TAKE YOUR CHANCE
Opportunities await for young Cats onballers
GEELONG’S emerging onballers will have a chance to push for a starting midfield spot as the Cats continue building for the future while keeping an eye on the present.
The so-called ‘holy trinity’ of Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield are set to spend less time in the middle of the ground in 2019.
It creates an opening for the likes of Quinton Narkle, Brandan Parfitt and the untried Charlie Constable to step in alongside Scott Selwood, Mitch Duncan and Tim Kelly this year.
GEELONG’S emerging onballers will have a chance to push for a starting midfield spot as the Cats continue building for the future while keeping an eye on the present.
The so-called ‘holy trinity’ of Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood and Patrick Dangerfield are set to spend less time in the middle of the ground in 2019, with Ablett likely to play predominantly as a forward and Dan- gerfield and Selwood expected to split their time between the midfield and attack.
It creates an opening for the likes of Quinton Narkle, Brandan Parfitt and the untried Charlie Constable to step in alongside Scott Selwood, Mitch Duncan and Tim Kelly this year. Geelong midfield coach Matthew Knights said Constable and Parfitt appeared ready to take the next step.
“We’d certainly like Charlie to get an opportunity in the JLT — even though that is not a lock — and I think one of the things that we have said from the start of pre-season this year with the midfield group is they really have to earn their spots and that competition for spots is open,” Knights said.
“The great thing about Charlie is he has embraced that and has taken on some of our experienced midfielders in match play or in one-on-one contested situations, so he is trying to develop himself as quickly as possible, which has pleased all of us.
“Brandan has played forward the last couple of years and I think it is a good natural progression for him to come into the midfield and be a contested player. He is quick on his feet and with his hands and I think the game is heading towards that so he is someone that can complement Pat and Joel and Scott Selwood and Mitch Duncan because he is a very different player.
“Getting the right balance of players in there is certainly important and Brandan presents something different so we are quite excited about what he is going to do this year in the midfield.”
Constable’s endurance was seen an issue but he has worked to increase his fitness.
Knights said while the postseason rule changes, particularly surrounding the six-sixsix starting positions, would see teams place an even greater emphasis on winning clearances at centre bounces this season, two-way running would still play a key role.
“I think every club all over Australia is talking about the significance of getting the ball forward from centre bounces or playing the game in your half because it is going to be quite difficult to get the ball back out,” he said.
“So having really good contested players at the centre bounces is crucial, but also, once the ball moves, because the game will be really open, those players are going to have to be able to get to other parts of the ground really quickly.”