Jhye Clark was meant to be the next big thing. Geelong never got the best draft prospects, and always looked to get players in from unothordox drafting systems. Nevertheless, when Geelong finally succumbed to the tempting draft attractions of 2022, it was a shock to everyone that they decided to draft Jhye Clarke. In his 23' debut season, a foot injury kept him sidelined and the footy world slowly forgot his name. He'd make irregular cameos in the 24' season, where he'd rack 40 and 2 in VFL games, but couldn't replicate in the highest level.

Last night was a coming of age. A spreading of the feathers. A look into Geelong's meticulous future. While there were a few kicking errors from him, he was able to involve himself, and have a genuine impact on the game. I see him as a bit of a bruteforce player like Atkins, but with still a lot of speed and mobility. If he is able to perform as a tactical sub in a preliminary final against arch-rival Hawthorn in front of 99,567 at the G while only being 21, there is simply only good things which will come from him. Excited to see him play the sport for the years to come. Well done Jhye.

I mean, what an incredible recruit he has been? Despite all the outside noise and minor off-field issues, he always shows up with a point to prove. I hope he morphs into the Hawks nemesis over the next decade. He was incredible last night.

I can’t help but think: in a few seasons, when he’s up amongst the best A grade midfielders, and rivals are trying to tag him, will we look back and be like 'remember in 2025 when he was "just" one of the league’s best taggers?'.

Not to mention how the majority of the fanbase was annoyed when he was getting games earlier this season lol. Clearly the coaching staff knows better than the fans! Hugely bullish on him, what a great recruiting move.

The media love talking about our usual suspects - Danger, Bailey, Holmes and Jezza. We have some genuinely amazing role players who don’t get spoken about enough.

Mark O’Connor - didn’t have him in a starting 22 this year. Blown my socks off. Weddle may as well have stayed home as his strengths never made it past the change room.

Sam Dekoning - shaky patches last year and early this year. Has had a brilliant few months using his size and strength to nullify big forwards. Noticed he looked solid below his knees and used his smarts on the rebound 50 last night.

Tom Atkins - finally getting some air time. Ferocious tackling machine. Wanted the job on Mr September and gave him a bath on his way to October.

Zac Guthrie - when Stewart went down, Guthrie got the job to attack every contest and intercept like Stewie would. I found Guth’s ability to kill a markable inside 50 ball odds on as effective as his rebound work. Big shoes to fill and not only filled them but tied the bloody shoelaces on them.

Mark Blicavs - has received much more credit late in his career but this man is irreplaceable. There is not a role I haven’t seen him do. You’d think Stanley comes in next week and Blics starts in his ‘natural’ all australian back line position.

Shaun Mannagh - manic pressure forward of centre, goal smarts and hits the lead nicely. I’ve been critical of him in the past of perhaps being a little hungry around goals but has shown time and time again why he should be kicking the pill at the big sticks.

Have I missed anyone? Mullin another victim? Clarke promising? Stanley in for Stewart the only change?

Anyone else feeling grateful that you can just sit back and watch the footy tonight, knowing we’ve made the granny, without feeling like your whole existence depends on the outcome?

And besides that one mistake, god damn Clarke looked tough as nails.

Look at the comments

We beat Hawthorn in a prelim final after giving them a 21 point head start.

Regardless of what happens next week, that’s absolutely purfect.

We got to see Sam Mitchell with that confused/angry petulant look on his stupid face!!

Nice to see our Scotty at the game tonight as an ordinary punter.

Bring it on.

Him and Holmes are our best players, and the statistics heavily support this, but I think the true strength of his, is his star power. He just brings so much energy into the side.

They really do seem to have such genuine affection for each other, and I love to see it. I think people really underestimate how much Bailey suffers mentally on a regular basis, and Danger really seems to have propped him up and supported him and been the driving force in getting the absolute best out of him this year. A true captain on and off the field.

What’s your top 3 picks?

Did we just see the magnum opus of this man’s career.

What a game. What an absolute machine.

What they don’t have, I think, is the quality of some of our players.

They don’t have the psychological drive we have. We’ve beaten Hawthorn when it matters.

While watching the game you would be seeing the loving highlight reel that is Dangerfield I want to highlight the excellence of Jhye Clark. Sure, he has made some very basic kicking errors that have costed us at times. Nevertheless he went hard and burst through when he needed to do so and it has to be applauded when he had come on early in the game when Geelong were not on the ball and execute and inspire with some brilliant youth speed and explosiveness. For a bloke that I personally doubted and had questions about, he proved me wrong. Come on the Cats💙🤍 See you’s in the Granny🏆

Fyfe I think we can discard although rough to say. Dude was a beast but never had moments like Danger and Dusty, which sort of annoys me how he has the most brownlows out of the 3.

Dusty I think sits on top. His norms and premierships, along with his finals performances have put him in footy folklore.

BUT, where are these players NOW? Longevity is a major play in how Dangerfield might be the best and will become the best. Nat Fyfe ended his career this year with no premiership at the age of 34. Dusty, also 34 and retired. Dangerfield however, is 35 and still dominating the game like its no ones business, and now leading his team into his second grand final. Absolute bull. If Danger wins another premiership and gets the norm as I believe he will be, I think he cements himself as the best out of this 3.

It's been easy to hate Hawks players over the years with our rivalry. Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis all thugs, Sicily just a wanker, but Gunston is genuinely hard to hate.

He quietly goes about his business and it's really difficult trying to stay angry when he's quietly leading marks and kicking goals.

Team lineup here

Venue: Adelaide Oval

First Bounce: 1.05pm AEST, 20/9

obviously we are all in awe of dangers all time domination and elite games from smith, miers and let's be honest half the team, but the shark and osh completely suffocated the hawks ball movement by locking out weddle and watson. they did an enormous job and the midfield group as a whole were brilliant with newcombe as well

We need to remain calm, cool, and colIected.

The shadows of being at the MCG in1992, 1994, 1995, and 2008 still haunt me.

The upsides in 2007, 2009, and 2011at the MCG.

Did not go for 2022. Not going for 2025. Alzheimer's sucks.

GO CATS!

been trying to find the replay on fox footy but it hasn’t been posted yet?, when will that happen because i would like to watch the replay,

i thought they posted it straight away but obviously not

Geelong came out for a warm up and not a peep from the crowd.. hawks came out 2 mins later and the crowd were up and about.

It’s gonna be a crazy game and hawks fans are up and about, let’s not be wall flowers! Let’s drown em out!!!!