Did we destroy the geelong Myth?

[Dan Warna]

for most if this year geelong were perceived to have lost the 08 premiership, not hawthorn winning it.

IT was perceived by many that geelong were too arrogant, wasteful in front of goal and lazy, and that hawthorn played above themselves to 'steal' the premiership.

even this year, many predicted st kilda to be the team who wins the right to lose to geelong.

we beat them by a goal, but again, the smell of the game, and the way they closed on us, many again believed that st kilda had won the battle but wasn't prepared to win the war.

the next week St kilda, were expected to lose to WC, because of the travel and the energy spent, then again the week after to the 'hot' crows, and the 'hot dogs', all three teams were beaten with a degree of comfort.

Geelong had a loss, then accounted comfortably for the pathetic dees, before a stirring victory over a wasteful and injury ridden hawks.

Geelong are a brilliant side, but the air of invulnerability is cracking IMO?

[perfectionist]

for most if this year geelong were perceived to have lost the 08 premiership, not hawthorn winning it.

IT was perceived by many that geelong were too arrogant, wasteful in front of goal and lazy, and that hawthorn played above themselves to 'steal' the premiership.

even this year, many predicted st kilda to be the team who wins the right to lose to geelong.

we beat them by a goal, but again, the smell of the game, and the way they closed on us, many again believed that st kilda had won the battle but wasn't prepared to win the war.

the next week St kilda, were expected to lose to WC, because of the travel and the energy spent, then again the week after to the 'hot' crows, and the 'hot dogs', all three teams were beaten with a degree of comfort.

Geelong had a loss, then accounted comfortably for the pathetic dees, before a stirring victory over a wasteful and injury ridden hawks.

Geelong are a brilliant side, but the air of invulnerability is cracking IMO?

Yes, but I think it started to crack in the GF last year. I saw the Hawks/Cats game yesterday and this time the Hawks threw it away. Buddy Franklin was sensational but Joel Selwood did a "Lenny" in the last quarter and simply imposed himself upon the game refusing to accept defeat.

Having said that, the Hawks backline is very average and we know that the Cats backline is starting to make mistakes (Mackie excepted). They have past their peak and are on the way down. But neither is out. Whilst our team performance is superior to both, brilliant individuals can turn a game. Those two teams remain our only real challengers and one may not even make the finals. The game in Launceston may prove decisive in that regard. It could be do or die for the Hawks, but will be just as important to us, being the only team that we have not seen off this year. If there is any doubt in the minds of Saints players it will be respect to the last team to beat us. That doubt needs to be removed.

[chook23]

What annoys me most about the Cats 1pt win

it WAS a special team building win..............

one that might really spark/steel them

those on here who played in games...where they we really never going to win.....with injuries....but YOU JUST get over the line.

They are special games as a footballer.

[StSteven]

To write the Cats off would be silly. They are over winning streaks and concentrating on September.

Yesterday was impressive given their injuries and poor first half. That game will be their "season defining" game. Don't forget a few are ready to come back.

I will not stop worrying until 5pm on that last day in Sept. H&A games mean NOTHING once you are in the top 2 (or this year top 4).

[matrix]

yes....
but dont underestimated a wounded cat backed into a corner
they will come again....

[saintsRrising]

for most if this year geelong were perceived to have lost the 08 premiership, not hawthorn winning it.

In the GF Geelong choked.

Yesterday the Hawks did in the last quarter.

Personally I think it would have been better for us if the hawks had won...as that would have meant 2 big games in 4 weeks that they could not get over the line.

[StSteven]

I don't see Hawks as a threat at all. We will beat them but Geelong is a real threat and I see the players being quoted as to how morale boosting and awakening that game was. I think they are just waking up after taking it easy for most of the season.

[degruch]

What annoys me most about the Cats 1pt win

it WAS a special team building win..............

one that might really spark/steel them.

Next time we play them (if we do) will be in the finals, so you'd think we'd be just as resolved to smash them. Good on 'em for getting back up yesterday, but they'll need to do some work before the finals (forward line is terrible at the moment).

[InkerSaint]

In the GF Geelong choked.

Yesterday the Hawks did in the last quarter.

Personally I think it would have been better for us if the hawks had one...as that would have meant 2 big games in 4 weeks that they could not get over the line.

Yes.

The way the Cats celebrated yesterday's win you would have thought they'd won the '08 cup back off the Hawks.

A bit of payback there... Cats nailing the lid on the Hawks' finals chances for '09. And from a kick at the final siren after trailing all game... mmrreeoow...

[Dan Warna]

not bagging the cats at all, they are still and deservedly so close to favouritism for the premiership.

in 97 there was an air of invulnerability abuot hte saints...till the GF.

in 99 and 01, Essendon were slated for great things etc etc.

nothing is ever in the bag.

But the cats have had a chip in their psychological armour put in there now.

[stinger]

i personally think that geelong's reign as top dog...or cat.... is over.....everyone in the press said that there were np losers out of the game against us........what absolute crap...geelong lost...and they lost more than the four points...they lost their cloak of invincibility...they also lost their best players to injury since then...proving that compared to the saints they are soft cocks.....they also should have lost to the hawks yesterday...the girls from sleepy hollow didn't so much as win the game...it was more a case of the hawks losing it by thinking the job was done and stopping their run.....

[desertsaint]

i personally think that geelong's reign as top dog...or cat.... is over.....everyone in the press said that there were np losers out of the game against us........what absolute crap...geelong lost...and they lost more than the four points...they lost their cloak of invincibility...they also lost their best players to injury since then...proving that compared to the saints they are soft cocks.....they also should have lost to the hawks yesterday...the girls from sleepy hollow didn't so much as win the game...it was more a case of the hawks losing it by thinking the job was done and stopping their run.....

Agree with all of that...geelong lost a fair whack of their mojo against us - as i said at the time, it was a bigger and easier win than the scoreline suggested. but i'm worried the hawks result could indeed be jolt they needed to rediscover some self belief.

ps did a predictor ladder and had the hawks come from 7th (dogs 6th) to meet the cats in the prelim. would like to see that!

[bigred]

Cats are some serious opposition. Really, they are still the benchmark.


BUT THEY ARE GETTING INJURED.

And this is not the time of year to be getting injured.

[Quixote]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=597633

[stinger]

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=597633

you got that about right.....

[Enrico_Misso]

You can only keep playing that style of footy for so long.
Geelong are now into their third season of it.
The end of their era is at hand.

The parallels with Essendon in 99-00-01 and Geel in 2007-08-09 are striking.
(just the order of the results in the first two years).

We in 2009 are the Brisbane of 2001.
Geelong bleeds and we will kill it !

[maverick]

I think the Cats are seriously wobbly, both form and injury wise....
Dismiss the Hawks at you're own peril, they will waltz into 8th spot, only the Bombers can stop them now (Port are pathetic)...and their loss today hurts bad...

I can see the Hawks going unbeaten or losing only to us from here to the finals....

[Milton66]

We are one of the few teams that will no longer be over awed by the Cats. Simple.

Watching them celebrate after the 1 point win, you have to wonder what cr@pola they were talking about after they lost to us and rambled on about losing not mattering etc.

It would have cut deep. HAving beaten them is a major advantage for us IMO.

[hAyES]

They're missing Steve Johnson a hell of a lot IMO. They're forward line is average without him. Don't be fooled by their recent form, come finals once they get their full team back they are the last team I'd want us to play in the Grand Final.

[maverick]

They're missing Steve Johnson a hell of a lot IMO. They're forward line is average without him. Don't be fooled by their recent form, come finals once they get their full team back they are the last team I'd want us to play in the Grand Final.

Not me.
I think there are more injured players in that side this year than we had in '05...
I also think they would be the only team going into a GF (if we made it) where we would not be favourite, something that still doesn't sit comfortably with me...(the demons from '97 still lurk)

[Shaggy]

Winning 17 in a row is freaky.

But winning 57 of last 62 matches is more freaky IMO.

[stinger]

Winning 17 in a row is freaky.

But winning 57 of last 62 matches is more freaky IMO.

well......we are 26 of 30 at the moment...only going to get closer...and better......

[bigcarl]

Winning 17 in a row is freaky. But winning 57 of last 62 matches is more freaky IMO.

agree. what the cats have achieved is more than myth. until we win a flag they will have the bragging rights.

[widereceiver]

Still ten weeks to go. It would be a mistake to write off Cats or Hawks IMHO.
I think we will prevail if we are uninjured.

[SainterK]

What stood out to me, was the Cats celebration after winning. It was almost a grand final like reaction, like this win meant an awful lot. Made me wonder if a little self doubt had crept into the Geelong camp?