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It would take a hard man to find flaws in Geelong’s all-conquering 2007 AFL premiership campaign. Mark Thompson is that man.
Cats fans spent the summer celebrating the season that had everything, including a record grand final win, a record number of All Australians, a VFL premiership, a Brownlow Medal, Norm Smith Medal and Rising Star award.
Coach Thompson, meanwhile, was poring over how to make the Cats better and he is confident they will be in 2008.
“We can play a lot better, we didn’t play perfect football,” Thompson said.
“If you look at trends, what other teams are going to be doing, I think the trend in football is football will speed up a little bit.
“We have to learn to defend, how to play against quick teams.
“That’s something that certainly we didn’t do as well as we could last year, we could certainly do it better.”
Others may beg to differ, given the Cats’ defence was the league’s best last season.
But is is indicative of Geelong’s reluctance to either look back at their monumental achievements or set their sights on creating more history, instead concentrating purely on what they can do to become better.
Maintaining their focus will be crucial, as a mental letdown seems the only thing likely to stop them going back-to-back this year, aside from a sudden rash of injuries.
Thompson says there have been no signs of arrogance or complacency and fitness-wise they are in good shape.
Which means there is every reason to believe the Cats can be better in 2008.
The only absentees from their premiership side are veteran ruckman Steven King and forward Nathan Ablett, and on both counts they appear well-stocked with potential replacements.
In the ruck, Thompson said Mark Blake was set to improve and was highly motivated, despite playing most of the season before being replaced by King for the premiership decider.
“After that initial hurt and that anger stage he’s come back and trained exceptionally hard and developed his all-round game and got stronger and fitter and I think he’s in a pretty good space,” Thompson said.
“He’s appreciative of the fact that he is the second ruckman at the club now and he’ll get games and the more he plays the better player he’ll become.”
Waiting in the wings in case Brad Ottens or Blake get injured or lose form is 20-year-old Trent West, who has been excelling in the pre-season and who Thompson said should play “at least five games” this year.
Up forward, Tom Lonergan and Tom Hawkins both loom as excellent replacements for Ablett.
Lonergan capped a courageous comeback from losing a kidney with six goals and best-afield honours in the VFL grand final.
“We love the story and we love the fact that he decided to play and we’re just going to give him opportunities,” Thompson said.
Teen Goliath Hawkins opened his debut season in 2007 with a blaze of glory, earning comparisons with the league’s all-time goal kicking record-holder Tony Lockett, before fading as the season went on.
But Thompson said he would be much better for having spent a year in the AFL system.
“It’s been an enormous advantage and a huge learning curve … I think he’s probably learnt enough and he’s strong enough now to play at the AFL level on a more consistent basis,” he said.
The Cats’ attack generally promises to be a competitive place this year, with Thompson citing Ryan Gamble and Travis Varcoe among other forwards pushing hard for spots.
Brent Prismall and Kane Tenace, who were both in the side early last season, are other players he nominated as in contention to push up from the fringes.
“We’ve certainly got some talent underneath that we will give opportunities to this year and see whether they can actually grab the opportunities to be part of the best 22,” Thompson said.
The only major concern heading into the home and away season is the status of All Australian defender Matthew Egan, who missed last year’s finals series with a fractured foot.
After surgery in September, a setback meant he required a second operation this year and his return date remains unknown, with Thompson offering mid-season as a rough estimate.
But everyone else should be available for round one.
Meanwhile, the Cats have not completely given up hope that Nathan Ablett will bob up again at some stage.
He is still on their list, despite walking away from the game at the age of 22.
“We’re hoping that Nathan comes and has a talk to us soon and says he wants to play back in the VFL and if he does that, we’ll accept him,” Thompson said.
“If he doesn’t, we’ll just have to move on because we still have 43 players here that want to play,” Thompson said.
GEELONG
Coach: Mark Thompson.Captain: Tom Harley
Last five years: 12-4-5-10-1.
Premierships: 7 (1925, 1931, 1937, 1551-52, 1963, 2007).
Star five: Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett, Cameron Mooney, Matthew Scarlett, Brad Ottens.
One to watch: Tom Hawkins – The blow of losing Nathan Ablett – perhaps forever – has been softened by the imposing presence of the Tomahawk. At 197cm and 103kg, the teenager already has the physique to match it with the big boys. After a year learning the ropes, mostly in the VFL, he could be ready to explode.
Ins: Jason Davenport (Geelong VFL), Adam Donohue (Geelong U18), Tom Lonergan (rookie elevation), Dan McKenna (Gippsland U18), Dawson Simpson (Murray U18), Scott Simpson (Dandenong U18), Harry Taylor (East Fremantle).
Outs: Tim Callan (Western Bulldogs), Charlie Gardiner (St Kilda), Sam Hunt (delisted), Steven King (St Kilda), Stephen Owen (delisted), Henry Playfair (Sydney), Matthew Spencer (delisted).
Best line-up:
B: Tom Harley, Matthew Scarlett, David Wojcinski
HB: Andrew Mackie, Chris Egan, Darren Milburn
C: Corey Enright, Cameron Ling, Joel Corey
HF: Paul Chapman, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson
F: Mathew Stokes, Tom Hawkins, Joel Selwood
R: Brad Ottens, Jimmy Bartel, Gary Ablett
I: Mark Blake, James Kelly, Travis Varcoe, Max Rooke
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