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.<\/p>\n
But the four-time premiership midfielder remains buoyant about the Cats and is unconcerned about Chris Scott’s extended absence through the pre-season, pointing to the extensive experience through their coaching staff.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
He also pointed to a tough opening month – Gold Coast away, Fremantle and Adelaide at home and then the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“Reset and understand the new season will bring different challenges – the draw is difficult, it is for everyone.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“There are a few challenges in it.”<\/p>\n
Selwood, now a Seven Network commentator, calls himself “a friend of Geelong … a fan, too”.<\/p>\n
He looks at their list and says “the storyline will go on”.<\/p>\n
One pre-season development that does not bother him is Scott’s notable absence.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
“This is a program that has been set up and well-supported for a moment like this.<\/p>\n
“It’s also to give those guys a chance to look at a pre-season and to play to think out.<\/p>\n
“While it’s really good for Chris and it looks a little bit different, it’s great for those other guys.”<\/p>\n
Selwood is keen to see Tanner Bruhn play off half-back in his comeback AFL season.<\/p>\n
Bruhn missed all last year because of legal proceedings, with charges against him dropped.<\/p>\n
Mitch Duncan has retired and Selwood sees Bruhn as a good replacement.<\/p>\n
“This year, he just has to look at it – he’s starting again,” Selwood said of Bruhn.<\/p>\n
“I would look to play him off a half-back flank.<\/p>\n
“(Duncan) was a good mark, kick and ‘speed-on-game’ player. Tanner could be that sort of player – that ‘bounce’ off the backline.<\/p>\n
“Think of (Brisbane’s) Dayne Zorko, moved from the midfield. If he’s creative enough, he’ll take risks with the ball when needed.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully he’ll learn the game from behind the ball.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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 four-time premiership midfielder remains buoyant about the Cats and is unconcerned about Chris Scott’s extended absence through the pre-season, pointing to the extensive experience through their coaching staff. […]<\/p>\n