The feeling is so related that Geelong coach Chris Scott has relented and damaged his golden rule about not evaluating seasons.
At 5-4, the Cats are in acquainted territory, having launched final yr’s flag raid from the identical platform after 9 rounds.
And with eight premiership gamers set to return again from damage and suspension – most of these earlier than the mid-season bye – there’s trigger for optimism.
“It just feels so similar,” a philosophical Scott mentioned after Friday evening’s 24-point defeat to Richmond.
“That doesn’t mean that it’s going to play out the same way.
“But we had each intention final yr, as we did this yr, of managing our gamers via the season and we have had nearly no alternative to do this.
“It’s been kind of managed through injury, so the secret there is to sort of hang in, take the positives and keep working on your game.
“When they (the injured gamers) come again, hopefully you’ll be able to type of hit your straps a bit of bit.”
Brad Close will return from suspension against Fremantle next week, while Scott said small forward Tyson Stengle (arm) and defender Jack Henry (foot) could also be in the selection frame.
Captain Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring), Sam De Koning (face), Gary Rohan (hamstring), Rhys Stanley (eye socket) and Cam Guthrie (toe) should not be far behind.
“We’re going to have to enhance quite a bit to go on a run like we did final yr,” Scott mentioned.
“But there’s plenty of room for optimism within the enchancment we have got in us and the personnel to return again.”
The loss to Richmond ended the Cats’ five-match winning streak but Scott was buoyed by much of what he saw, in particular from his younger players.
He praised debutant Jhye Clark and took heart from the performances of 20-year-old trio Tanner Bruhn, Oliver Dempsey and Mitch Knevitt.
“They all did some good issues and there was motive to be optimistic … however there was some stuff that did not fairly seem like Geelong at their finest,” Scott mentioned.
“It wasn’t a lot the stuff across the ball, it was just a few type of system issues the place you are form of like, ‘That’s not us.’
“But then you see the players involved and you think, ‘He’s played three games, just sort of chill out a bit’.
“I feel that is the explanation I’m not as surly as I usually am once we lose.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
