Henderson, Fort stake AFL claims in VFL win over Magpies

GEELONG VFL coach Shane O’Bree has declared key talls Lachie Henderson and Darcy Fort ready for an AFL call-up after starring for the Cats in yesterday’s practice match.

O’Bree also sang the praises of ball magnets Jordan Cunico and Quinton Narkle as Geelong’s VFL outfit chalked up a comfortable 17-point win over the Pies at the Holden Centre.

The Cats had a host of AFLlisted players line up in the VFL, including Zac Smith, Ryan Abbott, Zach Guthrie and Jamaine Jones, just hours before the seniors ran out across the road at the MCG.

“It was a good scrap,” O’Bree said post match.

“It was a good contested game, a high-pressure game and Collingwood are very good at that.”

O’Bree lauded Henderson, who he admitted was squeezed out of the AFL side for team balance.

“He’s the unlucky guy ... they can’t fit him in,” O’Bree said. “His attitude coming back to VFL level is fantastic, he’s a leader and we’ve got a young backline with Stefan (Okunbor), Blake (Schlensog), plus the VFL boys, so to take them under his wing and teach them how to play team defence, I thought he was super with all of that.

“He was a bit rusty with a few of his kicks and decisions, but it was just good for Hendo to play a game of footy where he’s comfortable and a leader for us.”

O’Bree was also happy with talls Wylie Buzza, Smith and in particular Fort, who clunked some big marks and kicked three goals.

“He was super, Forty, really good,” O’Bree said. “He did a lot of follow-up work, took some marks, kicked some goals. Buzz’s leadership ... he tried his heart out and he probably just needs reward for effort at times, but he got high up the ground and got a bit of the ball.

“It was good for Zac Smith to get through a game of football. During the year we might have a bit of flexibility and we might be able to throw them in different positions and have a look at them.

“All those guys that we mentioned could play AFL but it’s about options in the AFL team. They just got to earn their spot.”

Cunico and Narkle amassed plenty of the footy to be among the Cats’ best.

“They probably set the scene around the contest,” O’Bree said.

“It was one of Narks’ emphasis before the game and it’s one of his strengths — his oneon-one ability to pressure in the contest — and he did it really well.

“Jordan Cunico played mid all game and at this level he looks confident, so when he plays AFL he looks as confident as he does in the VFL.”

O’Bree said he was pleased with the chemistry of the team, with a host of fresh faces at both VFL and AFL level.

“We’re hoping to create that bond with the whole VFLAFL alignment. After today we’ll gain a lot of confidence,” he said.