Cats’ last word before grand final re-match We’ll show Hawks mental toughness

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG football officials have been caught in a war of words over allegations the Cats lack mental and physical ticker.
Coach Mark Thompson attempted to play down the disparaging remarks from Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett but was still quick to point to his side’s phenomenal record.
The Cats had lost just three of their past 45 matches and, despite winning the 2007 premiership, one of the losses was last year’s AFL grand final.
“I don’t actually believe the comments, to be honest,” Thompson said on Wednesday in his last media conference before Friday night’s grand final re-match.
“I think we’re a mentally tough team and physically strong.
“You couldn’t be mentally and physically switched on with the games that we’ve won – they speak for themselves.”
Earlier in the week Kennett said Geelong players lacked adequate “psychological” drive, a quality he boasted was the backbone behind the Hawks’ premiership win.
Geelong will have an early chance at redemption when the two grand finalists go head-to-head on Friday night at the MCG.
Thompson indicated talk was cheap and called for the Hawks to “bring it on”.
“It doesn’t worry me what he said.”
“I generally don’t say a lot in footy but some people do.
“Obviously Jeff does.”
Thompson now expected the opening 10 minutes to be “fast and furious”.
Cats president Frank Costa laughed off Kennett’s verbal attack, which included suggestions Geelong failed to win when it counted.
Hawthorn has won four of its past five encounters against the Cats.
“He was trying to drum up a bit of controversy and bring a bit of interest away from the Richmond-Carlton game,” Costa insisted.
“Remember, it’s Hawthorn’s home game, so I think he was thinking of finishing up with a crowd of 75,000 and it’s now shaping that way.”
“Jeff is not silly. He knows we’ve got players with very strong minds, we’ve got the best midfield in the competition and a powerful defence.
“They are not weak-minded people and he knows that.”