2025 Pre-Season chat

[Mr Meow]

There's no hate.
I've loved the guy. I once stated that if I could choose someone to kick a goal on the run to save my life then it's him.

But no longer.
He doesn't have the depth anymore. And if the ball is turned over, he is toast running the other way.
And guess what? He's now the guy that turns it over.

I mean this is just making stuff up.

We had 11 players with more turnovers than Duncan in 2024 but only 5 with more disposals; only 3 players with more effective kicks. Do the maths.

Yes he's not as precise or prolific as in his prime, but he remained one of our best ball winners/users in 2024. The issue with Duncan is lack of pace + 1v1 ability on defensive spread. It might not be such an issue if a rapid player like Mullin improves and takes over Tuohy's or Bews' position.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I mean this is just making stuff up.

We had 11 players with more turnovers than Duncan in 2024 but only 5 with more disposals; only 3 players with more effective kicks. Do the maths.

Yes he's not as precise or prolific as in his prime, but he remained one of our best ball winners/users in 2024. The issue with Duncan is lack of pace + 1v1 ability on defensive spread. It might not be such an issue if a rapid player like Mullin improves and takes over Tuohy's or Bews' position.

We really do need Mullin to come on quickly, whether that be as a small defender or tagging mid, especially with Bews' decline that you mention.

Hopefully he can do it. The tangibles he has are pretty tantalising, just have to hope he can harness that as a fully fledged footballer sooner rather than later.

If he can come on, and Lawson continues his rise, that gives us some pace and class off the half back-line that we haven't had in a long time.

 

[Mr Meow]

We really do need Mullin to come on quickly, whether that be as a small defender or tagging mid, especially with Bews' decline that you mention.

Hopefully he can do it. The tangibles he has are pretty tantalising, just have to hope he can harness that as a fully fledged footballer sooner rather than later.

If he can come on, and Lawson continues his rise, that gives us some pace and class off the half back-line that we haven't had in a long time.

Exactly my thoughts.

Our defensive group has good qualities. However it could do with that no nonsense stopper who has a bit of toe and grunt about him. Then it would help to have a line breaker who can move at pace on both defensive and offensive transition. Especially if Holmes moves more to midfield, which he likely will.

Mullin is a candidate for either role. Humphries could take strides in the defensive side to compliment his obvious strengths.

Otherwise, as much as people will hate me saying it, a player like O'Connor could still have utility. I always thought he may prove more valuable once Tuohy retires but there are still question marks over him.

 

[jim boy]

How do you think the locker room would feel if a player as well liked and respected as Duncan was left stranded in the 290s? What message does that send to potential free agents?

Potential free agents? They would see a club that wants to win and want to be part of it. And as for the locker room, sure they want to celebrate the player, but if it isn't on the field, they will find a way. You are not a player, you are a fan, so the perspective is different. The locker room want to win, they're not busting a gut through the summer and the season, just to so a colleague can rack up a stat, even a beloved colleague they would walk over broken glass for.
Do you think anyone thinks any less of Brenton Sanderson and Steve Hocking because they finished 1 game short of 200 games. Do you think they have any regrets or even care?

 

[Mr Meow]

Potential free agents? They would see a club that wants to win and want to be part of it. And as for the locker room, sure they want to celebrate the player, but if it isn't on the field, they will find a way. You are not a player, you are a fan, so the perspective is different. The locker room want to win, they're not busting a gut through the summer and the season, just to so a colleague can rack up a stat, even a beloved colleague they would walk over broken glass for.
Do you think anyone thinks any less of Brenton Sanderson and Steve Hocking because they finished 1 game short of 200 games. Do you think they have any regrets or even care?

Duncan performed much better in his penultimate season (2024) than Sanderson did in his (2004). Sanderson still played 11 games the next year in a team that had just lost a close prelim to Brisbane (sound familiar?).

The future wasn't ruined for the class of '07-'11.

Geelong have been experts at phasing out and retaining the right amount of active senior players each season for around 20 years.

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

110 %. What he did in the back end of the year shows why many of us were calling for him to stay in from round 3.
If he keeps that level up I'd be staggered if he ever plays vfl for us again (barring injury). Some of the over 30s (not danger/stew/jez obviously) plus fringe guys like Bowes should and will get left out long before mannagh ever does.

Like Miers , he's a pretty unique player tbh. Strange profile of characteristics. In a good way !

 

[jim boy]

Duncan performed much better in his penultimate season (2024) than Sanderson did in his (2004). Sanderson still played 11 games the next year in a team that had just lost a close prelim to Brisbane (sound familiar?).

The future wasn't ruined for the class of '07-'11.

Geelong have been experts at phasing out and retaining the right amount of active senior players each season for around 20 years.

I am not saying that Duncan is past it and shouldn't play. Almost certainly his last season but I am confident he will positively contribute. The club has not been shy of tapping players on the shoulder when they think time has come, from GAS to SJ to Chappy to Selwood. So they must think he still has something to offer.
What I dont want, and what the club has never done, is to carry players who are past it just to reach some 'milestone'.

 

[Hamingja]

I think it is a little self serving but if the plan is to get him to 300, he retires, then we select someone in the MSD then it doesn't really hurt. He is just keeping a list spot warm in the interim. If he gets a golden ticket at selection all year despite performance then it is more of an issue. See how it plays out.

 

[Mr Meow]

I am not saying that Duncan is past it and shouldn't play. Almost certainly his last season but I am confident he will positively contribute. The club has not been shy of tapping players on the shoulder when they think time has come, from GAS to SJ to Chappy to Selwood. So they must think he still has something to offer.
What I dont want, and what the club has never done, is to carry players who are past it just to reach some 'milestone'.

I agree with that, my perspective is more that he will play some sort of role as many players have in their last season.

Some are acting as if we have an end of career Dahlhaus or Higgins on our hand and that any games would be pure charity.

 

[Cataholic]

I am not saying that Duncan is past it and shouldn't play. Almost certainly his last season but I am confident he will positively contribute. The club has not been shy of tapping players on the shoulder when they think time has come, from GAS to SJ to Chappy to Selwood. So they must think he still has something to offer.
What I dont want, and what the club has never done, is to carry players who are past it just to reach some 'milestone'.

Duncan certainly has the wiles of an experienced player, and maybe just enough in the tank to play cameos / limited minutes for us, but I don't see him running games out.

 

[Mr Meow]

Duncan certainly has the wiles of an experienced player, and maybe just enough in the tank to play cameos / limited minutes for us, but I don't see him running games out.

It was the opposite in 2024.

His worst games were the limited minute sub cameos. All of his strong performances were the traditional, full game minutes.

 

[OzeSparky]

Just reading todays Herald Sun, had a little bit about players coming through.

Said Knevitt looking good for inside Mid Role.
Edwards has looked great in contested drills and has passed Conway. (could improve kicking)
Clark is trialling at halfback but needs to improve disposal.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

Edwards has looked great in contested drills and has passed Conway. (could improve kicking)

We've been so starved of a consistently competent ruckman that he could kick like Levi Casboult for all I care.

If he can compete regularly in the contest and takes marks around the ground, that's all we need.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Just reading todays Herald Sun, had a little bit about players coming through.

Said Knevitt looking good for inside Mid Role.
Edwards has looked great in contested drills and has passed Conway. (could improve kicking)
Clark is trialling at halfback but needs to improve disposal.

Edwards still needs more meat on the bones he's a fair way off afl physically but it's good to hear his ability is up there as we need him.

I don't mind trialling different positions for Clark if it helps him get regular games while he is building his tank for full time midfield but I'm not sure how well hbf will work positionally.

 

[OzeSparky]

Edwards still needs more meat on the bones he's a fair way off afl physically but it's good to hear his ability is up there as we need him.

I don't mind trialling different positions for Clark if it helps him get regular games while he is building his tank for full time midfield but I'm not sure how well hbf will work positionally.

Maybe he is not as far off as we think.

Must be showing something and probably beating Conway for the reporter to write as such.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

Maybe he is not as far off as we think.

Must be showing something and probably beating Conway for the reporter to write as such.

In terms of his ability he isn't but his body will break down if we throw him in too soon. He needs a season or two to develop physically

 

[small 4wards]

In terms of his ability he isn't but his body will break down if we throw him in too soon. He needs a season or two to develop physically

I agree mainly in that if he was the #1 ruck he'd be broken about four weeks in, but comparatively I could see him play a few games similar to how COS, Neale and Conway had minor appearances but were not consistently in the team.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

I agree mainly in that if he was the #1 ruck he'd be broken about four weeks in, but comparatively I could see him play a few games similar to how COS, Neale and Conway had minor appearances but were not consistently in the team.

Maybe but that will be hard because ruck is a harder position to ease them in like that especially with capped interchange. I think it's more likely he spends this year building himself up in the vfl then plays seniors next year.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Maybe but that will be hard because ruck is a harder position to ease them in like that especially with capped interchange. I think it's more likely he spends this year building himself up in the vfl then plays seniors next year.

It probably depends a bit who is playing number 1 ruck.

If it's SDK then it's much easier to play Edwards 60% game time and SDK 40% in the ruck and the rest elsewhere to get Edwards a debut.

It it's Conway that becomes much more difficult.

I sort of think if they rate him they'll find a way to get him 1 game though.

 

[Mr Meow]

Just reading todays Herald Sun, had a little bit about players coming through.

Said Knevitt looking good for inside Mid Role.
Edwards has looked great in contested drills and has passed Conway. (could improve kicking)
Clark is trialling at halfback but needs to improve disposal.

Knevitt would have to improve his aggression and one touch capacity at senior level tremendously to be inside mid. He has fumbled a fair bit when he's not out in space in the AFL (VFL is a different story).

 

[CoolCat75]

I just emailed my Christmas wish list to Santa. I wasn’t greedy at all - just asked for the same thing he got me in two years ago

- a premiership, but this time the margin doesn’t have to be 81 points. One point will do.

Merry Christmas all and Go Catters!

 

[iameviljez]

Ah, you're the reason my friends can't afford to have kids now

I completely get your point - as a fellow millennial - but I feel obliged to point out that there is a massive litany of government decisions at all three levels that have created this housing affordability crisis.

 

[iameviljez]

Also, if you told me a year ago we'd be calling Tom Atkins depth by now I'd fall off my chair

Honestly I think he went backwards a fraction this year.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

I completely get your point - as a fellow millennial - but I feel obliged to point out that there is a massive litany of government decisions at all three levels that have created this housing affordability crisis.

My comment was tongue in cheek.

We have the problems we chose to have

 

[cats_09]

This will do




We'll get back on topic tomorrow