Geelong

[Axe Man]

Re: Geelong

Did Bevo get paid when he did work with Vic Uni after the flag?

I would assume so?

Luke Beveridge appointed VU adjunct professor

[hujsh]

Re: Geelong

I would assume so?

Luke Beveridge appointed VU adjunct professor

It at least passes a bit more of the 'pub test' to think an AFL coach might have something of value to "sport science, coaching, and management courses" at a Uni than they would as a senior figure at a financial services firm.

They are paid positions but are usually essentially casual roles (I explain this because I had no idea), with a typical hourly rate of around $80ish according to dr. google. Not to say that's what they paid Bevo

[The Underdog]

Re: Geelong

Geelong officially sign Jack Martin. Commentators fawn over their genius while conveniently ignoring the fact that Carlton just let him walk away rather than pay him to be injured all the time.

[GVGjr]

From Code Sports
Geelong season 2025 preview
Geelong surprised many be re-emerging as a premiership contender last year when it was supposed to be a team in transition.

Now, with Bailey Smith on board, the Cats look to be one of the main premiership threats in 2025.

Will Chris Scott have his men in top-four contention again or will the competition catch up with the Cats?

SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
It shouldn’t be any surprise when a late-pick draftee comes into the Cats’ side and impresses straight away, but Lawson Humphries maiden campaign was outstanding. He didn’t feature until round 16 but he featured in every game after breaking into the side. Only once did he drop below 12 touches and he cracked 20+ on four separate occasions, playing off half back and using the ball well on both feet. He should be best 22 going into 2025 and will be one of the main distributors off halfback.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Cillian Burke (Category B rookie), Lennox Hofmann (No. 66 draft pick), Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Draft), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (No. 69 draft pick), Jack Martin (delisted free agent), Jacob Molier (No. 52 draft pick), Joe Pike (Rookie Draft), Jay Polkinghorne (No. 44 draft pick), Patrick Retschko (Rookie Draft), Bailey Smith (trade, Western Bulldogs)
OUT: Phoenix Foster (delisted), Joe Furphy (delisted), Mitch Hardie (delisted), Tom Hawkins (retired), Emerson Jeka (delisted), Oscar Murdoch (delisted), Brandan Parfitt (delisted), Gary Rohan (delisted), Zach Tuohy (retired), James Willis (delisted)

GEELONG PREDICTED BEST 23
FB: Jake Kolodjashnij, Sam De Koning, Tom Stewart
HB: Lawson Humphries, Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie
C: Mitch Knevitt, Tom Atkins, Ollie Dempsey
HF: Patrick Dangerfield, Jeremy Cameron, Gryan Miers
FF: Tyson Stengle, Shannon Neale, Brad Close
FOLL: Mark Blicavs, Max Holmes, Bailey Smith
INT: Tanner Bruhn, Mitch Duncan, Shaun Mannagh, Cameron Guthrie, Oliver Henry

WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
He has struggled for a consistent place in Geelong’s best 22, but the No. 25 selection Mitch Knevitt has returned for his fourth pre-season in ripping condition. Already an elite runner, the 193cm midfielder has been lauded by skipper Pat Dangerfield as the biggest improver on track, having stacked on some weight to fill out his frame. He is more likely to start on a wing and fight for minutes inside the engine room, potentially rotating with Max Holmes and Bailey Smith who can both play inside and outside midfield roles. He is out of contract at the end of 2025, so will need to get consistent games or risk being forced to look elsewhere.

LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Brad Close, Cameron Guthrie, George Stevens, Jed Bews, Jeremy Cameron, Joe Pike, Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan, Mitch Edwards, Mitchell Knevitt, Oisin Mullin, Oliver Henry, Oliver Wiltshire, Ollie Dempsey, Patrick Retschko, Rhys Stanley, Sam De Koning, Shannon Neale, Shaun Mannagh, Ted Clohesy, Toby Conway, Tom Atkins, Xavier Ivisic

POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
The ruck carousel has been a point of contention at the Cattery for a while, with Rhys Stanley managing the main duties for the past few seasons. But Sam De Koning was trialled in there with some effect, Mark Blicavs is a decent pinch-hitting option and Shannon Neale has the size to make the role his own. Then there is Toby Conway and Mitch Edwards; two young rucks that have shown signs in the early stages of their VFL careers, with Conway breaking through for some senior footy. But Conway’s biggest adversary has been his body, while Edwards is just 19 years old. The Cats also drafted Jacob Molier, a ruck-key forward option, over Alex Dodson, who was touted as the best pure ruck in the 2024 class, and Connor O’Sullivan who is an athletic key defender that has drawn comparisons to Blicavs. There is not one outstanding option to throw in the centre circle and so it is likely to be a mix of several options all year.

BURNING QUESTION
Geelong has done enough to prove to everyone that the club does not spent much, if any, time in the bottom half of the ladder. The Cats fell away in 2023 but rebounded strongly in 2024 and were a half away from another grand final before Brisbane stormed back in the preliminary final. The question isn’t ‘how long can they keep it up’, rather whether they did enough in the off-season to make the leap to premiership favourites. They brought in Bailey Smith at long last, who will fill their biggest need in the centre square, while Shannon Neale looks ready to fill a Tom Hawkins-sized hole at full forward. Brisbane and Hawthorn enter 2025 as the equal favourites, but will Geelong be in the conversation for a flag?

[Stevo]

I know they are well coached and drilled but I also don't see a lot there to get excited about. They might need to go through a transition year. Lower position in the 8 and maybe they might even miss.

[Bornadog]

Like Bevo, Scott doesn't see the pure ruck role as important. He looks at the athletic type that will contribute around the ground and it has worked for him. Will be interesting to see what he does with the role going forward.

[Grantysghost]

Never have I wished more suffering on a team than Baz and the Cats.

[jeemak]

How good would we look with Smith, Close, Stengle and Miers in our side?

Yeah I get Geelong has been weakened in other areas, but the defence is still in a good position and there's still quality around the ball. Just think with the way the game is played these days, or at least has been in recent seasons, these types of runners/ finishers make a huge difference, and it's frankly where we lack quality.

[BiteNibbleChomp]

Never have I wished more suffering on a team than Baz and the Cats.

Even over the Great Waste of Space we call the orange team?

Thursday night at the end of May has got to be among the worst times possible to make the trip to the Cattery - it's the busiest time of year at work so the Friday is bound to be awful. I doubt I'd go otherwise, but the opportunity to boo Smith is quite the motivating factor

- BNC

[Grantysghost]

Even over the Great Waste of Space we call the orange team?

Thursday night at the end of May has got to be among the worst times possible to make the trip to the Cattery - it's the busiest time of year at work so the Friday is bound to be awful. I doubt I'd go otherwise, but the opportunity to boo Smith is quite the motivating factor

- BNC

Ha...Geelong have always been on the most hated list, this elevated them to clear leader.

[Jasper]

How good would we look with Smith, Close, Stengle and Miers in our side?

Yeah I get Geelong has been weakened in other areas, but the defence is still in a good position and there's still quality around the ball. Just think with the way the game is played these days, or at least has been in recent seasons, these types of runners/ finishers make a huge difference, and it's frankly where we lack quality.

Even just one of them would be a bonus. Miers would be my slight preference.

[GVGjr]

Mitch Cleary
@cleary_mitch
Chris Scott's contract and role with Morris Finance will remain the same, but it's understood part of the deal has been proportioned to Geelong's soft cap for football spending.

This seems to be a half arsed and a compromised deal.
Surely it's either not part of the coaching soft cap or fully part of the coaching soft cap.

[Axe Man]

Mitch Cleary
@cleary_mitch
Chris Scott's contract and role with Morris Finance will remain the same, but it's understood part of the deal has been proportioned to Geelong's soft cap for football spending.

This seems to be a half arsed and a compromised deal.
Surely it's either not part of the coaching soft cap or fully part of the coaching soft cap.

Perhaps it was a case of the work he is doing for Morris being valued at say $50k, but he is getting paid $100k. So the excess $50k goes into the soft cap.

If it is something along those lines I think it is ok but it certainly is a grey area.

[Grantysghost]

Perhaps it was a case of the work he is doing for Morris being valued at say $50k, but he is getting paid $100k. So the excess $50k goes into the soft cap.

If it is something along those lines I think it is ok but it certainly is a grey area.

And shows pushing the line and asking for forgiveness rather than permission is par for the course. James Hird was driven out of the industry and made a pariah for pushing the limits. We can argue one is worse than the other, but in my mind it's still cheating.

[GVGjr]

Perhaps it was a case of the work he is doing for Morris being valued at say $50k, but he is getting paid $100k. So the excess $50k goes into the soft cap.

If it is something along those lines I think it is ok but it certainly is a grey area.

But why the grey area? It's either a deal outside of the coaching soft cap or it should be seen as fully part of the coaching soft cap.
The position if advertised externally would be at least a 300K job but given Scott is only doing limited hours perhaps the numbers you suggest are closer to the mark.

The AFL should either completely endorse it or deny it. I also wonder why it's taken so long to determine this decision.