If you were one of Geelong’s coaching panel sitting in the stands on Friday night taking in the First Semi Final at the MCG, Cam Guthrie’s name would have flashed up on your phone more than a few times.
Between the two semi-finals and the Cats’ AFLW game on Saturday afternoon, Guthrie took in a bit of footy on his weekend off, but understandably, he was watching the Melbourne v Brisbane clash with heightened interest.
“I know our coaches went along Friday night so I was giving them a few text messages here and there just to see what they were seeing,” he told SEN on Monday.
“But I think we will really knuckle down on exactly what happened probably today and later this week and work out a plan for Friday.
“I thought Collingwood was really impressive against Freo, and the way Brisbane went about it was really impressive as well, so looking forward to meeting them on Friday night.”
Guthrie, who’ll line up for his 19th final this week has produced what’s fast become a typical Cam Guthrie season – 25 disposals, four clearances, and five tackles per game, including a 13 tackle effort against the Eagles in Round 13.
But it’s the other Guthrie, brother Zach, who’s garnered his share of the attention this year for the way he’s elevated his game, at times seamlessly filling the interceptor role in Tom Stewart's absence, but otherwise becoming a key cog in this 2022 version of the Cats.
A tight-knit clan, no one has been happier to see Zach grow into the player he has become than brother Cam.
“We're a footy-orientated family, we really enjoy each other’s success, we're there for each other, to support each other, and love chatting about whatever has happened in footy that week.
“Whether it is our performance or one of our other brothers, and that has been really encouraged by the Geelong footy club, that the family is super important.
“It's a good club to be around, plenty of family values and I think that's what we really try hard to do as the Guthries.”
Guthrie was awarded life membership of the Geelong Football Club back in July alongside close friend Mark Blicavs, and the honour clearly means a lot, however, there’s a job at hand he’s focused on.
“It was really nice to be recognised along with Mark this year by such a great organisation and footy club like Geelong,” he said.
“I guess the club really wants to see me go onto bigger and better things this year and bring the premiership cup home and that would mean the world to me and the world to the club as well.
“It's nice to be recognised for something like that but mind on the job at the same time.”
