Geelong
Coach – Chris Scott
2024 –
Points For – 3rd
Points Against – 11th
Top 5 Best and Fairest
1 – Max Holmes
2 – Zach Guthrie
3 – Jeremy Cameron
4 – Tom Stewart
5 – Tyson Stengle
2024 Rising Star Noms
Oliver Dempsey (Rnd 2)
Lawson Humphries (Rnd 18)
Ins – Bailey Smith, Jack Martin, Cillian Burke, Lennox Hofmann, Xavier Ivisic, Keighton Matofai-Forbes, Jacob Molier, Joe Pike, Jay Polkinghorne, Patrick Retschko,
Outs – Brandan Parfitt, Gary Rohan, Zach Tuohy, Tom Hawkins, James Willis, Oscar Murdoch, Emerson Jeka, Pheonix Foster, Mitch Hardie, Joe Furphy
My Prediction
They are some serious outs from Geelong. They also seemed to have drafted to confuse commentators with pronunciation as there are some cracking names in there. We all wait for Geelong to fall off the cliff and every year we hold out some sort of hope that this may be the year. I think despite finishing top four last year, the second half of the season showed signs that the cracks are appearing.
The backline looks fragile. Kolodjashnij is the whipping boy, they rely in Stewart who they ran through the midfield on occasion. Henry and SDK are the future for their defence. Humphries and Guthrie bring some level of run. They still feel a little one dimensional back there and are lucky enough to have midfielders that do their job and restrict quick entries.
The midfield has to be a little concern. They have super talent and have brought in Bailey Smith who if his body allows will definitely bring another dimension in hard running and slightly iffy disposal. I don’t know if this is Dangerfield’s final season (which would reduce media attention to Moggs Creek but about 98%) but he is still dangerous even if he has lost a little burst. Hollmes is realising his potential and they brought in youth with Dempsey looking good last year. They also have Blicavs running around on a wing or in the ruck or wherever he is needed (little know fact is that Blicavs could have been an Olympian but for changing lanes and playing footy).
They lose Hawkins up forward but truth be told, he went on one year too long and Neale looks a capable replacement. Cameron needs a good run with injury and the forward line will be very good. Stengle staying on the straight and narrow (or at least having his misdemeanours largely ignored) has been very good for Geelong and along with Close and Miers (also largely ignored is how good a kick he is into the forward 50) gives them good pressure and movement within their forward 50.
Is Rhys Stanley still their main ruck? That cant be right? Surely the same has passed him by at this stage yet all my research (sweet FA) tells me he was ok last year and will run around again against bigger more skillful players again this year. The coach is solid, he has won a premiership now (not counting the one gifted by Bomber) and has kept his team challenging for a very long period. You do feel that he has some real work to do this year for his team to stay in the top echelon.
Geelong went flat at times last season and seemed a lot more gettable than they have in previous years. I don’t think they have the list to challenge for the flag and whilst I am not sure they drop out of the eight, they certainly don’t have the depth of talent that has carried them for so long. I definitely think they drop out of the top four and lose a little relevance. I think 5-7 this year.