GONE BUT CATS NOT FORGOTTEN
Motlop grateful for his years at the Cattery
ONLY Steven Motlop knows how much he needed the move to Port Adelaide after nine seasons at Geelong.
Only Motlop understands what being closer to family will mean for his wellbeing, on and off the field.
Only he gets what actually comes with being Steven Motlop.
Often the source of frustration among Geelong supporters after losses, and rarely commended when praise was warranted, he made the move to the Power as a free agent in last year’s trade period.
The four-year deal was substantial enough that the Cats received an end of first round draft pick as compensation — a parting gift after almost a decade of service — which was then used as part of the deal that saw Gary Ablett return to Kardinia Park.
But for all of the taunts and criticism, the 27-year-old looks back fondly on his time at Geelong, saying after the Power’s Round 1 victory over Fremantle that he owed the club for how it shaped his development as a player and as a person. program and he has brought those habits with him.
“He is a pretty important link player for us and we had a target in mind about what we wanted from him and we fully expect we will get that over the course of the journey.”
Voss said the Power coaching staff would be silly not to seek Motlop’s views on the Cats going into tomorrow night’s blockbuster, with his knowledge on several players to prove handy in their planning for how best to curtail the visitors.
The Brisbane Lions champion says he expects the fact that the talented half-forward has found the right balance between football and life away from the game to be advantageous to Port throughout the year.
For Motlop, who has taken on a mentoring role with some of the Power’s younger players, that balance is clearly helped by one of the driving forces of his life — family.
“My family is my No.1 priority and being close to them has really helped me,” he said after the Fremantle victory.
“I couldn’t be happier. To be here with my family . . . life is good here.
“It’s about life, the experiences. I am lucky to be in this situation.”
Only Motlop knows just how lucky he has been but, more importantly, that he is grateful.
For what has been, and for what could still be to come.