Club defensive programs are well short of elite clubs hence our losses this season have been heavier than last. We are like Geelong in Gf's in the 1990's get ting to the big dance and falling horribly short.
It may be finals or bust for us this season and there may be some truth in that but until our defensive structure stands up and is at a level to make us competitive and keep us in games when the game is played on the opposition terms the parallel with Geelong's failures in the 90's.
Personally I think we will play finals this year but lamentably results such as yesterday's may be the norm until the side develops further and some players of quality develop or are brought to the club by other means.
Geelong was a bit stiff in the 90's.
Probably can include '89 with that too.
'89. Played one the best teams ever assembled.
'92. Played a WA state team.
'94. Played a WA state team.
'95. Played the Cheating Scum who was found to be cheating. AGAIN!
Great team but a bit unlucky as well IMO.
Unlucky in 89 but Hawthorn finished with 14 fit men despite Gazza's heroics.
In 92 they were five goals up just before half time and lost by 5 goals choke choke choke.
Played their GF in 94 denying Nought and Carey their rightful place and lost by 80 points.
In 1995 downhill skied the Dogs and us in the finals by about 180 points combined and by quarter time had already played their hand and were nowhere. Choke choke choke.
That's us if we don't get our defensive structures right. Attacking we are great when the game is on others terms we fold like a pack of cards. Defence wins flags look at West Coast in that era, Carlton, Sydney, Geelong, Collingwood more recently. We are for the most part competitive now, we need to up the ante and ensure we stay there and forge on making our defensive structures more solid, accountable and more difficult to penetrate.