Think it over, Cats

ANOTHER season is over, and Cats fans are left with heavy hearts and so many questions.

Why can’t Geelong turn winning seasons into successful finals campaigns?

How can the Cats arrest their terrible form after bye rounds?

Has Geelong’s premiership window closed?

And what was the thinking in extending coach Chris Scott’s contract so close to — yet still before — the end of the season?

Club representatives from the top down have been spruiking the Cats’ hopes for 12 months. Widely respected chief executive Brian Cook said at the start of the season that he was more excited about the team’s opportunity in 2018 than he had been in years. President Colin Carter said the club was placed for “top four or better”. And coach Chris Scott declared before Friday’s elimination final that the club had no excuses for failure this finals campaign.

They had the much-vaunted midfield ‘holy trinity’, beloved prodigal son Gary Ablett had returned, and they boasted the league’s best first-year player in Tim Kelly. So what went wrong? No doubt that is a question that will be dominating discussion in the club’s inner sanctum in the coming days and weeks as season 2018 is dissected and reviewed.

But by any standard the season must be seen as a disappointment at best, with some of the club’s harshest critics throwing around the word failure.

The competition is as close as it has ever been — with many teams able to entertain flag hopes if they find form at the right time of the year. But there is no point beating up on lowly sides at GMHBA Stadium if you are not going to produce good form under pressure at the pointy end of the season.

The era of mediocrity and complacency must end. Bold decision making and total buyin is required if the Cats are going to replicate their successes of 2007, 2009 and 2011.

The fans have heard enough platitudes and are sick of seasons ending with so many questions.

It’s now time for answers.