YOUNG CAT JORDAN CLARK TAKES US INTO GEELONG’S INNER SANCTUM FOR A GLIMPSE AT HOW THE CLUB HAS HANDLED THE BUILD-UP TO THE PREMIERSHIP DECIDER

SATURDAY

THERE was a great mood in our group when the final siren rang after the preliminary final win over Brisbane.

“The bankers” — that’s what we call our VFL team or non-selected players like myself — were all there at the Gabba barracking hard.

We’ve said all along it will take more than 22 players to win this premiership. We need all 46 players contributing, plus all the coaches, other staff at the club and the families and loved ones who support all those people. As much as I’d love to be in the team, that hasn’t worked out for me this season, so I have to channel my energy into helping our club be its best.

SUNDAY

THOSE of us without family up here in Queensland are staying at the Sharks’ venue, while the other players are with their loved ones at the Royal Pines Resort.

A lot’s been made of the fact the Richmond families are also staying at Royal Pines. I’m sure that’s a little bit weird for them all, but we’re all getting used to this being an unusual year.

Recovery was the focus for the 22 blokes who played the night before. For the rest of us, it was important we had a solid workout. We had a 90-minute match-like training session.

The boys are excited to be in the grand final, but aren’t getting over-the-top excited.

We’ve got lots of experience in our squad, leaders who’ve been to the grand final before and know what it’s all about. They’re making sure the team stays focused and is in the best possible nick.

MONDAY

ROUTINE and familiarity are important when you’re in a team, and our session was like so many other Mondays, not just in Queensland, but what we would do if we were at home down in Geelong.

We had a “craft” training session to work on our skills and ball handling, and light physical work, including ticking our legs over on the bikes and hit the gym for pilates.

There was plenty of free time for us bankers, so Cooper Stephens and I got in a few holes of golf and spent time at the beach and in the pool.

News broke that Jeremy Cameron wants to come to our club next year. It’s not something I heard many of the lads talking about, but I’m sure everyone was aware.

It sounds like Jeremy has given our club a vote of confidence, but our club has other things to worry about now.

TUESDAY

MORE craft work, this time within our line groups.

The senior group split off with their line coaches for meeting and analysis of the video from Saturday night's game to see what worked and what didn’t against Brisbane.

The reserve players were divided into two groups to train at a later time. Everyone seems relaxed, but focused.

WEDNESDAY

THIS is our main training session and it’s at night under lights, like most of our matches this season and, for the first time ever, the grand final.

It’s a competitive training session, and all the bankers are given specific roles, often trying to replicate certain players on the Richmond list; I might

be asked to do the Jayden Short role and carry the ball out of defence.

More important is the directive that we all need to bring the heat and put the senior boys under Richmond-like pressure.

Aside from training under match-like conditions, the advantage of training at night is that it allows us players to refine our preparation technique for match days.

Until you get to the AFL you don’t get many chances to play at night, and it can be a strange experience at first to wake up and have so long ahead of you before a match.

I’m sticking to my usual routine. I sleep in, head for a walk and grab a coffee. I have a light breakfast before a swim, grabbing another coffee, and chilling out. I spend time on the PlayStation with mates at home in WA.

About 3.30pm, I grab a pretraining meal — chicken and salad roll — then do some work on the shoulder I injured this year, to make sure there’s no chance of re-injuring it.

Training is tough and hard. We do our best to give the senior guys the best possible preparation. When we return to the hotel, I find it easy to fall asleep.

THURSDAY

IT’S a day off. I get in a full 18 holes of golf with Cooper, Jacob Kennerley and Blake Schlensog.

The young guys like to stick together. That’s been handy this year because there have been times when each of us has found life difficult.

When we left Victoria in July, it was going to be for three weeks, then 30 days, and now it’s something like four months. We know it’s the same for everyone back home in Vic and we’re thinking of them all.

For us, in a team environment but not in the team, there have been times of frustration, especially as the chances to push your case for selection have been so limited.

I’ll be honest, there have been times this year I’ve thought this isn’t in me any more, but us young blokes have stuck together and helped each other through.

Now the team has made the grand final, we can see that it’s all been worth it.

We’re very lucky with all our staff and senior players. No one is better than our skipper Joel Selwood. To see how he has led the team this year — and how he’s made everyone feel part of the cause — is to see great leadership up close.

After golf it’s raining but nice and warm in the water, so I enjoy a swim before taking Blics (Mark Blicavs) and Joel on in a few games of pool.

They’re better players than me, but I scrap my way to a couple of wins.

FRIDAY

CAPTAIN’S run day is the easiest footy training you’ll do. Basically, what you do is up to you.

It’s exclusively a session for the squad of 25 or 26 in line for selection. The rest of us have a spirited game of touch rugby.

From what I’m told, this training session on the day before the grand final would usually be a big deal.

It’s nine years since our club was last in a grand final, but we still have Joel, Gary Ablett, Tom Hawkins, Harry Taylor and Mitch Duncan from that era, and a few younger guys who were kids in Geelong at the time. They tell me it’s pretty amazing when the team is in the grand final, with blue and white all over town, and thousands of fans showing up to our open training session.

I’m really hoping to experience it next year.

Before then I can assure the Cats faithful of Geelong their boys are ready.