By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong’s band of flexible, athletic ruckmen is looking good, with last season’s surprise packet Rhys Stanley back in full training.
Injuries restricted the rucking output for the Cats last season, especially after Stanley went down with a foot injury during a breakout game against Port Adelaide.
He had four pins inserted in his right foot and began the long rehabilitation process.
“It’s going really well, I’ve been able to string some sessions together, which has been really good,” Stanley said after training at the Geelong Baseball Centre this week.
“The surgeon is happy, the physio is happy, the docs are happy so I’m happy.”
Stanley said he expected to continue doing full training with the main group, with “some top up running on the side just to get that fitness level back up to where the boys are at”.
Stanley said he was aiming for a comeback in the NAB Cup.
“I feel that if I can fully train and tick that off there’s no reason why I couldn’t play some NAB Cup.”
Stanley said he had been frustrated by his injury but seeing “blokes like Daniel Menzel and there’s a few at this footy club that have been through a bit and that puts everything into perspective.
“There are guys that have only been able to string one or two games together in four years.
“It’s just another challenge. It’s part of the game, every footballer has them and it just how you come out the other end.”
Stanley said the playing group was excited about the prospect for the season ahead.
“It’s pretty exciting. Internally (we are) doing the week to week thing, externally there’s a bit of excitement.
“We’re enjoying it, we’ve just got to live up to it and do the little things well.
“It’s definitely an exciting time for the club and the list we’ve got together is pretty talented.
“Competition for spots is healthy, all the big guys are really healthy this year, everyone’s training really well, so it’s fantastic for the group.
“You come off the track and look at each other and think you had a good session and gave each other a bit and you think you got something out of it.
“That’s the competition that’s healthy. There’s a real competiveness in the drills we are doing because it’s only going to make us better.
“There’s some big ruckmen in the league and we probably don’t have the biggest bodied guys and I think that really competitive stuff we are doing will hold us in good stead.”
Stanley was impressed with the training form of Gold Coast acquisition Zac Smith.
“He’s a good ruckman, he’s a big boy, very tall, and his reach is frustrating at times.
“You think you’ve got him pinned down and he just reaches over the top of you. He’s running really well.”
