Debut gave young Cat a real buzz

NEW Geelong cult figure Wylie Buzza has recalled the moment Daniel Menzel told him he would make his AFL debut in the frantic moments before last Saturday night’s match against GWS.

The 21-year-old, originally from Gatton, kicked two goals against the Giants after Menzel was withdrawn during the warm-up with a knee issue.

It all happened so quickly his family could not attend. But they will be there for his second game when the Cats are hosted by the Lions at the Gabba tonight.

“It was pretty crazy,” Buzza said.

“Dan Menzel just came in and said ‘congratulations, mate, you’re going to be playing, just go and do what you do’.

“I was like ‘what do I do? Where do I go now?’ Everyone was still outside (doing the warm-up), so they sent me outside, I stood in the race, had to wait for permission to be allowed on to the ground.

“It was a crazy feeling and I had all our great leaders get around me, just saying ‘have fun, play your role’.

“It was a bit of a shock. I had Timm House there – the other emergency – and we were just having a bit of a kick and a bit of a yarn (in the rooms), then Menz came storming in.

“He just came up, shook my hand and said ‘you’re in’. I was gobsmacked.”

Buzza was the first Geelong player since Cameron Ling in round 10, 2000, to make their AFL debut in a draw. It was also the first time since round one, 2002, that the Cats wheeled out three debutants in one match.

“I remember nearly every bit of it,” he said. “My first kick got smothered, so I’m going to remember that.

“But when I kicked my first goal, I had Andrew Mackie get around me, that was one of my favourite (moments) and what a feeling that was.

“That’s what our whole football club’s about. If we do get a chance, they always remind us that they have great faith in us.”