Footy Tragic

The Team:

Geelong have been premiers two of the past three years, and in 2010 will certainly be pushing hard again to make it to the last day in September. Not only are Geelong a great team on the field for the football skills, but are also the leading team for Dream Team, giving them an extra special place in our hearts. Their game plan revolves around over-possessing the ball through the corridor in an almost keepings-off kind of way. Due to this method of play, many of their elite midfielders finish games with huge dream team scores. It is not uncommon for at least 10 players from the side scoring over 100 points in a game. In short, Geelong players are fantastic choices for your dream team - the only catch is that they don’t come cheap, however they are certainly worth every cent you pay!

Who’s Hot?:

Joel Selwood ($453,400): Has bulked up even further, inferring he could be destined to take his game to yet another level in 2010. In only his fourth season, there is every likelihood that he will get better – get on early!

James Podsiadly ($77,800): The mature aged recruit is looking great on the track and has had a senior spot open up for him with the injury to Mitch Brown. He is fitting in very well, looking very good in all of the drills.

Marcus Drum ($209,500): Sounds like the change of scenery has really helped him mentally as he is ticking all the boxes this pre-season. With Harley’s retirement, there is an opening in the team for him if he works hard enough.

Tom Hawkins ($296,500): Is looking very fit and powerful – seems to have finally found the right combination of the two (in seasons past he has always been too much one way or another). He is training at CHF and in the ruck, therefore the potential is high if he can finally deliver on the hype.

Mitch Duncan ($89,500): The first year player is really impressing with his work-rate and delivery of the ball. Whilst it would be very hard to break into Geelong’s lineup, some players and coaches would not be too surprised if he were to play a few games this year.

Who’s Not?:

Steve Johnson: The hip injury that cruelled the second half of his 2009 campaign is still effecting him. He has been training on and off since Christmas, however his best-afield in the Geelong intraclub may be suggesting he is better than has been let on.

Matthew Stokes: Has been suspended by the club until at least round 8 due to drug trafficking charges. If he is found guilty, more charges may be laid. A shame as he would have been quite a bargain in 2010.

Mitch Brown: Going under the knife on his troublesome leg and will sit out the rest of the pre-season. He has been moved to the long term injury list, meaning he won’t be available until at least round 8.

Brad Ottens: Nearly lost his hand in a boating incident, however is training well despite the set back. Word is that his knee is now 100% – still, it is pretty hard to believe though!

The Bargain:

Josh Hunt ($164,100): Hunt required a full knee reconstruction after rupturing his ACL in the NAB cup final of 2009. Due to the injury, he missed the full season and is hence at a very tempting starting price. Hunt has never previously been a player to consider in Dream Team due to his average of around 65-odd points a game – certainly not enough to win you many DT games. However, due to his very low 2010 price, 65 points a game would definitely be welcomed (players who average 65 would be priced around $250,000), especially if he is being played as your 7^th defender, a player whom you expect to be upgrading later. The benefit behind playing Hunt as your 7^th defender ahead of a player such as Brad Sheppard is that you know that Hunt is likely to play 22 games and score you 60 – 70 points every week (unlike rookies whose positions in their teams are far from guaranteed). You know he will reach around $250,000 and you can then trade him out for someone of much higher value. He will still have to win his place in the team back, but I can’t see this being an issue – Bartel and Kelly (who played his role for parts of 2009) will move back to permanent midfielders, allowing for Hunt’s return.

The Kid:

James Podsiadly ($77,800): At 28 years old, Pods was a little hard to put into the ‘kid’ category, but in his first AFL season (in a while…), I will allow him to count. Also, he is the only ‘kid’ likely to play many games for Geelong. Podsiadly has been the best forward in the VFL competition for a number of years, four times being named in the VFL team of the year. In 2009, he booted 68 goals for Geelong’s VFL side whilst playing as a player/coach. It is worth noting at this point that rookie contracts are not given out to players willy-nilly, just so that a team can carry as many players as possible – Geelong would have selected Pods with a role in mind – at 28, he does not need to develop in the VFL and really only has a few years left, so it is obviously short-term gain which they recruited him for. So far this pre-season he has impressed so much that he has had Bomber Thompson re-thinking his 2010 forward structure, just to accommodate him. They have played three talls before, and I think it could work – watch his pre-season, and if the structure works, he is a lock. Also, with Mitch Brown being moved to the long term injury list, there is room in the senior squad for a rookie – currently Pods is odds-on favorite.

The Premium:

Gary Ablett Jnr ($522,000): As I have struggled to choose a premium for some other clubs, Geelong was just as hard, but for a different reason – they have way to many to choose from – Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood and Enright could all be classed as premiums. However, I’m going with the most premium of the lot and arguably the best player in the AFL – Gary Ablett. Ablett’s pre-season’s are pretty low-key – he works himself really hard, but unlike many other players in February, he doesn’t talk himself up, nor claim to have become a new person – he is a hard worker and mentally tough and that is why he comes out in round one of every season better than he was the year before. Even though I think it is close to impossible for the good man to improve on what was a brilliant season of football in 2009, culminating in the Brownlow medal … He is only 25, so still in the height of his powers – even if he doesn’t improve on 2009, I don’t think there would be too many disappointed people if he simply matched his output. There is little doubt that this will happen – he has trained as well as ever and still has a strong team behind him, pushing for one more shot at glory before they likely begin their descent back down the ladder.

The Smokey:

Marcus Drum ($209,500): Drum asked to leave his former team, the Fremantle Dockers at the end of the 2009 season and was subsequently traded to Geelong. His timing couldn’t have been better as not long after his arrival, Geelong skipper Tom Harley hung up his boots. Harley was a mid-sized defender, capable of playing on either talls or smalls and zoning off, intercepting opposition forays into their attack. Drum plays a very similar role, and hence with some hard work and dedication he has the capability of breaking into Geelong’s best 22. Drum was initially recruited by Freo as a first round pick – he was a ball-getting defender with a great ability to read the play – all very similar attributes to Geelong’s Harley. He has so far had a strong pre-season and is currently looking likely to secure the opening in Geelong’s defense. I still want to watch him in some games before I make my decision on him, but my current thought is that he could be a great price pick for the 2010 season.