All star: Gary Ablett says Geelong has underdog status for the showdown with the Pies. Picture: Tommy Ritchie 36612
Andrew Mathieson
by andrew mathieson
GEELONG players believe behind the scenes that a tough finals campaign places the Cats in the box seat to advance into this year’s AFL grand final.
But one of the 2010 All-Australian Cats still admits they are “going in as underdogs” for this Friday night’s preliminary final against minor premier Collingwood.
Geelong superstar Gary Ablett said he was aware punters were backing the in-form Magpies to upset the defending champions.
“They’ve had a fantastic season,” he said at this week’s All-Australian awards.
“They ended up on top of the ladder but the great thing about the boys down at Geelong is that we love a challenge – and it is a big challenge for us.
“We’re going in as underdogs, so we’ll see how we go.”
Ablett said avoiding an unscheduled rest during the finals would toughen the side’s resolve.
The Cats had to fight back against a battle-hardened St Kilda a fortnight ago but were forced to snap out of their stupor in a sudden death semi-final win over Fremantle.
“We definitely did struggle a little bit to get going when having the week off,” Ablett said.
“It’s hard to work out whether you should train hard in that week off or take it easy.
“We hope Collingwood will have the same troubles and it will give us a bit of an advantage.”
Still, Geelong could be carrying injuries into the game to forwards James Podsiadly (ankle) and Paul Chapman (hamstring).
Coach Mark Thompson earlier this week declared the pair would overcome their niggles sustained in last Friday night’s 69-point smashing of the Dockers.
Defender Harry Taylor only had to look back to history when the Cats struggled to win their 2007 and 2008 preliminary finals. Collingwood almost caused the boilover in the 2007 clash but Geelong turned the tables in a 76-point thumping last year.
The rising centre half-back, who was one of six Cats named in the All-Australian team, also predicted a disjointed preparation for the Pies.
“I’m not all that sure it’s a big advantantage.
“AFL footballers are very much creatures of habit and we’re very used to playing every weekend and it comes to the stage when you have a weekend off it seems quite strange.
“It can be difficult to know how to actually prepare, knowing you’re not playing that week.
“I wouldn’t say it’s going to hinder them but it’s something they’ll have to prepare for as a club as best they can.”
Cats Corey Enright in the back pocket, Joel Selwood on the wing, Paul Chapman at half-forward flank and Steve Johnson on the interchange joined Ablett and Taylor in the all-Australian side.
