Australia reacts to Geelong abomination in AFL finals flop

Footy commentators hammered Geelong as Australia asked uncomfortable questions following the Cats’ horror finals defeat.

Geelong has some tough decisions to make. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

Where to now for Geelong?

That’s the uncomfortable question on everyone’s lips after the Cats suffered an 83-point hiding in Friday night’s preliminary final against Melbourne, who are looking to secure their first premiership in 57 years.

Watch every 2021 Toyota AFL Finals Series match before Grand Final. Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Geelong has opted against rebuilding its list in recent years, holding onto ageing stars in a bid to keep a core group together capable of winning a first grand final since 2011. But it looks like time has finally run out.

The Cats have the oldest list in the league with 12 players over 30 — including the likes of Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins. They’ve gone chips in for a premiership but it hasn’t paid off, and footy pundits are suggesting it’s time for the club to look to the future and accept it will have to bide its time for more silverware.

Footy writer Ashley Browne tweeted: “Geelong’s list management this summer really will be interesting. They’ve been outstanding for so long. But the ‘one step back to take two steps forward’ moment might have arrived. Wonder what their fans think.”

Sports journalist Ben Hyde added: “Time for just a little bit of external influence and new ideas at the club. Too insular and safe. Love the Geelong legends and vibe, but give us a Choco (Mark) Williams or similar in the set-up to shake things up.”

Brad Mangan said: “Some tough calls need to be made on some Geelong players that have been incredible players over there careers.”

Geelong has been at the top of the AFL tree without tasting the ultimate success for a decade. Last season’s grand final loss to Richmond was tough to take and judging by Friday’s thumping — the Cats’ heaviest finals defeat in 52 years — they’ve regressed since then.

Geelong’s future is up in the air. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images).

Footy world piles on

Melbourne dominated from the opening quarter and never relented as captain Max Gawn led the charge with five goals. Geelong had no answers as footy legends piled on.

“I’ve never seen a Geelong side that looked so unsure even when they had the ball in their hands,” Demons legend Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.

Commentating on Channel 7, Wayne Carey said: “They can’t get their game going, because they can’t take a mark or win possession in the back-half. So they’ve just got no control.

“Their whole game is gone. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this Geelong defence so out of sorts.”

Brisbane great Jonathan Brown couldn’t believe how Geelong let Dees gun Christian Petracca run riot.

“I’ve been very surprised by the lack of accountability Geelong have put into him … they’ve been disappointing, the Geelong mids,” Brown told Fox Footy at halftime.

“Christian Petracca is arguably the best player in the competition, the Dustin Martin of this finals series, how are you not putting time and work into him when he floats away from those stoppages?”

Collingwood legend Tony Shaw was scathing of Geelong, saying only one player put in an effort to be proud of.

“There’s only one player in the Geelong team who can hold his head up high — and I mean this,” Shaw told 3AW radio. “It’s only been Patrick Dangerfield trying to carry this group.”

Is it time to rebuild? (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Coach reflects on cruel ending

Coach Chris Scott was understandably devastated after full-time, but wouldn’t bite when asked whether his experienced team had another tilt at the premiership left in it, or if the list needs to be tweaked to match it with the best teams in the competition down the track.

“We’ve fallen short, and it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but our club has over a long time found a way to recover from difficult situations,” Scott said post-match.

“I think we’re in that situation again where we’ve got a choice to make. We can roll over or we can take the time we need to regroup.

“That is one thing I’m really proud of at the Geelong footy club, and it’s been going on since before I got here, and that is we do everything we can to look our players in the eye at the start of every year and say we’re going to give you the best chance.

“I’d be surprised if our response is going to be that we’re not going to give them every chance next year and the year after and the year after.”

Scott said his team was “battered” in the back end of the season and just didn’t have the firepower to match it with a red-hot Demons outfit, who will face either Port Adelaide or the Western Bulldogs in the grand final later this month.

Originally published as Australia reacts to Geelong abomination in AFL finals flop