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
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. Selwood's older brother, Troy, captained the club's VFL team for the second successive season; however due to the departure of Matt Firman, his co-captain from the prior season, it was his first time as sole captain.
The departure of assistant coach Brenton Sanderson to the vacant Adelaide senior coach position in September 2011 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. Subsequently, Amos was replaced by former Essendon coach Matthew Knights, with former Geelong player Max Rooke also joining the coaching staff as a development coach, working with the younger club players. Assistant coach Matthew Egan also departed the club to take up the same position with Essendon. 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. 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.
Playing list The introduction of as the league's eighteenth club this season created the possibility that Geelong could again lose an uncontracted player to a new club, as had previously occurred when Gold Coast entered the league the prior season and signed Gary Ablett. Despite this not eventuating, Geelong still lost six players on its list due to retirement, including premiership players Cameron Ling (captain), Darren Milburn, Cameron Mooney, Brad Ottens and Mark Blake, as well as Marcus Drum, who did not play a senior game for the club. Additionally, Geelong delisted two rookie-listed players: Ben Johnson and Jack Weston.
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. In addition to using its last pick (86) on Bews, 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). With the club choosing not to promote any rookies, it subsequently drafted Cameron Eardley (pick 18) and Jackson Sheringham (36) in the 2012 Rookie Draft, as well as a steeplechase runner, Mark Blicavs (54). Geelong did not participate in the corresponding Pre-season Draft.
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. ^ Denotes player who is on the club's rookie list# Denotes nominated rookie where player has been elevated to club's senior list during season, and therefore eligible for senior selection.† Denotes player who is on the club's veteran list + Geelong's 2012 playing list Player # AFL debut Games Goals Behinds Kicks Handballs Disposals Marks Tackles 3 2002 20 12 10 230 190 420 101 121 ^ 47 24 ^ 48 1 2011 3 2 2 16 7 23 11 4 ^ 43 17 2004 4 1 2 18 22 40 10 12 35 2000 21 36 15 292 136 428 107 94 28 2011 17 9 9 166 163 329 47 63 † 11 2000 20 3 5 189 239 428 54 103 18 2011 22 2010 22 20 12 262 138 400 122 68 ^ 37 44 2001 22 2 3 283 179 462 126 53 25 2009 5 1 0 40 33 73 26 9 29 2011 18 1 0 100 97 197 42 44 45 26 2007 22 62 38 198 80 278 144 25 34 2009 33 2012 3 2 1 20 17 37 12 3 8 2001 18 5 5 185 97 282 106 43 19 2010 21 8 6 146 170 316 75 70 20 2002 21 19 17 299 166 465 117 94 9 2002 19 2 5 257 213 470 59 128 39 13 2005 22 3 2 144 107 251 98 40 4 2004 23 12 7 311 120 431 123 60 6 2012 1 0 0 3 3 6 3 0 10 2010 32 2010 22 26 14 192 104 296 52 52 21 2012 8 4 3 67 35 102 33 24 31 2010 18 35 13 153 62 215 90 50 † 30 1998 16 0 0 169 75 244 89 40 15 2012 1 0 0 4 7 11 1 2 14 2007 21 13 12 293 246 539 74 118 # 38 2012 5 1 1 28 28 56 13 14 # 46 2012 4 1 0 22 13 35 8 7 16 2010 2 0 1 4 4 8 3 4 2 2012 14 6 9 94 72 166 43 40 23 2012 8 1 1 34 34 68 19 20 27 2006 20 15 6 149 161 310 70 63 # 41 2012 8 3 4 48 52 100 20 30 7 2008 22 15 5 205 152 357 135 48 5 2007 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 1 36 2011 2 2 1 11 2 13 5 3 # 42 2012 7 3 4 37 21 58 16 22 12 2008 21 8 7 103 112 215 59 52 40 1999 4 0 1 33 22 55 13 14
Season summary
Pre-season matches + Geelong's 2012 NAB Cup fixture (Week 1 – Lightning matches) Round Date and local time Opponent Scores Venue Attendance Ladderposition Ref Home Away Result 1 Friday, 24 February () 0.2.1 (13) 0.4.5 (29) Won by 16 points Etihad Stadium [A] 17,583 13th Friday, 24 February () 1.3.9 (36) 1.0.6 (15) Lost by 21 points 18,880
+ Geelong's 2012 NAB Cup fixture (Weeks 2, 3 & 4 – Full-length matches) Round Date and local time Opponent Scores Venue Attendance Ladderposition Ref Home Away Result 2 Friday, 2 March () 1.8.12 (69) 1.16.13 (118) Won by 49 points Metricon Stadium [A] 5,381 5th 3 Saturday, 10 March () 0.6.13 (49) 1.14.15 (108) Lost by 59 points Simonds Stadium [H] 9,393 10th 4 Saturday, 17 March () 11.18 (84) 11.9 (75) Won by 9 points Simonds Stadium [H] 3,800 (approx.)
Regular season + Geelong's 2012 AFL season fixture Round Date and local time Opponent Home Away Result Venue Attendance Ladderposition Ref Scores 1 () 16.9 (105) 15.11 (101) Lost by 4 points Patersons Stadium [A] 34,601 11th 2 () 14.8 (92) 13.12 (90) Won by 2 points MCG [H] 69,231 10th 3 () 20.11 (131) 16.18 (114) Lost by 17 points Etihad Stadium [A] 29,630 11th 4 () 11.9 (75) 9.11 (65) Won by 10 points Simonds Stadium [H] Unconfirmed 10th 5 () 4.17 (41) 12.7 (79) Won by 38 points [A] 15,528 8th 6 () 17.17 (119) 11.10 (76) Won by 43 points Simonds Stadium [H] 18,010 6th 7 () 19.8 (122) 10.12 (72) Lost by 50 points AAMI Stadium [A] 35,535 10th 8 () 14.12 (96) 11.18 (84) Lost by 12 points MCG [A] 75,650 10th 9 () 11.9 (75) 14.11 (95) Won by 20 points Etihad Stadium [A] 29,118 9th 10 () 19.12 (126) 9.7 (61) Won by 65 points Simonds Stadium [H] 17,243 8th 11 () 11.19 (85) 14.13 (97) Won by 12 points Etihad Stadium [A] 47,632 7th 12 Bye 7th 13 () 12.8 (80) 11.8 (74) Lost by 6 points SCG [A] 27,400 7th 14 () 14.15 (99) 8.13 (61) Won by 38 points Simonds Stadium [H] 13,736 7th 15 () 13.18 (96) 15.20 (110) Won by 14 points Metricon Stadium [A] 15,824 7th 16 () 10.19 (79) 17.8 (110) Lost by 31 points MCG [H] 61,717 7th 17 () 20.14 (134) 10.7 (67) Won by 67 points Etihad Stadium [H] 50,066 7th 18 () 15.12 (102) 11.9 (75) Won by 27 points Simonds Stadium [H] 18,377 6th 19 () 17.14 (116) 18.10 (118) Won by 2 points MCG [A] 65,287 6th 20 () 16.6 (102) 15.7 (97) Lost by 5 points Patersons Stadium [A] 37,812 7th 21 () 18.15 (123) 11.15 (81) Won by 42 points Etihad Stadium [H] 38,169 7th 22 () 16.11 (107) 11.7 (73) Won by 34 points Simonds Stadium [H] 18,047 6th 23 () 17.10 (112) 11.12 (78) Won by 34 points Simonds Stadium [H] 20,045 6th
Ladder
Finals series + Geelong's 2012 AFL finals series matches Round Date and local time Opponent Scores Venue Ref Home Away Result Saturday, 8 September () 11.14 (80) 14.12 (96) Lost by 16 points MCG [H]
Teams 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 Horlin-Smith Stringer 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 Guthrie Byrnes Stringer 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) 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 McCarthy Stringer 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) Corey, Enright, Hawkins, Motlop, Wojciniski Out: Kelly, Smedts Hawkins, Simpkin Corey, Enright, Motlop (late changes) Gillies, McCarthy, Schroder, Smedts, Podsiadly (late change)