AS SURE as last Saturday's events at Skilled Stadium gave everyone an excuse to shout, "See! Told you the Dogs were no good", Geelong's 10-goal win underscored another supposed football reality: the Cats have got the flag sewn up.

Mindful of the need to prevent the last 10 weeks of the season becoming an unfettered procession towards the victory dais, and some more nice caps for another batch of cute kids, The Age felt duty-bound to take a more critical look at the premier. So, what's wrong with Geelong?

CAN'T GET PLAYERS ON THE PARK

It started with Nathan Ablett, a 22-year-old from reasonably good footy stock who played in a premiership in his 32nd game. And then decided he didn't want to play any more. Even if he has changed his mind, it's too late. We're convinced: kids just don't want to play for the Cats.

Then there's Brent Prismall, one of the best young midfield prospects in the game, who, unless a couple of no-name onball types cut themselves shaving, is restricted to being one of the best young midfield prospects in the VFL. And Tom Hawkins (see Prismall, substitute "forward" for "midfield").

Counter-argument: they've got a few handy blokes still running around. Just a few.

CAN'T KEEP PLAYERS ON THE PARK

How the Cats expect to go back-to-back without raising a sweat when they've got Cameron Ling crashing his cheekbone into an unsuspecting opponent's elbow is anyone's guess. And as for Gary Ablett rolling his ankle, the cheek of him! Doesn't he realise the pain and suffering he caused those nice people that run football betting agencies?

Counter-argument: having no Ling or Ablett creates space in the football watcher's cluttered brain to realise that Jimmy Bartel is probably playing as well as he did last year.

NO POWER GOALKICKER

Other than Cameron Mooney kicking seven against North Melbourne in round 11, no Cat has booted more than five goals in a match since 2006. Not much chop for a team that used to have a bloke kicking 14 from a wing.

Counter-argument: Mooney kicks bags of five for fun — four times last season, including the grand final, and twice this year on top of his seven. And if he doesn't (and quite often when he does), Steve Johnson, Ablett, Tom Lonergan, Paul Chapman, Mathew Stokes and friends — including Ryan Gamble, who can kick four against the team that's second on the ladder, then face the axe — ensure the scoreboard attendant doesn't exactly nod off.

NO EYE TO THE FUTURE

There are six father-sons on their list, and as far as maintaining the lineage goes, none have fired a shot, so to speak. Matthew Scarlett has two daughters, while Mark Blake, Adam Donohue, Hawkins and the Abletts are childless.

Counter-argument: To coin a popular commentary phrase, there's still time if they're good enough.

THE STATS DON'T LIE

Geelong sits a lowly 14th in the all-important category of "Shots At Goal Taken From Outside 50", with a scoring accuracy of only 41%. The Cats have kicked a Franklin-esque 21.30 from beyond the arc. Disgraceful. What's more, their kicking efficiency sits on just 68.5% — granted, the stuff of dreams for your average Richmond fan, but hardly the slickness generally displayed by your common or garden variety "greatest team of all-time".

Counter-argument: The Cats handball so often and so well, that their overall disposal efficiency is 76.8%, third in the competition. As for point one, when you've got Ablett, Bartel, Corey, Selwood, Kelly, Ling, Stokes, etc, spearing the ball, lace-out, on to some bloke's chest who has just slipped his man by five metres, you don't need to kick goals from beyond 50.

THEY'RE A KEY DEFENDER SHORT

Harry Taylor might be a mature-aged recruit, and a very good one at that. But he is still a young man in his first season of AFL football, who has already needed one spell this year and could be tiring physically and mentally come September. Matthew Egan is a big loss to cover, and against teams that win the ball in the middle and deliver it swiftly and precisely to multiple forward options, Taylor might be found wanting.

Counter-argument: So he'll probably struggle in next year's intraclub practice matches.

THEY STRUGGLE AGAINST COLLINGWOOD

See round nine (thumped by 86 points), and last year's preliminary final.

Counter-argument: The way the Pies are going, they won't have to play them.

THEY'RE GETTING BIG HEADS

There is not nearly enough flag- and scarf-waving going on in the city by the bay in the hours following wins, nor are there as many scarves spotted fluttering from the windows of cars returning to their Western District properties. Clearly, Cat fans have become complacent.

Counter-argument: None, really. If they're so good even their fans are getting bored, they must be sure things.