Gary Buckenara analyses the Geelong list at the end of the 2021 season

The Cats have continued to defy the odds though may have finally been backed into a corner they can’t trade their way out of. Do they have the depth to continue their insane run?

Gary Buckenara analyses the Cats' list.

Geelong’s consistency as a club can’t be questioned.

For the best part of two decades, they have given their members and supporters real value for money in terms of contesting finals.

But the questions will be asked in time if this era was wasted when history looks back on the Cats’ premiership return from finals – and preliminary finals – appearances.

Geelong was very consistent in 2021 and in a very hard year due to the Covid issues and uncertainty from week to week, it was the experience and quality of the group that often shone through.

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Joel Selwood is one of the Cats’ many ageing warriors. Picture: Getty Images

I respect the Geelong Football Club as they have been well led by former chief executive Brian Cook, their board has been stable for a long time, the list management and recruiting has been excellent and they have had a stable and consistent coaching panel over many years.

Memo to Collingwood and Carlton: this is what is needed at your clubs.

This is a blueprint for consistency and for standards and culture to blossom at club-land and Geelong have been one of the best-run clubs for many years now and it is the reason why they have been a contender every year for the last 20 years or so.

But the big loss to Melbourne in the preliminary final highlighted a definite lack of run off half-back and through the midfield, so this is an area of concern for the Cats moving forward.

With an ageing list profile, this is going to pose a few problems in how to rectify this in the short-term.

There is enough talent on the list to be up around the mark again in 2022 but whether this group can win a flag without more run and speed in the line-up, I now have my doubts.

The Cats are set to lose key speedster Jordan Clark. Picture: Michael Klein

LIST NEEDS

The Cats have such a strong group with 25 A and B-ranked players, so it is easy to see why this club has continued to play finals through the 2000s, 2010s and into the 2020s.

Clever list management and recruiting has been the key to this.

But time is marching on for the group and they really have not won enough silverware given the talent on the list.

As retirements start to hit, the biggest issue I see is the lack of developing players coming through. So they need to start looking at keeping draft picks and start to invest in the draft for a few years.

Adding more pace to the midfield should be a focus for 2022.

Quinton Narkle can provide a lot of x-factor in the middle for the Cats. Picture: Michael Klein

TRADE TARGETS

Given the age of their list, the Cats can’t afford to ignore the draft by giving away picks, so I would be surprised if they are a big player again during the trade period.

But if there is a player that has speed and endurance available, they would have to consider having a discussion with them.

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UNTOUCHABLES

All their A, B and developing players, but I expect there will be minimal changes to the list – unless there are retirements.

TRADE BAIT

Do the Cats need to offload any of their A or B-ranked players to get an earlier draft pick given the big loss in the preliminary final, which exposed a definite lack of leg speed?

They could look to jettison a player or two to bolster their draft hand and bring in some young talent with midfield speed and endurance.

Geelong forward Jeremy Cameron. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

WHAT THE RATINGS MEAN

List management is one of the most important jobs at an AFL club.

Poor decisions can be catastrophic — and Collingwood proved that last year.

Far too many clubs can often hold an overly-optimistic view when ranking their own lists and this can lead to years of mediocrity and has Carlton done this recently?

When clubs are rating their lists, they should rank players as: A+, A, B+, B, C+, C and Development.

In this list analysis, I have just done A, B, C and two tiers of development (“future AB players” and “need more time”) because with the younger players it is important to see who is coming through and those that need more time.

The important area for clubs to look at is how many A and B ranked players they have as well as future consistent AB players.

These rankings are my opinions, but they should give supporters a reasonable snapshot as to where their playing list sits now — and how they might look in a few years’ time.

Players 22 and over

A-grade: Elite players on any AFL list

B: Top 10-18 player on most lists

C: An 19-30 player on a list

Developing: Aged 21 or under

Future AB players: These are players that will hopefully develop into an A or B ranked player once they turn 22. They might be playing to this level now, but it takes sustained years.

Need more time: These players would be a player recently drafted that is still developing and therefore will need more time to see if he is likely to develop into an A or B grade player.

Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

RATING THE LIST

A-grade: Zach Tuohy, Jeremy Cameron, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan, Tom Hawkins, Sam Menegola, Cameron Guthrie, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart.

B-grade: Rhys Stanley, Brandan Parfitt, Shaun Higgins, Isaac Smith, Jake Kolodjashnij, Quinton Narkle, Gary Rohan, Jed Bews, Lachie Henderson, Tom Atkins, Gryan Miers, Jack Henry, Luke Dahlhaus, Mark O’Connor, Brad Close, Mark Blicavs.

C-grade: Esava Ratugolea, Darcy Fort, Sam Simpson, Zach Guthrie, Stefan Okunbor.

DEVELOPING

Future AB players: Jordan Clark, Cooper Stephens, Charlie Constable.

Need more time: Max Holmes, Nathan Kreuger, Sam De Koning, Oscar Brownless, Nick Stevens, Francis Evans, Shannon Neale, Paul Tsapatolis.

Retired/delisted: Josh Jenkins (retired), Ben Jarvis (delisted), Cam Taheny (delisted).

LIST BREAKDOWN

A Grade: 9

B Grade: 16

C Grade: 5

DEVELOPING

Future AB: 3

Need more time: 8

Charlie Constable has been dominant in the VFL yet neglected by the Cats. Picture: AAP Image

CRYSTAL BALL

Geelong’s top-end talent is among the best in the league but the concern is the depth of the younger talent coming through.

Have the Cats achieved what they should have with such a talented list for the best part of two decades now?

This group needs to add another flag to the cabinet at Kardinia Park in the next couple of years, otherwise the industry and history will judge it harshly as having underachieved for premierships won with the talent it has had.

Geelong’s consistency from year to year, since the early 2000s, has been incredibly good and their supporters should feel proud of their efforts even though it has not translated into winning as many flags as they probably should have done.

I still think Geelong will be knocking on the door again in 2022 and should definitely be a top-eight team, if not contending for a top-four position at season’s end.

Originally published as Gary Buckenara analyses the Geelong list at the end of the 2021 season