For very many years - Geelong were very Collingwood-like when it came to finals -- BULLET IN BOARD

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Date Posted: 18:19 09/09/24 Mon
Author: Two-Bob Man
Author Host/IP: NoHost / 110.144.28.91
Subject: For very many years - Geelong were very Collingwood-like when it came to finals
In reply to: VictoryPark 's message, "Don't underestimate the lifestyle down that way too." on 16:36 09/09/24 Mon

While the Cats may not have reached many Grand Finals, they did get to numerous finals series but would eventually turn up without any silverware.

Their success came on the back of a confluence of good players built around the likes of Selwood, Ablett, Hawkins, Harley, Ling, Scarlett and co.

But when everyone on this board laments the Pies' disatrous historical record, many people forget that the Cats had to wait from 1963 until 2007 to finally taste success.

Between that period, they were runner up (ie. lost Grand Finals) 5 times including 4 in a relatively short time-frame - 1989, 1992, 1994 and 1995.

And they were Finalists many more times than this.

While they have been hugely successful since 2007 (4 flags, 2 runners up and finalists in 16 seasons to 2024) had we been talking the Pies, we would be lamenting that the "return" we received in terms of Flags for 16 finals appearances would indicate some level of "failure" to capitalise.

I keep hearing this when we assess our "Grand Final Loss Record" - which is as frustrating to me as it would be to most Collingwood supporters.

What people also forget about Geelong is that - for several years - they have been the ONLY Victorian-based club to be afforded a genuine home-ground advantage.

The fact that many of their "away" games are played at the largely "neutral" venues such as the MCG or Marvel stadium gifts them an incredible advantage in amassing the require W/L ration to allow them passage into the Finals for a start.

Look - their player retention and player attraction record is formidable. There is no question about that.

But, if anything, the national expansion of the game has made even this aspect of their fortuitous geographical situation a bit of a bonus for players.

Living in "sleepy hollow" is not for everyone. But for guys who are "country boys" at heart and who wouldn't trade the coastal life for living in the big smoke, it is a significant attraction.

And I would say most of the footballers recruited from that area are THAT sort of guy.

And on that count, Geelong have been able to "cherry-pick" the best talent to attract there.

While coastal prices have increased significantly over the last few years, the property your money could buy outside of the Melbourne metro area, and particularly down in Regional Geelong way, was far superior down there.

And, even though distances from home to footy club may have been greater, there was little traffic gridlock to contend with so that travel times would have been comparable despite the distances.

Collingwood has been attractive to several players in the past - particularly those who look at the "bright lights and celebrity" that goes with being a recognisable public commodity. The lure of playing in front of 10s of thousands of people (guaranteed) every round appeals to some.

But even that is a double-edged sword....no player is scrutinised (either publicly OR privately) like Collingwood players are.

That, in itself, may be a negative for some players.

TBM

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Replies:

Geelong is a dump as is Torquay -- Thommo, 18:22 09/09/24 Mon
- Agreed its a dump but clearly it isn't a myth. It's part of the -- Bux I am your Father, 18:51 09/09/24 Mon
  - Tom Morris said that Geelong categorially has beaten the Hawks and Pies in Sniff race. (NT) -- Annabelle, 18:56 09/09/24 Mon
  - I moved there too 10 years ago -- BN, 20:29 09/09/24 Mon
- That may be true Thommo -- Two-Bob Man, 21:45 09/09/24 Mon
  - Definitely plays a part TBM, but if they were down the bottom without recent flags -- Thommo, 22:13 09/09/24 Mon
    - Yep - fair call - but it then highlights that the AFL "equalisation" is flawed -- Two-Bob Man, 02:12 10/09/24 Tue

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