Review 2024 Season review thread

[Mr Meow]

As much as I agree with you on Stengle (and also on Holmes' injury, to be honest), it's worth bearing in mind that McInerney was starting to absolutely take us to the cleaners when he got injured.

We still had more scoring shots than Brisbane before the McInerney injury, and less than them after it though. Holmes was close to BOG in setting up our lead and the second he went down we started haemorrhaging scores.

But if we set that aside, a crucial difference was merely Brisbane's small forwards being clinical and efficient in crucial second half moments, while our elite fleet had a haphazard or ineffectual half of football.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

We still had more scoring shots than Brisbane before the McInerney injury, and less than them after it though. Holmes was close to BOG in setting up our lead and the second he went down we started haemorrhaging scores.

But if we set that aside, a crucial difference was merely Brisbane's small forwards being clinical and efficient in crucial second half moments, while our elite fleet had a haphazard or ineffectual half of football.

Agree with you there Mr Meow:..... this is why McInerney was almost a blessing in disguise when he got injured with Daniher going into ruck, as it opened up Brisbane's forward line and made them more dangerous with many of those clinical goals that Brisbane kicked and you speak of in second half coming 'from open space'. Just a better way to play footy if you take your chances which is what they did.

 

[My Tilly]

Agree with you there Mr Meow:..... this is why McInerney was almost a blessing in disguise when he got injured with Daniher going into ruck, as it opened up Brisbane's forward line and made them more dangerous with many of those clinical goals that Brisbane kicked and you speak of in second half coming 'from open space'. Just a better way to play footy if you take your chances which is what they did.

The biggest factor was Max Holmes coming off the ground. We literally lost that run and carry he brings to the team.
It's why Bailey Smith is the best trade of the year as he and Max will be so influential.

Even if Isaac Smith had played just one more year, it may have been the difference having that kind of player out on the wing in a topsy-turvy affair.

 

[Pollywaffle]

We still had more scoring shots than Brisbane before the McInerney injury, and less than them after it though. Holmes was close to BOG in setting up our lead and the second he went down we started haemorrhaging scores.

But if we set that aside, a crucial difference was merely Brisbane's small forwards being clinical and efficient in crucial second half moments, while our elite fleet had a haphazard or ineffectual half of football.

Odd..They ( our small ‘forwards’ ) all had stinkers on that day.
Usually one, at a minimum, steps up..
The footy gods were not on our side in 2024.

 

[Mr Meow]

Odd..They ( our small ‘forwards’ ) all had stinkers on that day.
Usually one, at a minimum, steps up..
The footy gods were not on our side in 2024.

Exactly, given they were usually our point of difference and in the second quarter went on a rampage. Alas only Henry of all our forwards could really do any damage in the second half.

Gotta admit it still stings a bit. I just hope we push again and do better if we get a similar opportunity.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

The biggest factor was Max Holmes coming off the ground. We literally lost that run and carry he brings to the team.
It's why Bailey Smith is the best trade of the year as he and Max will be so influential.

Even if Isaac Smith had played just one more year, it may have been the difference having that kind of player out on the wing in a topsy-turvy affair.

Yeah, I've already mentioned in a previous post My Tilly: if Holmes doesn't go down we not only win the game but the flag, so I'm fully in agreeance there. And just on Max Holmes along with Bailey Smith, their game is built for the MCG and finals, same as Isaac Smith as you mentioned who could have quiet easily have won two Norm Smith's, so if all goes well 2025 injury wise those two will make a dynamic pair. Also looking forward to Tanner Bruhn taking an extra step in 2025 as he's tough as nails and good with both sides of the body but not only has injury curtailed him to this point but whether it's bad luck or not, I don't know but he keeps getting injured during games but if he can have a proper shot at it, then it will be of great benefit to us...... GO CATS 2025

PS - For a 5 year period prior to last year, Bailey Smith was in the top half dozen finals players during that 5 year period, so the boy can play and he's not even 24yo, what a fantastic get by Mackie, Wellsy and the boys.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Exactly, given they were usually our point of difference and in the second quarter went on a rampage. Alas only Henry of all our forwards could really do any damage in the second half.

Gotta admit it still stings a bit. I just hope we push again and do better if we get a similar opportunity.

Biggest pain for me has been watching some electric highlights of the game that would have gone down in Geelong folklore had we got up, but it wasn't to be.

Miers assist and goal in the 2nd quarter, Dempsey's goal, Stewart's run-down tackle, Henry's goal with 2 minutes to go...the list goes on.

Brisbane were worthy winners so that consoles things a bit. We didn't blow it to a rubbish side who went on to do nothing on the big day, but as you say, all we can do is hope the players learn from it and can be better next time around.

I expect they will be, and it could be the loss and experience that the youngsters needed to have to go onto something great.

Let's hope so, anyway.

 

[My Tilly]

Odd..They ( our small ‘forwards’ ) all had stinkers on that day.
Usually one, at a minimum, steps up..
The footy gods were not on our side in 2024.

And we still found ourselves with a chance to win the game.

If Max did not go off the ground, he very likely had one of the best perofrmnaces of his career. Already accumulated 20 disposals (half of them contested), 9 inside fifties & 4 clearances in roughly three quarters of football. He was one of the most dominant players on the ground up until his injury.

 

[iameviljez]

We still had more scoring shots than Brisbane before the McInerney injury, and less than them after it though. Holmes was close to BOG in setting up our lead and the second he went down we started haemorrhaging scores.

Yeah, but that had a lot to do with our dominance in Q1. The Big O really started to get rolling in the third.

 

[iameviljez]

Still totally disagree and as far as I'm concerned you're undermining too many players in our side that are a lot better footballers than you give credence. In fact, before and during the season I've spoken and written about some of this under-appreciated talent that we have coming through the ranks (by some here on Geelong Big Footy) and got as much as 18/1 for us to win the flag at different intervals during year to back my words. And I do expect for us to continue on into 2025 and beyond with this excellent group of players performing at a high level, barring a injury riddled season as per 2023 season....... GO CATS 2025

The fact that you got 18/1 should tell you that it's a B-grade list. Talent coming up through the ranks is nice, but it's not the same as having established star players in their prime.

And as I said, B's a pretty good mark.

 

[Gazza Greatness]

The fact that you got 18/1 should tell you that it's a B-grade list. Talent coming up through the ranks is nice, but it's not the same as having established star players in their prime.

And as I said, B's a pretty good mark.

By getting 18 to 1 tells me how underrated the list was which is not dissimilar to your ongoing comments about the side. Furthermore, I see this B-grade list as you state vying for a top 4 spot again in 2025 with another very live chance of winning the 2025 flag (among a few other very talented sides) barring a bad run of injuries.

 

[Mr Meow]

Yeah, but that had a lot to do with our dominance in Q1. The Big O really started to get rolling in the third.

Big O didn't play the second half...

 

[cats_09]

Big O didn't play the second half...

He didn't play the full second half, but he was out there in the third quarter, playing about 1/3rd of it before being subbed out:

 

[Mr Meow]

He didn't play the full second half, but he was out there in the third quarter, playing about 1/3rd of it before being subbed out:

View attachment 2182686
View attachment 2182689

Interesting. Wasn't he a lame duck though? I remember when Daniher went into ruck, Brisbane were well on top.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

We definitely exceeded expectations and Scott has done a phenomenal job coaching this year. We still shit the bed in the prelim. To be in a very good position to win a flag and not do so is a fail

thats what better teams do when the chips are down like brisbane did, they find a way to come out and win.

You are acting like 4 goals in 60 minutes is shitting the bed which is very exagerated. We even gave it one last hurrah to put ourselves infront with 2 minutes to go.

We got beaten by a better team and had ourselves in a position so close to a premiership because we got 110% out of ourselves and squeezed every last drop of effort from the side until then final siren of the prelim.

To take all this and call it shitting the bed is incredibly pessimistic and a poor reflection

 

[geelong_crazy26]

He didn't play the full second half, but he was out there in the third quarter, playing about 1/3rd of it before being subbed out:

View attachment 2182686
View attachment 2182689

Oddly danniher going into the ruck made them a better cohesive unit. He destroyed us around the ground

 

[cats_09]

Oddly danniher going into the ruck made them a better cohesive unit. He destroyed us around the ground

I think it also made them more dangerous & less predictable up forward

We were still playing all of Blicavs, Henry & JK in defence, but they really only had Hipwood as a tall focus

Moving Daniher into the ruck likely also upset our balance a bit

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Just re-watched the Kayo mini of our win against Port in the semi.

Of course the opportunity to win the whole thing was missed but I'm still shocked at how good some of the guys we drafted in the last couple of years are. We've got no right to have guys like Dempsey, Holmes, Stengle, Humphries tearing the house down like they are.

The year was a failure on paper but I'm not disappointed

When I watch that game it makes me angry how poorly by contrast we were in the 3rd quarter vs Brisbane. Threw away a flag given how pathetic Sydney always are in GFs.

 

[geelong_crazy26]

When I watch that game it makes me angry how poorly by contrast we were in the 3rd quarter vs Brisbane. Threw away a flag given how pathetic Sydney always are in GFs.

What makes you say a 4 goal lead with 60 minutes to go is throwing a game away?? Who are we to say brisbane werent capable at their best of mowing us down. They had across all lines a much better balanced side than us and deserved the win.

 

[Warhorse]

thats what better teams do when the chips are down like brisbane did, they find a way to come out and win.

You are acting like 4 goals in 60 minutes is shitting the bed which is very exagerated. We even gave it one last hurrah to put ourselves infront with 2 minutes to go.

We got beaten by a better team and had ourselves in a position so close to a premiership because we got 110% out of ourselves and squeezed every last drop of effort from the side until then final siren of the prelim.

To take all this and call it shitting the bed is incredibly pessimistic and a poor reflection

What makes you say a 4 goal lead with 60 minutes to go is throwing a game away?? Who are we to say brisbane werent capable at their best of mowing us down. They had across all lines a much better balanced side than us and deserved the win.

Our pressure rating for the 3rd quarter dropped to 140. That's as bruise free as it gets

 

[geelong_crazy26]

Our pressure rating for the 3rd quarter dropped to 140. That's as bruise free as it gets

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

 

[CatToTheFuture]

When I watch that game it makes me angry how poorly by contrast we were in the 3rd quarter vs Brisbane. Threw away a flag given how pathetic Sydney always are in GFs.

Mate, losing prelims is our bread and butter. I can't even get mad anymore

 

[cats_09]

Our pressure rating for the 3rd quarter dropped to 140. That's as bruise free as it gets

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

 

[Commando]

When I watch that game it makes me angry how poorly by contrast we were in the 3rd quarter vs Brisbane. Threw away a flag given how pathetic Sydney always are in GFs.

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

 

[CatToTheFuture]

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

Which is hard because at what point are we only criticising then for things they did right?