WINNING & ABLE
THE memory of a stunning win over the Western Bulldogs will help Geelong as it embarks on the run towards the finals, Cats forward Tom Atkins says.
Mature heads in the Cats side allowed them to stay the course when facing a 37-point deficit on Friday night and Atkins believes the experience will hold his team in good stead for the rest of the season.
Coach Chris Scott urged Geelong to eat away at the
Bulldogs’ lead and it wasn’t until a Tom Hawkins goal in the final five minutes that the Cats finally took the lead.
Atkins said the victory would foster belief in the Geelong group.
“It’s definitely something you can draw on down the line,” he said.
“Each game is so different but it is nice to have that memory in your head that when you were down by so much you can just trust the system and it will all work out.
“Everyone knew that anyway going in (to the match) and it’s always nice to get wins like that.
“It’s a lot more fun when you win those, obviously.”
Geelong has been among the flag favourites in previous seasons but Atkins said the extra year of experience on the list had the club in prime position to attack the finals.
Of the players in blue and white on Friday night, only Brad Close had less than 30 games of experience and just he, Atkins, Gryan Miers and
Mark O’Connor had played less than 50.
“We are a year older than what we were last year,” Atkins said. “There are a lot of the players in the team that have another year under their belts now … that experience helps you to just know that if you stick to the way you play, it should work out.”
With 18 players available for the Cats’ scratch match on Saturday, depth is another factor working in Geelong’s favour.
As the Cats begin to lock