A bruising grand final loss and a testing start to the AFL season have Geelong great Joel Selwood seeing new challenges for his old club.
But the two-time premiership midfielder remains buoyant about the Cats and is unconcerned about Chris Scott’s extended absence through preseason, pointing to the extensive experience through their coaching staff.
Remarkable consistency has been the hallmark of Scott’s 15-year tenure as coach, which has featured two premierships and only two finishes outside the top eight.
While they also lost the 2020 grand final to Richmond, and won the flag two years later, this time they are coming off a bad second half on the last Saturday in September against Brisbane.
For all the annual talk of ‘write Geelong off at your peril’, Selwood agreed there are grand final ghosts that cannot follow Geelong into this season.
He also pointed to a tough opening month – Gold Coast away, Fremantle and Adelaide at home and then the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.
“There is something – off the back of those tough losses in grand finals that we’ve seen in previous years … it’s making sure you heal the wounds a little bit, and don’t go in too bruised,” Selwood told AAP.
“Reset and understand the new season will bring different challenges – the draw is difficult, it is for everyone.
“There’s is one they’ll have to get their head around pretty quickly, balance out when they want to play their best footy and when they just want to grind away. There are a few challenges in it.”
Selwood, now a Seven Network commentator, calls himself “a friend of Geelong … a fan, too”.
He looks at their list and says “the storyline will go on”.
One preseason development that does not bother him is Scott’s notable absence.
“The guys who are there are maybe the next coaches in line – James Rahilly has been in the system for a hell of a long time, James Kelly, Nigel Lappin, and Bucks (Nathan Buckley) has come in,” Selwood said.
“This is a program that has been set up and well-supported for a moment like this. It’s also to give those guys a chance to look at a pre-season and to play to think out.
“While it’s really good for Chris and it looks a little bit different, it’s great for those other guys.”
Selwood is keen to see Tanner Bruhn play off half-back in his comeback AFL season.
Bruhn missed all last year because of legal proceedings, with charges against him dropped.
Mitch Duncan has retired and Selwood sees Bruhn as a good replacement.
“This year, he just has to look at it – he’s starting again,” Selwood said of Bruhn.
“I would look to play him off a half-back flank. (Duncan) was a good mark, kick and ‘speed-on-game’ player. Tanner could be that sort of player – that ‘bounce’ off the backline.
“Think of (Brisbane’s) Dayne Zorko, moved from the midfield. If he’s creative enough, he’ll take risks with the ball when needed. Hopefully he’ll learn the game from behind the ball.”
