Geelong Cats finished third on the ladder in 2021, with 16 wins and six losses, just behind Port Adelaide Power, who had a worse percentage but an extra win to their name.
In the qualifying final Port Adelaide doubled Geelong’s score, but the Cats took advantage of the double chance by defeating Greater Western Sydney in the semi-final.
Unfortunately they were beaten comprehensively by the eventual premiers, the Melbourne Demons, in the preliminary final. Since the loser of the other preliminary final was the Power, the Cats are fourth for the purposes of this exercise.
The Cats clearly believe that they are capable of winning the premiership, as they have the oldest list in the AFL in 2022, with an average age of 25.7 years. In the off-season they recruited 31-year-old ruckman Jonathon Ceglar and small forward Tyson Stengle.
(Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Media/via Getty Images)
It’s a big season for the Cats, as they need to be in the mix for premiership contention to vindicate their list management strategy.
Jack Henry will be integral if Geelong are to be in contention. It’s remarkable that he finished second in the side’s best and fairest in 2021 but missed out on the AFL All Australian squad of 40. He averaged the second most intercepts of any Cats player, with an average of 5.96 per game.
Henry featured in 24 of 25 games and the team’s highest average disposal efficiency percentage, with an average of 86.00 per cent. He doesn’t waste many possessions.
Henry generally starts in the back pocket and Mark Blicavs generally starts at fullback – or centre halfback when Tom Stewart is injured. Given Stewart is back from injury and Henry is reliable, Blicavs will be allowed to use his versatility, as he did last year, when he averaged 11.79 hit-outs per game.
Jeremy Cameron needs to improve on his consistency in 2022. In eight games last year he kicked two goals or fewer, and in four of those the Cats lost. Two of those losses were to the Demons.
In particular Cameron needs to improve his contested marking, as he plays centre half-forward and averaged the tenth most contested marks per game of any Cats player, with an average of 0.73 per game.
Cameron may have averaged the most goals per game of any Cats player, with an average of 2.60 per game in the 15 matches he played in 2021, but he needs to improve.
He kicked three goals or more in only seven matches, but only three of those were against top-eight sides. He needs to lift in 2022, as the Cats paid a hefty price to get him to the football club.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Tom Stewart was a pivotal part of the Geelong back six in 2021. He was rewarded for his form by being selected in the back pocket of the All Australian final team. He managed to win the Geelong best and fairest despite featuring in only 20 out of the 25 games they played. That’s how important he is to the team.
Stewart’s impact on the Cats as a team can be substantiated statistically. He averaged the most intercepts on average of any Cats player in 2021. He also averaged the most metres gained per game of any player in the side.
Stewart used the ball well, with an average disposal efficiency of 84.79 per cent. That’s despite averaging an impressive 24 disposals per game in 2021 – he didn’t only have a lot of the ball, but he was constructive with it.
The Cats won only two of five games Stewart missed through injury in 2021. They need to find a way to be less reliant on him if they are to taste the ultimate success in 2022.
Sam Menegola’s influence on the team is underrated. He featured in 23 of 25 games in 2021; the Cats won the two matches he missed by a combined total of just a goal.
Geelong won seven out of the nine games in which Menegola hit the scoreboard with at least a goal. He averaged the fifth most metres gained of any Cats player, with an average of 387.17 per game. He averaged 4.78 score involvements per game, which he can improve on.
Menegola isn’t a household name compared with Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield, but he may well become one. Despite playing on the wing, he was still able to average an impressive 8.04 contested possessions per game in 2021. He’s a game changer and will be integral to Geelong’s premiership chances in 2022.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Wooden spoon possibility :stoked:
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
That opens up a whole philosophical can of worms. Were the Bulldogs, too, close to a premiership last year after leading in the third quarter. Hindsight tells us both Geelong and the WB weren't anywhere near a flag. If that way of thinking makes me delusional then so be it. I prefer to see myself as being realistic after the fact.
.kraM
Roar Rookie
If they’re leading at halftime in a granny, you’re deluded in saying they weren’t close to a flag.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Great to see so much respectful, light-hearted banter and exchange of views on this article by everyone. Must admit, I lost a bit of love for the Roar last year. Josh Elliott's departure mixed with Cam Rose's decline into regular snide pot-shots and whining about umpires (which only seems to have happened following his own club's period of success, which is odd), and a change in editors, seems to have diluted the quality of Roar articles in my view. And there seemed to be a growing number of sad, bitter, nasty, humourless people that regularly post comments on articles. Maybe the continual COVID lockdowns caused all of that? The posts here have refreshed my enthusiasm for the site.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Too many old blokes on the list who clog-up positions in the team. Supporters are blinded by three brilliant decades by the club - I'm confident they are headed down the ladder and possibly out of the eight this year.
Dean
Guest
Also being 5 goals up in the Grand Final. Stewart was a huge loss for the finals last year. But I can't see them improving overall. At least not enough to challenge Melbourne.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Yes. Like all teams really. Melbourne suffered very few injuries last year. Best side for sure, but lucky all the same.
O M
Roar Rookie
I am too but I think, once again, our firtunes will be dictated by injuries.
Boo
Guest
If you get there your a chance grand finals have such momentum swings that the end result often doesn't reflect how much better or worse a team is .In terms of the doggies they led by a out 20 in the third then Melbourne pulverised them .Seen and played in GF where sides have hammered teams that were better than them .Tongue in cheek about Dusty but you didn't bite .
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Would you say the Bulldogs were close to a flag last year? I'd suggest they weren't within a bull's roar!
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Cheers. Looking forward to the season. I'm quite optimistic.
O M
Roar Rookie
I think they have to give Miller the 1st shot at it although Gibcus and Brown are highly impressive prospects and might just surprise all with rapid development.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
It seems that thinking has clouded Geelong's judgement for ten years. i.e. 'We're only one ( or two ) players off a flag.' It's the reason why the cliff is getting closer. Yes, it may sound ridiculous but given hindsight Geelong weren't close to a flag in 2020. Their second half was a complete and utter capitulation. Dusty to Geelong? Naah. Not even Dusty would be able to help the Cats moving forward over the next few seasons.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Sounds good. Does that mean Ben Miller gets a sustained run at it in defence with Tarrant and Grimes? He didn't look out of place late last year.
Boo
Guest
Pablo Cruz if the results this year aren't reversed and the Tigers finish out of the eight would it be prudent to trade Martin to Geelong if we're only one player off a flag .Incidentally ridiculous comment to say Geelong haven't been near a flag for a decade when they were in the 2020 gf .
O M
Roar Rookie
He seemed to divide his time on the ground rotating through the Ruck and forward line with Nank and Soldo. All 3 looked damaging in both positions throughout the game. I reckon the Tiges might try to stretch a few defenses this year conditions willing. I think Balta is the most likely replacement for Jack up forward, the boy has the talent to be anything really.
okapiman
Roar Rookie
A good question, a role player is a player brought in for a specific task. It is not someone who plays a role... maybe that person is more interested in dance. George Hewitt - former Swans role player, inside mid - job was to protect Callum Mills, Josh Kennedy and spare their bodies for periods. Also played as the tagger - when required. Not the world's best inside mid but he is a classic role player. Hewitt has no doubt been brought to Carlton to protect Cripps body. Anything else is a win, give Cripps a rest at times, so Cripps can perform better long term. It is potentially a smart play by Carlton, and could extend career of Cripps. Kane Cornes - tagger, classic role player, could barely kick over a jam tin. He was bloody good at it. Every team has specific players - that is due to their success in a hard and often unrewarding task. The coaches love them... as they know they are over achieving in a way but do a task that is for the betterment of the whole team. Hawkins, Dangerfield are not role players, on occasions they do play roles.. but that is not their strength.
Doran Smith
Roar Guru
You are right berrlins; I am surprised Selwood is still captain, as Tom Stewart is the natural fit to take the club forward.
berrlins
Roar Pro
Stewart's key to their chances, but they'll be there abouts again, and when they are there'll be some key players who need to step up. Gary Rohan is deadly in H&A but his finals form over the last 10 years is abysmal, his impact at ground level as well as in the air is so handy to have, Esava is another one, loads of potential but gotta start holding those big marks he flies for. Is zach Guthrie a best 22 player for them? Best season to date but still didnt feature in the finals side(correct me if Im wrong there)is it time for Selwood to give up the captaincy and help bring in new leadership? That could help the team and with Joel in the twilight of his career you'd rather him help a new captain while still playing instead of holding the captaincy until his last match.
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
How much time did Balta spend up forward? And how did it look? I've been keen on the idea for quite a while now. The boy is a beast, sort of wasted down back.