LIVING ON THE EDGE
STANLEY’S BID TO MAKE RUCK HIS OWN
GEELONG ruckman Rhys Stanley says he will continue playing on the edge, knowing his spot in the team is far from cemented.
The much-maligned big man has enjoyed one of his best patches of form at the Cats over the past month, having seemingly won the battle to be Geelong’s No. 1 man in the ruck.
But Stanley, who spent the early stages of the season in and out of the side as part of a revolving door involving Zac Smith, is not taking anything for granted.
“I have just got to keep at it, I’ve got to improve every week,” Stanley said after the Cats’ 12-point win over Sydney on Thursday night.
“I can’t just sit back and think that everything is just going to happen or my job is anywhere near done. I have been pleased with the last month, but yeah, onwards and upwards.
“Continuity has obviously helped and finding that confidence within myself.
“I feel like I am finding my role, I know what my role is. I feel like I am fulfilling that role.”
Stanley, out of contract at season’s end, has endured a history of consistency prob- lems at both Geelong and St Kilda across his 111-game career.
It has often led him to being the target of commentators and fans alike, especially following a loss.
But it is something Stanley refuses to take to heart.
“That’s footy. I’m 10 years in now, so I know it’s footy and it’s all part of it,” Stanley said.
“I was at another club (St Kilda) and playing forward and the same thing happened.
“Players deal with it, a lot of players deal with that stuff. It’s all part of the game.”
The heat was certainly on Stanley earlier in the season as the 27-year-old struggled to have an impact on games.
Coach Chris Scott even put his key talls on notice early last month, admitting “none of them are shooting the lights out”.
But he turned the corner in Round 12 against North Melbourne, drawing level in his battle with star Todd Goldstein.
He took that momentum into clashes with Richmond’s Toby Nankervis and the Western Bulldogs’ Tom Boyd and has not looked back since.
Stanley broke even with Sydney’s Callum Sinclair in Thursday night’s win over the Swans, finishing with 26 hit-outs and 15 disposals.
Sinclair monstered Stanley the last time they met in Round 6, especially in the final quarter, as the Swans came from behind to win at GMHBA Stadium.
Asked if he was looking for redemption on Thursday night, Stanley said: “I guess there was a little bit of that.
“He (Sinclair) got three big clunks in that last quarter (in Round 6).
“I didn’t think too much about that game (in Round 6) and those moments specifically. It’s good to nullify him.
“He is a really good contested marking player, it was good to take that away a little bit.”
Stanley said Geelong’s win over the Swans was a story of persistence, with the Cats able to grind out a result despite inaccuracy in front of goal.
He said the challenge for Geelong, and himself, was to now back it up against Adelaide on Thursday night.
A battle with Sam Jacobs is on the horizon for Stanley — another good chance for Stanley to prove his current run of form is not just a flash in the pan.
“Jacobs is a solid ruckman and Adelaide is a quality side,” Stanley said.
“It’s another big test for us on the road. It will be good to go over there and hopefully put in a performance like tonight.
“(Jacobs) is a good player, a really solid ruckman, covers the ground really well, takes marks, wins a lot of hit-outs. It’s going to be a big job.”