Cats begin to secure place in History

Its always a risky business comparing successful teams from different eras. Many people are quick to use terms such as 'champion' and 'legend' to describe players and teams without real regard for the meaning of such terms. So, after 3 consecutive grand finals including 2 premierships does this Geelong side fit such lofty standards.

The simple answer is NO, not yet anyway.

This doesn't however mean they won't reach a level that compares them to the great teams of the past. The Brisbane Lions 4 consecutive Grand Final appearances and 3 consecutive premierships stands alone in the last 50 yrs of VFL/AFL football as the most successful era on paper if premierships are the measurements of success.

Step back in time and we see the great Melbourne era of 1954-1960, when the Demons appeared in 7 consecutive grand finals winning 5 premierships. Era's such as these create legitimate "legends of the game" such as Norm Smith and Ron Barassi, rather than just great players.

The Brisbane era too can claim at least one champion of the modern game in Michael Voss. Arguments could be made for the status of others such as Akermanis, Black and Brown among others but the status of the Lions as a champion team is undeniable.

So where does this leave the Cats of 2009, 2 flags, 3 grand finals, 65 wins to 10 losses in 3 years. It leaves them as a great team but certainly not the greatest team. One more premiership should see this club slip past the Lions in the historical pecking order of greatness.

And this club has another premiership in it at least. As the sun sets on season 2009 and the Cats deservedly soak up the adulation that comes with a premiership, I believe we can look forward to another successful season from the boys from Kardinia Park in 2010 and perhaps beyond.

According to the stats, the Cats may not be a legend team yet but that is the beauty of sport, they have time on their side. Minimal retirements beckon, minimal talk of salary cap issues and a list of players that seem to understand the unique opportunity they have within their grasp, suggest the run is far from over.

Who knows when this charmed run will finish for this group of Cats. Nobody knows, but when the dust finally settles and they return to the pack, what will history say about this era for the Geelong football club.

Only time will tell, however this punter at least thinks they may create history for the ages.

Mondays Expert

C'mon NRL get real time for McIntyre to go

For the second season in a row the NRL's final eight system has come into question. With a series of upsets in the 1st week of the finals, the vagaries of the McIntyre system have come clearly into focus. Congratulations must go to Parramatta and Brisbane for their impressive victories over higher ranked opponents in the 1st week of the finals, however the net result of those victory's was that both clubs received the opportunity to play a home final in week two over a significantly higher ranked opponent.

MADNESS I say!!

How can a team that spends 26 weeks battling to win the minor premiership lose one game and be forced to travel interstate to play the team that could only finish 6th in the same home and away season. This was the outcome for minor premiers St George who must be sitting back this weekend wondering how they are watching and not playing in a preliminary final.

The story is no better for the Gold Coast Titans, in an outstanding season for the fledgling club, the Titans managed to secure 3rd spot on the NRL table. Follow this result with a fighting loss to the revitalised Brisbane Broncos and the prize for all their hard work is a trip to Sydney to play the bottom ranked finalist Parramatta.

Again let me say congratulations to both the Eel's and the Bronco's. Both sides came into the finals with great momentum playing their best football at the right end of the season. There is a better than even prospect that these two hot teams will contest the 1st NRL grand final between the 6th and 8th place finishers in history.

But why the dream run? If we are not going to reward the teams with the premier finishing positions at the end of the home and away season why do we measure finishing positions at all.

The McIntyre system was developed by mathematician Ken McIntyre for the AFL in 1994 when the league adopted a final series with eight teams. It followed the leagues successful use of McIntyre's final four, five and six systems in previous seasons. The AFL dropped the system in 1999 after six seasons responding to widespread criticism by clubs. Ironically the NRL adopted the system in the same season and has used it ever since.

Supporters of the system for the NRL argue that the State of Origin Series effects the ability of some clubs to finish high in the final eight and the McIntyre system offer a chance for those teams to compete fairly in the finals.

What a load of CRAP!!

Club football and representative football are two different stages. Are we going to begin rewarding teams that make the finals despite missing players through injury? Perhaps we should let them play an extra player as well. These arguments just don't add up.

Lets face it NRL the McIntyre system is a joke, its time to dump it and adopt the same system as the AFL. A system that rewards those clubs that perform for the majority of the season not just a couple of weeks at the end.

Monday's Expert

Charlie and Gary a perfect match

The midfielders medal or Brownlow as it is traditionally known has been run and won for another year and a more deserving winner couldn't have been found. Gary Ablett Jnr has been the dominant player in the competition for the last three years and after finishing 3rd and 4th in the last two seasons, Ablett has finally broken through to win football most prestigious individual honour.

The CV of Ablett continues to grow and comparisons between his career and that of his famous father are set to continue. Ablett Snr widely considered on of the games all time greats looks likely to be overshadowed by his equally talented son. Already Gary Jnr has a premiership and now a Brownlow medal in his trophy cabinet to out perform his father. The Brownlow victory comes on top of Ablett's third consecutive Players Association MVP Award and a priemiership on Saturday would finish the perfect season for the brilliant cat.

Ablett's consistency is what sets him apart from the competitions other elite midfielders. While he may lack the flair of his father he rarely plays a poor game. Ablett bolted away early in voting for the 2009 Brownlow polling in 10 of a possible 13 games played to open the season to open up a medal winning lead by Round 16. He finished the vote count as he began polling seven votes in the final three rounds to secure the victory.

Ablett's winning total of 30 votes placed him 8 votes clear of former Brownlow Medalist Chris Judd and confirmed the emphatic nature of the victory. Abletts victory will be a popular one with AFL fans and players confirming his position as the games premier player.