2015 was hard to stomach but 2016 will be an exciting year.

Right now it’s difficult not to feel disappointed. For the past nine seasons, week one of the finals meant waking up early to secure finals tickets. Sadly this year is over and it’s a bitter pill to swallow.

Some have labelled Geelong’s season the end of an era. However you describe it, it’s been a dramatic fall from grace. Last year we finished the home and away season top-3, this year we’ve missed the finals finishing 10th.

Then there’s that hollow feeling farewelling premiership heroes Steve Johnson, James Kelly and Mathew Stokes. It’s not pleasant but according to the Cats hierarchy it had to be done.

Although it’s not all doom and gloom and if we have a successful off-season recruiting we’ll once again be a threat in 2016 and here’s why:

Trade Period this year (October 9th -22nd) will almost certainly be the busiest the AFL’s ever seen. Geelong will be a big player and it needs to be.

As we’ve witnessed this year the Cats playing list has its shortcomings. This season Geelong ranked mid-range for all of the key stats besides marks (2nd) and ranked second worst in the competition for hit-outs and worst for clearances.

The clearance stats don’t lie. Geelong is ranked 18th in the league and there’s daylight between Captain Joel Selwood and the rest of the Cats midfielders.

CLEARANCES 2015:

Joel Selwood 137
Josh Caddy 96
Cam Guthrie 80
Mark Blicavs 74
Steven Motlop 35

This is why it’s so important that we land Patrick Dangerfield. The 25-year-old from Moggs Creek is a contested ball king, ranked 8th in the entire competition for clearances.

Dangerfield would give Selwood some much-needed relief. So too would Joel’s brother, Scott. The West Coast Eagle is a tough, inside midfielder who would add plenty of grunt. And even our beloved skipper admits he’s doing everything he can to convince his little brother to come to the Cattery.

Geelong also needs to be more potent in attack where the Cats are ranked 9th in Points For. Tom Hawkins is the leading goal-kicker booting 46 goals from his 19 matches. Steve Johnson is ranked second with 30 goals but with him now gone Geelong must pick up the slack.

Last year Jimmy Bartel was our second leading goalkicker with 27, this year he failed to kick a goal from his 11 games.

It sounds bleak but most of that was without Daniel Menzel and Nathan Vardy.

If all goes to plan Menzel and Vardy will be virtually new recruits after overcoming serious injuries. Both are dangerous forwards and if Mitch Clark can get his body right, it makes for a potent forward line.

Geelong’s defence also had a year it would rather forget. The Cats usually rock-solid back six ranked 11th worst for Points Against.

Experienced defender Jared Rivers’ retirement also doesn’t help but if Jake Kolodjashnij continues to come on and Geelong can get a deal done with Carlton to bring talented tall Lachie Henderson home, the Cats defence is well placed.

Last week Geelong received a massive boost with Steven Motlop re-signing. The jungle drums were beating loudly that Motlop was headed for Tigerland but his two-year contract ensures the Cats still have X-factor and a genuine match-winner despite the loss of Johnson.

And when you add the emergence of Cory Gregson, Darcy Lang and Nakia Cockatoo and the 89 million dollar Stage 4 redevelopment of Simonds Stadium – the future is bright.

Bring on 2016.

Go Cats!

Sean Sowerby
Channel 7 News Sports Presenter/Reporter
Proud Geelong FC Member