The Cats, any chance

[Twizzle]

Great to see my AFL team doing so well, as my NRL team are doing jack.

I watched the replay yesterday and heard things like "Matthew Sacrlett, is the best defender in Australia, ATM" and "Geelong the form team of the AFL, ATM".

I know commentators get carried away a bit after a good win, but I dont normally watch AFL, unless my team is playing, as I am not that great a fan, so I dont get to watch any other tems.

I was impressed with their win over the Saints, however, that game could have gone either way.

So, to all the AFL experts, or frequent viewers, do the Cats have a real chance of winning the premiership, this year?

 

[Cricketer]

No, but they'll shape the 8 and take some teams down to the wire. If they make the top 4 (IF!!) they "might" get close but I cant see them getting past the prelim. I don't think Melbourne are good enough, Brisbane are still very dangerous and know how to win when it counts. St Kilda, I think the jury is still out on them but when they play Brisbane at the GABBA, we will all know alot more.

As for the Cats list, you have some great young kids coming through and I think you'll do even better next year, maybe top 2 if they improve more. Good to see as well. The next three rounds will decide the 8 and sort the men from the boys. I just want my priority draft picks and a new coach, then my Tigers will slowly come good and our membership will rise above the 30k mark once again!

 

[meltiger]

Agree with Cricketer,

Geelong have something special coming but next year is the one.

But we've never been above 30k mate lol

 

[CyberKev]

Like the Cats, and have made no secret of this throughout the season.

Their defence is clearly the best going around, and their midfield is better than most going around. At this point, they do tend to rely on squeezing sides more often than not, and lack the quality forward presence to complement their strengths down back and through the middle, but they're getting there.

In some ways, they remind me of Collingwood circa 2002-03, in that they work hard and get the most out of their available talent. That being said, they are more promising than Collingwood as they have a greater spread of talent, better youngsters, and lack of an overt reliance on a couple of key players.

The other great thing that Geelong have going for them, is the hard yards they've put in over the past few seasons. They've had their hand forced in some respect due to a dearth of capable experienced players, but they've nevertheless ensured that young players have been given ample opportunity to gel together as a team, and we're seeing the benefits of this now. They've done it tough at times, but now they have a core group of experienced youngsters holding down important positions on the paddock, and they have confidence in each other, back each other up and play for one another.

Right now, I think the club is a year (and a key forward or two) short of genuine premiership quality, but if Brisbane does fall over, they're as good as anything else going around (with the possible exception of St Kilda at the top of its form).

Put it this way... There a better side (comparitively) than Essendon was when it won the flag in 1993.

CyberKev

 

[Twizzle]

Thats what I like to hear.

Thanks guys

Next year could be good, but so much can happen between now and then

 

[Southern Rooster]

I think Geelong can play in the Grand Final. They have the speed and height to matych up with St Kilda. They have the defensive players down back to cope with Melbourne, they also have the ruck division to go with Jeff White when against Melbourne. They will be in the finals possibly in the top 4 and if not 5th which will give them a home final. Brisbane and Port still look the two too beat but Port have an enormous weight on there shoulders heading into the finals. Geelong realy have no expectations and they remind me a bit of Sydney last year who crept up on teams. Difference being this geelong side is better than last years Sydney side. If Port crumble again in the finals don't be surprised to see Brisbane v Geelong in the GF. The whole of Victoria will be behind Geelong as well. I certainly haven't ruled them out of GF calculations.

 

[Stormin Norman]

Yes they can win it but no they wont brisbane getting brown and keating back just b4 finals start will be the key. they are the only team that can stop the cats dont worry about next yr or looking to the future the cats are here and now

 

[meltiger]

I think Geelong can play in the Grand Final.

I'm starting to agree now. I'm hoping for a top 4 of -

Port
St Kilda
Brisbane
Geelong


This would mean Port V Geelong @ AAMI... Geelong got within a goal of them there once this year and are in better form now.

St Kilda will towel the Lions @ Telstra (Don't kid yourself about the MCG agreement, St Kilda will play finals at Telstra)

This would then mean Geelong V ? at the MCG in week 3 and St Kilda V ? at the Dome in week 3.


Geelong V St Kilda GF, Geelong would spank the Saints on the day.

 

[CyberKev]

I think Geelong can play in the Grand Final.

I'm starting to agree now. I'm hoping for a top 4 of -

Port
St Kilda
Brisbane
Geelong


This would mean Port V Geelong @ AAMI... Geelong got within a goal of them there once this year and are in better form now.

St Kilda will towel the Lions @ Telstra (Don't kid yourself about the MCG agreement, St Kilda will play finals at Telstra)

This would then mean Geelong V ? at the MCG in week 3 and St Kilda V ? at the Dome in week 3.


Geelong V St Kilda GF, Geelong would spank the Saints on the day.

I agree that Geelong can go further than many expect, and I agree that the Cats would be a big show against Port (anywhere).

There's little support for your Telstra Dome theory though. The AFL has already ruled out playing finals there this year, and would be unlikely to foot the compensation bill required for moving the game to the Dome. At any rate, I don't buy the theory that the Saints will have tyo play at the Dome to perform well. Given a sound spring day with sun and minimal wind they could play well if on at the MCG.

A Saints vs Cats GF would be my prime choice for the big day. I don't think the Cats would thrash the Saints as they rarely thrash anyone. The Cats play hard, defensive orientated football that tends to win the day more often thatn not, but rarely results in high scores and large margins. The Saints, by comparison, prefer fast and freer flowing attacking football and can run up big scores when on.

At the moment, there is no bigger task in the game than beating the Cats at Skilled Stadium. The Saints were fabulous there recently, in unfavourable conditions and missing their 3 best defenders. It was the best game I've seen this season, and the Cats were fab in getting over the line. They still only won by 7 points with everything going in their favour, however, so I wouldn't be rushing to pick a huge Geelong GF win should such a fixture eventuate.

CyberKev

 

[Stormin Norman]

St Kilda will towel the Lions @ Telstra (Don't kid yourself about the MCG agreement, St Kilda will play finals at Telstra)

the afl have said there will be no finals at telstra dome, wit port or bris most likely to host 1 and freo/syd/wce to host the another the saints (if the get one depending on results of this week) will host it at the g. not enough seats at the dome.

 

[Stormin Norman]

The Cats play hard, defensive orientated football that tends to win the day more often thatn not

u get that when ur coach was one of the toughest half back flankers going around in his day

 

[CyberKev]

The Cats play hard, defensive orientated football that tends to win the day more often thatn not

u get that when ur coach was one of the toughest half back flankers going around in his day

Yeah, Norman...

Bomber is that rare commodity...

A quality Essendon person

All class is Bomber...

Just think, he was number 3 on the list back in late 1999 when Richmond took Frawley & Hawthorn took Schwab.

How nuts were Geelong not jumping in and nailing either of the other two?

They were even crazier not to listen to all the couch experts (plenty of whom barracked for Geelong) imploring them to dump him on numerous occasions across 2001 & 2002.

Crazy like a fox :twisted:

CyberKev

 

[Twizzle]

Well we are down to the last 4, which is only fair, because thats when we finnished.

The Bombers fought back well last night, and are a different outfit to Port Adelaide, and a different class.

I think we have the lions next week, who we beat only just recently, but thye are a good finals team.

I'm just enjoying the moment, because we made it this far.

 

[CyberKev]

Congrats, Twizzle!

The end result seriously flattered the Bombers who had been thoroughly outplayed for three quarters. As always, without James Hird who was fantastic again last night, Essendon would have been in real strife against quality opposition. The Lloyd dive was again in evidence, but thankfully the better team won, and defeat couldn't have happened to a more deserving bunch.

The Cats have a huge task on their hands this weekend, and I'd love to see them get up, but its hard to see it. One thing's for sure, if they find themselves a few goals up at three quarter time, they will want to maintain the intensity.

A great result for the Cats who deserve it after the strides the club has taken in the comp this season.

CyberKev

 

[PB]

Good luck to the Cats.

I have a lot of difficulty seeing anyone beat the Lions at this time of year, all around the park, and the brains in the coaches box. They are jsut so much better than any other club. But on any given day, anything is possible. I would say if i were a cats fan i would pray for rain.

i hope the Cats win because i don't think the Saints are any chance against Port and an AFL Grand Final without a Victorian team just isn't right...

 

[Stormin Norman]

i must say i totally disreagaureded port cause of ther woeful finals record but they will puch brisbane to the limit if they make it

 

[Twizzle]

Well we gave it our best shot, but its pretty hard to win finals without key forwards, and Scarlett left it till now to paly his worst game for the year.

Even so we pushed the Lions to the limit, and our boys did us proud.

Bring on next tyear, and I hope we recruit some key forwards.