YOUTH A FORCE — LUKE
Young Cats leading the way, says Dahlhaus:
GEELONG forward Luke Dahlhaus has declared the Cats have significant improvement to make next year, driven by youth.
Dahlhaus said he only sees improvement in a side that finished the home-and-away season on top of the ladder, thanks to the continued growth of a young group that has driven standards during pre-season.
“A lot of the boys have come back in really good nick,” Dahlhaus said.
“The younger boys are running around looking really good and keeping the older boys on their toes, which is what we need to get to that next level.
“We need those young boys coming through.
“We have a lot of improvement in us. For a team that finished top there is a lot of improvement to come.”
Dahlhaus and fellow forward Gary Rohan resumed training early after a break.
While he was keen to get back into training, the former Bulldog had also become restless on the couch.
“There was a week there where I was just sitting at home watching daytime TV, so I thought I may as well just get back into it,” Dahlhaus said.
“This year I felt really keen to come back. I had my holidays and went away and did everything I needed to do and just thought, ‘I may as well go in and kick footies with someone instead of kicking the ball myself’.
“I’m glad I did it, because I definitely feel a lot better for it.”
Switching clubs appeared smooth for Dahlhaus, who had an instant impact as a pressure forward in 24 games for the Cats this year.
But after getting close in 2019, the 27-year-old is driven to add a second premiership medallion to his collection after winning it all with the Western Bulldogs in 2016.
The first few days at GMHBA Stadium were tense for Dahlhaus. “I’m heaps more relaxed now, this time last year it was sort of feeling like going to a new school,” he said.
“I was pretty nervous coming in, but I’ve made lifelong friends already in the course of a year and the boys have been really good, really welcoming.”