Nervous ‘first-gamer’ can only get better
THERE are not too many four-time club best-andfairest winners who become nervous playing in front of an empty stadium.
But Geelong recruit Jack Steven could be forgiven for being slightly edgy on Saturday night.
The former St Kilda champion only found out he was playing his first game for the Cats on Friday.
Two days earlier, his coach had said it was likely he would spend his Saturday running around in a scratch match against Carlton’s nonselected AFL players.
But not long after, exciting young midfielder Brandan Parfitt pulled out of training with hamstring awareness.
Parfitt was named in the Geelong 22 on Thursday, but there was enough doubt on Friday that the Cats needed to make a call.
It was lineball, but Steven was in.
The 30-year-old admitted being nervous before the game and, at times, it showed.
Having been presented his jumper by Luke Dahlhaus and captain Joel Selwood — both of whom have grown close to the likeable midfielder — he battled to impact the contest in the way he would have hoped.
But looking only at his six disposals — on a night no less when many of his teammates also struggled — and making an assessment on what Steven might bring to the Cats would be unfair.
Quite apart from his ongoing battle with mental health, it cannot be overlooked that he was stabbed in the chest only last month.
He was out of action for two weeks and faced constant speculation — some of which bordered on victim blaming — from all corners.
His return to football should be celebrated.
In time, the Cats will look for more out of their highprofile off-season acquisition, but it must be remembered that at no point did they suggest Steven was set to be a like-for-like replacement for the outgoing Tim Kelly.
On the contrary, Geelong was quite clear the expectations on him would be minimal.
Steven has surprised some at GMHBA Stadium with his relentless running at training, and only three months ago on the eve of the season was close to his team’s best performer against Essendon in the Marsh Series game in Colac.
He has become much loved in very little time at the Cats and he will be given every opportunity to show he still has what it takes again.
There will be plenty of competition for places after some impressive performances in Geelong’s scratch match against the Blues and, at times, the selectors may rotate Steven — and others — out to ensure those players are rewarded.
But Cats fans and commentators should cut him some slack.
It might not have been his night against Carlton, but his time will come.