The 2008 Geelong Football Club season was the club's 109th season in the Australian Football League (AFL). Geelong finished the regular season in first position on the ladder, earning the club a second-consecutive McClelland Trophy, and its ninth overall. Geelong's regular season record was impressive (21 wins, 1 loss), the best performance of a team in the home-and-away season since Essendon Football Club in 2000. Geelong then went on to win its Qualifying and Preliminary finals in succession, earning a place in the 2008 AFL Grand Final against Hawthorn, and the chance for a second-consecutive premiership. However, Geelong failed to capitalise on its outstanding performance during the season, losing the premiership in a Grand Final thriller.
2008 season | |||
---|---|---|---|
President | Frank Costa | ||
Coach | Mark Thompson (9th season) | ||
Captain(s) | Tom Harley (2nd season) | ||
Home ground | Skilled Stadium | ||
Pre-season competition | Quarter final | ||
AFL season | 1st | ||
Finals series | Runner-up | ||
Best and Fairest | Joel Corey | ||
Leading goalkicker | Steve Johnson (50) | ||
|
Geelong signed up a club record 36,850 club members for the season,[1] and had an average home crowd attendance of 43,176, also a club record.[2]
Season overview
editGeelong did well in the home and away season and finished four games and percentage clear on top of the ladder. It was an outstanding season with the team winning 21 out of the 22 games & finished with a percentage of 161.84, the only loss was to Collingwood in round 9 by a massive 86 points. With the team widely considered to be premiership favorites the Cats were almost unbackable favourites to win the 2008 AFL premiership. They beat St Kilda in the first qualifying final 17.17(119) to 8.13(61). A 29-point win over the Western Bulldogs in the preliminary final secured the Cats a grand final a berth against Hawthorn.
Geelong were defeated in the 2008 AFL Grand Final by Hawthorn in front of an attendance of 100,012 people. Despite having numerous chances in the first half of the game, and dominating through the midfield, the Cats failed to convert and were defeated by the Hawks.
Captains
edit- Captain: Tom Harley
- Vice-captain: Cameron Ling
- Deputy vice-captain: Cameron Mooney
Club List
editPlayer List
editName | No. | Height (cm) | Weight (kg) | Birthdate | Debut | Games | Goals | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Total | Club | 2008 | Total | ||||||||
Ablett, Gary | 29 | 182 | 88 | 14 May 1984 | 2002 | 19 | 144 | 144 | 24 | 189 | ||
Ablett, Nathan | 23 | 196 | 98 | 13 December 1985 | 2005 | 0 | 32 | 32 | 0 | 46 | ||
Bartel, Jimmy | 3 | 187 | 88 | 4 December 1983 | 2002 | 23 | 131 | 131 | 21 | 83 | ||
Blake, Mark | 24 | 200 | 101 | 9 September 1985 | 2005 | 23 | 56 | 56 | 6 | 8 | ||
Byrnes, Shannon | 17 | 175 | 77 | 7 April 1984 | 2004 | 9 | 54 | 54 | 8 | 27 | ||
Chapman, Paul | 35 | 179 | 88 | 5 November 1981 | 2000 | 18 | 154 | 154 | 32 | 203 | ||
Corey, Joel | 11 | 191 | 88 | 17 February 1982 | 2000 | 23 | 174 | 174 | 6 | 54 | ||
Davenport, Jason | 1 | 185 | 82 | 4 September 1985 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Djerrkura, Nathan | 18 | 176 | 80 | 19 September 1988 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Djerrkura, Nathan | 18 | 176 | 80 | 19 September 1988 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Donohue, Adam | 25 | 182 | 83 | 22 February 1990 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Egan, Matthew | 19 | 196 | 101 | 10 July 1983 | 2005 | 0 | 59 | 59 | 0 | 1 | ||
Enright, Corey | 44 | 187 | 91 | 14 September 1981 | 2001 | 23 | 148 | 148 | 6 | 45 | ||
Gamble, Ryan | 15 | 184 | 80 | 23 September 1987 | 2006 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 21 | ||
Harley, Tom | 2 | 193 | 95 | 18 July 1978 | 1998 | 23 | 182 | 181 | 0 | 10 | ||
Hawkins, Tom | 26 | 197 | 103 | 27 July 1988 | 2007 | 10 | 19 | 19 | 13 | 25 | ||
Hogan, Simon | 34 | 182 | 75 | 16 August 1988 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Hunt, Josh | 8 | 185 | 100 | 14 March 1982 | 2001 | 21 | 120 | 120 | 3 | 16 | ||
Johnson, David | 28 | 181 | 84 | 28 October 1981 | 2002 | 1 | 71 | 71 | 0 | 16 | ||
Johnson, Steve | 20 | 189 | 88 | 4 July 1983 | 2002 | 23 | 110 | 110 | 50 | 207 | ||
Kelly, James | 9 | 183 | 85 | 29 December 1983 | 2002 | 19 | 127 | 127 | 8 | 61 | ||
Ling, Cameron | 45 | 189 | 94 | 27 February 1981 | 2000 | 21 | 180 | 180 | 15 | 106 | ||
Lonergan, Tom | 13 | 197 | 99 | 17 May 1984 | 2005 | 14 | 21 | 21 | 33 | 39 | ||
Mackie, Andrew | 4 | 192 | 85 | 7 August 1984 | 2004 | 19 | 80 | 80 | 11 | 52 | ||
McKenna, Dan | 31 | 195 | 85 | 29 June 1989 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Milburn, Darren | 39 | 189 | 92 | 15 April 1977 | 1997 | 20 | 233 | 233 | 6 | 86 | ||
Mooney, Cameron | 21 | 195 | 99 | 26 September 1979 | 1999 | 22 | 166 | 155 | 49 | 203 | ||
Ottens, Brad | 6 | 202 | 108 | 25 January 1980 | 1998 | 14 | 202 | 73 | 13 | 235 | ||
Prismall, Brent | 32 | 186 | 88 | 14 July 1986 | 2006 | 12 | 25 | 25 | 8 | 15 | ||
Rooke, Max | 33 | 189 | 93 | 19 December 1981 | 2002 | 18 | 110 | 110 | 9 | 30 | ||
Scarlett, Matthew | 30 | 192 | 95 | 5 June 1979 | 1998 | 20 | 204 | 204 | 0 | 16 | ||
Selwood, Joel | 14 | 182 | 83 | 26 May 1988 | 2007 | 22 | 43 | 43 | 6 | 13 | ||
Simpson, Dawson | 16 | 206 | 105 | 17 February 1989 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Simpson, Scott | 22 | 196 | 92 | 19 October 1989 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Stokes, Mathew | 27 | 177 | 80 | 22 November 1984 | 2006 | 20 | 50 | 50 | 37 | 78 | ||
Taylor, Harry | 7 | 193 | 91 | 12 June 1986 | 2008 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 3 | 3 | ||
Tenace, Kane | 10 | 182 | 86 | 4 July 1985 | 2004 | 1 | 54 | 54 | 0 | 11 | ||
Varcoe, Travis | 5 | 180 | 78 | 10 April 1988 | 2007 | 14 | 32 | 32 | 13 | 28 | ||
West, Trent | 12 | 198 | 103 | 17 October 1987 | 2008 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | ||
Wojcinski, David | 40 | 180 | 80 | 18 September 1980 | 1999 | 13 | 131 | 131 | 7 | 44 | ||
Statistics are to end of Qualifying Final, 2008 Season (7 September 2008) |
Rookie List
editName | No. | Height | Weight | Birthdate | Debut | Games | Goals | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | Total | Club | 2008 | Total | ||||||||
Bedford, Liam | 42 | 180 | 73 | 12 July 1988 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Kangars, Chris | 38 | 193 | 95 | 1 August 1989 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Laidler, Jeremy | 37 | 189 | 80 | 5 August 1989 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Moles, Brodie | 36 | 183 | 84 | 7 November 1985 | **** | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Mumford, Shane* | 41 | 200 | 102 | 5 July 1986 | 2008 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | ||
* Nominated Rookie – Elevated to senior list during season, eligible for senior selection Statistics are to end of 2008 Season (27 September 2008) |
Changes from 2007 List
editAdditions
edit- Exchange period – received:
- None
- Rookie elevation:
- Father/son selection:
- NAB AFL Draft (24 November 2007):
- Harry Taylor (Round 1; Overall pick 17; from East Fremantle)
- Dawson Simpson (Round 2; Overall pick 34; from Murray Bushrangers)
- Scott Simpson (Round 3; Overall pick 44; from Dandenong Stingrays)
- Dan McKenna (Round 3; Overall pick 50; from Gippsland Power)
- Adam Donohue (Round 4; Overall pick 60; from Geelong Falcons)
- NAB AFL Pre-Season Draft (11 December 2007):
- None
- NAB AFL Rookie Draft (11 December 2007):
- Brodie Moles (Round 1; Overall pick 16; from Tasmania)
- Jeremy Laidler (Round 2; Overall pick 32; from Calder U18)
- Chris Kangars (Round 3; Overall pick 46; from Geelong U18)
- Shane Mumford (Round 4; Overall pick 57; from Geelong VFL)
Deletions
edit- Exchange period – traded:
- Tim Callan and Round 4 draft selection (No.66) – to Western Bulldogs (received Western Bulldogs' Round 4 draft selection – No.62)
- Henry Playfair – to Sydney (received Sydney's Round 3 draft selection – No.44)
- Steven King and Charlie Gardiner – St Kilda (received St Kilda's Round 6 draft selection – No.90)
- Delisted:
- Retirements:
- None
Games
editExhibition and Trial Games
editNAB Cup
editDate and Local Time | Opponent | Home or Away | Venue | Scores | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Result | Home | Away | |||||
First Round | |||||||
Saturday, 16 February – 3:40 pm | Melbourne | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 71 | 2.22.10 (160) | 2.11.5 (89) | [4] |
Quarter Finals (Eliminated) | |||||||
Saturday, 23 February – 3:40 pm | St Kilda | Away | Manuka Oval | Lost by 5 | 3.9.10 (91) | 3.8.11 (86) | [5] |
Premiership season
editRound | Date and Local Time | Opponent | Home or Away | Venue | Scores | Ladder Pos'n | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Result | Home | Away | |||||||
1 | Thursday, 20 March – 8:15 pm | Port Adelaide | Away | AAMI Stadium | Won by 9 | 14.12 (96) | 15.15 (105) | 6 | [6][7] |
2 | Sunday, 30 March – 2:10 pm | Essendon | Home | Telstra Dome | Won by 99 | 22.18 (150) | 6.15 (51) | 2 | [7][8] |
3 | Sunday, 6 April – 1:10 pm | Melbourne | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 30 | 16.16 (112) | 12.10 (82) | 1 | [9][10] |
4 | Saturday, 12 April – 2:10 pm | St Kilda | Away | Telstra Dome | Won by 42 | 13.16 (94) | 21.10 (136) | 1 | [11][12] |
5 | Saturday, 19 April – 2:10 pm | Sydney | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 42 | 16.18 (114) | 10.12 (72) | 1 | [13][14] |
6 | Friday, 25 April – 6:40 pm | Fremantle | Away | Subiaco | Won by 1 | 13.10 (88) | 13.11 (89) | 1 | [15][16] |
7 | Saturday, 3 May – 2:10 pm | Brisbane Lions | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 27 | 15.15 (105) | 11.12 (78) | 1 | [17][18] |
8 | Saturday, 17 May – 2:10 pm | Richmond | Away | MCG | Won by 30 | 10.9 (69) | 14.15 (99) | 1 | [19][20] |
9 | Friday, 23 May – 7:40 pm | Collingwood | Away | MCG | Lost by 86 | 20.14 (134) | 7.6 (48) | 2 | [21][22] |
10 | Saturday, 31 May – 7:10 pm | Carlton | Home | Telstra Dome | Won by 55 | 19.19 (133) | 12.5 (77) | 2 | [23][24] |
11 | Friday, 6 June – 7:40 pm | Kangaroos | Away | Telstra Dome | Won by 13 | 17.12 (114) | 19.13 (127) | 2 | [25][26] |
12 | Sunday, 15 June – 1:10 pm | Port Adelaide | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 59 | 15.18 (108) | 7.7 (49) | 1 | [27][28] |
13 | Saturday, 21 June – 5:40 pm | West Coast | Away | Subiaco | Won by 135 | 5.17 (47) | 28.14 (182) | 1 | [29][30] |
14 | Friday, 4 July – 7:40 pm | Adelaide | Away | AAMI Stadium | Won by 68 | 8.8 (56) | 18.16 (124) | 1 | [31][32] |
15 | Saturday, 12 July – 2:10 pm | Fremantle | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 74 | 18.10 (118) | 6.8 (44) | 1 | [33][34] |
16 | Saturday, 19 July – 2:10 pm | Western Bulldogs | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 61 | 19.17 (131) | 10.10 (70) | 1 | [35][36] |
17 | Friday, 25 July – 7:40 pm | Hawthorn | Away | MCG | Won by 11 | 11.11 (77) | 12.16 (88) | 1 | [37][38] |
18 | Saturday, 2 August – 7:10 pm | Richmond | Home | Telstra Dome | Won by 63 | 20.14 (134) | 10.11 (71) | 1 | [39][40] |
19 | Friday, 8 August – 7:10 pm | Melbourne | Away | MCG | Won by 116 | 5.11 (41) | 24.13 (157) | 1 | [41][42] |
20 | Saturday, 16 August – 7:10 pm | Sydney | Away | ANZ Stadium | Won by 39 | 14.10 (94) | 20.13 (133) | 1 | [43][44] |
21 | Sunday, 24 August – 1:10 pm | Kangaroos | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 33 | 17.13 (115) | 13.4 (82) | 1 | [45][46] |
22 | Saturday, 30 August – 2:10 pm | West Coast | Home | Skilled Stadium | Won by 99 | 24.20 (164) | 10.5 (65) | 1 | [47][48] |
Finals
editDate and Local Time | Opponent | Home or Away | Venue | Scores | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Result | Home | Away | |||||
Qualifying and Elimination Finals | |||||||
Sunday, 7 September – 2:40 pm | St Kilda | Home | MCG | Won by 58 | 17.17 (119) | 8.13 (61) | [49] |
Preliminary Final | |||||||
Friday, 19 September – 7:40 pm | Western Bulldogs | Home | MCG | Won by 29 | 12.11 (83) | 7.12 (54) | [50] |
Grand Final | |||||||
Saturday, 27 September – 2:30 pm | Hawthorn | Home | MCG | Lost by 26 | 11.23 (89) | 18.7 (115) | [51] |
See also
editReferences
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- ^ "Geelong Cats Crowds and Match Attendances". footy wire.com. Archived from the original on 24 February 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ^ a b c d e Horan, Michael (18 October 2007). "Delisted Joel Reynolds upbeat". Herald Sun. Retrieved 1 March 2011.
- ^ Burgan, Matt (16 February 2008). "Geelong sizzles in heat at Skilled Stadium". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ "Injuries mar bright afternoon for Saints". AFL BigPond Network. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Dodd, Geoff; Price, Matthew (21 March 2008). "Cats dig deep". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ a b Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 1". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Phelan, Jason (30 March 2008). "Cats run rampant in 99-point win". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Broad, Ben (6 April 2008). "Melbourne improves but Cats prevail". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 3". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Lavell, Steve (12 April 2008). "Cats make it four". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 12 April 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 4". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Broad, Ben (19 April 2008). "Five straight for Cats". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 5". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Clarke, Tim (25 April 2008). "Cats by a point". AFL BigPond Network. Retrieved 16 August 2008.[dead link]
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 6". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Devery, Pat (3 May 2008). "Cats get up". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 7". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Devery, Pat (17 May 2008). "Cats fire up to sink Tigers". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 8". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
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- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 9". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Price, Matthew (31 May 2008). "Resurgent Cats dispatch Blues". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 1 June 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
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- ^ Lavell, Steve (6 June 2008). "Cats edge brave Roos". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 11". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ "Cats pound Power". AFL BigPond Network. 15 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 12". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Devery, Pat (21 June 2008). "Cats annihilate Eagles". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 13". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Brettig, Daniel (4 July 2008). "Top Cats crush Crows". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 14". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 3 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Devery, Pat (12 July 2008). "Geelong roll on". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 15". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Devery, Pat (19 July 2008). "Cats smash Dogs, stay on top". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 16". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Lavell, Steve (25 July 2008). "Cats hold off Hawks in a thriller at the 'G". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 9 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 17". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Walsh, Gary (2 August 2008). "Cats maul Tigers". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 18". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Lavell, Steve (8 August 2008). "Cats destroy Dees at the 'G". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 19". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ "Classy Cats sink Sydney Swans to fifth". AFL BigPond Network. 16 August 2008. Archived from the original on 17 August 2008. Retrieved 16 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 20". footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Reed, David (24 August 2008). "Geelong too good for Roos". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
- ^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 21". footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
- ^ Burgan, Matt (30 August 2008). "Cats demolish Eagles by 99 points". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 1 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
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- ^ Clayton, Matthew (7 September 2008). "Cats cruise to big win". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 10 September 2008. Retrieved 8 September 2008.
- ^ Lavell, Steve (19 September 2008). "Cats charge into grand final". AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 22 September 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
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