AFL 2024: Geelong’s Tom Atkins says role clarity, stability strengthened midfield in their run to a preliminary final
Ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final against Brisbane, Geelong midfielder Tom Atkins has pointed to two things in helping turn the club’s early season midfield worries around.
Geelong’s Tom Atkins has credited role clarity and a level of stability to their midfield in the second half of the year for turning a perceived weakness into a force.
As Geelong prepares for today’s preliminary final against Brisbane Lions and a midfield stacked with talent in Lachie Neale, Josh Dunkley, Hugh McCluggage and Will Ashcroft, Atkins remained confident the Cats’ own on-baller brigade could run with the best of them.
While the 29-year-old credited the team’s early 7-0 run for helping it “withstand the storm” of a mid-season lull, it was in those earlier weeks of the season Atkins also acknowledged their midfield was perhaps their weakest line.
Eighteenth in the competition for clearances and seventh for points from clearances in the first 14 rounds, the return of Patrick Dangerfield from his hamstring troubles and a midfield shake-up involving Tom Stewart saw the Cats rise to seventh and first in those areas.
While the Cats’ midfield numbers were a source of talk in the football world, Atkins said he and his teammates rarely listened to outside chatter.
“As a footballer you’re always very self-critical as it is so you don’t really need to listen too much to the external,” Atkins said.
“I’m sure everything they’re saying, you’re already thinking yourself.
“But we’re very confident we can go up against any midfield.”
Atkins felt the Cats had “found their groove” in the second half of the year, a statement which also extended to their midfield.
“Now we’ve got really good clarity on roles... we’ve had some real stability in there in terms of personnel,” he said.
“And guys have been playing really well as well.
“Bowesy’s (Jack Bowes) in great form, Tanner (Bruhn’s) in great form, and obviously Paddy’s doing his thing.”
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Atkins said having a “beast contested player” like Dangerfield in your side come finals was “worth its weight in gold”.
And when it came to a maiden final series for Bowes, and first preliminary final appearance for Bruhn, Atkins insisted both needed little guidance when it came to preparing for Saturday.
“Bowesy’s got such a cool head on his shoulders and Tanner as well, they’re both built for finals, good contested players and work really hard,” Atkins said.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong’s Tom Atkins says role clarity, stability strengthened midfield in their run to a preliminary final
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