2015 season: 10th
2016 prediction: 3rd
THE BRIEF
They don’t take losing well in Geelong; not these days, anyway. For eight seasons the Cats had been a mainstay of the AFL finals and usually late in the piece; four times they played off for the ultimate prize, three of those times they were victorious. So, when they missed out last year and it was concluded the dynasty was over, Geelong’s decision makers went out and snared the sort of top end talent which can quickly turn things around.
Stevie Johnson, James Kelly and Matthew Stokes were moved on, while Patrick Dangerfield, Zac Smith, Lachine Henderson and Scott Selwood all joined the Cats during the trade and free agency period.
Whether all four are in the best 22 remains to be seen but Dangerfield certainly is. He’s the biggest fish to land at a new club since Lance Franklin lobbed in Sydney and prior to that when Chris Judd went from West Coast to Carlton.
Automatically that gives Joel Selwood a chop out in the midfield from always having the best opposition tagger.
When predicting what might happen for the Cats this season, you are basically asking whether you buy into the hype or not; I’m all in.
THE LOCK
Patrick Dangerfield: Just to add to the pressure of expectation on Danger in his first season in the hoops, he’s my nominated lock. Surely he’ll feel that pressure more than being third favourite for the Brownlow? Or top five in the Herald Sun top 50? We know how good he is and while there is an added pressure of expectation, it’s not as if, like Judd at Carlton, he is headed to a basket case and expected to turn the club around in an instant. He has the support group there to be a big time player at his new club without carrying it on his shoulders. I expect Joel Selwood to be the greatest beneficiary of the Dangerfield recruitment.
THE STOCK
Daniel Menzel: He has played such little football in the past five years, courtesy of four knee reconstructions, that Menzel is essentially a new recruit. And a bloody good one. He played 18 games in 2011 and looked a superstar in the making until he injured his knee in the preliminary final, missed out on the premiership the week after and, suffering the same injury three more times, wasn’t spotted again until round 22 last year. And what a comeback it was. Menzel was in everything, he flew for marks and kicked four goals in a performance which not only warmed the hearts of the football world but reminded everyone just what a talent he is. Injury free and this kid will catapult into the AFL’s elite very quickly.
THE SMOKIN’ BARREL
Mitch Clark: Gee, it’s a tough task finding a player on the Geelong list who legitimately belongs in this spot and needs to lift. To be honest, I’m not sure Mitch Clark is that man. Through no fault of his own he lost another football season through injury and illness and, despite being such a tremendous talent, he needs to get a good run at things this year or the AFL might simply pass him by. We saw at Brisbane, and at Melbourne briefly, just how good he can be, so for Geelong’s and Mitch Clark sake, hopefully we see that same guy again.
