TIME TO BACK HIMSELF IN
AFE isn’t good enough for Jed Bews any more. The Cats defender knew at the start of 2017 just how big this season would be for him.
Out of contract come the end of the year and finding himself in and out of Geelong’s best 22, Bews promised himself to attack everything head on.
And heading into tonight’s blockbuster qualifying final clash with Richmond at the MCG, the 23-year-old finds himself in career-best form and a crucial part of a Cats’ defensive unit that is one of the stingiest in the competition.
“I think just having a crack, just going for it, not trying to be too safe has been good for me this year,” Bews said.
“It’s a great time of year. The whole year is about qualifying and we’ve done that, so now the fun stuff starts.
“They (the Tigers) are a good team. We have played all right against them in the past, so if we stick to what we have done well, then we will be all right. We’ve just got to attack it.”
Bews had forged a reputation through his early days at Kardinia Park as a genuine shut-down player and nothing more.
He was famous for being able to stop Adelaide goalsneak Eddie Betts, in many ways pigeon-holed into those types of roles.
Then through the preseason he spent time training as a forward. It helped sharpen his attacking instincts.
After starting the season out of the team, Bews promised himself that when he got a recall in Round 6 there would be no more playing it safe.
He was going to shake the dour defender tag.
“(I told myself), ‘When you get the chance just go for it’,” Bews said. “You never know how long you are going to play footy for. I am just making the most of it.
“It’s as simple as that and there’s probably not much more to it. Just have a go, and if you muck it up, you muck it up. You’ve got five other guys with you in defence looking out for you.”
Bews admits he would be lying if he didn’t think 2017 was make or break, given his contract situation.
When you’re on the list of a perennial premiership contender, you need to continue to prove you can stand up at senior level.
There aren’t many spots set aside for solid VFL players.
“I was out of contract, so I felt I had to do something,” Bews said. “Not that I’ve thought about it heaps, but when I got my chance I wanted to play some bold footy and go for those moments, using it as best as I can.
“The contract stuff just happens in the background.”
Since Round 6, Bews has been able to build on his performances each week. By Round 15, he was rated Geelong’s best one-on-one defender, losing just 11 contests in total.
He also conceded just six goals in eight games, containing the likes of Devon Smith, Mark LeCras, Orazio Fantasia, Robbie Gray and Hayden Ballantyne.
“Confidence is a key and playing week after week and getting an opportunity has paid off for me so far,” Bews said. “I think just playing week after week you build that trust with your teammates.
“As a back group we have played a fair bit together now. We have worked out how each other plays and strengths and weaknesses and that kind of thing.”
Bews has also noticed his post-game reviews with coaches Matthew Scarlett and Nigel Lappin are starting to get shorter, a sign he is doing more things right on the field.
“It’s been a gradual build, I think,” he said. “Each week I haven’t done too much wrong and have been getting involved as we have gone on.
“When you’re younger, there are a lot of improvement areas. There are less now but I still think I have a lot of upside.”
Geelong — like Bews — is a team that has gradually built through 2017.
The finals pathway opens up if the Cats can topple the Tigers on the wide expanses of the MCG tonight.
Geelong breezed past the Tigers at Simonds Stadium a month ago. It was a performance that gives Bews confidence it can be repeated.
“A lot of teams are done, you know, they are on their holiday. But we are playing at the business end of the season and we have to enjoy it,” Bews said.
“We think we know how they like to play. The way we played against them last time down here, we countered it really well.
“Just a different ground will be a test, but we are looking forward to it.”
Richmond poses its own unique threats, particularly up forward.
With just Jack Riewoldt as the main tall option inside 50, the Tigers rely on a swarm of fleet-footed forwards to do the damage. Daniel Rioli, ex-Cat Josh Caddy, Daniel Butler and Jason Costagna have all been exceptional this season, while Jacob Townsend has come into the team late and kicked 11 goals in two games.
“For us, it’s not about locking into a certain player,” Bews said. “You’ve got to go through a few over the course of a game. We will be ready for those guys, look at all of them and try and play as best together as we can and help each other out.
“The MCG is just a bigger ground (than Simonds Stadium). I think we played it well after quarter-time against Collingwood.
“I would li ke to say we have got it worked out, but we have just got to wait and see to game day. I think we are getting better with the way we play and the way we defend that ground.”
And while Bews, who will earn a new contract by the end of year, can reflect on 2017 as a success, a premiership is the only thing that will really give this season a pass mark.
“I think that’s the success,” Bews said.
“We think we are good enough as a team to do it.
“So I think that’s our ultimate goal. Anything else would be a loss. We want to win it, we are here to win it.”