Zach feels right at home
Young gun repays faith Cats chiefs have shown in him
EVEN before he arrived at Simonds Stadium, Zach Guthrie had an idea that AFL training was going to be tough.
It comes with the territory when you have a brother in the system that fills you in on what it takes to get to the standard required to play at the elite level.
Having come to Geelong as a slightly built defender who looked like he could easily still be playing TAC Cup footy, Guthrie wasted little time getting to work in the gym and on the training track.
The Calder Cannon junior, who was taken by the Cats with pick 33 in last year’s rookie draft, made such an impression on his new coaches and teammates that he was selected for Geelong’s opening two JLT Series matches.
His reading of the play and capacity to win the ball in those games soon had people forgetting his schoolboy looks and instead focusing on his ability.
As a rookie it was always going to take a combination of strong form, a healthy body and the misfortune of another player to earn promotion to the senior list during the season, but the Cats had already begun preparing Guthrie for his AFL debut weeks before he first stepped out for Geelong against GWS in Round 15.
“Myself, Sam Simpson and Esava (Ratugolea) had a bit of time off where we did a mini preseason block,” Guthrie said.
“My body was probably starting to feel — and the other two guys as well — a bit fatigued midway through the season after coming off our first AFL preseason, so we just got a bit of work done during that period just to strengthen some of our weaknesses and to try to get the body right for the latter part of the year.
“Looking back on it I think it has worked really well for me. I’m feeling really good in the body and it has allowed me to play some AFL footy, which has been great.”
The trust that Geelong places in Guthrie is evident when you consider that at times he has found himself isolated in defence on one of the opposition’s best small forwards.
Typically though there is reinforcement from Tom Lonergan, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie, Lachie Henderson, Zach Tuohy, Tom Stewart and Jed Bews, so there are some wise and experienced heads that he can call on when required.
On occasions, older brother Cam will venture down into the back half as well, but the primary support off field has come from two of the greatest defenders the club — if not the game — has ever seen.
“I’ve worked really closely with Matty Scarlett, our defensive coach, and Corey Enright, usually reflecting on my individual involvements from the game,” Guthrie said.
“They’ve been really happy with how I’ve been going and as a younger guy I’m just looking to try to come in and put in as much effort as I can and earn some respect from the older guys.
“In the AFL every player is a pretty good player so I guess to be able to challenge myself against some of the absolute best has been great for my development. To get some time to play on some really crafty forwards (will help) me improve in my career.
“I just want to play with intensity and aggression and be renowned as someone they (teammates and coaches) can rely on.”
The 19-year-old’s reliability has increased with each of his six senior matches this season.
His teammates love him and it is clear that the coaching group is fond of his calmness under pressure.
As one of eight debutants this season, Guthrie has stood up when required and will no doubt provide Chris Scott with a few headaches should he be blessed with a healthier list in a few weeks. “It gives us a lot more confidence going into games like this one with potentially guys like (Wylie) Buzza, Simpson and Zach Guthrie in the team because of the fact that we’ve played them earlier in the year and they’ve performed well,” Scott said.
“We’ve had eight debutants this year, we’ve used a lot of players, and that makes it more challenging to put together a cohesive team and you obviously lack a little bit of continuity.
“But the advantage is if you do need to call on those guys later in the year you’ve got some confidence they can perform at the level.’’ Guthrie’s focus remains on the present, and today’s clash with Collingwood provides the Cats with an opportunity to lock in a top-four spot on the ladder.
But he admits being involved with a Geelong team that plays finals would be a pretty special feeling. “I guess comparing this time last year when I was in Year 12 and playing TAC Cup footy, to think I would be playing AFL, if you’d asked me it would have been pretty unlikely I would have thought,” he said.
“We feel like we’re playing some good footy and (can) finish in a ladder position that gives us the best chance to have some success in September, but the prospect of potentially playing finals for me is pretty amazing.
“I’m sure plenty of other players are really looking forward to the next month ahead but the thought of it for me is pretty exciting if I do get that opportunity.”
All of that training might have been tough, but for Zach Guthrie, it could yet be rewarded with the biggest prize of them all. FB B. Maynard HB J. Howe C HF FF S. Sidebottom Foll M. Cox Inter In WHAT I love about this match is it provides Geelong with just its second opportunity to play at the MCG since the Round 8 loss to Essendon. The Cats have only played Hawthorn since then (at the MCG) and had a very nervous win against the Hawks, and there has been a lot of talk about playing games at Simonds Stadium and home finals in recent weeks. But I still think one of Geelong’s biggest concerns is defending the MCG and it will need to play games there at some stage if it is to be successful in September. Who knows where the Cats will go but if they are to learn how to defend the big spaces in finals, this will be a massive defensive game for them. Let’s hope the Cats and the Giants do the right thing this week and win because even though playing well at the MCG is important, winning the last two games of the season could mean a home final for the Cats and next week looms as a pretty exciting contest. Cameron Mooney’s agenda-setting column appears every Wednesday J. Daicos J. Elliott Out TODAY, MCG, 2.10PM