FootyGoss :: Club News - Geelong [2008 Preview – Geelong]

2008 Preview – Geelong

Can they repeat in ’08?

2007 Position: First

2007 Best and Fairest: Gary Ablett

2007 Leading goal-kicker: Cameron Mooney (67)

2008 Best 22

Backs: Harley Scarlett Hunt
H-Backs: Mackie Egan Milburn
Centres: Corey Bartel Enright
H-Forwards: S.Johnson Mooney Selwood
Forwards: Chapman Hawkins Stokes
Followers: Ottens Ling Ablett
Interchange: Blake Kelly Rooke Prismall

The all-conquering Geelong side of 2007 are flag favourites once again in 2008 and the chance to go back to back is there for the taking. Hawthorn’s 1988-1989 side were the last Victorian club to achieve the feat and if the Cats are to become champions again, they’ll have to work twice as hard. Last year began shakily for Mark Thompson’s side, winning just two of their first five games, but from then on the only blemish was a five-point loss to Port Adelaide in Round 21. The Cats more than made up for the hiccup just weeks later by inflicting the biggest Grand Final loss on a side ever – a 119-point whitewash against Port. They took the Brownlow Medal through Jimmy Bartel, nabbed the Rising Star with Joel Selwood and boasted ten All-Australians including their coach Thompson – it certainly was the Year of the Cat. Looking forward, only Nathan Ablett and new St Kilda ruckman Steven King, who was controversially added to the premiership team have left the victorious 22, while fringe players Charlie Gardiner and Henry Play fair have found greener pastures at the Saints and Sydney respectively. A batch of newcomers will have to step up if the club wants to achieve more this year with Tom Hawkins, Tom Lonergan, Mark Blake and Brent Prismall expected to bring more to the table in 2008. Blake and Egan missed out on premiership glory in 2007 and would dearly love to find their own sense of success this year. The Cats have 17 matches in Victoria this year and eight at their beloved Skilled Stadium.

Player to watch: Brent Prismall

At the crossroads: David Johnson

Predicted finish: Second

Gavin Haines