I have a morning job delivering papers, and i coud barely be bothered reading them as i unbundled them this morning. Just a total empty feeling, maybe a bit like 1992, but with the difference being Geelong was the best performed side all year, and has been for 40-odd games.
The fact that Roighead and Franklin were insignificant scorers, Mitchell was held, we had 60 forward 50's...yet by our inaccuracy and inability to keep close enough tabs on blokes like Rioli, Williams, Dew (who honestly makes Mick Nolan look like Tristan Lynch) led to our downfall. 23 wins for the year, just two defeats, yet we essentially have the same net result as Melbourne. To the winners go the spoils indeed.
The players too will be beside themseves i reckon. They have put their heart and soul into the season, were focussed and disciplined all year, would have trained all year for this day, only for a cataclysmic breakdown in the forward line in the biggest game of the year to derail our train. We went from 5.3 to 7.18 with an array of misses, posters, and rushed behinds. To be honest, the rushed points didn't worry me, as Geelong does, and did, put great pressure on the opponents clearing the ball. Maybe though it added a reverse scoreboard pressure, as Geelong's behind tally mounted, perhaps Geelong's anxiety in the forward line increased.
It also hurts because Hawthorn just always seem to win. They have won 39 of the 57 clashes since 1977, my first year of following Geelong. They won this flag with barely a finals apprenticeship, they just win. They have not lost a Grand Final since 1987, and have won 10 of the 14 they have played. Talk about doing it when it counts.
What also hurts most is that there seems to be nothing that can be done to do anything about it until we play another Grand Final. Our game plan is great, it destroys almost all other sides. It's the mental application the players will need to reproduce, knowing that this pre-season will be one of the most thankless of all, as all will be for nought. They have to endure it, with the aim for next year, and the grind of making sure the side places it self in finals contention again. They will know that, and hopefully will use this as a spur to ensure they get a top-4 spot, preferably top 2, to put themselves in the picture next year.
I am sure they can, i am sure they will win plenty of games next year. Of the other sides, Sydney are all but gone, Bulldogs could hardly be better in all honesty, they still lack K.P.P's, North are honest but limited, St.KIlda are St.Kilda, Collingwood have to avoid losing to the crap sides as much as getting upfor big games. We should win 15 or 16 to get top 4. But essentially, it's back to square one.
Unfortunately, Geelong WILL be forever remembered as the only side to win 23 games in a season and not take home a flag. Only Essendon 2000 and Carlton 1995 have had 23 or more wins in a season. That hurts.
The fact that Roighead and Franklin were insignificant scorers, Mitchell was held, we had 60 forward 50's...yet by our inaccuracy and inability to keep close enough tabs on blokes like Rioli, Williams, Dew (who honestly makes Mick Nolan look like Tristan Lynch) led to our downfall. 23 wins for the year, just two defeats, yet we essentially have the same net result as Melbourne. To the winners go the spoils indeed.
The players too will be beside themseves i reckon. They have put their heart and soul into the season, were focussed and disciplined all year, would have trained all year for this day, only for a cataclysmic breakdown in the forward line in the biggest game of the year to derail our train. We went from 5.3 to 7.18 with an array of misses, posters, and rushed behinds. To be honest, the rushed points didn't worry me, as Geelong does, and did, put great pressure on the opponents clearing the ball. Maybe though it added a reverse scoreboard pressure, as Geelong's behind tally mounted, perhaps Geelong's anxiety in the forward line increased.
It also hurts because Hawthorn just always seem to win. They have won 39 of the 57 clashes since 1977, my first year of following Geelong. They won this flag with barely a finals apprenticeship, they just win. They have not lost a Grand Final since 1987, and have won 10 of the 14 they have played. Talk about doing it when it counts.
What also hurts most is that there seems to be nothing that can be done to do anything about it until we play another Grand Final. Our game plan is great, it destroys almost all other sides. It's the mental application the players will need to reproduce, knowing that this pre-season will be one of the most thankless of all, as all will be for nought. They have to endure it, with the aim for next year, and the grind of making sure the side places it self in finals contention again. They will know that, and hopefully will use this as a spur to ensure they get a top-4 spot, preferably top 2, to put themselves in the picture next year.
I am sure they can, i am sure they will win plenty of games next year. Of the other sides, Sydney are all but gone, Bulldogs could hardly be better in all honesty, they still lack K.P.P's, North are honest but limited, St.KIlda are St.Kilda, Collingwood have to avoid losing to the crap sides as much as getting upfor big games. We should win 15 or 16 to get top 4. But essentially, it's back to square one.
Unfortunately, Geelong WILL be forever remembered as the only side to win 23 games in a season and not take home a flag. Only Essendon 2000 and Carlton 1995 have had 23 or more wins in a season. That hurts.
