Gary Buckenara analyses Geelong’s list after the 2019 season
There is always plenty of talk about Geelong’s veterans but list guru Gary Buckenara has loved what he’s seen from the young guns too. Find out which ones he thinks are ready to become A-graders.
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Geelong’s list is ageing but expect the Cats to feature at the pointy end of the season again next year after some smart recruiting and list management.
We know the Cats have superstars — Dangerfield, Selwood, Ablett, Hawkins, they’re all names we’ve loved watching over the years.
But what some might not realise is, list manager Stephen Wells has been planning for the future and developing the next wave of stars for some time.
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Geelong has eight players aged 21 or under who I believe can develop into A or B-grade players in the future, which is a huge number for a club that has been contending for premierships, regularly playing finals and has been very active during almost every trade and free agency period.
The beauty of these players, led by Esava Ratugolea, Jordan Clark, Brandan Parfitt and Jack Henry, is they have been able to come in and have an immediate impact. It’s a real credit to Geelong’s coaching and development staff to fast-track these players to help rejuvenate the playing group while still playing finals and contending for premierships.
These players are the present and the future of the Geelong Football Club.
I’m a big wrap for Ratugolea in particular. He was my big smoky in his draft year and he’s just gone to the next level with development in a full-time AFL environment. His hands are so good, he crashes packs, helps out in the ruck and is a reliable kick.
What Henry has been able to do at both ends of the ground, over the last two seasons, has been impressive. Players who can play at both ends of the ground are worth their weight in gold.
The question is: Can the Cats get these young guns to take the next step while Dangerfield, Ablett, Selwood and Hawkins are still around? They have been stalwarts for this football club but with Ablett and Selwood starting to slow down and their bodies becoming less durable, the clock is ticking.
Geelong has one of the most balanced lists in the competition, with stars and depth across all lines except for one — the ruck. Read on under ‘LIST NEEDS’ as I explain the most puzzling club decision of the free agency and trade period so far.
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The Cats’ chances of winning the premiership in 2020 have been severely dented by Tim Kelly’s departure. It’s a massive blow. He is a genuine A-grader and was by far their best player in the preliminary final as he showcased all his class and tricks with 31 disposals and three goals.
Kelly’s loss could be offset by Sam Menegola, who I rate as an A-grader when he’s up and firing, however, he doesn’t have Kelly’s leg speed.
Getting his body right will be important heading into 2020, while Nakia Cockatoo has the potential, if he gets a run at it, to be a star and that classy and quick ball user off half-back and through the middle.
Parfitt is another one who could become a Kelly type — he’s so composed with ball in hand and has very good skills.
Jack Steven will be a good pick-up if he can get himself right. Geelong is a strong club with great leadership, so I think they will be well-equipped to look after his welfare and get the best out of him. If he gets back to full health and fitness, then he will also help to fill the void left by Kelly given he is ferocious at the ball and has breakaway speed, although he does butcher the ball a bit.
LIST NEEDS
Why didn’t Geelong go all-out for Paddy Ryder? They tried to get Todd Goldstein from North Melbourne, which was probably a long shot, while it was known a gun No.1 ruckman in Ryder was considering his options. I think Ryder is better than Goldstein as a No.1 ruckman. He would have been an ideal fit and the Cats, a team in their premiership window, would have also been an ideal fit for Ryder. I’m shocked. Having a genuine and reliable ruckman is the missing piece in Geelong’s premiership puzzle.
LIST BREAKDOWN
A: Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins
B+: Mitch Duncan, Sam Menegola, Tom Stewart
B: Zach Tuohy, Harry Taylor
B-: Mark Blicavs, Gary Rohan, Jack Steven
C+: Rhys Stanley, Nakia Cockatoo, Jake Kolodjashnij, Jed Bews, Cameron Guthrie, Mark O’Connor, Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Atkins, Josh Jenkins
C: Lachie Henderson, James Parsons, Ryan Abbott, Darcy Fort
C-: Nil
Developing*: Brandan Parfitt, Lachie Fogarty, Esava Ratugolea, Charlie Constable, Quinton Narkle, Gryan Miers, Jack Henry, Jordan Clark
Developing: Zach Guthrie, Sam Simpson, Nathan Kreuger, Jacob Kennerley, Jake Tarca, Oscar Brownless, Ben Jarvis, Blake Schlensog, Stefan Okunbor
Please note: Developing* refers to players aged 21 or under with the talent and potential to become A or B-grade players.
DRAFT STRATEGY
Must draft a ruckman. Unfortunately, this year’s draft isn’t strong for ruckman so they might have to make a sacrifice and use one of their early picks and take a ruckman while he’s there in favour of another player, like a midfielder, they liked.
CRYSTAL BALL
The Cats should be a contender again in 2020 and challenge for top four but the query is over the ageing nature of the list and whether they can stand up for a full season, plus the lack of pace through the midfield.
It’s one thing to play finals but it’s another thing to genuinely challenge for and win a premiership. Can the Cats go all the way in 2020? I’m not convinced, especially if they go into another season without a genuine No.1 ruckman. How quickly can the 21 and under players take the next step? 2020 could be a building season with an eye to 2021.
Originally published as Gary Buckenara analyses Geelong’s list after the 2019 season