How Geelong Stays Competitive

[Pates 9,541]

7 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

I never said they didn’t deserve a home ground. I just said they have the best home ground advantage of any side in the competition. 

And the AFL is correct. You cannot host finals in a stadium that holds such a small capacity. They don’t host finals in Marvel either. 

I remember I tried to explain this to an interstate fan, they were saying "oh there's no travel factor" for Victorian based teams. While this is true, I said them that I would gladly take a Perth trip vs Fremantle any day of the week over an away match at KP. It is the single best home ground advantage BUT it has the disadvantage of it never being a home ground for a final except against a non-Vic side. 

Personally I have always felt if it's an AFL venue than it's an AFL venue. They play all their home games there, BUT they have to provide a significant amount of seating for away fans, particularly in finals. The fact that we get shafted there every single year while the "big clubs" avoid it is tantamount to cheating by the AFL.

[Smokey 4,190]

6 hours ago, Jjrogan said:

They don't over pay ruckman.  Want a dynasty/retain your list? Get yourself midfield stars but dont spend your cap on the tallest bloke in the centre square.

How could any team that hasn’t won a flag in 10 years be possibly labelled as a dynasty? 

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

10 hours ago, Red and Blue Flame said:

Could say the same for any interstate side, yet plenty currently occupy the bottom 10.

Geelong get the home ground advantage without the interstate travel every week that non-Victorian teams have.

Their tax payer funded ground is the biggest advantage.

[WalkingCivilWar 33,937]

3 hours ago, Pates said:

BUT they have to provide a significant amount of seating for away fans,

Substantially more than the less than 500 we were allotted when we last played there. 😠

[deegirl 1,343]

52 minutes ago, WalkingCivilWar said:

Substantially more than the less than 500 we were allotted when we last played there. 😠

That the Away fans are allocated such a tiny amount of seats is extremely annoying as it's totally counter to the argument that the 'big' clubs shouldn't play down there because the ground doesnt have the capacity.   There will never be enough seats for the Away side so it doesnt matter if Collingwood or North Melbourne play down there.   And yet it's always the same group of Melbourne-based clubs who are forced to play there.

[Willmoy1947 3,815]

As I said a country team in a State Capital Australia  wide competition.

[Gawndy the Great 7,787]

13 hours ago, John Crow Batty said:

4 games this season against WC and North helps.

I know right? How does that even happen for a team that finished top 4. It is absolute BS.

I know some of this has to do with luck, but we have played 3 of our double games against top 8 while the Cats have played 2 teams in the top 8. The other top 4 teams have a similarly easier draw.

Bottom line is we won the premiership so we are destined to have the toughest draw. But it was a bit of luck that made it harder. 

[Jjrogan 1,267]

3 hours ago, Smokey said:

How could any team that hasn’t won a flag in 10 years be possibly labelled as a dynasty? 

Hence the 'retain your list'. The implication was the actual dynasties Hawks, Tigers and Lions this century all didnt bother spending dollars on ruckmen. 

[Dr. Gonzo 22,680]

47 minutes ago, deegirl said:

That the Away fans are allocated such a tiny amount of seats is extremely annoying as it's totally counter to the argument that the 'big' clubs shouldn't play down there because the ground doesnt have the capacity.   There will never be enough seats for the Away side so it doesnt matter if Collingwood or North Melbourne play down there.   And yet it's always the same group of Melbourne-based clubs who are forced to play there.

It's no different to us always playing Port, Freo, Gold Coast etc in NT. Should we be forced to play Essendon, Carlton or Richmond at home in Alice Springs because the other clubs think it's unfair? Geelong hosts the big club's at the G once or twice a year because they make more money than if they hosted us or North there. That's the reality.

[Dr. Gonzo 22,680]

18 minutes ago, CYB said:

I know right? How does that even happen for a team that finished top 4. It is absolute BS.

I know some of this has to do with luck, but we have played 3 of our double games against top 8 while the Cats have played 2 teams in the top 8. The other top 4 teams have a similarly easier draw.

Bottom line is we won the premiership so we are destined to have the toughest draw. But it was a bit of luck that made it harder. 

We lucked out playing Port and Dogs twice and were unlucky with Freo and the Pies who both missed finals last year. Swings and roundabouts.

[deegirl 1,343]

21 minutes ago, Dr. Gonzo said:

It's no different to us always playing Port, Freo, Gold Coast etc in NT. Should we be forced to play Essendon, Carlton or Richmond at home in Alice Springs because the other clubs think it's unfair? Geelong hosts the big club's at the G once or twice a year because they make more money than if they hosted us or North there. That's the reality.

Very good point...but it's a rational one, and I'm not rational when it comes to MFC 😄

[Deemania since 56 6,269]

19 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

They stay competitive by being given 10 wins a year at Geelong. End of story. 

'Given' ... is the appropriate word. 

[sue 8,479]

For the first time I looked at the satellite view of the Geelong ground.  At first I thought it was a velodrome.  It looked so unlike any footy ground.  That should not be allowed in a professional sport.

[John Crow Batty 8,323]

Due to being uncompetitive for most of the past 6 decades we are one of the pauper clubs. We are in the group of Bulldogs North and St Kilda fighting for the scraps in an overcrowded Melbourne market. Fitzroy and Sth Melbourne had to seek other markets because of sustained mediocrity. Collingwood, Essendon, Carlton and Richmond have managed to maintain resilience despite ups and downs because they never scraped rock bottom for long periods in their history. Hawthorn despite their success were for most of their history bottom dwellers and they need constant success to stay relevant. Geelong are unique as they have their own market and identity so sustained success is not as important. We are in a unique position as well due representing the city of Melbourne but for us to be in a position to better influence the allocation of pieces of the pie we need sustained success for over a decade to recapture past support and influence.

Edited August 1, 2022 by John Crow Batty

[FlashInThePan 1,893]

10 hours ago, DubDee said:

Thanks for replying 

so maybe AFL grounds should have standard dimensions? Obviously if their home ground has a certain characteristic they would play a style to suit it. 

problem is for them, they don’t play finals on it 

Yes, this is the dominant narrative. They are the Home & Away kings due in large part to the home ground advantage. They are parennial finals losers due to the same advantage. You might say that their advantage has killed any drive to properly regenerate the list and develop a brand that stands up in finals.

The Jury is still out for me on the above. My gut feeling is that they will choke again on the finals and that they have peaked way too early. But who knows, they have significantly changed a few things this year, maybe they will get a different result in finals. Personally I will never forget 186 and I just want to beat them every chance we get. I just recognise that it is totally irrational.

[The Jackson FIX 2,299]

The only regional club really (GC is double the population) which only adds to the appeal for ageing types like Smith, Cameron, Danger, Dalhaus for whom sea/tree change later in career is appealing.

The thing it doesn’t mention is the post-career appeal of living in a fanatical one-team town/area… Frank costa used to open a lot of doors for players who went out to stud

 

Edited August 1, 2022 by The Jackson 6

[spirit of norm smith 13,517]

Cats staying in the window because 

Benefitted by having stars like Selwood and Hawkins play 300+ games 

Playing at your genuine home ground 

Attract players who want the country life but in an AFL system. Smith and Cameron 

Atrract players who want to come home … Dangerfield, Rohan, Higgins 

Shrewd recruiting - Stengle 

Shrewd trading - Tuohy, Stanley 

Local knowledge - Henry, Atkins and Stewart 

[poita 3,718]

The number one factor in Geelong's favour is the lower cost of living. The cost of buying a house in a nice area 20 - 30 mins from Kardinia Park must be significantly lower than the cost of buying the same house 20 - 30 mins from the MCG. Of course you will play for less money if your living costs are reduced by the same (or greater) amount.

[deebunked 285]

Interesting point about Jeelong not known for  chasing after big money tall ruckman.They seem to manage ok.

Gawn  is on 900k?  with three more years to go.

He could be cooked by next year. Thats alot of cap space.

We must keep LJ .

 

[one_demon 826]

How they stay competitive? Answer is Chris Scott

[Accepting Mediocrity 1,418]

10 minutes ago, deebunked said:

Interesting point about Jeelong not known for  chasing after big money tall ruckman.They seem to manage ok.

Gawn  is on 900k?  with three more years to go.

He could be cooked by next year. Thats alot of cap space.

You watched the prelim last year right?

You could make a very good case that a lack of even a B grade ruckman has cost them a flag over the last few years.

[DeeSpencer 23,522]

12 minutes ago, poita said:

The number one factor in Geelong's favour is the lower cost of living. The cost of buying a house in a nice area 20 - 30 mins from Kardinia Park must be significantly lower than the cost of buying the same house 20 - 30 mins from the MCG. Of course you will play for less money if your living costs are reduced by the same (or greater) amount.

The cost of housing isn’t really a factor for established AFL players making 500k plus a year.

They can and do easily afford houses in excellent Melbourne suburbs. Which is really what Geelong players should be buying too unless they’re really committed to the Geelong region and it’s property market.

Rent in share houses somewhere like Richmond isn’t the end of the world for young players either. I wouldn’t be surprised if clubs provide some help here by pairing players with agreeable landlords (such as older players) if needed. Even $200 extra on rent a week is only 10k, not really a game changer if you’re good enough to get a proper afl contract. 

Where I’m suspicious with the Cats is the farms and exploding property market on the Bellarine and the investment opportunities. That’s the kind of stuff that could change someone’s finances by hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

[Winners at last 4,902]

15 hours ago, Return to Glory said:

As already mentioned, they do Judd - Visy like deals but with wives and girlfriends. Prior to that, it was land deals with Costa.

Ask Cameron Ling about that !! 

https://libredd.it/r/Geelong/comments/plic1r/cameron_ling_lost_family_home_over_dire_business/?sort=new

[DeeSpencer 23,522]

27 minutes ago, deebunked said:

Interesting point about Jeelong not known for  chasing after big money tall ruckman.They seem to manage ok.

Gawn  is on 900k?  with three more years to go.

He could be cooked by next year. Thats alot of cap space.

We must keep LJ .

 

Gawn’s on a lot of money. Rucks don’t matter. We must keep LJ? 
 

Seems like conflicting points there.

Ottens was vital for the Cats in their flags. Hale and McEvoy both important for Hawthorn. Nankervis is sometimes the poster boy for rucks don’t matter but he’s actually a very impactful player.

And if Geelong go all the way this year it will likely be because Stanley or Ceglar at least break even and Blicavs is a great back up.

In a perfect world I’d have a cheap ruck but good enough ruck. But that’s true of 2nd talls at each end, wings, defensive mids and so many positions. 

[The Jackson FIX 2,299]

Poorly researched article. Nowhere does it mention the lure of Lambys Tavern.