Doubts raised over Geelong’s ability to contend

GEELONG are reeling at round ten of the 2023 season with Saturday’s twenty-nine-point loss to Fremantle consigning them to a five and five record.

After winning the premiership in 2022, the Cats now sit seventh on the ladder as they look like a shell of that flag-winning side with injuries currently ravaging the line-up.

While there won’t be many pundits writing off the Cats completely given their astonishing record over the last two decades, their form so far has some worrying.

Since 2007, the Cats have only lost more than six games in a home and away season three times with the side failing to win a final in any of those campaigns (2012, 2015 and 2018).

Given the side would only have to lose two more games from their remaining 13 games to go over that benchmark, it’ll be an extraordinary effort if they’re to keep that six-loss marker intact.

With an 11-2 record from here probably needed to both make the top four and keep that record, Kane Cornes, Matthew Lloyd and Nathan Brown discussed where the Cats were at on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

Cornes said, “I’ve been hesitant to write off Geelong.

“I’m still hesitant to do that because they manage the season so well and they’ve got a lot of games left at home.

“But they are losing touch with the top echelon of teams in the game right now.”

Lloyd added, “The thing about it is they lost four games for the whole year.

“At Round 10, they’ve lost five games already.

“They’re probably going to have to win this flag from outside the top four with how they’re travelling.

Brown chipped in, “They’ve got a lot of games to come at home.”

And Lloyd replied, “I doubt they’ll get top four this year.”

The Cats will likely get a reprieve from here with a clash against GWS at home next Saturday awaiting them.

Following that game, they’ll then face the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium and Port Adelaide away which should test where they are at in terms of contention.

– BY LACHLAN GELEIT/ SEN