Training 2024 Pre-Season discussion
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- Aug 18, 2018
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Never misses leg day
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Is that with Martin from Essendon?
Turkey Tom
Club Legend
Jhye Clark 13
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It is. The size of Neale's arms. He's a monster.
Yes it is.
dazbroncos
Max Rooke Appreciation Society
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and look at the veins in his arms... thats low %body fat and elite training...
He's a monster alright - with skills and a great approach and head on his shoulders..
Still time to get on the Neale train... we'll make room for all.
GO Catters
dazbroncos
Max Rooke Appreciation Society
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Jhye Clark 13
07, 09, 11, 22
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Toot toot.
Let’s just hope he doesn’t pick up another momentum-sapping injury like he did at the beginning of the ‘23 season. He was ready to burst onto the scene prior to that.
Haven’t heard much about him. He’s been in the training photos so I assume he’s fit.
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The youngsters set to stand up as Cats finally eye rebuild — CODE Sports
Geelong has started to load up on more youngsters after a ‘Dad’s Army’ premiership in 2022. SCOTT GULLAN analyses whether the Cats will slide into rebuild or have enough for a final flag tilt.
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His only recovery I know of is recovering from the shock of landing here instead of the Bombers and I think he got over that pretty quickly
Imagine a highly flexible team with players able to perform in multiple roles.
Paired with an astute coach able to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to advantage.
Sounds like the future of football evolution.
If a player is getting beaten, injured, having a down day or needs a rest, options exist.
The versatility to create match-ups to advantage or specific roles without robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Instantly changing team game plan by making strategic team positional changes.
Motivation gained when challenging players to perform specific roles.
The ability to spark the team by moving in-form players wherever needed.
Defenders understanding how the forwards want the ball delivered.
Forwards with a strong defensive work ethic.
Nightmare for oppositional planning and match-ups.
A specialist position player is limited and a potential liability when unable to be replaced.
Paired with an astute coach able to accurately assess situations or people and turn this to advantage.
Sounds like the future of football evolution.
If a player is getting beaten, injured, having a down day or needs a rest, options exist.
The versatility to create match-ups to advantage or specific roles without robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Instantly changing team game plan by making strategic team positional changes.
Motivation gained when challenging players to perform specific roles.
The ability to spark the team by moving in-form players wherever needed.
Defenders understanding how the forwards want the ball delivered.
Forwards with a strong defensive work ethic.
Nightmare for oppositional planning and match-ups.
A specialist position player is limited and a potential liability when unable to be replaced.
Can you post?
The youngsters set to stand up as Cats finally eye rebuild — CODE Sports
Geelong has started to load up on more youngsters after a ‘Dad’s Army’ premiership in 2022. SCOTT GULLAN analyses whether the Cats will slide into rebuild or have enough for a final flag tilt.apple.news
cats_09
Otters United
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Club by club: How Chris Scott can deliver one final flag for club’s veterans
Geelong has started to load up on more youngsters after a ‘Dad’s Army’ premiership in 2022. SCOTT GULLAN analyses whether the Cats will slide into rebuild or have enough for a final flag tilt.
Talk about going from chocolates to boiled lollies.
The defending champions started the season with three losses and from there they never really got going which further fuelled the fire about their ageing list.
Chris Scott has handled every challenge which has come his way during his 12-year tenure and he may need to pull into his reserve of magic tricks with many in the football world thinking the Cats might have finally tipped over the edge.
Captain: Patrick Dangerfield
The fade-out late was the biggest concern, losing five of the last six games to finish 12th — the club’s worst finishing position for 20 years.
They were still in the finals race coming into Round 23 but were torched by St Kilda to the tune of 33 points and then conceded meekly at home against the Western Bulldogs in the final round.
It was around the ball where the Cats were found wanting with Joel Selwood’s retirement felt harder than expected, combined with the season-ending injury to Cam Guthrie — the best and fairest winner from the premiership year — after Round 6.
HB: T. Stewart, J Henry, M. Blicavs
C: M. Holmes, C. Guthrie, M. Duncan
HF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, O. Henry
F: T. Stengle, T. Hawkins, B. Close
FOL: R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield, T. Atkins
I/C: T. Bruhn, G. Rohan, J. Bowes, B. Parfitt, S. Mannagh (sub)
Veterans who had been so good the previous year such as Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith, Zach Tuohy and Mitch Duncan dropped a level while Tyson Stengle didn’t replicate his form of 12 months earlier and skipper Patrick Dangerfield was hampered by injury.
The numbers in the forward line looked good on paper with Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron combining for more than 100 goals again and new recruit Ollie Henry impressing with 41 majors.
But Cameron wasn’t the same player after being accidentally knocked out by teammate Gary Rohan in Round 15 and his troubles from that point on mirrored his team’s.
Smith is the only notable retirement, while they lost key defender Esava Ratugolea to Port Adelaide in the trade period.
There was a noticeable focus on the national draft in November, which might give an insight into a change of attitude at Kardinia Park.
The age demographic is again something which the critics use when predicting the fall of the empire, with 11 Geelong players to be 30 and over coming into the 2024 season.
That’s a serious chunk of the list in their twilight years, which throws up one crucial question — have they got another roll of the dice in them?
There are a lot of ‘if’s’ about Geelong, but for a minute imagine if Dangerfield, Cameron, Guthrie, Hawkins, Duncan, Tom Stewart and Mark Blicavs get themselves right physically for one last campaign.
Obviously for Scott to pull off another miracle he will need something significant from others such as talented rising stars like Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn, Sam De Koning and a better run with injury for the much-hyped Jhye Clark.
He looked good at times during 19 games in his first season at Geelong, after starting his career at the GWS Giants.
He now enters his fourth AFL season with 49 games behind him, which is generally the time for significant growth.
Geelong’s midfield is crying out for more elite talent, with Bruhn and Holmes the two potential stars.
Young ruckman Toby Conway also showed in his one-game appearance that there is something there.
If he can have an injury-free run, that trio can have a major impact on the Cats fortunes.
The Cats had followed him for a couple of years, but the football world took notice of him with an extraordinary six-goal, 27-disposal grand final performance in a losing cause.
There are plenty who think Mannagh can bring that sort of explosiveness to the AFL, which will be a point of difference Geelong is craving.
There has been some shuffling of the decks beneath him, with premiership ruckman Steven King returning home after stints with the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast.
Another ex-Cat, James Rahilly, who was voted the AFL Coaches’ Association assistant coach of the year in 2023, also returns after three seasons at Adelaide.
Shaun Grigg (Gold Coast) and Daisy Pearce (West Coast AFLW) depart.
Rd 1: St Kilda @ GMHBA (W)
Rd 2: Adelaide @ AO (L)
Rd 3: Hawthorn @ MCG (W)
Rd 4: Western Bulldogs @ AO (L)
Rd 5: North Melbourne @ GMHBA (W)
Rd 6 – Brisbane @ Gabba (L)
Prediction (3-3)
Geelong has started to load up on more youngsters after a ‘Dad’s Army’ premiership in 2022. SCOTT GULLAN analyses whether the Cats will slide into rebuild or have enough for a final flag tilt.
Talk about going from chocolates to boiled lollies.
The defending champions started the season with three losses and from there they never really got going which further fuelled the fire about their ageing list.
Chris Scott has handled every challenge which has come his way during his 12-year tenure and he may need to pull into his reserve of magic tricks with many in the football world thinking the Cats might have finally tipped over the edge.
GEELONG
Coach: Chris ScottCaptain: Patrick Dangerfield
WHAT HAPPENED IN 2023?
Signs of the hangover were there early and while a five-game winning burst from Round 4-8 momentarily camouflaged the issues, the Cats never really found their stride.The fade-out late was the biggest concern, losing five of the last six games to finish 12th — the club’s worst finishing position for 20 years.
They were still in the finals race coming into Round 23 but were torched by St Kilda to the tune of 33 points and then conceded meekly at home against the Western Bulldogs in the final round.
It was around the ball where the Cats were found wanting with Joel Selwood’s retirement felt harder than expected, combined with the season-ending injury to Cam Guthrie — the best and fairest winner from the premiership year — after Round 6.
GEELONG BEST 23
FB: Z Guthrie, T. De Koning, J. KolodjashnijHB: T. Stewart, J Henry, M. Blicavs
C: M. Holmes, C. Guthrie, M. Duncan
HF: G. Miers, J. Cameron, O. Henry
F: T. Stengle, T. Hawkins, B. Close
FOL: R. Stanley, P. Dangerfield, T. Atkins
I/C: T. Bruhn, G. Rohan, J. Bowes, B. Parfitt, S. Mannagh (sub)
Veterans who had been so good the previous year such as Norm Smith Medallist Isaac Smith, Zach Tuohy and Mitch Duncan dropped a level while Tyson Stengle didn’t replicate his form of 12 months earlier and skipper Patrick Dangerfield was hampered by injury.
The numbers in the forward line looked good on paper with Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron combining for more than 100 goals again and new recruit Ollie Henry impressing with 41 majors.
But Cameron wasn’t the same player after being accidentally knocked out by teammate Gary Rohan in Round 15 and his troubles from that point on mirrored his team’s.
WHERE DO THEY FINISH IN 2024?
There are plenty of football pundits queuing up to declare that finally this amazing football club is set for a proper slide.Smith is the only notable retirement, while they lost key defender Esava Ratugolea to Port Adelaide in the trade period.
There was a noticeable focus on the national draft in November, which might give an insight into a change of attitude at Kardinia Park.
The age demographic is again something which the critics use when predicting the fall of the empire, with 11 Geelong players to be 30 and over coming into the 2024 season.
That’s a serious chunk of the list in their twilight years, which throws up one crucial question — have they got another roll of the dice in them?
There are a lot of ‘if’s’ about Geelong, but for a minute imagine if Dangerfield, Cameron, Guthrie, Hawkins, Duncan, Tom Stewart and Mark Blicavs get themselves right physically for one last campaign.
Obviously for Scott to pull off another miracle he will need something significant from others such as talented rising stars like Max Holmes, Tanner Bruhn, Sam De Koning and a better run with injury for the much-hyped Jhye Clark.
BIGGEST IMPROVER IN 2024?
Tanner Bruhn is the one the Cats need to find another level.He looked good at times during 19 games in his first season at Geelong, after starting his career at the GWS Giants.
He now enters his fourth AFL season with 49 games behind him, which is generally the time for significant growth.
Geelong’s midfield is crying out for more elite talent, with Bruhn and Holmes the two potential stars.
Young ruckman Toby Conway also showed in his one-game appearance that there is something there.
If he can have an injury-free run, that trio can have a major impact on the Cats fortunes.
X-FACTOR
One of the stories of the national draft was the drafting of 26-year-old Werribee VFL standout Shaun Mannagh.The Cats had followed him for a couple of years, but the football world took notice of him with an extraordinary six-goal, 27-disposal grand final performance in a losing cause.
There are plenty who think Mannagh can bring that sort of explosiveness to the AFL, which will be a point of difference Geelong is craving.
COACH STATUS
Chris Scott signed a two-year extension in September which will see him coach Geelong until the end of 2026, meaning he will coach the Cats for 16 seasons.There has been some shuffling of the decks beneath him, with premiership ruckman Steven King returning home after stints with the Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast.
Another ex-Cat, James Rahilly, who was voted the AFL Coaches’ Association assistant coach of the year in 2023, also returns after three seasons at Adelaide.
Shaun Grigg (Gold Coast) and Daisy Pearce (West Coast AFLW) depart.
IN LAST YEAR OF CONTRACT
Brandan Parfitt, Cameron Guthrie, Emerson Jeka, Gary Rohan, Jack Bowes, Jack Henry, Jake Kolodjashnij, James Willis, Jed Bews, Jhye Clark, Mark O’Connor, Max Holmes, Mitch Hardie, Mitch Duncan, Ollie Henry, Patrick Dangerfield, Phoenix Foster, Rhys Stanley, Ted Clohesy, Tom Hawkins, Tyson Stengle, Zach Guthrie, Zach Tuohy.INS FOR 2024
Mitchell Edwards (No.32 draft pick), Joe Furphy (Category B rookie), Lawson Humphries (No.63 draft pick), Emerson Jeka (Rookie Draft), Shaun Mannagh (No.36 draft pick), Connor O’Sullivan (No.11 draft pick), George Stevens (No.58 draft pick), Oliver Wiltshire (No.61 draft pick)OUTS FROM 2023
Jonathon Ceglar (retired), Flynn Kroeger (delisted), Sam Menegola (delisted), Esava Ratugolea (trade, Port Adelaide), Osca Riccardi (delisted), Sam Simpson (delisted), Isaac Smith (retired), Cooper Whyte (delisted)GEELONG FIRST SIX
Geelong's first six games of 2024Rd 1: St Kilda @ GMHBA (W)
Rd 2: Adelaide @ AO (L)
Rd 3: Hawthorn @ MCG (W)
Rd 4: Western Bulldogs @ AO (L)
Rd 5: North Melbourne @ GMHBA (W)
Rd 6 – Brisbane @ Gabba (L)
Prediction (3-3)
Kobe Gryant
'07, '09, '11, '22
Same.
Probably the first time since 2011 that I've had such a wide prediction on where we could finish.
Genuinely speaking, neither a premiership or bottom 4 would surprise me, such is the nature of having such a simultaneously young and old list.
We've had a few of those years in recent times, 2011, 2013, 2016 & 2022 all had a similar vibe, but I don't think it's been this dramatic in a while.
Couple of youngsters make the jump to stardom, and the older guys hold on, and we're looking at another flag, particularly with the very weak competition we've got at the moment.
On the flip side, if the kids aren't ready and the veterans really fall off/injured, then we could be looking at draft prospects by June.
Mid range
6th to 10th
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5th -8th unless we find something in the midfield.
Kobe Gryant
'07, '09, '11, '22
If that's your 'best case scenario' prediction as the question implied, then we're in for a shocking year.
In terms of likelihood, you're both probably right, and I'd say most on here including myself would predict those outcomes if we had to bet on it.
However, best case scenario remains top 4 and a premiership. Not only are we not that far away, the competition is historically weak.
A team carrying Oleg Markov, Billy Frampton, Pat Lipinski, & Mason Cox among other average (at best) footballers just won the flag, and sat on top virtually all year.
It's a very weak era, and now more than ever, there would be very few teams who wouldn't think they're a chance if things go the right way.
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