Geelong Massive Hangover or Era of Dominance?

[FlyingCrow]

Serious Question.

Given that Geelong won everything in the AFL last year bar the Leading goal kicker award, which way will they go?

I am thinking Dominance. A team with 9 AAs can not fall that quickly and given they are a young side maybe two ore years at this level could be achieved.

But given last year was seen as a soft year, will the rest of the comp catch up?


Discuss.....

 

[gangsta deluxe]

I voted for era of dominance. Their squad are excellent. There is no disparity between youth and experience in the playing list. They look set up for a few years. This is not to say that they will win the next flag, just that they will be thereabouts for 3-4 years at least

 

[ZosoCat]

a team can't dominant like in 2007 and be a one off... it just doesnt happen. We haven't got ageing stars or a massively inexperienced team anymore so I would think we should win atleast one more flag in the next 2 years. I wouldnt call 2007 a soft year just because one team was a standout.

 

[FlyingCrow]

School holidays.

And in answer to the question, I can see us winning one more. So not an era of dominance, nor a hangover. Both a fairly rare anyway.

Couple of Recent Examples

WCE 2005-Now Dominance One Flag /Three Prelims/Three top two H and A finishes

Brisbane 2001-04 Dominance

Port 2002-04 Dominance Best team in H &A one flag Three Prelims

Essendon 2002-now Massive Hangover

Adelaide 1999-01 Massive Hangover

 

[Jörmungand]

I think it's going to be a "hangover" as such, but more that some of the teams with youth and talent are going to close the gap. I think maybe a Geelong Hawks grand final next year.

 

[Papa G]

a team can't dominant like in 2007 and be a one off... it just doesnt happen. We haven't got ageing stars or a massively inexperienced team anymore so I would think we should win atleast one more flag in the next 2 years. I wouldnt call 2007 a soft year just because one team was a standout.

Err Essendon 2000?

A lot went right for Geelong last year.

Ablett and Bartel took the next step. Mooney finally got his act together, Johnson went from almost being kicked out of the club to an extremely effective and dangerous forward, Egan came out of nowhere and there are other examples of players having career best years. The stars were alined, Geelong managed to get the best out of their (admittedly sizeable) talent, they had the raw desire and drive and pretty good run with injuries. These things can change pretty dramatically - look what happened to West Coast.

Going into this season, Geelong deservedly are clear favourites, but much can happen in the course of a season...

 

[Classyecho]

I think it's going to be a "hangover" as such, but more that some of the teams with youth and talent are going to close the gap. I think maybe a Geelong Hawks grand final next year.

I agree, but I'd be willing to take the odds and risk leaving the Cats out of the grand final quinella next year. Not to say they won't make it, though, I just don't think the Cats are shoe-ins. Collingwood will continue to close the gap in a big way, the Hawks will take ground off them, the Eagles won't be far off, Port Power will only get better and who knows about the rest. It should be tight at the top. I'm tipping a six-win gap between first and 13th!

 

[BK Eaglesfan]

Depends if you measure a period of dominance in flags alone.

We have seen several examples of consistently top teams in recent years walk away from those periods with 'only' one flag (Brisbane aside). I say 'only' as winning any flag is obviously exceptionally difficult, and requires EVERYTHING to go right. Only takes on thing to go wrong and even a near perfect season can unravel. Sydney supporters could point to many things from 06 that could have changed one point, just as I would love to replay the 05' GF with Matera playing, Kerr not limping through the first half and no one passing to Gardiner. Even the crossovers in finals can play for or against you. Would Sydney have made the 05' GF if they had got Adelaide in the PF? Would the Eagles have got past St Kilda in Melbourne?

I expect Geelong will be there or thereabouts next year, but if dominance is measure in flags alone there is sooo much that has to go right in the next 10 months or so.

 

[SirJimi05]

Couple of Recent Examples

WCE 2005-Now Dominance One Flag /Three Prelims/Three top two H and A finishes

Brisbane 2001-04 Dominance

Port 2002-04 Dominance Best team in H &A one flag Three Prelims

Essendon 2002-now Massive Hangover

Adelaide 1999-01 Massive Hangover

What's that supposed to mean?

Essendon played in the 95, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03 + 04 finals so i don't know how you could say that we suffered from a massive hangover from 2002-present. We played off in the grand final the year after we won it, this is not a premiership hangover. It was just a matter of time when we would have to rebuild, especially when you consider the run of finals we played in. This has absolutley nothing to do with a Premiership hangover. A premiership hangover is when a team struggles the year after winning a flag, clearly Essendon did not do this.

If you want an example of a premiership hangover you need look no further than the Essendon team of 1993-1994.

 

[SurreyBlue]

Won't be either.
Expect the Cats to come back to the field next year and finish top 4 but would be surprised if they where premiers again.

 

[lion_gooner]

geelong wont have as much luck with injurys and what not next season so it will be a massive hangover

 

[FlyingCrow]

What's that supposed to mean?

Essendon played in the 95, 96, 98, 99, 00, 01, 02, 03 + 04 finals so i don't know how you could say that we suffered from a massive hangover from 2002-present. We played off in the grand final the year after we won it, this is not a premiership hangover. It was just a matter of time when we would have to rebuild, especially when you consider the run of finals we played in. This has absolutley nothing to do with a Premiership hangover. A premiership hangover is when a team struggles the year after winning a flag, clearly Essendon did not do this.

If you want an example of a premiership hangover you need look no further than the Essendon team of 1993-1994.

Fair Call

 

[SirJimi05]

I'm shocked that geelong_crazy26 hasn't jumped all over this thread already.

He must be busy shagging Lara Bingle........

 

[Turbo911]

Injuries will be the factor to the question.
If all players stay fit, I can only see them reproducing more of the 07 form. If injuries creep in they will be no where near as dominate.

 

[royboy2]

Hangover it is - their celebrations made collingwoods look tame thus the hangover will be the same

 

[highflyingcat]

Injuries will be the factor to the question.
If all players stay fit, I can only see them reproducing more of the 07 form. If injuries creep in they will be no where near as dominate.

I agree - impact of injuries was minimal in 07 and add to that the remarkable (flukey) recovery by Rooke. If you were a betting man you could not expect such a good run 2 years in a row.

I think we will come back to the field but be there at the end of September if the form of the lower players end is maintained at 07 levels.

 

[budf23]

Hangover big time, fluked the flag this year. Now watch them slide away BWTN when has Geelong an era of dominance? Just as i thought, hangover not a professional enough club

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

WCE 2005-Now Dominance One Flag /Three Prelims/Three top two H and A finishes

1 Flag
2 Prelims (2005-2006)
Two top two H+A finishes (2005-2006)

This year we finished 3rd after the H + A season and lost the Semi in extra time so failed to reach the Prelim.

 

[Leather Poisoning]

I agree - impact of injuries was minimal in 07 and add to that the remarkable (flukey) recovery by Rooke. If you were a betting man you could not expect such a good run 2 years in a row.

I think we will come back to the field but be there at the end of September if the form of the lower players end is maintained at 07 levels.

Spot on - there's no way they will finish 3 games clear with 9 all-australian.

And with the young up and coming sides: Port, Hawks and Magpies pushing up hard, with another preseason and finals experience into young players - they competition will be tougher.

Injuries are the unknown for any club, but it seems Geelong's coaching or mental fitness is what won them the flag. They had a very similar list in 2006 and the club was in turmoil. Balmey has come on board and weaved some magic - they seem to have a lot of confidence and play well as a team.

I haven't checked - but out of interest - what was Geelong's record in night matches this year? Does anyone know?

 

[Carson_Kressley]

geelong winning the grandfinal was a fluke they did a bradbury all the other sides fell over at the wrong time of the season and geelong got home. anyone coulda won the grand final this year with all 16 teams outa form

 

[Frigate]

I predict a riot, followed by a massive hangover.

 

[MilhouseVanJohn]

Geelongs fantastic year has been made to look much better than it was by a number of factors.
1. All the luck in the world in their own backyard.
2. Terrible luck to a number of the real contenders.
3. An unusually high number of the strong clubs deep in rebuilding.

And the fact that they had 9 All Australians is more a reflection on the poor selection of the team this year, than an accurate portrayal of the best 22...McLeod AA captain when not considered worthy by those who know him best to even be in the crows leadership group, is a perfect example of this.

Certainly a descent side but on of about 5 good sides next year all things being equal...no massive hangover, certainly no dynasty.

 

[pavilion103]

dominaton without doubt... other clubs are more hopefully of a Geelong decline than actually expecting one

 

[budf23]

geelong winning the grandfinal was a fluke they did a bradbury all the other sides fell over at the wrong time of the season and geelong got home. anyone coulda won the grand final this year with all 16 teams outa form

Love it

 

[SJ]

Serious Question.

Given that Geelong won everything in the AFL last year bar the Leading goal kicker award, which way will they go?

I am thinking Dominance. A team with 9 AAs can not fall that quickly and given they are a young side maybe two ore years at this level could be achieved.

But given last year was seen as a soft year, will the rest of the comp catch up?


Discuss.....

Where has this myth come from?