NEW YEAR, SAME PROBLEM: GEELONG’S ANNUAL FINALS FLOPS

2012 Lost elimination final to Fremantle by 16 points Poor start. Were 36 points down at quarter-time after being completely blindsided by the Dockers, who had 12 scoring shots to one. Game over. 2013 Lost qualifying final to Fremantle by 15 points Low-scoring arm-wrestle at KP. Were more than two goals up early, but without a ruckman the Cats were exposed and the Dockers inflicted a rare upset at the Cattery. Won semi-final against Port Adelaide by 16 points Cats were four goals down in the second quarter before sparking into life and storming over Port. Lost preliminary final to Hawthorn by five points Nothing in it all night until Geelong got 20 points clear by three-quarter time. Hawks finished strong and booked Grand Final berth. 2014 Lost qualifying final to Hawthorn by 36 points Scores were tied at halftime but the Hawks flexed their muscle and blew Geelong away. Lost semi-final to North Melbourne by six points North led at every change and held a four-goal buffer for much of the game before the Cats stormed home, only to fall short. Straight sets. 2016 Won qualifying final against Hawthorn Gripping match, nothing between the teams most of the night, ultimately decided after the siren. Lost preliminary final to Sydney by 37 points Melted under the finals heat in the first quarter, down by 39 points at the first break. Got out to 49 at halftime. 2017 Lost qualifying final to Richmond by 51 points Hung in there for three quarters before the Tigers exploded in the final quarter. Won semi-final against Sydney by 59 points One of Geelong’s greatest finals wins under Chris Scott. Cats dismantled the Swans. Lost preliminary final to Adelaide by 61 points Another shocking start, down by 31 points at the first break. 2018 Lost elimination final to Melbourne by 29 points at the MCG. Again, Geelong failed to stand up to the pressure in what has become an ingrained pattern of performance. Geelong cannot be trusted in finals. Down by 31 points at the first break. The difference. Poor.