Contents

2012 Geelong Football Club season

The 2012 Geelong Football Club season was the club's 113th season of senior competition in the Australian Football League (AFL). The club also fielded its reserves team in the Victorian Football League (VFL) for the 13th season.

Club personnel[edit]

Following the retirement of incumbent premiership captain Cameron Ling in the off-season, Joel Selwood was appointed the club's new captain in January 2012, with Jimmy Bartel assuming the role of vice-captain. Additionally, Joel Corey, Corey Enright, James Kelly and Harry Taylor remain in the player leadership group from the prior season, with Steve Johnson the sole promotion to the group.^[3][4] Selwood's older brother, Troy, captained the club's VFL team for the second successive season;^[5] however due to the departure of Matt Firman, his co-captain from the prior season, it was his first time as sole captain.^[5]

The departure of assistant coach Brenton Sanderson to the vacant Adelaide senior coach position in September 2011^[6] resulted in a number of coaching changes for the club, the first being the promotion of the club's VFL coach, Dale Amos, as Sanderson's replacement.^[7] Subsequently, Amos was replaced by former Essendon coach Matthew Knights,^[8] with former Geelong player Max Rooke also joining the coaching staff as a development coach,^[9] working with the younger club players. Assistant coach Matthew Egan also departed the club to take up the same position with Essendon.^[10] The remainder of the club's coaching panel remained unchanged from 2011, with Blake Caracella, Nigel Lappin and James Rahilly returning as assistant coaches and Paul Hood continuing his role as academy co-ordinator.^[11] Furthermore, Brad Ottens, a former Geelong player who retired in the off-season, also returned to the club in a new role as part-time ruck coach.^[12]

Playing list[edit]

The introduction of Greater Western Sydney as the league's eighteenth club this season created the possibility that Geelong could again lose an uncontracted player to a new club,^[13] as had previously occurred when Gold Coast entered the league the prior season and signed Gary Ablett.^[14] Despite this not eventuating,^[13] Geelong still lost six players on its list due to retirement, including premiership players Cameron Ling (captain),^[15] Darren Milburn,^[16] Cameron Mooney,^[17] Brad Ottens^[18] and Mark Blake,^[19] as well as Marcus Drum,^[20] who did not play a senior game for the club.^[21] Additionally, Geelong delisted two rookie-listed players: Ben Johnson and Jack Weston.^[22][23]

Geelong's participation in the trade week was minimal, with no incoming or outgoing trades finalised. It did however secure Jed Bews, son of former player Andrew, under the Father-Son Rule.^[24] In addition to using its last pick (86) on Bews,^[25] a further five players were drafted by the club in the 2011 National Draft: Joel Hamling (pick 32), Shane Kersten (34), Jordan Murdoch (48), Lincoln McCarthy (66) and Orren Stephenson (78).^[25] With the club choosing not to promote any rookies, it subsequently drafted Cameron Eardley (pick 18)^[26] and Jackson Sheringham (36)^[27] in the 2012 Rookie Draft, as well as a steeplechase runner, Mark Blicavs (54).^[28][29] Geelong did not participate in the corresponding Pre-season Draft.^[30]

Playing statistics

Players are listed in alphabetical order by surname, and statistics are for AFL regular season and finals series matches during the 2012 AFL season only.^[31]

Season summary[edit]

Pre-season matches[edit]

Regular season[edit]

Ladder[edit]

Finals series[edit]

Teams[edit]

Geelong's 2012 teams (Rounds 1 to 4)

Geelong's Round 1 team Geelong's Round 2 team Geelong's Round 3 team Geelong's Round 4 team B: Smedts Lonergan Scarlett Enright Lonergan Guthrie Enright Lonergan Guthrie Enright Lonergan Guthrie HB: Mackie Taylor Enright Mackie Taylor T. Hunt T. Hunt Taylor Mackie Mackie Taylor Gillies C: T. Hunt Chapman Kelly Corey Selwood Motlop Motlop Selwood Corey T. Hunt Corey Christensen HF: Stokes Hawkins Johnson Stokes Hawkins Christensen Christensen Hawkins Chapman Chapman Hawkins Duncan F: West Podsiadly Motlop Chapman Podsiadly Johnson Johnson Podsiadly West Johnson Podsiadly Stokes Foll: Stephenson Selwood Bartel West Bartel Kelly Stephenson Bartel Kelly West Bartel Selwood Int: Corey Duncan Guthrie Byrnes Duncan Smedts Byrnes Duncan Gillies Horlin-Smith J. Hunt Motlop Sub: Christensen Brown  4th'[48] Horlin-Smith  3rd'[71] Stringer  4th'[50] Emg: Brown Byrnes Gillies Byrnes Hogan Horlin-Smith Brown Hogan Schroder Byrnes Schroder Stephenson Coach: Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott In: N/A Brown, Byrnes (late change) Gillies, Horlin-Smith, Stephenson J. Hunt, Stokes, Stringer Out: N/A Scarlett, Stephenson (late change) Brown, Smedts, Stokes Byrnes, Kelly, Stephenson

Geelong's 2012 teams (Rounds 5 to 8)

Geelong's Round 5 team Geelong's Round 6 team Geelong's Round 7 team Geelong's Round 8 team B: Guthrie Lonergan Enright J. Hunt Taylor Scarlett J. Hunt Taylor Gillies Guthrie Lonergan J. Hunt HB: Taylor Scarlett Mackie Enright Gillies Mackie Enright Lonergan Mackie Enright Taylor Mackie C: Christensen Corey T. Hunt Corey Christensen Kelly Corey Christensen Kelly Kelly Selwood Bartel HF: Motlop Hawkins Chapman Motlop Podsiadly Duncan Motlop Podsiadly Duncan Johnson Podsiadly Motlop F: Stokes Podsiadly Johnson Johnson Hawkins Brown Johnson Hawkins Guthrie Chapman Hawkins Stokes Foll: West Bartel Selwood West Bartel Chapman West Selwood Chapman West Corey T. Hunt Int: Duncan J. Hunt Stringer Byrnes Smedts Stringer T. Hunt Stringer Smedts Duncan Smedts Stephenson Sub: Smedts  3rd'[51] Guthrie  3rd'[52] Byrnes  3rd'[53] Stringer  3rd'[54] Emg: Gillies Horlin-Smith Stephenson Byrnes Gillies Horlin-Smith Byrnes Gillies Horlin-Smith Byrnes Horlin-Smith Smedts Coach: Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott In: Scarlett, Smedts Brown, Kelly, Byrnes, Gillies (late changes) T. Hunt, Lonergan, Selwood Bartel, Scarlett, Stokes, Stephenson Out: Gillies, Horlin-Smith T. Hunt, Stokes, Lonergan, Selwood (late changes) Brown, Bartel, Scarlett (late changes)[72] Byrnes, Christensen, Gillies

Geelong's 2012 teams (Rounds 9 to 12)

Geelong's Round 9 team Geelong's Round 10 team Geelong's Round 11 team Geelong's Round 12 team B: Scarlett Lonergan J. Hunt J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett Bye HB: Mackie Taylor Enright Mackie Taylor T. Hunt Wojcinski Taylor Enright C: Johnson Selwood Bartel Chapman Johnson Stringer Chapman Selwood T. Hunt HF: Guthrie Podsiadly Motlop Kelly West Stokes Duncan Hawkins Stokes F: Stephenson Hawkins Stokes Gillies Podsiadly Guthrie Johnson West Motlop Foll: West Corey T. Hunt Stephenson Selwood Bartel Stephenson Corey Bartel Int: Chapman Duncan Stringer Duncan Schroder Smedts Guthrie Kelly Mackie Sub: Simpkin  4th'[55] McCarthy  4th'[56] Stringer  3rd'[57] Emg: Byrnes Horlin-Smith Smedts Gillies Smedts Stringer Gillies Smedts Stringer Coach: Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott In: Scarlett, Simpkin Kelly, McCarthy, Schroder, Gillies, Smedts (late changes)[73] Corey, Enright, Hawkins, Motlop, Wojciniski Out: Kelly, Smedts Hawkins, Simpkin Corey, Enright, Motlop (late changes)[73] Gillies, McCarthy, Schroder, Smedts, Podsiadly (late change)[56]

Geelong's 2012 teams (Rounds 13 to 16)

Geelong's Round 13 team Geelong's Round 14 team Geelong's Round 15 team Geelong's Round 16 team B: Lonergan Scarlett Enright Enright Scarlett Murdoch Enright Scarlett Murdoch Corey Lonergan Scarlett HB: Mackie Taylor J. Hunt Corey Taylor Horlin-Smith J. Hunt Lonergan T. Hunt Enright J. Hunt Taylor C: T. Hunt Kelly Wojcinski Motlop Kelly Christensen Motlop Kelly Christensen Mackie Kelly T. Hunt HF: Motlop Podsiadly Stokes Mackie Podsiadly Murdoch Mackie Chapman Stokes Motlop Hawkins Smedts F: Johnson Hawkins Chapman Johnson Hawkins Duncan Corey Hawkins Brown Chapman Walker Christensen Foll: Simpson Selwood Bartel West Selwood Bartel West Selwood Bartel West Selwood Johnson Int: Corey Duncan West Guthrie T. Hunt Smedts Simpson Smedts Wojcinski Duncan Guthrie Stokes Sub: Christensen  3rd' Stokes  4th' Guthrie  3rd' Sheringham  3rd' Emg: Guthrie Horlin-Smith McCarthy Byrnes Simpson Wojcinski Brown Guthrie Wojcinski Murdoch Schroder Simpson Coach: Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott In: Christensen, Podsiadly, Simpson Guthrie, Horlin-Smith, Murdoch, Smedts Chapman, J. Hunt, Simpson, Brown, Wojcinski (late changes)[74] Duncan, Johnson, Sheringham, Taylor, Walker Out: Guthrie, Stephenson, Stringer Chapman, J. Hunt, Simpson, Wojcinski Duncan, Podsiadly, Horlin-Smith, Johnson, Taylor (late changes)[74] Bartel, Brown, Murdoch, Simpson, Wojcinski

Geelong's 2012 teams (Rounds 17 to 20)

Geelong's Round 17 team Geelong's Round 18 team Geelong's Round 19 team Geelong's Round 20 team B: Corey Lonergan Scarlett Corey Lonergan Enright Lonergan Scarlett J. Hunt Guthrie Lonergan Scarlett HB: Enright J. Hunt Taylor Kelly J. Hunt Taylor Mackie Taylor Enright T. Hunt Taylor Enright C: Mackie T. Hunt Stokes Mackie T. Hunt Stokes T. Hunt Selwood Sheringham Motlop Johnson Mackie HF: Motlop Hawkins Smedts Bartel Hawkins Motlop Smedts Podsiadly Christensen Sheringham Podsiadly Bartel F: Chapman Walker Duncan Chapman Walker Guthrie Stokes Hawkins Chapman Walker Hawkins Stokes Foll: West Selwood Johnson West Selwood Johnson Stephenson Kelly Johnson Stephenson Selwood Duncan Int: Kelly Murdoch Sheringham Christensen Duncan Smedts Bartel Duncan Walker Christensen Murdoch Simpkin Sub: Guthrie  3rd'[62] Sheringham  1st'[63] Motlop  3rd'[64] Wojcinski  1st'[65] Emg: Brown Horlin-Smith Schroder Brown Murdoch Podsiadly Brown Guthrie Murdoch Brown Schroder Wojcinski Coach: Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott In: Murdoch Bartel, Christensen Podsiadly, Scarlett, Stephenson Guthrie, Murdoch, Simpkin, Wojcinski (late change)[75] Out: Christensen Murdoch, Scarlett Corey, Guthrie, West J. Hunt, Kelly, Smedts, Chapman (late change)[75]

Geelong's 2012 teams (Rounds 21 to 23; Elimination final)

Geelong's Round 21 team Geelong's Round 22 team Geelong's Round 23 team Geelong's Elimination final team B: J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett J. Hunt Lonergan Murdoch J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett J. Hunt Lonergan Scarlett HB: Enright Taylor Mackie Enright Taylor Mackie Enright Taylor T. Hunt Enright Taylor Mackie C: Corey T. Hunt Duncan Duncan Corey Guthrie Bartel Selwood Duncan T. Hunt Selwood Christensen HF: Chapman Podsiadly Motlop Chapman Podsiadly Motlop Mackie Christensen Stokes Bartel Podsiadly Stokes F: Bartel Hawkins Stokes Bartel Hawkins Stokes Chapman Hawkins Podsiadly Chapman Hawkins Vardy Foll: West Selwood Kelly West Johnson Kelly Vardy Johnson Corey West Kelly Corey Int: Johnson Murdoch Walker Christensen Walker Varcoe Kelly Murdoch West Duncan Motlop Murdoch Sub: Simpkin  4th'[66] Smedts  2nd'[67] Motlop  4th'[68] Simpkin  3rd'[70] Emg: Guthrie Sheringham Wojcinski Guthrie Simpkin Smedts Guthrie Walker Wojcinski Guthrie Walker Wojcinski Coach: Chris Scott Chris Scott Chris Scott In: Chapman, Corey, J. Hunt, Kelly, West Christensen, Varcoe, Guthrie, Smedts (late changes)[67] T. Hunt, Scarlett, Selwood, Vardy Simpkin Out: Christensen, Guthrie, Sheringham, Stephenson, Wojcinski Selwood, Simpkin, T. Hunt, Scarlett (late changes)[67] Guthrie, Smedts, Varcoe, Walker Johnson

Awards and records[edit]

Milestones

• Round 1 – Billie Smedts (AFL debut), Orren Stephenson (AFL debut)^[76]
• Round 3 – George Horlin-Smith (AFL debut)^[77]
• Round 4 – Jesse Stringer (AFL debut)^[78]
• Round 8 – James Kelly (200 games),^[79] James Podsiadly (50 games)^[80]
• Round 9 – Jonathan Simpkin (AFL debut)^[81]
• Round 10 – Harry Taylor (100 games),^[82] Lincoln McCarthy (AFL debut), Jordan Schroder (AFL debut)^[83]
• Round 11 – David Wojcinski (200 games)^[84]
• Round 14 – Jordan Murdoch (AFL debut)^[85]
• Round 16 – Jackson Sheringham (AFL debut), Josh Walker (AFL debut)^[86]
• Round 18 – Joel Corey (250 games)^[87]
• Round 23 – Tom Hawkins (100 games),^[88] Mitch Duncan (50 games)^[89]

AFL awards

• Member of the 2012 All-Australian team (full-forward) – Tom Hawkins^[90]
• AFLPA Robert Rose Award for Most Courageous Player – Joel Selwood (tied with West Coast's Beau Waters)^[91]

Other

• Tom Hawkins – 2012 AFL Mark of the Year (Round 2 nomination)
• Steven Motlop – 2012 AFL Goal of the Year (Round 3 nomination)^[92]
• James Podsiadly – 2012 AFL Mark of the Year (Round 3 nomination)^[93]
• Steven Motlop – 2012 AFL Rising Star (Round 6 nomination)^[94]
• Matthew Scarlett – 2012 AFL Mark of the Year (Round 13 nomination)^[95]
• Tom Hawkins – 2012 AFL Mark of the Year (Round 15 nomination)^[96]

Match Review Panel and Tribunal cases[edit]

Pre-season competition – Week 1

• Josh Hunt was charged with a level two engaging in rough conduct offence against Luke Parker (Sydney).^[97] By entering an early plea, Hunt consequentially accepted a two-match suspension and 43.52 points^[e] towards his future record;^[97][98] the severity of the sanction a result of his existing bad judiciary record.^[98]

Pre-season competition – Week 4

• Joel Selwood was fined $900 for his involvement in wrestling with Liam Picken (Western Bulldogs),^[99][100] in which he accepted with an early plea.^[101]

Round 1

• James Kelly received a reprimand and 93.75 demerit points as a result of a level two striking charge against Tendai Mzungu (Fremantle),^[102][103] in which he pleaded guilty.^[104]
• Matthew Scarlett also accepted a sanction for a striking offence,^[104] in this case a level four charge against Hayden Ballantyne (Fremantle).^[103] His poor judiciary record resulted in a three-match suspension with an additional 33.52 carry-over points towards his future record.^[103]

Round 4

• Steve Johnson was charged with two separate incidents in the one match,^[105][106] the first being a level-one rough conduct offence against Chris Newman, as well as a level-one tripping offence against Daniel Jackson (both of Richmond).^[106] Johnson accepted^[107] a reprimand and 78 points towards his future record for the tripping offence,^[106] but successfully contested the rough conduct charge at the tribunal,^[108] resulting in no action taken. As the two cases would have been merged to create an overall penalty,^[106] an early plea for both offences would have resulted in a combined points accumulation of 199.88 which is a one match suspension,^[107] and leaving Johnson with 99.88 carry-over points for a period of a year.^[107]
• Trent West was charged with a level-one engaging in rough conduct offence against Ty Vickery (Richmond);^[106] by entering an early plea,^[107] West accepted a reprimand and 70.31 points towards his future record.^[106]

Round 7

• Joel Corey was charged with "making an obscene gesture"^[109] and subsequently accepted a $900 fine with an early plea.^[110]

Round 11

• Josh Hunt accepted^[111] a $1,350 fine for a misconduct offence in which he stood on opponent Eddie Betts (Carlton)^[112]

Round 15

• Jimmy Bartel was charged with a level-four striking offence against Trent McKenzie (Gold Coast) in which he received a two-match suspension and 43.75 points towards his future record following his submission of an early guilty plea.^[113][114]

Round 17

• Matthew Scarlett was suspended for the second time this season following a level two striking offence against Cory Dell'Olio (Essendon).^[115] To avoid a possible two-match sanction, Scarlett entered an early guilty plea^[116] accepting a one-match suspension and 65.77 points towards his future record.^[115]

Round 20

• Joel Selwood was charged with a level-one misconduct offence against his brother Adam Selwood (West Coast) for making "unnecessary or unreasonable contact with an injured player".^[117] Selwood entered an early plea and consequentially accepted a reprimand and 84 points towards his future record.^[118] This was despite club coach Chris Scott publicly stating that the guilty plea "doesn't mean we agree with the decision",^[118] but rather that the club was not prepared to take the risk that Selwood would be suspended for the following round's match.^[118] Selwood also remained eligible for the 2012 Brownlow Medal by entering an early guilty plea.^[118]

Round 23

• Paul Chapman received a reprimand and 60 points towards his future record by entering an early guilty plea^[119] for a level-one striking offence against Ben McGlynn (Sydney).^[120]
• Steve Johnson was charged with engaging in rough conduct (a level one offence) against Dan Hannebery (Sydney) which attracted a one-match sanction and 180.38 carry-over points with an early plea.^[120] Due to his previous charge this season, rather than risking a two-match suspension by taking the case to the tribunal,^[121] Johnson and the club accepted the early plea offer.^[121]

In response to the charges on Chapman and Johnson, club football manager Neil Balme publicly criticised the Match Review Panel stating "we [the club] certainly aren't happy with it"^[119] and that despite the club's acceptance of the sanctions, they would have preferred to challenge Johnson's charge in terms of justice,^[119] but couldn't justify the risk.^[122] Balme claimed that Chapman's incident was "accidental at worst"^[119] and that Hannebery, due to a lack of awareness, had caused Johnson's offence himself.^[119]

Elimination final

• James Kelly was charged with a level one bumping or making forceful contact from front-on offence against Tendai Mzungu (Fremantle) and was offered a one-match sanction and 64.06 carry-over points by the Match Review Panel,^[123] which he accepted with an early plea.^[124] As a result, he will miss the opening round of the 2013 AFL season.^[124]

VFL season[edit]

Squad[edit]

The 2012 VFL squad was named on 13 March 2012 and consists of 21 players, nine of whom were retained from the prior season.^[125] Senior and rookie-listed players for Geelong's AFL team are also eligible for selection in VFL matches. Additionally, potential father-son draftee Jordon Bourke (son of Damian) was granted special permission by the AFL to play two games for Geelong's VFL team in rounds 18 and 19.^[126][127]

Results[edit]

Notes[edit]

Key

Notes

• ^a Jonathan Simpkin was elevated to the senior list in place of the injured Nathan Vardy on 24 May,^[178] making him eligible to play in a senior AFL match. After making his debut in round nine,^[81] he was returned to the rookie list on 31 May following the reinstatement of Daniel Menzel from the long-term injury list.^[179] He was re-elevated to the senior list on 31 July 2012 when Josh Cowan was placed on the long-term injury list,^[180][181] and played three more senior games for the season,^[182] including in the club's elimination final against Fremantle.^[183]
• ^b Jesse Stringer was elevated to the senior list on 19 April,^[184] making him eligible to play in a senior AFL match. He subsequently played eight matches before being banned from senior football by Geelong for the remainder of the season on 20 June following an off-field indiscretion which the club described as "totally unacceptable behaviour".^[185] He was later replaced on the senior list by Nathan Vardy, who was returning from a long-term injury.^[180]
• ^c Geelong's scores are indicated in bold font.
• ^d The Adelaide-Geelong match at AAMI Stadium on 12 May was rescheduled from 1:15 pm to 12:45 pm to avoid a clash with racehorse Black Caviar's historic attempt for 21 wins from 21 starts.^[72]
• ^e "Points" refers to any carry-over points accrued following the sanction. For example, 154.69 points would result in a one-match suspension, with 54.69 carry-over points (for every 100 points, a one-match suspension is given).

References[edit]