If you’re a Geelong fan, you probably don’t need me to remind you about 2019. But here we are, because some stories deserve to be told—even the ones that sting a little.
The 2019 AFL season was a masterclass in dominance, resilience, and ultimately, gut-wrenching heartbreak. The Cats finished the home-and-away season on top of the ladder with a 16-6 record, secured the minor premiership, and looked every bit like a team destined for premiership glory. Yet, as the old saying goes, premierships aren’t won in June—or even August.
What unfolded was a season of incredible highs, individual brilliance, and a finals campaign that ended not with champagne showers at the MCG, but with a stunned silence at the Gabba. This case study examines how the Cats built a powerhouse season, the strategic decisions that shaped their campaign, the heartbreaking end, and the lessons that would carry into future years.
Background / Challenge
To understand 2019, you have to understand where Geelong had been. The Cats were no strangers to success—they’d hoisted the AFL Premiership cup in 2007, 2009, and 2011. But by 2018, the window that had once seemed permanently open was starting to creak.
After a semi-final exit in 2018—a 31-point loss to Melbourne that felt more like a funeral than a footy match—questions swirled around Kardinia Park. Was the list too old? Had the dynasty truly ended? Could Chris Scott, now in his eighth season as Geelong coach, coax one more flag out of a group that included ageing warriors like Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins?
The challenge was clear: the Cats needed to evolve. The game had changed. The Richmonds and West Coasts of the world were winning with pressure, speed, and chaos. Geelong’s methodical, kick-mark style had been exposed. Something had to give.
Enter 2019. The Cats didn’t just tweak—they transformed. They brought in new faces, shifted veterans into new roles, and embraced a more attacking, high-scoring brand of footy. The result? A team that went from "maybe they’re done" to "they might be the best in the competition."
Approach / Strategy
A New Identity
Chris Scott and his coaching staff made a deliberate decision heading into 2019: the Cats would play faster, take more risks, and trust their elite ball users to find targets inside 50. No more chipping sideways. No more safe, boring footy. It was time to unleash.
The strategy revolved around three core pillars:
- High forward pressure – The Cats ranked first in the AFL for forward-half intercepts, turning opposition defence into attack in the blink of an eye.
- Elite ball movement – Geelong’s kick-to-handball ratio shifted, with more run-and-carry from half-back and aggressive corridor use.
- Midfield dominance – Patrick Dangerfield, now in his fourth season at the club, was unleashed as a full-time midfielder. The result? A Brownlow Medal-winning season that saw Dangerfield collect 29 votes and be crowned the league’s best player.
The List Refresh
While the core remained—Selwood, Hawkins, Dangerfield, and a resurgent Harry Taylor—the Cats injected youth and versatility. Gary Rohan arrived via trade and became a crucial pressure forward. Tom Atkins emerged as a hard-nosed defender. And in the midfield, Tim Kelly exploded into genuine stardom after being taken with pick 24 in the 2017 AFL Draft.
The blend was perfect. Experience mixed with youthful exuberance. The Cats had depth, flexibility, and most importantly, belief.
The Home Ground Advantage
Kardinia Park—or GMHBA Stadium, if you prefer—had always been a fortress. But in 2019, it became a genuine weapon. The Cats lost just one game at the Cattery all season—a two-point thriller against Collingwood in Round 11. They won their other seven home games by an average margin of 39 points. The Kardinia Park Redevelopment was ongoing, but the ground’s unique dimensions and the roar of the Geelong faithful made it one of the toughest road trips in the AFL competition.
Implementation Details
The Start: A Statement
The Cats opened the season against Collingwood at the MCG. The Magpies had been runners-up in 2018 and were many pundits’ premiership favourites. Geelong won by 43 points. Statement made.
From there, the Cats rattled off nine wins in their first ten games, including a 68-point demolition of West Coast—the reigning premier—at GMHBA Stadium. By the midpoint of the season, Geelong sat atop the ladder with a percentage hovering around 130%.
Mid-Season Test
No season is without its wobbles. The Cats lost three of four games between Rounds 14 and 17, including a shock 29-point loss to Fremantle in Perth. The footy world wondered if the Cats had peaked too early.
But Chris Scott steadied the ship. The Cats responded with three consecutive wins to close out the home-and-away season, securing the minor premiership and the prized week-one finals bye.
Individual Brilliance
- Patrick Dangerfield won the Brownlow Medal with 29 votes, polling in 16 of 22 games. His season was a masterclass in contested possession, clearance work, and line-breaking runs.
- Tom Hawkins kicked 52 goals and finished third in the Coleman Medal. His ability to bring others into the game—averaging nearly two goal assists per game—made him the most dangerous key forward in the league.
- Joel Selwood, now in his 13th season, continued to defy age. He averaged 24 disposals and six tackles per game, and his leadership in tight moments was invaluable.
- Tim Kelly amassed 532 disposals for the season, finished fourth in the Brownlow, and was named All-Australian. His emergence gave the Cats a genuine midfield trio that few could match.
The VFL Factor
The Geelong VFL team also had a strong season, finishing third on the ladder. Several players—including Atkins, Charlie Constable, and Jordan Cunico—gained valuable experience at the lower level before being called up to the seniors. The reserves program was a vital development pipeline, ensuring the Cats had depth when injuries struck.
Results
Let’s talk numbers, because 2019 was statistically one of the greatest home-and-away seasons in Geelong’s history.
- Ladder position: 1st (minor premiers) with a 16-6 record
- Percentage: 121.5% (second-best in the league)
- Points for: 2,004 (second-most in the AFL)
- Points against: 1,650 (third-fewest)
- Wins at Kardinia Park: 7-1
- Wins against top-eight sides: 7-4
- Brownlow Medal: Patrick Dangerfield (29 votes)
- All-Australians: Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Tim Kelly, Mark Blicavs
- Finals finish: Preliminary final loss to Richmond (19 points)
The Finals Campaign
Qualifying Final vs. Collingwood (MCG) The Cats entered the finals with a week off, thanks to the minor premiership. They faced Collingwood in a qualifying final at the MCG. In a tense, low-scoring affair, Geelong prevailed by 10 points. Hawkins kicked three goals. Dangerfield had 27 disposals. The Cats were one win away from the AFL Grand Final.
Preliminary Final vs. Richmond (Gabba) And then came the heartbreak.
Due to the MCG being booked for a rugby league grand final, the Cats’ preliminary final against Richmond was moved to the Gabba. It was a bizarre, soulless venue for a game of such magnitude. Richmond, the 2017 premier, had found form at the right time. The Tigers’ pressure was suffocating. Their chaos ball movement unsettled Geelong’s structure.
The Cats fought hard. Hawkins kicked three goals. Dangerfield had 32 disposals. But Richmond’s Dustin Martin (36 disposals, two goals) was unstoppable. The Tigers led by 20 points at three-quarter time and held on to win by 19 points.
The final siren echoed around an empty Gabba. The Cats’ season was over.
1. The Minor Premiership is Not a Guarantee
The Cats learned a harsh lesson in 2019: finishing first on the ladder guarantees nothing. The week-one bye, which was supposed to be an advantage, may have disrupted Geelong’s rhythm. The Cats had only one competitive game in 28 days before the preliminary final. Richmond, meanwhile, had played three.2. Finals Football is a Different Game
Geelong’s high-scoring, attacking brand worked wonders in the home-and-away season. But in finals, when pressure ratchets up and space is at a premium, it struggled. The Cats averaged 91 points per game in the regular season but managed just 68 and 57 in their two finals.3. The Importance of Depth
When the Cats needed someone to step up in the preliminary final, few did. Tim Kelly had just 17 disposals. Gary Rohan was quiet. The Cats’ bottom six players struggled to impact the game. Building genuine depth—players who can perform under the brightest lights—became a priority.4. The Window Wasn’t Closed
Despite the heartbreak, 2019 proved that Geelong was still a contender. The core of Dangerfield, Selwood, and Hawkins had another run in them. The emergence of Kelly, Atkins, and Jack Henry gave the list renewed optimism. The Cats would go on to make the Grand Final in 2020 and finish top four again in 2021 and 2022.5. The Importance of Home Finals
Playing a preliminary final at a neutral venue—the Gabba—was a disadvantage. The Cats had earned the right to host a home final at Kardinia Park, but the AFL’s fixturing meant they played at the MCG and then the Gabba. The lesson? The Cats needed to ensure they had the ability to win anywhere, not just at the Cattery.The 2019 season was a story of what could have been. The Cats were the best team for 22 rounds. They had the Brownlow Medalist. They had the home ground fortress. They had everything except the premiership.
But that’s footy. The line between triumph and heartbreak is razor-thin. Richmond kicked three goals in the final quarter of the preliminary final to seal Geelong’s fate. The Cats had their chances—they just couldn’t convert.
Looking back, 2019 was a season that shaped the club’s future. It exposed weaknesses in finals execution, highlighted the need for greater depth, and reinforced the brutal reality that minor premierships don’t win you flags.
For Geelong fans, the pain of that preliminary final loss still lingers. But it also forged a resilience that would carry the Cats through the next chapter. They would return to the Grand Final in 2020, and eventually, after more heartbreak, they would finally break through in 2022.
But that’s a story for another time.
Want to dive deeper into Geelong’s championship history? Check out our championship history hub for stories from every premiership era, including the famous 1952 premiership and the near-miss of the 1992 grand final loss.
Up next: How the Cats rebuilt after 2019 and what it means for the 2025 AFL Season.
Reader Comments (1)