2008 Geelong Football Club season
Australian rules football club season
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.
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
Geelong 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
Club List
Player List
Name
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
Name
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
Additions
Exchange period – received:
Rookie elevation:
Tom Lonergan
Jason Davenport
Adam Donohue
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):
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
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)
Joel Reynolds [ 3]
Matthew Spencer [ 3]
Sam Hunt [ 3]
Stephen Owen [ 3]
Todd Grima [ 3]
Games
Exhibition and Trial Games
NAB Cup
Date 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
Round
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]
2
Sunday, 30 March – 2:10 pm
Essendon
Home
Telstra Dome
Won by 99
22.18 (150)
6.15 (51)
2
[ 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
See also
References
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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 .
^ 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 .
^ Devery, Pat (23 May 2008). "Pies maul Cats" . AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2008 .
^ 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 .
^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 10" . footyforecaster.com. Retrieved 24 August 2008 .
^ 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 .
^ Breen, Greg. "AFL Ladder: After 2008 Round 22" . footyforecaster.com. Archived from the original on 14 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008 .
^ 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 .
^ Phelan, Jason (27 September 2008). "Hawks break 17-yr drought, Cat hearts" . AFL BigPond Network. Archived from the original on 30 September 2008. Retrieved 27 September 2008 .
External links
VFL/AFL home grounds AFLW home grounds VFA premierships (7) VFL/AFL premierships (10) Runner-up (9) Seasons (152)Women's seasons (9)Related articles Geelong did not participate in the 1916, 1942 and 1943 VFL seasons due to the World Wars (indicated in grey)
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