October 28, 2009

The greatest team of all...

THE Carji Greeves Medal took place earlier this month, and what a surprise the result was. Gary Ablett and Corey Enright were tied winners, even though Ablett was easily the best player in 2009. Footy is a strange game. But let’s speak more about the actual team, who won the premiership in 2009. And what a win it was, with the Cats not having their greatest season, or to be precise seven weeks, in rounds 14-21 they only won four games, three of those by a sum of eight points, and the other was an unconvincing one in a cyclone at Kardinia Park against the Dees. But in the end, they proved that they really are “The greatest team of all”

1 (Equal). Gary Ablett
Where do I start with the Brownlow medallist? He played 22 out of 25 games; he picked up a freakish 33.8 possessions a game, 20.2 of them handballs, with 40 or more touches an abnormal six times. He also averaged 4.2 marks, 4.2 tackles, 11.6 contested possessions, 3.6 inside 50s, and a contested mark per game. He also kicked 27.26 for the year. There are so many good games of his to choose from, but I think nothing can go past his 46 possessions, seven marks and three goals against Adelaide in round four. At the end of this guy’s career, we could be calling him the best player ever.
1 (Equal). Corey Enright
This guy definitely had his best season ever; he played all 25 games, averaged 25.1 possessions, 5.7 marks, 2.8 tackles, 3.1 rebound 50’s and 2.6 inside 50’s a game. He hit the target with 81.4% of his possessions. His best performance was in the qualifying final against the Dogs, where he racked up 35 possessions, eight marks and kicked a vital goal in the last quarter. Well done Corey.
3. Jimmy Bartel
Bartel, another cog in the Geelong machine. And a Brownlow medallist. This season, the 25-year-old averaged 27 possessions, 7.9 of them contested, 6.3 marks, 5.3 tackles and 3.5 inside 50’s. His notable performances included 41 possessions and nine marks against the Dees in round six, 34 possessions, five marks, five tackles and three goals in round eight against North and his 19 possessions and a record-equalling 16 tackles in the grand final. Who knows, maybe a second Brownlow to come?
4. Joel Selwood
This 21-year-old continues to attack the ball hard and win the footy. In his past two seasons, there has only been one game where hasn’t won a free kick. In 2009, he picked up more possessions, tackles, marks and goals than last season, averaging 27.5 touches, 4.4 marks, 4.7 tackles and 2.4 free kicks for. He also kicked 11.10, which will hopefully improve in the next few years so he can be the complete player. He also averaged 9.4 contested possessions and 3.4 inside 50s. With two premierships in his career and a win-loss record of 62-8, he’s the luckiest player in the history of the game. His best performance was easily in round 17 against Hawthorn where he picked up 42 disposals, 10 marks and 11 tackles.
5. Paul Chapman
Invincible. One week he’s out with a dodgy hamstring, the next he’s back and as good as ever. The 27-year-old took his game to a new level in 2009 by averaging 26.8 possessions, 6.5 marks, 2.7 tackles, a massive 5.4 inside 50’s, 1.7 marks inside 50, one goal assist and he also kicked 37.17, with a career best six coming in round 18 against the Crows. His other good performances were in round six against the Dees, where he picked up 41 possessions and 12 marks, in the Preliminary final where he picked up 26 possessions, seven marks and kicked five goals, and of course the grand final where he disposed of the ball 26 times, and kicked three match-winners and an extra medal around his neck.
6. Matthew Scarlett
Scarlett still continues to dominate, as well as making his opponents have little impact, even at 30 years-of-age. Despite missing a few games, the full back averaged 18.5 touches, 5.7 marks, 2.9 rebound 50’s and 4.3 one percenters. He hits the target with an incredible 88.2% of his disposals, the second most at Geelong only behind Jeremy Laidler (who played one game).
7. Joel Corey
Corey had another great season in 2009, just not as good as his Carji Greeves medal year last year, but it was still a handy one, where he averaged 28.8 possessions, 9.3 contested possessions, 4.6 marks, five tackles and 4.2 inside 50’s. His two best performances were consecutive weeks, in round 20 when he picked up 38 possessions against Sydney, and the week later when he got 39 touches against the Bulldogs.
8. Andrew Mackie
This guy’s a funny one, he seems young, but he’s actually 25. Maybe it’s because he only cemented his spot in the Geelong line up two years ago, and ever since 2007 he has been on fire. This season, he averaged 21.1 possessions, 6.4 marks, three inside 50’s and 0.9 contested marks. His best game was in round six against the Dees, where he picked up 31 disposals and 10 marks. In that game every Geelong player seemed to play well. Go Dees!
9. Cameron Ling
This veteran continues to impress, and he has red hair! He continues to play well and win a lot of the ball, and at the same time hold opponents to an average day. In 2009, he was in red-hot form, collecting 22.7 possessions, 4.5 marks and 4.8 tackles. But he was more aggravated than normal, giving away a career worst 33 free kicks, and only winning 16. He had some great performances, one of them being his 29 possession and seven tackle performance in round 20 against the Swans. Ling’s biggest letdown was goal kicking, after kicking 28 in 2007 and 15 last year he only managed seven goals in 22 games.
10. Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson had a good year, apart from the injuries. His first half of the season was magnificent, after Round 10 he had already kicked 32 goals, but in his last eight matched of the year he could only manage one a game. He averaged 19.9 possessions for the year, 6.2 marks and 2.4 tackles. He is probably my favourite Geelong player because of his freakish skills. His accuracy was a letdown this year, kicking 40.38 compared to last year’s 53.31. He had some great games, including round 10 against Essendon where he picked up 21 possessions, 11 marks, and kicked six goals (and he didn’t get a touch in the last quarter). He will be remembered for not having a possession in the first half of the grand final, but I think he lifted his game after by winning some influential possessions.

Can the Cats do it again next year, without the influence of Tom Harley on the field? Can Cameron Ling (presumably) lead them to another premiership?



• Corey Enright celebrates winning the 2009 grand final at the MCG. Photo by Sean Garnsworthy. The Slattery Media Group.

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