Geelong Sliding Doors

[Pure_Ownage]

Yes, and it was so abundantly clear that approximately 80% of people, including this board, had us going out in straight sets or getting pumped in a prelim just 3 weeks prior.

'08 without doubt. It was a failure of the highest order, and with a truly great side that should have won at least one more.

It's laughable to lump the other two in with that failure.

I mean really, weren't you the guy crowing all year that there was no standout side? and now you've suddenly jumped to us being "clearly the best team in it"?

It's the sort of thing we laugh at Richmond and Collingwood supporters for doing. It's just delusional revisionist history based on nothing but team bias.

Sometimes we're not the best, and you just gotta live with it.

I think you're missing the point.

Yes 2008 is the worst because we were borderline unbeatable and then we basically choked the first half of that GF with some of the worst goalkicking you will ever see.

2024 yes was clearly a year full of average teams. We weren't anywhere near as good as we had been in years prior but we didn't need to be to win a flag in 24 we just had to be slightly better than average. We showed throughout the year we were that and should have been a key favourite but at the last hurdle we folded.

Like 2019 we were in pole position (I recognise that the end of 2019 was impacted by Hawkins but still the QF failure that year both at selection and on the night was one of the worst we've had) and are obvious opportunities that we squandered. Whereas years like 2020 I actually think we were really good but when it came to those GF moments Richmond elevated (in particular Martin did).

 

[Pure_Ownage]

That being the case MF and with hindsight knowing we may/WOULD lose...... would he have stayed on and given it his best shot and we WIN !!!

I'm sure if they realised Sydney were going to be that bad a walkover they would have just tried to push Holmes through and win even if he missed a 2nd GF. But it's hard when you have to make the call under time pressure on the bench.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

We weren't anywhere near as good as we had been in years prior but we didn't need to be to win a flag in 24 we just had to be slightly better than average. We showed throughout the year we were that and should have been a key favourite but at the last hurdle we folded.

Sure, but that doesn't equate to "clearly the best team in it” does it? It sounds like you don't even know your own point.

Should have been, could have been...it's all irrelevant. The reality is we weren't, and NOBODY thought we were. Quite the opposite in fact.

FWIW though, I do agree that we could have won it.

It was an average year, and even with a side in transition we could have pinched it given the power vacuum in the competition at the moment, and that in itself is disappointing.

There's a very big difference between that, and having a mortgage on the flag, or suggesting it was ours for the taking as the clear best side. It's just blatantly incorrect.

All we had was the opportunity to be the best of a very weak eight on a reasonably level playing field, and we failed at that hurdle like 6 other clubs did.

 

[Vdubs]

I'm sure if they realised Sydney were going to be that bad a walkover they would have just tried to push Holmes through and win even if he missed a 2nd GF. But it's hard when you have to make the call under time pressure on the bench.

it doesn't work like that- the potential to convert a mild injury into something massive is reprehensible, and that is always #1 priority, even in a prelim. There ARE some injuries that can be tried and pushed, but never a hammy or a calf.

 

[catswhiskers]

2008 is the only time I have been "pissed" by the effort/ organisation of the team in this current era.

The arrogance of the first half of the GF capped by Mooney just before half time was palpable. We should have had the game won.

The rest is coulda been shoulda been stuff.

2022 made up for other disappointments. In that year I thought making another desperate challenge: having another crack was
all I could hope for.

Now in 2025, I love that this time of contending looks like continuing for some more years with (at last) youth, rather than a one last push.

" Before we fall off the cliff" .

This is fun........all of it!

 

[Johnny Cattery]

So he got significantly worse after his second season despite getting older. Why do you think that might be? Nearly everyone gets noticably better and some plateau as they go from their second season to their third? Virtually none get significantly worse unless injury or mental issues have a say.

An interesting point.

I had not realised so many Cats were caught up in the Bali Bombing, including Spriggs. Stephen King, Tim McGrath, Paul Chapman, Will Slade, Tom Harley, James Rahilly, Henry Playfair, and about a dozen others.

There is a bit about it here - https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/bali-bombing-hangs-over-geelong-20021214-gdfysq.html

 

[kickazz]

I don't know how seriously it was being considered, but had we ended up moving our home ground to Docklands, instead of the good work Cook & Costa did........

 

[Seeds]

I don't know how seriously it was being considered, but had we ended up moving our home ground to Docklands, instead of the good work Cook & Costa did........

The club would of turned into north melbourne.

 

[Seeds]

2008 is the only time I have been "pissed" by the effort/ organisation of the team in this current era.

The arrogance of the first half of the GF capped by Mooney just before half time was palpable. We should have had the game won.

The rest is coulda been shoulda been stuff.

2022 made up for other disappointments. In that year I thought making another desperate challenge: having another crack was
all I could hope for.

Now in 2025, I love that this time of contending looks like continuing for some more years with (at last) youth, rather than a one last push.

" Before we fall off the cliff" .

This is fun........all of it!

Arrogance? I wouldnt confuse the yips with arrogance.

We struggled the week before against footscray. The signs were there that we werent fresh and ready to go.

2013 first final selection is where I would say we were arrogant. And it cost us the flag.

 

[Lana]

I don't know how seriously it was being considered, but had we ended up moving our home ground to Docklands, instead of the good work Cook & Costa did........

Good chance the club would have folded

 

[Goggin Our Best]

After 2022 flag ( in addition to what they had allready achieved ) , i couldnt careless about any sliding door moments anymore

The interesting question , is say Geelong won multiple premierships much earlier on , in your time barracking for the Cats , would have you as a supporter stayed as motivated and as keen . In 80 ( minor premier ) and 81 , Geel with one half decent key forward could have quite easily won back to back flags , now all supporters crave premierships till youve won one , or 3-4 is alot better , but at that point do you stay as motivated as a fan , as long as you dont do a current day Carlton ( 30 yr drought) then as a supporter i dont think AFL is anywhere near the be all and end all that it is to you before youve witnessed that Premiership

 

[The_Koulouriotis_Fan]

Speaking of the disappointment of 2008. I watched Round 1 2009 v Hawks recently on YouTube. There are some passages of play in that game that were vintage Geelong 2008 and what really should have occurred in the Grand Final. We got over 40 points up in that game and if it was a GF would’ve broken the back of the hawks and won by 80.
It’s a shame we couldn’t get it done on the day. We really were a vastly superior team.
That rushed behind rule change really came too late for us.

 

[allrighty]

Arrogance? I wouldnt confuse the yips with arrogance.

We struggled the week before against footscray. The signs were there that we werent fresh and ready to go.

2013 first final selection is where I would say we were arrogant. And it cost us the flag.

Are you eidetic? Srs question.

 

[Phipppppa]

What if we won in 2008, would the Saints have won the flag in 2009

I think so, bomber said at the 3QT speech something along the lines of “remember how it felt last year, don’t make it happen again.” I believe it got us over the line

 

[FootyIslanders]

As a new yawka I have no clue what a sliding door is other than it leads to the patio. I’ve searched unsuccessfully for a rules thread, so here it goes.

Is there any way to change the rule that gives the defense possession after purposefully directing in a behind? Footy has 17,150 yards of boundary -(almost said sideline as there are no lines, but keeping yards), and the ten feet(!) it’s not a throw in is where the d is most vulnerable with a cheap out?

Ok, a yanks view of HTB comes next week


Sent on my iPad from way up over

 

[catswhiskers]

Hello Yawka!

Great to have a N.Y. body on board.

On not giving the defence the ball after a behind is kicked (I think that's the question.
Losing possession is a penalty for missing the big sticks ( space between ). You get one point but the opposition gets the ball and an opportunity to reply immediately.

I think that works.

Kick straight all good 6 points. Kick poorly 1 point only and trouble. Makes the skill of kicking a vital part of our game for all players.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

As a new yawka I have no clue what a sliding door is other than it leads to the patio. I’ve searched unsuccessfully for a rules thread, so here it goes.

Is there any way to change the rule that gives the defense possession after purposefully directing in a behind? Footy has 17,150 yards of boundary -(almost said sideline as there are no lines, but keeping yards), and the ten feet(!) it’s not a throw in is where the d is most vulnerable with a cheap out?

Ok, a yanks view of HTB comes next week


Sent on my iPad from way up over

A yanks view of htb is a valid ad any tbh. Not even the umpires know.

Defence always gets possession after a behind though

 

[dazbroncos]

A yanks view of htb is a valid ad any tbh. Not even the umpires know.

Defence always gets possession after a behind though

Unless your name is Darren Milburn and it’s the 2009 GF just before 1/2 time.

Go Catters

 

[catscratchfever]

If we'd reverted to our natural game in 1993. Memories are fuzzy, but pretty sure we were flying by the end of the year (beat the Eagles in Perth in our last game)...reckon we would've been in it up to our necks.

We were beaten by St Kilda (who were shite at the time - ho hum, nothing new) and then didn't lose another H&A game, missing out on finals by % I think. We were the form team at the end of the season - I think we would have won the flag if we hadn't dropped that game

 

[FootyIslanders]

Hello Yawka!

Great to have a N.Y. body on board.

On not giving the defence the ball after a behind is kicked (I think that's the question.
Losing possession is a penalty for missing the big sticks ( space between ). You get one point but the opposition gets the ball and an opportunity to reply immediately.

I think that works.

Kick straight all good 6 points. Kick poorly 1 point only and trouble. Makes the skill of kicking a vital part of our game for all players.

I hear you. (I’ve been watching AFL five seasons). I agree with you when the offense misses the goal, possession should change.

But when there is a scramble for a loose ball, and the D rolls it thru either the inside or outside posts for a behind, seems too easy escape for the d.


Sent on my iPad from way up over

 

[Cataholic]

I hear you. (I’ve been watching AFL five seasons). I agree with you when the offense misses the goal, possession should change.

But when there is a scramble for a loose ball, and the D rolls it thru either the inside or outside posts for a behind, seems too easy escape for the d.


Sent on my iPad from way up over

Oh boy.....you're going to bring on the 2008 cold sweats around here my friend!

 

[PzBlinky]

Oh boy.....you're going to bring on the 2008 cold sweats around here my friend!

I think it was the last quarter...Mark Williams under zero pressure running back to his own goal and kicking it through from 20. What a joke.

 

[Hinkley29]

Interesting point about dodgy suspensions there Gazza Greatness. I still remember when Billy Brownless was suspended for two games after the 1991 second semi-final for what was only referred to as a "reportable offence", so we couldn't really defend it at the tribunal as we didn't know what it was that he was meant to have done in the first place.

We ended up having to play the Preliminary Final against the Eagles without both Brownless and Ablett, who was suspended in the elimination final for 3 weeks for striking (which was fair enough too), yet only lost by 15 points. Would having either one of those two, or even both, have been enough to see us get over the line?

Hinkley was also suspended after week 2 of the 1991 finals.

At that point in time, he was a better player than both Brownless and Ablett.

 

[Vdubs]

I'm sure if they realised Sydney were going to be that bad a walkover they would have just tried to push Holmes through and win even if he missed a 2nd GF. But it's hard when you have to make the call under time pressure on the bench.

Swans were a walkover mainly due to Brisbane peaking for that game as they did. Each week, you could see the Lions growing in confidence and form, and beating us at the G would have been huge for them, like it was when Richmond beat us on their way to that first flag.
We were pretty beaten up after the prelim, and would not have just put on the same show we did in 22. Back in 22, after we beat the Lions, their coach said he was mightily impressed by Geelong, and it would take a lot to beat us. We would have just limped into the GF this year, and I know you think Swans were woeful, and they were, but a lot to do with Brisbane.

In 1993, had Collingwood won their last game, I think we would have won the GF, yet we did not even get to play finals.
Talk about extrapolation...

 

[winty]

Hinkley was also suspended after week 2 of the 1991 finals.

At that point in time, he was a better player than both Brownless and Ablett.

Speaking of Hinkley, would he have won the Brownlow in 1992 if he wasn't KO'd by Peter Worsfold when we played Brisbane in Geelong in the first meeting after we kicked the record store against them?

He was everywhere in the first half, before he was concussed just before half time and took no further part in the game. He ended up coming 3rd in the Brownlow that year - 3 votes behind eventual winner Scott Wynd.