Cats shadow win after loss to Roos

Hamish Heard
Geelong coach Mark Thompson is confident the side can bounce back from two losses on the trot to beat Richmond in Sunday’s feline encounter with the Tigers at Telstra Dome.
Thompson this week urged supporters not to slash their wrists over a form slump that led to the Cats losing to the Kangaroos in a scrappy performance at the Cattery last weekend.
“Two weeks ago we weren’t in such a bad position so we shouldn’t be jumping at shadows,” he said.
Not even the fact Thompson this week replaced Roos’ coach Dean Laidley as the coach bookmakers considered most likely to be sacked at the season’s end was enough to rattle the Cats coach.
“It might be doom and gloom out there but we know the foundations are pretty right,” he said.
“It wasn’t a great week for us on the field but this week we’ll have an opportunity and I’m sure we’ll play a lot better.”
Thompson called on the club’s senior players to dig deep for the weekend’s clash.
“Leadership is not just one man’s responsibility,” he said.
“There’s a whole group of people who have to stand up and help and that’s the real key to the future of the club.”
Geelong fans will welcome news Steve Johnson is back in the mix for senior selection after being suspended from the senior side for the first five rounds following a drunken escapade at Wangaratta in the offseason.
Thompson said the wayward Cat was ready to return after turning his life around off the field and four solid performances in the VFL side.
“He’s had a talk with the leadership boys and they’ve lifted the ban on him, so he’s ready to play which is a great thing,” Thomson said.
“He’s won the respect of the players off field and now he’s got to play with them and earn the respect of the players on field as well which is the next challenge.”
Thomson said Johnson had returned from his exile fitter and more mature.