- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
When Cameron Ling and Chris Scott held aloft the premiership cup in 2011, non-Geelong supporters were clean to lay credit to Ling, 21 other players and every assistant coach, with the asterisk laid onto Scott.
With a line-up including (amongst others) Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright, Harry Taylor, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel, Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Paul Chapman, Brad Ottens, Ling, Joel Corey, James Kelly and a very young Mitch Duncan (as the sub), to quote John Kennedy Sr, “a drover’s dog could’ve coached better”.
Fairly or not, that reputation followed Scott through a decade of “so close, but so far” finishes (including, incredibly, only one year of missed finals in 2015).
In 2022, following the drubbing of a Sydney side who were either told it was a night grand final or was the next day, the reputation folded. Scott was a Cats immortal from all involved, even in the eyes of his own detractors.
Just two and a half weeks later, the pressure on the Cats went from 0-100 real quick, as the (likely) inclusions of pick 7, Jack Bowes, Ollie Henry and Tanner Bruhn has brought about the genuine belief that a dynasty is on their hands.
From their premiership side, Joel Selwood has already announced his retirement and from a structural point of view, medical sub Brandon Parfitt takes his spot as a contested animal, of which Parfitt has been very good.
Ollie Henry’s spot is his and Gary Rohan is the obvious out. His qualifying final of 3.1 from 14 disposals was terrific and he was arguably the difference, he had 10 disposals and kicked two in the prelim, whereas he kicked a behind from seven touches.
His finals record is already not great and whilst Henry was on the fringe at the Pies, anyone who saw his clutch gene against Hawthorn and his dominant sub performance against Fremantle could see that Henry is an asset.
Henry isn’t an established best-22 player, yet and has kicked 28 goals from 25 games. If you’re still asking why he’s so special, consider this thought: Geelong do. Rightly so, too.
When he’s in the best 22, who knows? The youth policy at Geelong has worked beautifully so far and with a 20-year old Henry, a 20-year-old Bruhn and a 25-year-old Bowes (as of Round 1) coming in, the rebuild truly is on the run.
Bowes comes in for O’Connor, as the tag is a hit and miss based on opponent, whereas Bowes’ outside run will complement the toughness of Tom Atkins, Patrick Dangerfield and Parfitt.
Patrick Dangerfield (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
Bruhn will have to fight All-Australian Tyson Stengle and small forward contingent Brad Close and Gryan Miers and the other depth at Geelong is crazy.
Players who didn’t play in the Grand Final include the ever-so-unlucky Max Holmes, Sam Simpson, Mitch Knevitt, Toby Conway, Shannon Neale and Cooper Stephens (add in Ratugolea if he doesn’t end up at Port).
Superstars? No, but “soldier in and soldier out”. There aren’t many better soldiers than pick 7. What to do with pick 7 is a question some find easily answered, but the options are aplenty.
Local lad Jhye Clark seems to be the popular choice. A workhorse whose stamina, footy smarts and never wavering ability would appeal to the Cats as they hunt another 200-gamer.
If Ratugolea goes, Matt Jefferson needs to be the target as a post-Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron option would be key, even if Cameron has six years left in him and Hawkins seemingly has two.
Jedd Busslinger is the other player in play, to partner Sam De Koning for the next decade and because talls take longer to develop, the midfield depth of Geelong get to stay together.
As a premiership team, getting three players under 26 who were all first-round picks and pick 7 is simply a full stop on 2022 and tells the competition that the premiership cabinet isn’t complete.
If you’re a Dees or Dogs fan, you were grateful the drought ended, and now wondering when the next one is coming. The hope has returned.
For Cats fans, hope has become expectation and if that cabinet is empty in half a decade’s time, the non-Cats fans will bring the entire Chris Scott and Cats reputation back into question.
Then again, that’s what’s made Geelong an envious club. Keep being great until you’re the best. Odds are, they’ll be the best again, very soon.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.