Review 2024 Season review thread

[My Tilly]

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

I think Collingwood burst out of the blocks and remain a standout next season.
Brisbane, Carlton & GWS are going to be much stronger in 2025.
I also like what Hawthorn are building. Wouldn't be surprised they push for top four as well. I certainly do not seem them dropping off with added expectations placed. They have the perfect nucleus to become a powerhouse. Add in Mitch Lewis to the forward line, good luck trying to match them over four quarters with their youth and outside run.

Port Adelaide will be around the same mark as ourselves.

 

[iameviljez]

Brisbane, Carlton & GWS are going to be much stronger in 2025.

How are Brisbane going to be stronger? Just won the flag, and their best players (Andrews, Neale, Daniher) are ageing/retired.

 

[My Tilly]

How are Brisbane going to be stronger? Just won the flag, and their best players (Andrews, Neale, Daniher) are ageing/retired.

They won't be sitting middle of the table after the first 10 rounds of the season for starters.
They gain arguably the best young talent in the country who could have played in this years grand final according to scouts.

Harris Andrews is 27 years of age. I don't consider that to be over the hill. More so smack bang in the middle of his prime.

I think they have enough talls up forward to now become a little less one dimensional. Don't forget Rayner, Lohmann, Morris have upside in their game. If they get 35 goals from Cameron and Hipwood, they will still be one of the highest scoring teams in 2025.

And finally, their midfield is top five with both Ashcroft's, Bailey, McCluggage & Dunkley. Bring in Neale later in the season, depth players who would be walk up starters in our midfield (Berry) and they will be thereabouts again.

 

[CHAWKTS]

I think Collingwood burst out of the blocks and remain a standout next season.
Brisbane, Carlton & GWS are going to be much stronger in 2025.
I also like what Hawthorn are building. Wouldn't be surprised they push for top four as well. I certainly do not seem them dropping off with added expectations placed. They have the perfect nucleus to become a powerhouse. Add in Mitch Lewis to the forward line, good luck trying to match them over four quarters with their youth and outside run.

Port Adelaide will be around the same mark as ourselves.

No doubt my Hawthorn and Carlton view are biased as I really want to see both of them go backwards - more than others! So probably not as well thought through as yours but I still could be proven correct - clinging to hope!

 

[My Tilly]

No doubt my Hawthorn and Carlton view are biased as I really want to see both of them go backwards - more than others! So probably not as well thought through as yours but I still could be proven correct - clinging to hope!

I hate Hawthorn like every other Geelong supporter.
Just can't deny their list is about to come together at the right time. Two superstar mids in Day & Newcombe. Dynamic young forward line in Dear, Watson, Lewis, Moore & Ginnivan and now they have added two excellent defenders in Barrass & Battle.

What's gives them the edge is Meek. He just put together an elite season from a rucking stand point and will only get better.

 

[CHAWKTS]

I hate Hawthorn like every other Geelong supporter.
Just can't deny their list is about to come together at the right time. Two superstar mids in Day & Newcombe. Dynamic young forward line in Dear, Watson, Lewis, Moore & Ginnivan and now they have added two excellent defenders in Barrass & Battle.

What's gives them the edge is Meek. He just put together an elite season from a rucking stand point and will only get better.

I also do really like Day and Newcombe. Not just as players but seem decent humans. As does Nash and Meek.

The forward line I can’t warm too. And think/hope that ends up being their Achilles heel.

Let’s see

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I also do really like Day and Newcombe. Not just as players but seem decent humans. As does Nash and Meek.

The forward line I can’t warm too. And think/hope that ends up being their Achilles heel.

Let’s see

I dunno, Lewis/Dear eith Ginnivan/Watson at ground level is a pretty compelling combo.

Compels me to vomit instinctively, but, they will win the Hawks a ton of games in the future.

 

[iameviljez]

I dunno, Lewis/Dear eith Ginnivan/Watson at ground level is a pretty compelling combo.

Compels me to vomit instinctively, but, they will win the Hawks a ton of games in the future.

Yes, and no. There is a lot of water to flow under that bridge, particularly for Lewis and Dear.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

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.

What makes you think next year will be different?? Who in your opinion is going to dominate. I cant see a single thing changing

 

[My Tilly]

Yes, and no. There is a lot of water to flow under that bridge, particularly for Lewis and Dear.

Dear is a freak.
Has the most prodigious vertical leap in the AFL.
6ft'5 and was one of the main reasons why Hawthorn catapulted into finals contention this year.

Lewis may be returning from a knee reconstruction but even if he isn't the same player he was prior to the long layoff, he will be an upgrade over Chol who had a pretty solid year in his own right.

 

[iameviljez]

Dear is a freak.
Has the most prodigious vertical leap in the AFL.
6ft'5 and was one of the main reasons why Hawthorn catapulted into finals contention this year.

Yeah, but growth isn't always linear or unidirectional, especially in a full-contact sport. Guys like King, Bundy, Spriggs, Caddy etc have had a lot of promise early on in their careers proceed backwards at a fairly rapid clip.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Dear is a freak.
Has the most prodigious vertical leap in the AFL.
6ft'5 and was one of the main reasons why Hawthorn catapulted into finals contention this year.

Come on this is silly. He looks a precocious talent but he played 17 games and didn't even get a vote in the rising star nomination. He had if anything less overall impact on games than Shannon Neale.

He's young and can develop a lot from here but there's a reason he was in and out of the team and subbed off.

If you want the reason Hawthorn surged up the ladder look at the top 10 in their B&F (Newcombe, Moore, Impey, Worpel, Hardwick, MacDonald, Amon, Scrimshaw, Ginnivan and D'Ambrosio) who basically all had career best year including some massive break out years among them.

 

[Zouz Kitty]

Terrific highlights

 

[cats_09]