AFL
Jake Michaels, ESPN Senior Writer 5y

'I didn't think it was possible': Youngster stunned by Cats' fast start

AFL

Anyone who says they believed Geelong could enter the bye weeks at 11-1 is either a genius football forecaster or a plain liar.

The Cats were coming off a disappointing 2018 campaign -- which ended in a 29-point elimination final loss to the Demons -- and faced arguably the toughest 12 week stretch to open a season in recent football history.

Through the first three months of 2019, Geelong had to play all bar one side (Port Adelaide) that finished in the top 13 on last year's ladder. Naturally, many expected them to be a mid-pack team yet again and one which would face an uphill battle just to make the lower portion of the top eight.

But at the mid-point of the year, Chris Scott's side has stunned just about everyone and shot to outright premiership favouritism after a near-perfect 12 games.

"I'll be honest. I didn't think this was possible," Cats forward Gryan Miers told ESPN. "[When the fixture was released] we knew it would be a tough challenge, we can't hide away from that, but that was exciting for us.

"We just kept saying one week at a time, one week at a time. It's a cliché but that's really what happened. To be in this position now is awesome."

Geelong's only loss so far this season came in Round 4 against Greater Western Sydney. The Cats had actually led by four goals in that contest before being overrun by the Giants in the final term.

Since then they've won eight straight including a 67-point smashing of 2018 minor premier Richmond in their last outing before the bye.

"We knew that if we could start well then that's where the momentum comes," Miers told ESPN. "We did have that good start and the momentum has continued. Now we're travelling quite well."

While pleased with the first half of the season, Cats superstar Patrick Dangerfield believes the football landscape changes so quickly that it can be difficult to gauge exactly where the side is at.

The 2016 Brownlow Medal winner also said it was crucial his side carried the form into the second part of the season, where it matters most.

"We take confidence from it but at the same time the competition changes quickly. It's hard to look at a form guide from last year and say we've beaten teams that were really good," Dangerfield said. "Brisbane is a perfect example. They have been a form team this year yet they didn't win many games last year.

"We can reflect and say we're playing some good footy but if you look too far behind then you fail to realise what's in front of you. For us, we'll be judged by what we do in the back end of this year."

Geelong face the Power at Adelaide Oval this weekend before games against Adelaide, the Western Bulldogs and St Kilda.

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