Where will Geelong finish in 2012?

[j959]

Points for the use of the word epsilon bunyip!

i had to go look it up!   :P

[kalani]

Indeed and what a start to that ride, St.Kilda v Geelong in round 1. That could be an absolute gem.

ot an absolute dud game by geelongs part ;D

[Milton]

Geelong are as good a team as I have EVER seen, (and I go back a fair way), but you can't dismiss the fact that we didn't make the GF last season WITH Gazza.

bunyip .. funnily enough that's why I think we'll improve .. we had Gazza getting 40 poss and we get done comprehensively, proves that it's a team game .. we weren't 100% united last year .. older players started training late, they haven't this year .. there was finger pointing on the ground when things went wrong throughout the season .. that's a bad sign = frustration

The leadership group didn't want to change the game plan towards the end of the season to deal with StK and Coll .. maybe it's not the time of the year to change a game plan so why wasn't plan B in place earlier .. but then again who's running the ship .. mate, fish rots from the head and the heads gone now

[ossie85]

Harsh words from a guy that won you a flag twice! But there is probably some truth in that.

However, Geelong do have an age problem, and there will be some pain in the near future. How bad the pain is the question.

[bunyip]

Say what you like, but IF we kick ST.Kilda's backside in round 1, there will be some nervous coaches looking on.
You NEVER write off a good team. Geelong have some massive challenges this season, but they are good enough to overcome them.
Players read what is said about them in the media, and all it will do is get their back up and make them train harder and play smarter, so good on 'em.
Remember last season when a commentator gleefully declared the end of Geelong's rein because Footscray got a few points ahead of us. Geelong kicked the next 14 goals and made him look even stupider????

[Milton]

Well guys it's 4 games in and we're 4 and zip .. Ling's playing very well, so are Ottens, Milburn, Scarlett and most of the oldies .. we've got game time into Duncan, Menzel, T.Hunt and Christensen .. so all in all, it's been a well balanced start to 2011

Ironically Gazza has been injured at GCS and we wouldn't have had him for at least two games if he had stayed on

Blake is nowhere to be seen and hopefully Hawkins will join him .. I reckon we have (so far) well and truly exceeded expectations .. long way to go but they can't do anymore than they have done .. I'm getting excited but keeping a lid on it :)

[bunyip]

I agree Milton. It's a good start, and 4 points is just as valuable now as at the end of the season. All you can expect of your team is to win, and the Cats have been doing that. Against quality teams to.
Next week against Hawthorn is a big one, then a well earned break.

[roo boys!]

My dad and I have been looking at some premiership contenders besides Collingwood this year to put a bit of money on, and my decision has come down to these guys. I still reckon they have it in them.

[Milton]

A couple of former greats also reckon we're a better team than last year and we are ... http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/no-gary-ablett-no-mark-thompson-no-worries-for-geelong-says-paul-coach/story-e6frf9jf-1226045869634 .. it's a lesson for everyone to remember that it's a team game and we are now playing like a team .. we'll know more as the season unfolds but all the BS last year could have cost us dearly

[ossie85]

It's true, and Geelong have surprised me, I gotta admit. Very professional outfit, I wonder if the old boys will get tired towards season end, but it's very hard to fault them.

[bunyip]

There is a saying ossie "An old dog for a hard road".
The theory seems to be that it's the younger bodies of the new recruits that tire towards the end of the season. Whereas seasoned players are more able to stand the stress better. Perhaps they pace themselves better. The coaching staff should make sure that the players are ready for round 2, and then hopefully finals. the byes help a lot I think. Geelongs seems to have come at a good time, and another bye just before the finals will be good if we make it.
Remember when Bomber rested virtually our whole team a few years ago, sacrificing 4 points to rest the senior players. That is effectively what the bye will do for all the teams this season.

[cookie311993]

the Cats have started pretty strong true test will be the pies

[bunyip]

The Pies are the bench mark. No-one has even come close to beating them yet, they are an awesome team. The problem is, Collingwood seem to be a step above Geelong at the moment, and Geelong appear to be a bit ahead of most other teams, so............who's going to beat Collingwood?

[Cruiseon]

No Jolly and Ottens in form - Bunyip there are shades of the 2007 prelim !!

[bunyip]

I must admit Cruis, I'm really looking forward to the game. It will really do Collingwood good to get a real belting, you know, just to keep their feet on the ground.