CATS SHOULD LOOK TO REBUILD THROUGH DRAFT

GEELONG must go back to the draft to go forward.

If the club has learned anything from Friday night’s catastrophe it will head back to the national draft and re-invest in talented youth in order to rebuild the team.

Our last top 10 pick was over four seasons ago (Nakia Cockatoo) and has been a bust due to on-going injuries. Since 2015 we have traded our top picks to acquire talent from other clubs. Patrick Dangerfield and Zac Touhy have been resounding successes, others less so.

While Rys Stanley, Zac Smith, Scott Selwood and Lachie Henderson have all had their moments, none have actually improved the team. Gary Ablett’s return, while comforting his family and army of admirers, has not made the side any better.

When Geelong won their drought- breaking 2007 premiership the team contained only one player from another club in Brad Ottens. The coach’s obsession with the superstar midfield trio (Ablett, Dangerfield and Joel Selwood) has been to the detriment of the team and the individuals concerned. Our failures in the ruck and with centre bounce clearances now go back seven seasons without correction.

The playing list also remains clogged with too many players who have remained injured for far too long. With four more years left on his contract following an overly hasty reappointment (a sign the administration is becoming lazy and has lost its ruthlessness),

Chris Scott needs to cast an eye to the long term health of the club. He needs to invest in youth, show faith in his recruiting staff and abandon the policy of treading water with experienced journeymen. Anthony Petkovic, Belmont