2025 Pre-Season chat

[Mr Meow]

There's no hate.
I've loved the guy. I once stated that if I could choose someone to kick a goal on the run to save my life then it's him.

But no longer.
He doesn't have the depth anymore. And if the ball is turned over, he is toast running the other way.
And guess what? He's now the guy that turns it over.

I mean this is just making stuff up.

We had 11 players with more turnovers than Duncan in 2024 but only 5 with more disposals; only 3 players with more effective kicks. Do the maths.

Yes he's not as precise or prolific as in his prime, but he remained one of our best ball winners/users in 2024. The issue with Duncan is lack of pace + 1v1 ability on defensive spread. It might not be such an issue if a rapid player like Mullin improves and takes over Tuohy's or Bews' position.

 

[Kobe Gryant]

I mean this is just making stuff up.

We had 11 players with more turnovers than Duncan in 2024 but only 5 with more disposals; only 3 players with more effective kicks. Do the maths.

Yes he's not as precise or prolific as in his prime, but he remained one of our best ball winners/users in 2024. The issue with Duncan is lack of pace + 1v1 ability on defensive spread. It might not be such an issue if a rapid player like Mullin improves and takes over Tuohy's or Bews' position.

We really do need Mullin to come on quickly, whether that be as a small defender or tagging mid, especially with Bews' decline that you mention.

Hopefully he can do it. The tangibles he has are pretty tantalising, just have to hope he can harness that as a fully fledged footballer sooner rather than later.

If he can come on, and Lawson continues his rise, that gives us some pace and class off the half back-line that we haven't had in a long time.

 

[Mr Meow]

We really do need Mullin to come on quickly, whether that be as a small defender or tagging mid, especially with Bews' decline that you mention.

Hopefully he can do it. The tangibles he has are pretty tantalising, just have to hope he can harness that as a fully fledged footballer sooner rather than later.

If he can come on, and Lawson continues his rise, that gives us some pace and class off the half back-line that we haven't had in a long time.

Exactly my thoughts.

Our defensive group has good qualities. However it could do with that no nonsense stopper who has a bit of toe and grunt about him. Then it would help to have a line breaker who can move at pace on both defensive and offensive transition. Especially if Holmes moves more to midfield, which he likely will.

Mullin is a candidate for either role. Humphries could take strides in the defensive side to compliment his obvious strengths.

Otherwise, as much as people will hate me saying it, a player like O'Connor could still have utility. I always thought he may prove more valuable once Tuohy retires but there are still question marks over him.

 

[jim boy]

How do you think the locker room would feel if a player as well liked and respected as Duncan was left stranded in the 290s? What message does that send to potential free agents?

Potential free agents? They would see a club that wants to win and want to be part of it. And as for the locker room, sure they want to celebrate the player, but if it isn't on the field, they will find a way. You are not a player, you are a fan, so the perspective is different. The locker room want to win, they're not busting a gut through the summer and the season, just to so a colleague can rack up a stat, even a beloved colleague they would walk over broken glass for.
Do you think anyone thinks any less of Brenton Sanderson and Steve Hocking because they finished 1 game short of 200 games. Do you think they have any regrets or even care?

 

[Mr Meow]

Potential free agents? They would see a club that wants to win and want to be part of it. And as for the locker room, sure they want to celebrate the player, but if it isn't on the field, they will find a way. You are not a player, you are a fan, so the perspective is different. The locker room want to win, they're not busting a gut through the summer and the season, just to so a colleague can rack up a stat, even a beloved colleague they would walk over broken glass for.
Do you think anyone thinks any less of Brenton Sanderson and Steve Hocking because they finished 1 game short of 200 games. Do you think they have any regrets or even care?

Duncan performed much better in his penultimate season (2024) than Sanderson did in his (2004). Sanderson still played 11 games the next year in a team that had just lost a close prelim to Brisbane (sound familiar?).

The future wasn't ruined for the class of '07-'11.

Geelong have been experts at phasing out and retaining the right amount of active senior players each season for around 20 years.

 

[Oisin_the_Goat]

110 %. What he did in the back end of the year shows why many of us were calling for him to stay in from round 3.
If he keeps that level up I'd be staggered if he ever plays vfl for us again (barring injury). Some of the over 30s (not danger/stew/jez obviously) plus fringe guys like Bowes should and will get left out long before mannagh ever does.

Like Miers , he's a pretty unique player tbh. Strange profile of characteristics. In a good way !