Geelong has certainly been a long way short of the sort of standardit set last year, or for that matter most of the four before that.But here we are in June, and the Cats are in the eight, have somekey players set to return from injury, and if they defeat Carltontonight at Etihad Stadium, turn for home with a 7-4 scoreline. While much of the focus this week has been on its troubledopponent, which has lost three of its past four games and has ahorror draw ahead, tonight seems not a lot less important forGeelong, as much in terms of perception as ladder position. That's important enough, as the Cats are almost certain to betipped out of the eight by St Kilda should they lose. But the gameagainst Carlton could also go some way towards answering just whatsort of Geelong we're dealing with this season.
Are the Cats, as Age columnist Robert Walls contended on these pages a fortnight ago, aside in decline? Or instead, leading into its mid-season break nextweek, one which has stayed afloat despite injuries and some lessthan sparkling form, and has enormous scope for improvement overrounds 12 to 23? Isolate the round-seven thrashing at the hands of Adelaide a monthago and the shock loss to North Melbourne in round three, and you'dseemingly have the proof to back up the ''on the slide'' assertion. Then recall the epic comeback win over Hawthorn on Easter Mondayand you at least pause for consideration. In part, Geelong is a victim of its own lofty standards, set duringa stellar past five years. Its past two wins are good examples.
A fortnight ago, the Cats beatthe Western Bulldogs by 20 points, with the Dogs as competitive asthey had been all season. Geelong was seriously challenged and at one stage looked set to beoverrun, but steadied at the critical moment. Last week, against the novices from Greater Western Sydney, theCats, incredibly, were only level at half-time. A lesser side's eventual 11-goal win might have been portrayed as apower-packed second half, likewise the previous victory a testimonyto mental strength. But when you've had to work as hard as thesceptics have with Geelong to find chinks in the armour, the glasstends to be half-empty rather than full. Hot Filling Machine
Statistics show a fall in most of the important categories. TheCats' top-three ranking status on most of the differentials lastyear has fallen to lots of sevenths and eighths. The most alarming fall has been for contested ball, where third hasbecome 15th, while Geelong is also averaging about 20 points less agame. But on an individual level, at least, Mathew Stokes aside, there'snot many Cats turning in a lot worse numbers than last year,certainly not five of the top six in last year's best and fairest -Corey Enright, Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and JoelSelwood. Juice Filling Machine Manufacturer
If that indicates the struggle of a system rather than its parts,perhaps the key statistic for Geelong might be the seven debutantsit has been forced to field so far in 2012, more than any sideother than the Giants. That gives you some idea how deep injuries have bitten the Geelonglist. But so do the ''ins'' for tonight of Enright, Corey, Tom Hawkins,Steven Motlop and David Wojcinski give an idea of just how big ascope for improvement there is in Geelong. These players know the system like the back of their hand. Cans Filling Machine Manufacturer
And ifthey and their team click this evening, Geelong pauses formid-season breath knowing there may still be a bit of life left inthe old Cat yet.
Are the Cats, as Age columnist Robert Walls contended on these pages a fortnight ago, aside in decline? Or instead, leading into its mid-season break nextweek, one which has stayed afloat despite injuries and some lessthan sparkling form, and has enormous scope for improvement overrounds 12 to 23? Isolate the round-seven thrashing at the hands of Adelaide a monthago and the shock loss to North Melbourne in round three, and you'dseemingly have the proof to back up the ''on the slide'' assertion. Then recall the epic comeback win over Hawthorn on Easter Mondayand you at least pause for consideration. In part, Geelong is a victim of its own lofty standards, set duringa stellar past five years. Its past two wins are good examples.
A fortnight ago, the Cats beatthe Western Bulldogs by 20 points, with the Dogs as competitive asthey had been all season. Geelong was seriously challenged and at one stage looked set to beoverrun, but steadied at the critical moment. Last week, against the novices from Greater Western Sydney, theCats, incredibly, were only level at half-time. A lesser side's eventual 11-goal win might have been portrayed as apower-packed second half, likewise the previous victory a testimonyto mental strength. But when you've had to work as hard as thesceptics have with Geelong to find chinks in the armour, the glasstends to be half-empty rather than full. Hot Filling Machine
Statistics show a fall in most of the important categories. TheCats' top-three ranking status on most of the differentials lastyear has fallen to lots of sevenths and eighths. The most alarming fall has been for contested ball, where third hasbecome 15th, while Geelong is also averaging about 20 points less agame. But on an individual level, at least, Mathew Stokes aside, there'snot many Cats turning in a lot worse numbers than last year,certainly not five of the top six in last year's best and fairest -Corey Enright, Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly and JoelSelwood. Juice Filling Machine Manufacturer
If that indicates the struggle of a system rather than its parts,perhaps the key statistic for Geelong might be the seven debutantsit has been forced to field so far in 2012, more than any sideother than the Giants. That gives you some idea how deep injuries have bitten the Geelonglist. But so do the ''ins'' for tonight of Enright, Corey, Tom Hawkins,Steven Motlop and David Wojcinski give an idea of just how big ascope for improvement there is in Geelong. These players know the system like the back of their hand. Cans Filling Machine Manufacturer
And ifthey and their team click this evening, Geelong pauses formid-season breath knowing there may still be a bit of life left inthe old Cat yet.