Review 2024 Season review thread

[Gavin Excell]

Funny I was thinking this game the other day, particularly the third quarter and the fact we were up with 2 mins to go

Any which way you slice it we let a massive opportunity slip

A Max Holmes hamstring away from a flag

 

[Warhorse]

We have been that way all season ebbing and flowing for four quarters as most sides have. 4 goal leads have been commonly lost all year. It’s not a big deal

To come out and play with a pressure rating of 140 after half time is diabolical.

Having 2 players on the bench with the trainer's for more than 50% of the quarter each, and not wanting to pull the trigger on the sub is a contributing factor in that

If it was one player we weren't sure on playing out the match, I think we see the sub call made much earlier but with 2 players down they would have been trying to juggle which of the two was more likely to play out the match without doing too much further damage

I get that but it was after half time. Pressure should have been much higher

 

[geelong_crazy26]

To come out and play with a pressure rating of 140 after half time is diabolical.

I get that but it was after half time. Pressure should have been much higher

name for me in what regard you believe we were a better team than Brisbane? I agree we were better coached. But pound for pound across forward back and midfield they had our measure as a whole. I can’t see any reason why you think if Brisbane turned it on they weren’t going to be able to beat us or mow Down a 4 goal halftime lead which is nothing.

We also did give it everything we had and hit the front with two minutes to go. They just lifted again and ran over us.

The game felt like in the last qtr it was individual brilliance from players that got them over the line . They had a bit more class we lacked.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Funny I was thinking this game the other day, particularly the third quarter and the fact we were up with 2 mins to go

Any which way you slice it we let a massive opportunity slip

Yep and realistically for a lot of our squad that was their last decent chance at a flag gone. So it's a massive balls up. Hopefully it inspires them to go all the way this year but I'm not confident.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

name for me in what regard you believe we were a better team than Brisbane? I agree we were better coached. But pound for pound across forward back and midfield they had our measure as a whole. I can’t see any reason why you think if Brisbane turned it on they weren’t going to be able to beat us or mow Down a 4 goal halftime lead which is nothing.

We also did give it everything we had and hit the front with two minutes to go. They just lifted again and ran over us.

The game felt like in the last qtr it was individual brilliance from players that got them over the line . They had a bit more class we lacked.

We were better coached.
We had the week off and should have had more run.
Their defence is leaky.
We should have been well in front at half time if not for goalkicking
Then in the second half guys Like stengle make comical errors and we drop our pressure inexplicably-why?
You will never get a better set-up chance to make a GF than that.
Any GF we make from here on in will be much harder.

 

[cats_09]

Yep and realistically for a lot of our squad that was their last decent chance at a flag gone. So it's a massive balls up. Hopefully it inspires them to go all the way this year but I'm not confident.

Why?

How many even halfway though the year, genuinely thought we'd be playing in a prelim - we still seemed written off by a good number

If anything, we overachieved this past season based on expectations and where we found ourselves at various times of the season - all too often we struggled for continuity in our 22/23 from week to week, and had we got over Brisbane, we likely go into the GF either missing 3 or 4 players from the prelim or with players under serious injury clouds


I'd think that we'd likely be able to position ourselves better next year for a tilt at the flag - and just need an ounce of luck unlike at key moments of this past season

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Why?

How many even halfway though the year, genuinely thought we'd be playing in a prelim - we still seemed written off by a good number

If anything, we overachieved this past season based on expectations and where we found ourselves at various times of the season - all too often we struggled for continuity in our 22/23 from week to week, and had we got over Brisbane, we likely go into the GF either missing 3 or 4 players from the prelim or with players under serious injury clouds


I'd think that we'd likely be able to position ourselves better next year for a tilt at the flag - and just need an ounce of luck unlike at key moments of this past season

Because we haven't addressed our key list deficiencies particularly in the ruck and key talls at both ends. And I think we are still too heavily reliant on Stewart Cameron and dangerfield. I could be wrong but I don't see Smith alone improving us to win a flag.

And there won't be a walkover opponent in a GF like Sydney this year.

 

[cats_09]

Because we haven't addressed our key list deficiencies particularly in the ruck and key talls at both ends. And I think we are still too heavily reliant on Stewart Cameron and dangerfield. I could be wrong but I don't see Smith alone improving us to win a flag.

And there won't be a walkover opponent in a GF like Sydney this year.

You're still assuming we wouldn't have been that walk over opponent

• Holmes, hamstring injury
• Bruhn, hip/groin concern
• Stanley, knee concern
• Dangerfield, rib concern
• J. Henry, foot concern

Say we defeated Brisbane, if we lost just 3 of that list we suddenly look a different team especially if it's the first 3 that were unavailable

Tuohy likely comes in, then is it Knevitt or an underdone Guthrie? Do we back in Blicavs or SDK to carry the ruck load against Sydney?

Just because we could potentially hold on against Brisbane doesn't mean we'd have been in the box seat against Sydney and we may have been embarrassed instead


As for this past trade period, we were never going to chase an established KPD or KPF - it would be about backing in the development of Neale & SDK. While the ruck is clearly an area we've taken a long term approach to developing & giving ourselves options in that area - not sure there were all that many rucks seeking new homes either, so can't really chase what's not available

The other consideration the club would have made is that acquiring a ready made option will have an impact on the development of those already on the list. Plus, as we've regularly seen the premiership teams don't necessarily have the best rucks - a serviceable option in that role has tended to work out pretty well for teams over recent seasons rather than over investing in that area

 

[Vdubs]

Because we haven't addressed our key list deficiencies particularly in the ruck and key talls at both ends. And I think we are still too heavily reliant on Stewart Cameron and dangerfield. I could be wrong but I don't see Smith alone improving us to win a flag.

And there won't be a walkover opponent in a GF like Sydney this year.

We will never know, but I doubt the Swans would have been walkover material against us this year. Brisbane peaked against them, and how they beat us after we headed them showed plenty. We were cooked at the end and would have missed quite a few players in the GF. As has been said, we definitely overperformed to get as far as we did, and all in all, we had a great season.

 

[Pollywaffle]

A Max Holmes hamstring away from a flag

I know it would be unusual tactic but should we be worrying about Holmes’s management in any future prelims ? That’s 2 where he has popped a hammy. He will literally be sh#tting potatoes next time he is in this situation.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Because we haven't addressed our key list deficiencies particularly in the ruck and key talls at both ends. And I think we are still too heavily reliant on Stewart Cameron and dangerfield. I could be wrong but I don't see Smith alone improving us to win a flag.

And there won't be a walkover opponent in a GF like Sydney this year.

You literally said in the aftermath that we'd given Sydney the easiest of flags because Brisbane won't show up on GF day.

You don't know, and none of us do either.

It's based entirely in hindsight, and FWIW, there's a choke fest in the GF every second year these days. It's not the never-happening-again event you're making it out to be.

In hindsight, we look like we cooked 2017 too due to Adelaide's debacle at the MCG.

When we were getting pumped on their home ground twice within 8 weeks in 2017 though, it certainly didn't feel that way.

They looked like they had a gear we didn't have, but merely one week later we looked like we'd cooked a chance at another premiership due to our QF failure.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

You literally said we'd given Sydney the easiest of flags because Brisbane won't show up during GF week.

You don't know, and none of us do either.

In hindsight, we look like we cooked 2017 too due to Adelaide's debacle at the MCG.

When we were getting pumped on their home ground twice within 8 weeks in 2017 though, it certainly didn't feel that way. They looked like they had a gear we didn't have.

To be fair I underestimated how badly mentally scarred Sydney actually are in these situations. That was an error.

On the rest. You're entitled to your opinion but we don't really have the right list profile to win a flag. We do have the best coach in the comp so I suppose if anyone can build the right game plan to hide those weaknesses it's him but I'm not optimistic.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

To be fair I underestimated how badly mentally scarred Sydney actually are in these situations. That was an error.

On the rest. You're entitled to your opinion but we don't really have the right list profile to win a flag. We do have the best coach in the comp so I suppose if anyone can build the right game plan to hide those weaknesses it's him but I'm not optimistic.

I agree, and I'm not expecting one. I didn't expect one this year either. The problem lies in the recency bias.

We went from a rudderless joke doing our best 2016 North impression, to missing a so called "golden opportunity" within 10 weeks.

You said it yourself, we don't have the list profile to win a flag. That didn't change, and if anything it's actually improved going into 2025.

The reality is neither of these narratives were the truth, and acting like we missed some golden opportunity while having a poor list profile, and looking like a bottom 4 side only two months prior is irrational.

It's a huge disappointment. Any year without a flag is..but there will be plenty more opportunities, and many more that feel far more wasted than this one if they're not realised.

2008 was a golden opportunity that we'll likely never see again. 2012 was for Hawthorn. 2001 for Essendon, and 2018 for Richmond.

You're doing a disservice to the failure of those truly great sides when you're even contemplating that the rebuilding, midfield-less 2024 Cats blew an opportunity that we'll never see again.

 

[Mr Meow]

To be fair I underestimated how badly mentally scarred Sydney actually are in these situations. That was an error.

On the rest. You're entitled to your opinion but we don't really have the right list profile to win a flag. We do have the best coach in the comp so I suppose if anyone can build the right game plan to hide those weaknesses it's him but I'm not optimistic.

Bizarrely pessimistic take.

Until we see an indication that there are truly incredible sides in the league, we're right in the mix of potential contenders with a bunch of other clubs. Brisbane had a great run at the right time (and still had two very close calls in knockout finals), which is all you need to be premiers these days.

Geelong is a mature club but it's best 23 going forward is not ancient. Look how important and high performing the following players were in 2022: Selwood, Cam Guthrie, Hawkins, Duncan, Tuohy, Stanley, Rohan and Bews. They are all gone or peripheral now (Stanley maybe important depending on injuries).

There's big upside for a lot of our best 23 and a significant group are in their peak. There are 3 very important veterans, but we have had more than that for Scott's entire tenure.

This group should be pushing for top 4 and from there anything can happen. Hell, anything can happen from 5th or 6th.

 

[Vdubs]

A Max Holmes hamstring away from a GF.

efa , imho.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Bizarrely pessimistic take.

Until we see an indication that there are truly incredible sides in the league, we're right in the mix of potential contenders with a bunch of other clubs. Brisbane had a great run at the right time (and still had two very close calls in knockout finals), which is all you need to be premiers these days.

Geelong is a mature club but it's best 23 going forward is not ancient. Look how important and high performing the following players were in 2022: Selwood, Cam Guthrie, Hawkins, Duncan, Tuohy, Stanley, Rohan and Bews. They are all gone or peripheral now (Stanley maybe important depending on injuries).

There's big upside for a lot of our best 23 and a significant group are in their peak. There are 3 very important veterans, but we have had more than that for Scott's entire tenure.

This group should be pushing for top 4 and from there anything can happen. Hell, anything can happen from 5th or 6th.

It's amusing how we have simultaneously blown a once-in-a-lifetime chance at a flag - then improved the achilles heel of the list - and we're suddenly out of the premiership window 6 months later.

We were either never supposed to be in the window to begin with, making the "golden opportunity" claim a gross overstatement....or we're actually still in the premiership window, again making the statement redundant, as we'll get yet another chance next year.

I'm similar to you. I don't expect us to win the flag next year, but I believe we can if everything goes right and the planets align. Similar to this year, we have the potential to pinch an unexpected premiership.

Ten clubs could say the same thing though. It's the nature of the competition at the moment, and we're just one of many 'pretty good' teams fighting for that chance.

The cup is up for grabs. It looked like it could be a golden chance for Sydney, but by July the wheels were falling off and they were became yet another one of those good - but greatly flawed - teams.

The term doesn't even fit in today's competition. It's almost anyone's game until someone actually stamps themselves as a dominant club over the course of a season.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

We were better coached.
We had the week off and should have had more run.
Their defence is leaky.
We should have been well in front at half time if not for goalkicking
Then in the second half guys Like stengle make comical errors and we drop our pressure inexplicably-why?
You will never get a better set-up chance to make a GF than that.
Any GF we make from here on in will be much harder.

I thought both sides missed some sitters early. Also factor the holmes injury hurt quite a bit.

Pressure ratings aren’t going to be high when the opposition is smashing you and have their game up and going regardless of your effort. What was brisbanes pressure rating like at times early on when we ran all over them?? Was it high??

Do you also hold the view Brisbane shat the bed early and then worked into it in the second half??

What I saw looked like a typical scripted 2024 match of AFL footy with swings and roundabouts during the four quarters.

Let’s just get real and for a moment ignore the outlier against port in the first final that got everyone ahead of themselves.

In 2024 we were a very inconsistent four quarter team who when opposition midfields went up a gear or two blew us away in patches of footy on a regular basis. This was not anything new in the prelim final.

 

[Gavin Excell]

I never thought we were a flag chance until the Port final

 

[Vdubs]

It's amusing how we have simultaneously blown a once-in-a-lifetime chance at a flag - then improved the achilles heel of the list - and we're suddenly out of the premiership window 6 months later.

We were either never supposed to be in the window to begin with, making the "golden opportunity" claim a gross overstatement....or we're actually still in the premiership window, again making the statement redundant, as we'll get yet another chance next year.

I'm similar to you. I don't expect us to win the flag next year, but I believe we can if everything goes right and the planets align. Similar to this year, we have the potential to pinch an unexpected premiership.

Ten clubs could say the same thing though. It's the nature of the competition at the moment, and we're just one of many 'pretty good' teams fighting for that chance.

The cup is up for grabs. It looked like it could be a golden chance for Sydney, but by July the wheels were falling off and they were became yet another one of those good - but greatly flawed - teams.

The term doesn't even fit in today's competition. It's almost anyone's game until someone actually stamps themselves as a dominant club over the course of a season.

Agree that we are a real chance to pinch a flag, but a lot has to go right for us. Luck with injuries is always a factor, but with our list it seems to be even more significant now. Excited about the Ollies, Bruhn, and many of the emerging young players. Not many weaknesses, but we need to see a lot more the best of DeK for us to prosper imho.

 

[Vdubs]

I know it would be unusual tactic but should we be worrying about Holmes’s management in any future prelims ? That’s 2 where he has popped a hammy. He will literally be sh#tting potatoes next time he is in this situation.

any prelim we get into is awesome- the least of our issues would be Max- until we are actually there.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Agree that we are a real chance to pinch a flag, but a lot has to go right for us. Luck with injuries is always a factor, but with our list it seems to be even more significant now. Excited about the Ollies, Bruhn, and many of the emerging young players. Not many weaknesses, but we need to see a lot more the best of DeK for us to prosper imho.

Neale if has a breakout season will change the dynamic significantly

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Why?

How many even halfway though the year, genuinely thought we'd be playing in a prelim - we still seemed written off by a good number

If anything, we overachieved this past season based on expectations and where we found ourselves at various times of the season - all too often we struggled for continuity in our 22/23 from week to week, and had we got over Brisbane, we likely go into the GF either missing 3 or 4 players from the prelim or with players under serious injury clouds


I'd think that we'd likely be able to position ourselves better next year for a tilt at the flag - and just need an ounce of luck unlike at key moments of this past season

I think next year we will be better positioned for a flag.

Our midfield will be much more competitive if several pieces fall our way. Those who are in the outter have already declined ( Duncan blicavs) and just have roles. Bailey smith will be huge, O Henry + neale will get better.

As you said, at one point we looked putrid and we were… we were playing like a bottom four team for a patch of footy mid year. Richmond had us almost KO’d on the ropes down at geelong at one stage before we lifted.

Absolutely nobody pre season or even halfway had us tipped for the flag…

We really had to overcome some huge deficiencies and almost like a Picasso artwork, time our run of misfits to perfection and almost snatch a flag.

That group would have been the worst midfield in the last 30 years of AFL footy to win a flag, and it almost did it

 

[My Tilly]

I think next year we will be better positioned for a flag.

Our midfield will be much more competitive if several pieces fall our way. Those who are in the outter have already declined ( Duncan blicavs) and just have roles. Bailey smith will be huge, O Henry + neale will get better.

As you said, at one point we looked putrid and we were… we were playing like a bottom four team for a patch of footy mid year. Richmond had us almost KO’d on the ropes down at geelong at one stage before we lifted.

Absolutely nobody pre season or even halfway had us tipped for the flag…

We really had to overcome some huge deficiencies and almost like a Picasso artwork, time our run of misfits to perfection and almost snatch a flag.

That group would have been the worst midfield in the last 30 years of AFL footy to win a flag, and it almost did it

This year was a very weak one. Premiership markets fluctuated every month. Sydney were all the buzz throughout most of the season and we all know how that panned out.

It was arguably the best opportunity we have had for many, many years.

Next season, you are going to see teams dominate from start to finish and I honestly can't see us getting as close as we did this year.

Probably finish 5th or 6th but just miss top four.

 

[Jimmy Yamazaki]

Our midfield was always going to be a problem especially when our only A grader went down and after that is not much chop. Danger would've had to go berserk mode and it's not something we can rely on and would've needed it for the GF as well.

We had a real good opportunity, that's the frustrating part. We where the only Vic team, had a week off and playing at the G, we would be confident against Lions, Port, Swans.

Goal kicking and kicking i50 has been a problem of ours the last 2 seasons when games are close, especially when we're behind. I can't think of too many we snatched a victory when we're 12 points or less down in the last quarter we always choke it up with poor conversions and decisions.

2022 was a totally different story so I don't know what's happened there.

 

[CHAWKTS]

This year was a very weak one. Premiership markets fluctuated every month. Sydney were all the buzz throughout most of the season and we all know how that panned out.

It was arguably the best opportunity we have had for many, many years.

Next season, you are going to see teams dominate from start to finish and I honestly can't see us getting as close as we did this year.

Probably finish 5th or 6th but just miss top four.

Not saying you are wrong… but I am struggling to see who will dominate from start to finish. Hasn’t really been a thing for a while? Cats were dominant in back half of 2022 I suppose but…

Brisbane I don’t think are that dynasty team? I know they have some good young players to rejuvenate and I suppose a few good players coming back from injury…they are the only team I think could if everything works go again as favourites

Sydney…I can’t see it - although does he do a Chris Scott first year? I have them slipping but I could be wrong

Other than that I don’t see a team that can be consistent enough to win more than 17-18 games and be in that dominant position? Carlton I think are pretenders (but that could definitely me NOT being objective…hope they do badly as much as I enjoy Cats doing well).

Maybe Freeo could make that leap. Should have done better in 2024 and players are maturing..

Hawks will drop off now spotlight and expectations on them

I think Cats are in a good enough to be in mix for top 4. I reckon 6 teams are vying for that IMO

Brisbane, Freeo, Cats, Carlton (nooo), Collingwood and maybe Bulldogs

None of them bar the first two could be dominant IMO