Geelong poised to overcome lingering pain of last year’s 83-point preliminary final defeat to Melbourne

In the aftermath of the Cats’ 83-point defeat to Melbourne at Optus Stadium last year, it emerged that a host of players - including champion forwards Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron - had been unwell and that several had nearly pulled out before the game.

Months later Geelong coach Chris Scott told the AFL website that he should have asked the Cats’ medical staff about the prospect of the match being delayed given the possibility that the players had Covid-19 though they had not tested positive.

After two and a half years of pandemic life, readers will surely not need reminding about how quickly viruses can spread.

But ahead of the Cats’ first clash against the Demons since that night, defender Jed Bews, who managed to dodge the bug, has explained where the virus spread.

“I think it was the spa that got all the boys,” Bews says.

“I didn’t jump in the spa. We’re blaming that. It was like you said, a bit of carnage, it was not good, but it is what it is.”

At one point Bews wondered whether the Cats would have enough players to line up against the Dees.

“I remember there were just guys that kept, not dropping dead, but it was like ‘such and such is sick’ and then there’s another one and another one. ‘Are we going to be able to field a team?’ I wasn’t across all of it, but I know Jeremy was crook,” Bews says.

To be fair to the Cats, they have been at pains to point out that while the collective sickness didn’t help their cause, it was far from the difference on the night, and that they were comprehensively outplayed by the Dees.

Geelong’s 112-point win over North Melbourne on Saturday night moved the Cats to second on the ladder, behind only the Demons. Their meeting at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night will have the town rocking.

“It’s a privilege to be involved in these big games where there’s pressure and expectation,” Scott says.

“The town on Thursday night will be out of control. Everything‘s sold, it will just be absolutely pumping and it’s just great to be involved in those games.

“I feel privileged to have been part of a lot of big games, but I never take them for granted. They’re good practice for when the heat’s on later in the year.

“But it’s a reflection that we’ve been able to hang in there enough this year, to be in a position where we’re considered one of the contenders against the best team in the comp. We should run towards that pressure and embrace it.”

Bews said the pain of the preliminary final defeat had lingered.

“A little bit. That was probably the worst loss that I’ve been a part of. It does linger a little bit. Now we get the chance to get one back on them if we can,” Bews added.

“We definitely pencil that one [this game at the start of the year]. And we’re keen for it.

“I guess there won’t be too much training, because it’s such a short turnaround. Melbourne are the same though.”

When you play for Geelong, you win a lot more than you lose. And it was the fact that the Cats were out of the game so early that made it particularly painful.

“It was more the three-quarter time, where I was like, ‘We can’t win this’. There’s not many games you play where you don’t think you can win from three-quarter time. It was a bit flat at that three-quarter time. ‘I don’t think we can this’,” Bews recalls.

“Whereas most games whether we’re down, up, whatever, it feels like we’re a chance. So probably that moment.

“But it’s new year, new challenges, so it’s going to be good. Their form’s been up and down the last few weeks so it’s going to be good.”

The shoe was on the other foot against the Roos, with Bews barely needed as the Cats amassed a 74-25 victory in the inside 50 count.

“Especially in the last quarter I was a little bit chilly because they kept making me go deeper. But defenders having quiet nights, it’s a good thing,” Bews says.

“We seem to be playing a bit more consistent footy than we had been.

“I think some of the other results this weekend show that teams can win from wherever, so we were a bit of conscious of that.”

Bews is as Geelong as they come; his father Andrew having been a star for the club in the 1980s and 90s. The affable backman is happy to chip in around town, even moonlighting at Blank Space cafe in Newtown, a spot frequented by people from the club.

“Whenever they need me, I duck in.”

From a football perspective Bews says he’s having an “up and down” season, but is trying to keep improving by taking the game on a bit more, as evidenced by a nice baulk during a rare disposal on Saturday night.

“My focuses have been, get to my man, beat him first, and probably just play a bit more bold.”