huge rebuild only 2 years away, if you disagree thats fine matey, its just opinion on what I see coming for the mighty Cats.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
What nonsense. The legacy of Selwood won’t stop when he retires. He’s as much a part of the fabric of the club from now on. He’s got a couple of brothers in the back room recruiting and coaching and I dare say he will have a role when he’s ready. You look at these players from other clubs as mercenaries, we look at them coming home - Danger, Rohan, Dalhaus, Higgins and Cameron - they’re all local boys. Throw in the likes of Menegola who no one wanted, same as Jenkins a couple of Irish boys, one from Carlton, who along with Henderson were offered raw contracts in an organisation that was mismanaging and what does that leave you Isaac Smith chasing one more flag. If he’s your mercenary, then we’re happy for the IP. And if your worried about our soul, just have a look who’s in the coaches box and who’s likely next coach in line Scarlett. Why don’t you tell him there’s going to be no soul down geelong when Selwood and Hawkins leave. Give me a spell
Marty Gleason
Roar Guru
Once Selwood and Hawkins go the soul of the club is gone, it's just mercenaries at that point.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Done pretty good. See what Hardwick effect from last year and this will have.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
Esava just needs to consistently clunk some marks and get his confidence back shooting for goals. I suspect his runs in the ruck have pushed his endurance. Another season and preseason under his belt and there’s hope. Geelong have Otten’s as the ruck coach so they’ve got the right man there, sometimes I just think Chris Scott demands a bit much from a ruckman, but who am I to judge him. The real thing that gets me is Chris Scott is superb at developing plans to combat opposition teams, but he hasn’t been able to against the current Tigers unit. Higgins and Smith with a healthy and focused Clarke should give them that outside run and penetrating delivery that could be the secret. Then I for one would put Blicavs tagging on Dusty like he did a couple of time’s on Pendlebury. He has the speed and strength to match him and he likes a simple job that he can really focus on
Cat
Roar Guru
Geelong bloods players ever year. Don’t act like the side hasn’t changed other than FA/trades. Anyone who displays the ability gets a shot. Some have kept their spots others have gone back down having to need to work on things. Others play in a position/role that’s just hard to fit into.
Kevo
Roar Rookie
That sounds promising. Ratagalea looks a long term prospect for second ruck duties but I'd like to see the Cats build up his confidence and knowledge mostly with plenty of game time in the forward line under Hawkins' wing. Cameron should have the capacity to roam far and wide. Even Hawkins could have 5 min bursts in the ruck for impact and support, as Ratagalea and Cameron can stay deeper during those spells.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Yeah Cat your right will they be able to step in and play to a standard that will help the Geelong FC get to a grand final and win it, do they have the experience, the game time, will they do the job when required? I remember when Geelong was at their best (winning flags) so was their reserve side in the VFL, be interesting in the next 2 years who they blood and what direction they go down, I just don't see the light, yet.
Cracka
Roar Rookie
Nah have to disagree I think over the last 10 years the Cats have been pretty good, I think from 2017 on the Tigers will take the cake.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
The ruck Geelong actually look like they’ve finally bitten the bullet and decided to look to develop someone with Sam de Koning, Shannon Neale and rookie Tsapatolis to go with Esava and Darcy Fort.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
That’s exactly it. And this years draft will not be the mystery the 2020 draft was. Even so Wells seemed to know exactly where a diamond was to be found in the 2020 draft and reports are already positive particularly with Nick Stevens
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
Yes when Hawkins goes where will we get a key for... no wait that’s right we just recruited the 2019 Coleman medalist. And didn’t we reach a grand final without Selwood’s usual commanding performance. This all looks like more wishing Geelong will fail rather than analysis. There’s a cluster of young kids that can’t get a game, but they’ll get opportunities this year while Geelong implement their squad approach to a fuller year with longer quarters.
Parer Ben
Roar Rookie
He’s never been a lockdown defender, he’s played intercept goal keeper as a defender
Cat
Roar Guru
Like Henry, Miers, Clark, Parfitt, Kolodjashnij etc? Kids have to earn games at Geelong. We don’t just hand them games because they are ‘young’ or a high draft pick.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
I am not promising a flag this year. We all live in hope. Just don’t see a rebuild. Next few years will tell. I give the Hawks top management. But the cliff got them.