WE CAN CHANGE TOO — SELWOOD
GEELONG captain Joel Selwood says his team can heed the lessons learnt from this year’s grand finalists West Coast and Collingwood as it looks to improve on its eighth-place finish next season.
But the champion midfielder says he is confident the Cats have built a list that is capable of achieving something special in 2019.
The Magpies missed the top eight last season, while Adam Simpson’s men were eighth on the ladder before exiting in the second week of finals.
But both sides transformed their off-field demeanour in the pre-season, which was reflected in their rise up the ladder this year.
Selwood said Geelong would look to figure out what changes it had to make to get back to consistently playing its best football and begin the climb up the ladder, with West Coast and Collingwood an example of how quickly things can turn around.
“I always look at things in a positive manner and what we need to do is have a look at these couple of weeks that we have been out of finals and have a look at how teams have been maybe doing it better than us,” Selwood said.
“We will work out a plan about how to go about it to take the next step we need to, but we do have a strong list, there is no doubt about that.
“But the two sides that play off this weekend finished in the bottom half of the ladder last year and have given themselves a crack this year, so things that you change really quickly, they can make a big difference.
“Looking at both sides now, I picture West Coast and they are dancing in the rooms before the game and Collingwood, you just see them having fun during the week, so read into that what you want.
“But I am more looking at on-field stuff, and both groups, things are coming pretty naturally to them and they are just playing organic footy and are really enjoying what they are doing.”
The list changes at Geelong have already begun, with six players delisted in the days after the club bowed out of finals and small forward Lincoln McCarthy recently requesting a trade to Brisbane. taller than me now,” Selwood said.
“But it is amazing to be back here, I have been doing it for 10 years and they are all really good kids.
“Kyle has been well brought up so I haven’t had to do too much but I have been interested in him and he has shown great manners all the way along, so he caught my attention big time.
“At the moment he is running a 2km time trial that is nearly competitive with mine so he is ready to take me on and it won’t be too long.
There are likely to be several more departures and arrivals at the Cats in what looms as another busy trade period.
Geelong has already been linked to former local juniors Luke Dahlhaus, Gary Rohan and Jack Steven but Selwood said he had not met with any potential trade or free agency targets the Cats have in mind for next year.
“I haven’t spoken to any of the boys or our team a hell of a lot, there is still a bit of time before that trade period that I will get across what I need to but I haven’t had to play a role as of yet,” he said.
“Whether it is this pre-season or the next one I will have to make sure I stay on the ball so I can keep beating him.”
While Selwood will be 31 next year, he said if Skene kept improving as much as he has recently there was still a possibility the two could one day be playing on the same AFL field.
“He is growing and if his footy keeps going the way it is he will give himself a chance,” Selwood said.
The 10th NAB Auskicker of the Year award winner was crowned in Melbourne last night.