Cats cap Atkins with solo skipper role

GEELONG has scrapped its rotational captaincy policy in naming Tom Atkins the standalone VFL skipper for 2018.

Atkins, 22, shared the role with Jake Edwards, Ben Moloney and a number of AFL-listed players in 2017, but was yesterday announced as the side’s leader in a new look fiveman leadership group.

Young stars James Tsitas, 22, and Ben Reid, 25, assume leadership roles, while experienced recruits Luke Kiel and Jordan Keras round out the five.

Coach Shane O’Bree said leadership was an area of Atkins’ game that he’s developed.

“I think Tom has definitely built his leadership with his voice, but obviously his actions — Tom’s a guy that’s a real competitor and likes to play the Geelong way,” O’Bree said.

“He definitely leads by his actions, but the voice and motivation, and speaking the game structures is something he’s been continually working on.”

O’Bree said Atkins got a taste of being captain last season, but would relish having the title to himself.

“Previous years we’ve used it as a development leadership tool, helping the guys lead a team and be able to handle the game situations and pre-game things,” he said.

“But this year we thought we just need a stand-alone captain so when game day does come about and the pressure is on, we’ve got a group of leaders we can fall back on and ask them to do what they need to do to control the game.

“We’ve got a couple of additions to our list, I suppose, that come with good leadership qualities in Jordan Keras and Luke Kiel.”

O’Bree said the side in general would be better equipped this season to handle situations that required leadership.

It was a weakness of the side last year, with the side often crumbling in quarters of football, unable to slow opposition momentum.

“We’ve got a good core group of five boys, but our young AFL guys are another year older and I think they’ll really step up in that area too,” O’Bree said.

“But there is probably another bunch of five VFL boys that can step up and really help our leadership group and lead in that way too.

“I reckon we’ve got a bit of depth in that area this year.”