The milestone that dogged Geelong for the higher a part of a decade now evokes the Cats’ AFL premiership defence.
New captain Patrick Dangerfield mentioned all these years of falling brief means the Cats lack nothing for perspective as they attempt to go back-to-back.
Geelong’s solely successive premierships had been in 1951-52.
The Cats have missed the finals solely as soon as since coach Chris Scott took over in 2011.
But after they gained the ’11 flag, Geelong had a variety of disappointing finals losses – a report that’s now historical past following final yr’s grand last mauling of Sydney.
Still, it leaves Dangerfield and his teammates acutely conscious they’ll take nothing without any consideration.
“The feeling from us has always been that we feel like we’re good enough. You need a lot to go right, you need luck,” he mentioned.
“It doesn’t happen in every year. There’s only one team out of 18 that truly feel totally satisfied with what they’ve achieved.
“We’ve been lucky to be in that place after we’ve gotten there, however we have additionally had, in my time on the Cats, the (six) years prior – we have faltered on the final day or the times main as much as it.
“We’re pretty pragmatic on the fact that we’ve had plenty of stuff go right for us and we’ve had times when it hasn’t gone right. We don’t feel like we’re any better than anyone else.”
Dangerfield then contemplated whether or not Geelong really feel higher ready, given they’re the reigning premiers and their hard-earned finals classes.
“Well, we know what it feels like now … which is nice,” he mentioned.
“But once again, there’s change from what was last year to this year and there will be that again. Nothing ever stays the same.”
One of the apparent modifications at Geelong is Joel Selwood’s retirement and Dangerfield taking up from him as captain.
He is considered one of a number of new AFL captains this season and simply essentially the most skilled amongst them.
Dangerfield is also blessed with loads of skilled teammates who additionally provide robust management.
“We’ve got about 10 players who have all played about 250-plus games on our list,” he mentioned.
“While it might sit as captain … our leadership is far greater-reaching than just myself and Tom (vice-captain Tom Stewart).
“We have simply such an enormous group of leaders – and throughout each line. It makes our job actually fairly simple.”
Dangerfield was asked what differences he is noticing as the new skipper.
“When I discuss, individuals should hear. That did not occur earlier than, they might simply stroll off,” he said.
More seriously, Dangerfield says last year’s big grand final win is a special memory.
“We can stroll and chew on the similar time,” he mentioned.
“We can replicate and acknowledge it was an amazing yr, a beautiful win and nonetheless concentrate on what we all know is forward, completely.
“There aren’t too many days that go by where there isn’t just a fleeting moment here or there – that was a pretty special thing to be a part of.
“So a lot of the driving issue is for our guys who did not get to expertise it – you need that feeling for them.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
