All signs pointed to a rapid decline but Geelong has defied the odds to launch one final assault on AFL Premiership glory. The Marshalltown takes a closer look.

This was supposed to be a down year. This was supposed to be the beginning of the end for the Geelong Football Club. All the signs pointed to the terminal decline of one of the greatest teams of the modern era. In an age of salary caps and the draft, the cyclical nature of AFL football dictated that Geelong was finished as a premiership contender.

The Geelong Football Club is a unique organisation within the Australian sporting landscape. The second oldest club in Australia (founded in 1859), it’s based in a small, quiet town of 160,000 far from the lights and excitement of Melbourne. Every other club in the AFL is based in a capital or major city. There isn’t a whole lot to do in Geelong except go surfing and watch the Cats play at their home ground, Kardinia Park. Yet when the footy club is playing well, the city of Geelong truly comes alive. Geelong really does ebb and flow according to the success of their local heroes.

Over the years Geelong has produced many excellent players yet consistently found ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. After five Grand Final appearances that resulted in heartbreak, the Cats finally ended a 44-year drought in 2007 to claim its seventh Premiership Cup, sparking spontaneous mass hysteria in Moorabool Street that rivalled an FA Cup or Superbowl celebration. 30,000 people packed Kardinia Park to celebrate with the team. In 2008 Geelong steamrolled the competition in the regular season before having an off day in the Grand Final and had the Premiership snatched from them by a crafty Hawthorn side. To their credit the Geelong players absorbed the hurt of 2008 and rebounded to claim the 2009 flag in one of the most gruelling and intense finals against St. Kilda.

Still, the wheel can turn very quickly and in September 2010 it seemed clear that Geelong’s time at the top was over- a Preliminary final drubbing at the hands of eventual premier Collingwood was quickly followed by the defection of favourite son Gary Ablett, the league’s best player, to a new, cashed up Gold Coast franchise. Premiership coach Mark Thompson, the man who had devised a game plan of rapid ball movement that left opponents chasing shadows walked out on the club citing “burn out.” Incidentally, Thompson had a massive falling out with Ablett during 2010 to the point that the pair were no longer on speaking terms by the end of the season. Thompson became increasingly frustrated by Ablett’s reluctance to resign with the club while Ablett became disenfranchised with Thompson’s plan to play him more in the forward line which could have possibly cost Gary a second Brownlow Medal, the highest individual honour in the game. Many have since pondered whether Ablett, a local boy and son of a club legend, may have chosen to stay with the Cats had he known Thompson was leaving. Regardless, the sun was setting on a golden four year reign that saw the Cats play a frenetic, kamikaze brand of football as they marched to two Premierships and a staggering 83 wins from 100 matches.

The experts were unanimous: Geelong had lost their best player, their coach had quit, the players were too old, too slow and their game plan blown apart by a younger and hungrier Collingwood side that attacked the football with a fanaticism that hadn’t been seen since the Crusades. It had been a grand run but now the curtain was closing.

Fast-forward to June 2011 and Geelong sit a top the ladder undefeated after 11 rounds. Rookie coach Chris Scott has rejuvenated a team that looked to be on its last legs nine months ago by tweaking the game plan, promoting young talent and inspiring the old warriors to steel themselves for one last shot at ultimate glory.

Thompson’s acrimonious departure has been a blessing in disguise. After 10 years at the helm, old heads had grown tired of hearing his message. The decision to appoint an outsider in Chris Scott was seen as a gamble by many but has reaped big dividends. Old champions that have won it all before and could be forgiven for resting on their laurels have been invigorated by Scott’s fresh voice.

If there was any lingering doubt as to whether Geelong still had the motivation to mount another premiership assault, Saturday night’s comeback victory over their bitter rival Hawthorn should put it to rest.

If you’ve never watched a game of Australian Rules football in your life, a Geelong/Hawthorn clash is your starting point. An encounter between these two clubs encapsulates everything great about Australia’s native game; the skill, the aggression, the bravery and the intense pressure. Both these teams despise each other and their styles of play couldn’t be more different.

Historically Geelong has always played with an attacking flair and verve. According to their club song it’s not enough just to win, it’s about playing the game “the way it should be played.” Conversely Hawthorn has traditionally played what they proudly call “Unsociable or Commando” football which is all about relentless aggression at the man and the ball and not being afraid to occasionally bend the rules. Pitted against each other, these two teams are captivating to watch as neither side is willing to concede ground.

Since Hawthorn upstaged the Cats to win the 2008 Premiership, contests between these two teams have risen to another level of intensity. Geelong star Paul Chapman famously pledged after that devastating loss that he would never lose to Hawthorn again. The two teams have squared off six times since that fateful day and Chapman has been true to his word. The Cats have managed to win each gruelling encounter. Saturday night’s game would prove no different as the Cats ultimately prevailed by less than a goal in what was another classic confrontation.

As someone who’s followed Geelong his whole life, the ultimate compliment I can give this Geelong team is that they’re unlike any other team to emerge from Kardinia Park. Sure, they play an exciting and attacking brand of football; the people of Geelong would expect no less, but what sets this team apart from the Geelong teams of yesteryear is their heart and force of will.  Geelong teams from the 80s and 90s were renowned for their skilful play but had a nasty habit of cracking under pressure as soon as the going got tough. However this modern incarnation of the G.F.C has a steely resolve and confidence that borders on arrogance. Put simply, they refuse to lose. Time and again this team digs itself out of difficult situations that would overwhelm mere mortals.

Players like Paul Chapman and Joel Selwood find an extra gear when it’s needed most and drag their team over the line.  Paul Chapman is one of those rare athletes that lifts his game to another level when the stakes are high (Are you watching LeBron?). On Saturday night Joel Selwood, a 22 year-old wrecking ball that shows no fear despite his young age, had one of the worst games of his brilliant young career. Hawthorn had managed to nullify his presence in the midfield for three quarters yet in the clutch Selwood was immense setting up Geelong’s three goals that got the Cats over the line.  Geelong surging to victory from seemingly impossible deficits have become so common place over the last few years that it’s almost expected that they will recover no matter how deep the hole they’re in. Regardless of your feelings towards the Geelong Football Club, you cannot help but admire such self-belief and drive to win. It’s the hallmark of a champion team.

In all likelihood this will be Geelong’s last shot at another premiership. Although Geelong has some exciting rookies coming through and an incredible track record of finding good players with late draft picks, you don’t replace champions overnight. Time catches up with everyone, even the best. Soon names like Scarlett, Corey, Ling, Ottens and Enright will pass on to legend. But not yet.

For now Geelong must steel itself for one final charge. The finals are still three months away and there are still many variables but at this stage it seems likely that the Cats will meet a rampant Collingwood in the Grand Final. Collingwood is crushing teams with ease and are rightly the premiership favourites, although their one loss this season came at the hands of Geelong, who once again hauled itself off the canvas and came from behind to win in a tight match.

Collingwood has the look of a young George Foreman- a brutal, dominating powerhouse that destroys opponents with one swing of its mighty fist. To win its third premiership in five years Geelong will need to become Muhammad Ali- the wily veteran that has seen it all before and has an iron will that refuses to surrender. If Geelong does manage to win, it will need to grind down the Magpies and outlast them over 15 brutal rounds.  You would not begrudge either side victory and it would be foolish to discount Hawthorn, although injuries might derail their campaign. If Geelong can win on that last day in September it would be the fairy tale ending to what has been a glorious five year reign. September cannot arrive soon enough.