Season Preview: Geelong

2020 Recap The Cats' season was essentially defined by the final half of their last game. Heading into half-time of the grand final the Cats were looking the goods before collapsing under Richmond, and more specifically, Dustin Martin pressure. But all in all it was a good year, again able to cruise into finals and secure a top 4 spot. They beat fellow top four sides Port Adelaide and Brisbane convincingly during the season on their way to a grand final loss. [caption id="attachment_19843" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 08: Mark Blicavs of the Cats celebrates a goal during the round 16 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on July 8, 2017 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)[/caption] Geelong scored a win-loss record that would be considered a pass but they wanted the ultimate prize and should have secured it. Off-season Ins: Jeremy Cameron (GWS), Isaac Smith (Hawthorn), Shaun Higgins (North Melbourne), Max Holmes (Draft), Shannon Neale (Draft), Nick Stevens (Draft). Outs: Gary Ablett (Retired), Nakia Cockatoo (Brisbane), Lachie Fogarty (Carlton), Jacob Kennerley (Delisted), James Parsons (Delisted), Blake Schlensog (Delisted), Harry Taylor (Retired). Grade: A Hard to say anything negative about the business Geelong did in the off-season. It is becoming the norm for Geelong to top up their list year-on-year in a bid to contend again. [caption id="attachment_71699" align="alignnone" width="696"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 08: Isaac Smith of the Cats in action during the Geelong Cats AFL training session at GMHBA Stadium on December 08, 2020 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] They added 2019 Coleman Medalist Jeremy Cameron to stand alongside 2020 Coleman medallist Tom Hawkins, while veterans Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins add outside class. Gary Ablett and Harry Taylor depart. The little master will be a loss but Higgins will be a solid cover while Taylor may not be as big a loss to such a deep defensive group. Defining Period Geelong's defining period comes quite simply immediately after the bye. The Cats have an awful record post the bye and they are given no free ride in 2021 as they return from their week off against the Power at the Adelaide Oval. They then follow that up with a clash against the Bulldogs, a team many believe will be a top four contender before they are on the road again to meet Brisbane at their Gabba fortress. [caption id="attachment_35169" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 06: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats and Marcus Bontempelli of the Bulldogs in action during the 2019 AFL round 16 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Geelong Cats at Marvel Stadium on July 06, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)[/caption] The two road games loom as crucial, just one win in those travels (assuming they beat the Dogs as well) and the Cats can launch into the final part of the season. Best 22 B: Jack Henry, Lachie Henderson, Jake Kolodjashnij HB: Zach Tuohy, Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart C: Mitch Duncan, Joel Selwood, Sam Menegola HF: Luke Dahlhaus, Jeremy Cameron, Shaun Higgins F: Gary Rohan, Tom Hawkins, Gryan Miers FOLL: Rhys Stanley, Patrick Dangerfield, Cam Guthrie I/C: Jed Bews, Brandan Parfitt, Sam Simpson, Isaac Smith Not much changes for the Cats from last year's grand final. Ablett and Taylor drop out after their retirements with the former being almost directly replaced by Higgins. Cameron comes in which sees Esava Ratugolea lose his hold on the second key-forward slot. [caption id="attachment_31958" align="alignnone" width="696"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 01: Esava Ratugolea of the Cats celebrates a goal during the round 11 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Sydney Swans at GMHBA Stadium on June 01, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)[/caption] Ratugolea may find himself back in should the Cats require his ruck ability but his forward craft is a long way off getting him in the side ahead of Cameron and Hawkins. Strengths and Weaknesses There aren't many weaknesses to this Geelong outfit. They are stacked from line-to-line and have match winners in every position. Their forward line is star-studded and the service it will receive from an elite rated midfield will make them even more imposing. [caption id="attachment_34763" align="alignnone" width="696"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 10: Tom Hawkins of the Cats marks the ball during the round 21 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium on August 10, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)[/caption] If there was a weakness though it would perhaps be their lack of genuine outside foot speed. The Cats often rely on good ball users moving the ball quickly by foot to make up for a lack of outside run. Isaac Smith has been brought in to combat that problem but its an area they clearly lack in. Prediction 1st The Cats have a terrific knack of finding their straps in the home and away season. They know how to get themselves in the finals picture and how to secure themselves a top four slot. [caption id="attachment_36925" align="alignnone" width="696"] GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MAY 18: Gary Rohan of the Cats celebrates a goal during the round nine AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Western Bulldogs at GMHBA Stadium on May 18, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/Getty Images)[/caption] They're issue in recent years is carrying that into September and/or October. They will again feature heavily in the race for the minor premiership in 2021 as they make perhaps one final bid at a flag with this group.

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	WB	2	2	0	8	154.1
2	FRE	1	1	0	4	273.7
3	SYD	1	1	0	4	191.3
4	GC	1	1	0	4	181.2
5	COLL	1	1	0	4	118.2
6	HAW	2	1	1	4	117.1
7	GWS	2	1	1	4	76.4
8	CARL	2	1	1	4	70.9
9	BL	1	0	1	0	95.5
10	RICH	1	0	1	0	94.7

Season Preview: Geelong

Will the Cats’ trio of star recruits take them one step further in 2021?

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