By Luke Voogt
Geelong Cats will walk a “fine line” between toughening up and staying fresh for the restart of the season, according to defender Tom Stewart.
“Game simulation” and “contact conditioning” would be vital to Geelong’s preparation, Stewart said on Tuesday, just before the Cat’s first full training session since COVID-19 restrictions halted the season.
“You can’t flog yourself too much in the two weeks until round 2,” the All-Australian defender told a press conference.
“These next two weeks are super-important but our group’s just itching to get out there and have a crack.
“It’s going to be so different to anything anybody’s ever experienced in the AFL world, so you’ve just got to do it as well as you can and hope that you’re ready when that first bounce goes.”
The Cats would have a home ground advantage in three of the next four games, despite crowds not being allowed to attend, Stewart said.
“We train here every session so we like to know the little nuances, like what happens here with the wind and everything like that.”
The “skinnier” GMHBA Stadium suited the Cats, he said.
“I think teams can get cramped in a bit here … we just love defending this ground really well and making it as small as possible.”
Geelong take on arch-rivals Hawthorn at Kardinia Park for the first time in 14 years on June 12.
“I’m not sure they’ll know how to get down here, the Hawks,” Stewart laughed.
“It’s exciting to play them – it’s always a great match.”
Stewart paraphrased fellow defender Harry Taylor in describing the Cats’ approach to the restart.
“It’s almost like you start all over again,” he said.
“We’re four points back in terms of some teams but we just like to attack it as though it’s round one.”
Stewart was keen to “see all the boys” in-person after training in small groups.
The COVID-19 hiatus would benefit players like captain Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan, who had shorter preseasons due to minor surgery, Stewart said
He said former Saint Jack Steven was in “good spirits” during the club’s COVID-19 testing on Sunday, after he was stabbed in the chest on May 16.
“He just wants to be around the boys and get back into footy.”
Stewart said he was happy for Steven to address the incident when he felt it “necessary”.
“Obviously it’s a very sensitive issue for him but he’s smiling [and] he’s happy to be back at the club which is all we can ask at this moment.
“I don’t think anybody’s going to put pressure on him to put that sort of thing out there.”
