Geelong

[soupman]

Do these guys deserve their own thread?

Quality side that after fielding the 5 oldest lineups ever at the end of this season have doubled down and targeted even more experience.

They clearly have every intention of going all out for that flag while they still have Dangerfield in his prime and guys like Selwood, Duncan and Hawkins contributing. They've been agressive and this is probably the best example we've seen of a club adopting this kind of strategy.

If they grab Higgins as well to add to Smith and Cameron are they even better, even after the departures of Ablett and Taylor, and will losing the fringe youth types like Jordan Clark hurt them long term?

[comrade]

They’ve identified that the combination of having the most beneficial stadium advantage in the league, FA, the appeal of the surf coast lifestyle and the financial opportunities they offer outside the cap, means they’ll never have to bottom out again.

[Ghost Dog]

They’ve identified that the combination of having the most beneficial stadium advantage in the league, FA, the appeal of the surf coast lifestyle and the financial opportunities they offer outside the cap, means they’ll never have to bottom out again.

I must say Scott is looking very thin and haggard these days. It's a tough place to be a coach. Under the microscope 24 hours a day.

[Happy Days]

Cameron is a massive in. They should have stopped there.

Getting one, maybe two years of Higgins and Smith is not worth losing Clark/Constable/Narkle and I'd question if it even makes them any better. I know they were left pretty embarrassed by having Atkins at a crucial stoppage in the Port final and want to shore up the back end of their 22, but if I were in their position I would back in their younger players to improve at a logical rate rather than replace them with vets.

They were probably the best team last season and adding one of the more dynamic forwards in the game would have been enough to put them over the top. The other moves will bear a significant cost in a couple of years when the hole they've created in their 21-23 year olds becomes more apparent as a hole in 24-26 year olds (assuming the rumoured guys actually leave of course).

[soupman]

The other moves will bear a significant cost in a couple of years when the hole they've created in their 21-23 year olds becomes more apparent as a hole in 24-26 year olds (assuming the rumoured guys actually leave of course).

They hold picks 13, 15, 20 and 37 atm so may not be in as bad a position with youth as it appears if they can make some of them stick, although if GWS match the Cameron bid they'll lose most of those you'd imagine.

If they can bring in a couple of talented young guys this year and retain half of those fringe young guys they may be able to patch up that hole a little, and there is a slight chance their current strategy of targeting these old guys could be sustainable if they can bring in a big fish every few years. They have certainly demonstrated they can sell the club so it isn't inconceivable that they could grab a free agent like Michael Walters, Isaac Heeney, Christian Petracca or Jackson Macrae to play with a 32 year old Dangerfield and keep them competetive.

[1eyedog]

They hold picks 13, 15, 20 and 37 atm so may not be in as bad a position with youth as it appears if they can make some of them stick, although if GWS match the Cameron bid they'll lose most of those you'd imagine.

If they can bring in a couple of talented young guys this year and retain half of those fringe young guys they may be able to patch up that hole a little, and there is a slight chance their current strategy of targeting these old guys could be sustainable if they can bring in a big fish every few years. They have certainly demonstrated they can sell the club so it isn't inconceivable that they could grab a free agent like Michael Walters, Isaac Heeney, Christian Petracca or Jackson Macrae to play with a 32 year old Dangerfield and keep them competetive.

Surely GWS match the bid. They have to stick up for themselves as a footy club at some stage don't they?

[bornadog]

Surely GWS match the bid. They have to stick up for themselves as a footy club at some stage don't they?

$900k over 5 years, plus 1 extra year triggered depending on reaching a few targets

[mjp]

Cameron is a massive in.

So.

Cameron was a good player back in 2016-2019 and pretty ordinary this year. Even at his best though, I am really (really) interested in exactly how he would have helped on Grand Final day.

Geelong got absolutely abused once their short kicking game was shut-down by Richmond's pressure. Admittedly, that was pretty good pressure, but I just don't understand how adding Cameron would have helped or even will help in the future. I have people telling me he is perfect because he is completely different to Hawkins (plays higher, more athletic etc)...and then those same people tell me he will really provide a seamless transition to life after Hawkins because they have another key forward in place?

Geelong got abused around the outside of the game (flanks and wings) with the ability of McIntosh to run with Menegola really challenging the Cat's outside players...and the fact that guys like Lambert, Short, Graham, Baker (I could and probably should go on) completely abused their Geelong equivalents. I simply cannot get away from the fact that the 2019 prelim and the 2020 GF were the SAME GAME (Geelong up early, Richmond storming back) yet this year Geelong missed their best player from 2019...a mid (Kelly) who they have yet to replace.

Maybe they are confident the upgrades they need (outside running players with genuine grunt) are already on their list (yep, Jordan Clarke might be one of them) but adding ageing runners Higgins (maybe an upgrade on Ablett I guess) and Smith (who plays where exactly??) is going to solve their problems precisely how?

I love what Geelong have done in really staying competitive throughout but the facts remain: Richmond moved their best player FORWARD and didn't miss a beat in the mids - their 2nd tier inside players were awesome and continue to improve (Bolton, come on down). Geelong have an improving Parfitt but (and this hurts my heart) Narkle is simply not getting better and might never reach his potential - maybe that ACL has just taken away his chances to hit the top end???

To me, Geelong have a rare opportunity this year - a group of draftees that are really pretty unknown to most clubs (well, they 'know' them but they don't 'KNOW' them) and a recruiter roundly regarded as the best at spotting under-age talent...and 3x picks in the first round. They should sit their and TAKE THEM. They should find their replacements for Selwood and Dangerfield. They should recognise that Duncan and Menegola are also getting up there and try to find their replacements as well. Spending draft capital on a forward who they don't need right now? Well - to me that is a luxury they can't afford...particularly if Cameron#2020 is more than a short term thing.

[Bulldog Joe]

So.

Cameron was a good player back in 2016-2019 and pretty ordinary this year. Even at his best though, I am really (really) interested in exactly how he would have helped on Grand Final day.

Geelong got absolutely abused once their short kicking game was shut-down by Richmond's pressure. Admittedly, that was pretty good pressure, but I just don't understand how adding Cameron would have helped or even will help in the future. I have people telling me he is perfect because he is completely different to Hawkins (plays higher, more athletic etc)...and then those same people tell me he will really provide a seamless transition to life after Hawkins because they have another key forward in place?

Geelong got abused around the outside of the game (flanks and wings) with the ability of McIntosh to run with Menegola really challenging the Cat's outside players...and the fact that guys like Lambert, Short, Graham, Baker (I could and probably should go on) completely abused their Geelong equivalents. I simply cannot get away from the fact that the 2019 prelim and the 2020 GF were the SAME GAME (Geelong up early, Richmond storming back) yet this year Geelong missed their best player from 2019...a mid (Kelly) who they have yet to replace.

Maybe they are confident the upgrades they need (outside running players with genuine grunt) are already on their list (yep, Jordan Clarke might be one of them) but adding ageing runners Higgins (maybe an upgrade on Ablett I guess) and Smith (who plays where exactly??) is going to solve their problems precisely how?

I love what Geelong have done in really staying competitive throughout but the facts remain: Richmond moved their best player FORWARD and didn't miss a beat in the mids - their 2nd tier inside players were awesome and continue to improve (Bolton, come on down). Geelong have an improving Parfitt but (and this hurts my heart) Narkle is simply not getting better and might never reach his potential - maybe that ACL has just taken away his chances to hit the top end???

To me, Geelong have a rare opportunity this year - a group of draftees that are really pretty unknown to most clubs (well, they 'know' them but they don't 'KNOW' them) and a recruiter roundly regarded as the best at spotting under-age talent...and 3x picks in the first round. They should sit their and TAKE THEM. They should find their replacements for Selwood and Dangerfield. They should recognise that Duncan and Menegola are also getting up there and try to find their replacements as well. Spending draft capital on a forward who they don't need right now? Well - to me that is a luxury they can't afford...particularly if Cameron#2020 is more than a short term thing.

is their ability to recognise talent compromised by the fact that they stood down most of the recruiting team back in March.

[mjp]

is their ability to recognise talent compromised by the fact that they stood down most of the recruiting team back in March.

Given most of them watch footy in Victoria- where there was zero footy played - what would the impact of this really be?

[Bulldog Joe]

Given most of them watch footy in Victoria- where there was zero footy played - what would the impact of this really be?

My specific knowledge comes from a former Perth based person.

[1eyedog]

So.

Cameron was a good player back in 2016-2019 and pretty ordinary this year. Even at his best though, I am really (really) interested in exactly how he would have helped on Grand Final day.

Geelong got absolutely abused once their short kicking game was shut-down by Richmond's pressure. Admittedly, that was pretty good pressure, but I just don't understand how adding Cameron would have helped or even will help in the future. I have people telling me he is perfect because he is completely different to Hawkins (plays higher, more athletic etc)...and then those same people tell me he will really provide a seamless transition to life after Hawkins because they have another key forward in place?

Geelong got abused around the outside of the game (flanks and wings) with the ability of McIntosh to run with Menegola really challenging the Cat's outside players...and the fact that guys like Lambert, Short, Graham, Baker (I could and probably should go on) completely abused their Geelong equivalents. I simply cannot get away from the fact that the 2019 prelim and the 2020 GF were the SAME GAME (Geelong up early, Richmond storming back) yet this year Geelong missed their best player from 2019...a mid (Kelly) who they have yet to replace.

Maybe they are confident the upgrades they need (outside running players with genuine grunt) are already on their list (yep, Jordan Clarke might be one of them) but adding ageing runners Higgins (maybe an upgrade on Ablett I guess) and Smith (who plays where exactly??) is going to solve their problems precisely how?

I love what Geelong have done in really staying competitive throughout but the facts remain: Richmond moved their best player FORWARD and didn't miss a beat in the mids - their 2nd tier inside players were awesome and continue to improve (Bolton, come on down). Geelong have an improving Parfitt but (and this hurts my heart) Narkle is simply not getting better and might never reach his potential - maybe that ACL has just taken away his chances to hit the top end???

To me, Geelong have a rare opportunity this year - a group of draftees that are really pretty unknown to most clubs (well, they 'know' them but they don't 'KNOW' them) and a recruiter roundly regarded as the best at spotting under-age talent...and 3x picks in the first round. They should sit their and TAKE THEM. They should find their replacements for Selwood and Dangerfield. They should recognise that Duncan and Menegola are also getting up there and try to find their replacements as well. Spending draft capital on a forward who they don't need right now? Well - to me that is a luxury they can't afford...particularly if Cameron#2020 is more than a short term thing.

Perfect summation but shhhhhhhh. In all seriousness though it seems they are prepared to drop out of the 8 for a few years if they can just mayonnaise one more flag. Scott is depending on it.

[Happy Days]

Also do they even have a salary cap?

[soupman]

Also do they even have a salary cap?

I imagine the departures of Ablett and Taylor help in this regard, and I think they are hitting the sweet spot with getting guys like Smith and Higgins over for stuff all in their search for a Premiership. I'm sure practically owning the Geelong community and all the off field benefit that entails wouldn't hurt them either.

[1eyedog]

Here's hoping another GF loss beckons. This year was soooo sweet. The only good thing about Geelong is the ring road.