When you’re the reigning Premier, it’s easy to live with rose-coloured glasses on and continue to bask in the Premiership Hangover resulting in dodgy tattoos, and losing a friend on the top of a Vegas hotel … but that’s for another time. Most people don’t like the Cats and I know you like us supporters even less, so I’m going to enjoy being able to embrace my bias in this article for the one time this year. Yes, the Cats are the reigning Premiers and I’m bloody chuffed with what they achieved in 2022, but I’m quite bullish on what we can do again in 2023.
When I asked our writers what they were loving about their teams heading into the 2023 season, a lightbulb went off in my head… I should probably see a doctor about that.
Incredibly, at the same time the lightbulb went off, I had an idea. These blokes are forever spruiking their own teams to me. I thought, well, if I have to hear why your boys are going to be so good, so does everyone else! And so, Jimmy Day went away and penned his thoughts on what he loving about his Cats, heading into the 2023 season.
Experience Counts!
A lot has been made in recent seasons about the age demographic of the Cats team. While many would suggest the Cats players are best served on the lawn bowls green, it was some of their seasoned veterans who led the charge in 2022. I think this serves the Cats well again in 2023 … however, it is the added games the club got into the younger players that is the really encouraging thing.
With the likes of Brad Close, Tyson Stengle, Gryan Miers, Zach Guthrie, Tom Atkins, Jack Henry, and Sam de Koning now premiership players and the development of top-ranked wingman, Max Holmes, and others in the squad, the big game experience will set this side up to continue to succeed in big moments, something we have struggled with in recent seasons. It may just silence a few voices who are eagerly awaiting the downfall of the team..
New Faces
Much was reported about the Cats’ trade period. They have brought in some high-quality young talent that will complement the players already on the list, and will force some seasoned players to earn their spot more regularly, rather than just get picked by name.
We’re all aware of the Ned Kelly-esque daylight robbery of the trade period – we gave up a future third for Jack Bowes and Jhye Clark. Plus, adding in Ollie Henry, Tanner Bruhn and, in my opinion, the biggest coup in Oisin Mullin, the Cats have brought in talented youngsters ready to create their own success and legacies at the greatest team of all.
Not to mention the plethora of young players already on the list – some of which have had a taste (Ollie Dempsey, Sam Simpson, and Mitch Knevitt in particular) and some highly-rated players yet to debut (James Willis, the aforementioned Clark, Cooper Whyte, Flynn Kroeger, and the exciting Toby Conway), the Cats have the ability to continue to transition their list while maintaining the standards they have held for much of the last two decades.
Motivation
Often when teams win a flag, the question of hunger is inevitably raised. Teams who have been close, but haven’t tasted the ultimate success have a vociferous appetite towards the contest. Those that are well-fed (reigning Premiers) typically are a bit more sluggish in the aftermath and the follow up. I don’t expect that with this team.
With the aforementioned new additions to the side, and players like Max Holmes and Sam Menegola who missed out in 2022, I expect the standards to not just remain the same, but to go even higher in terms of what is to come. Moreso is the continued pursuit of greatness.
There has been many a chat about which team has the best dynasty of the last 20 years. The biggest challenge for the Cats has been the lack of back-to-back flags. The Geelong region may be called Sleepy Hollow but you can be assured that the criticism stings and they want to claim their spot at the front of the queue as the best team since 2000. Adding a fifth flag (and going back-to-back) in 2023 goes a long way to solidifying their claim as the standalone best side since 2000 and might silence a few nuffies.
A New Legacy
With the Greatest Cat of All having hung up his boots, following ducking for the fourth time in his career (all Premiership Medals), the Cats are looking for a new skipper to steer the ship in 2023. The last three captains have all tasted the ultimate success and you can be sure that whoever is charged with leading this side going forward, will have the fire burning to join that list.
As the playing group continues to transition and more new blood dons the famous and esteemed hoops down the highway, there will a be thirst for opportunities to prove themselves and to create a new Geelong legacy.
Expansion
If you know a Geelong supporter, you’ll have heard us bemoan about ‘home’ finals. Now, I know that people use the home state argument. If that was the case, GWS would be playing theirs at the SCG. So, let’s just shelve that and I’m not trying to have a whinge here, either. With the new grandstand set to be completed towards the middle of this new year, the crowd capacity is set to grow. And while a case could be made for home finals, I’m more excited to see more of the ‘big’ Melbourne clubs make the trip down the highway to a proper stadium now, not just a local club ground as many refer to it as.
On top of that, as the Cats continue to defy father time and equalisation, I’m looking forward to the expansion and growth of our membership base and the community impact we will have – as emphasised through all our former skipper (that’s hard to write) Joel Selwood modelled on Grand Final Day.
And while we’re at it, I’m excited for there to be another pair of brothers at the Cats at the conclusion of 2023 … with contract talks on hold, I’m hopeful the Cats can lure Tom de Koning to don the hoops with his brother.
I know many love to hate us, and I embrace that. And I love the fact the club have come out and said over the pre-season they intend to remain the hunters and keep pushing. I say bring on season 2023, the unfurling of our 10th flag, and another year of the Cats proving everyone wrong and not sliding down the ladder.
