ATTACK SCOOT

Forward role to stay

GEELONG hard man Scott Selwood says he expects to be given a similar role to the one he played in the Cats’ two big wins to round out the 2018 season when they play Melbourne in next week’s elimination final.

Selwood was used primarily as a forward against Fremantle and Gold Coast, a considerable change up from his usual role of running through the midfield.

But the 28-year-old has impressed in his two outings inside-50 and has managed to create ample scoring opportunities for teammates on the back of his work rate and pressure.

Selwood said he had relished the move and predicted he would be deployed in attack again when the Cats took on the Demons.

“It’s been a bit different, there is a bit of craft to it that I am prob- ably still learning a little bit and am adjusting to, but I do enjoy it and it is something different and if I can create some more flexibility for the team and help out, I love it,” he said.

“The boys are quick to whip me into line when I’m not in the right spot or getting in their way, and that is what you want, we have good leaders down there who are helping me out.

“It is something we have slowly come up with and I just have to play to my strengths, so try to pressure, tackle and see if I can get in dangerous spots.

“I’m slowly learning that craft so that I can try to get rewarded and help out the other guys on the scoreboard when possible.

“I enjoy the role and I think the midfield has been working pretty well, so most likely it will look the same (in finals) I would have thought.”

Geelong’s won its last two home-and-away games by a combined winning margin of 235 points, prompting some commentators to question whether such matches were the ideal preparation leading into finals.

But Selwood said he was confident the convincing wins had been beneficial.

“We can only do what we can do, I guess, and to do that to teams that we should do it to means that we are ready to go and building momentum,” he said.

“I thought we started to play a bit more four-quarter footy (against Gold Coast) and started to put it all together a bit.

“Against Freo we adjusted a little bit after quarter-time but then started to play a bit stronger after that, so I think that is a positive that we can take out of it and just keep building on what our best brand looks like.” LETHAL’S PRAISE FOR CHRIS SCOTT — PAGE 44