Season overview
The VFL Cats are a shadow of the team that took all before it last year on its way to the club’s second VFL premiership.
They no longer have the experience of Steven King in the ruck, the presence of Charlie Gardiner in attack or the reliability of Henry Playfair in defence.
Replacing them is the next generation of stars including ruckman Dawson Simpson, key-position prospect Scott Simpson up forward and Adam Donohue streaming out of the backline.
When the club ruthlessly turned over more than a third of the squad from last year’s VFL grand final, it was inevitable that the VFL team was going to experience some turbulence in season 2008.
In fact, of the team that went down to the Northern Bullants on Sunday, only nine players played in last year’s emphatic VFL premiership.
It means the team has been devoid of experience, resulting in a number of youngsters being thrust into crucial positions against players 10 years their senior.
Having lost their last five matches, the Cats face the serious risk of missing the finals for the first time since the injury-ravaged 2005 season.
But it hasn’t been all doom and gloom this season for the two-time VFL premiers.
The season started in a blaze of optimism when the Cats surged to fourth position after six rounds with an impressive four-two win-loss record.
Injuries haven’t helped the Cats’ cause.
Captain James Byrne missed a month with a fractured thumb, while for the Cats’ round-9 clash with Casey, there was a turnover of 10 players from the previous week.
Travel hasn’t helped the Cats’ restabilise their season either, with the side enduring a horror month-long sight-seeing tour across the Victorian countryside.
In successive rounds, the Cats ventured to Ballarat, Cranbourne and Bendigo, on top of already visiting Ararat and Hobart earlier in the season.
On the flip side, it means the run home is a down hill ski, with six of their final nine matches played at Skilled Stadium.
Ladder position
10th. Four wins, seven losses. 90.89%.
Upcoming matches
Vs Tasmania @ Skilled Stadium on Saturday. 1pm.
Vs Werribee @ Bartercard Oval, Werribee. Sunday July 6. 2pm
Vs Box Hill @ Skilled Stadium. AFL curtain raiser. Saturday July 12. 10.40am.
