With the Cats looking to build momentum heading towards September, Tom Atkins is producing some of his toughest and best football at just the right time.
Atkins put together a remarkable performance on Sunday against North Melbourne, picking up 25-disposals, seven-clearances and 14 contested-possessions to lead the Cats to victory.
Matched up with North Melbourne star, Luke Davies-Uniacke for much for the afternoon, Atkins laid a whopping 14-tackles to help stifle the Kangaroos midfield throughout the game.
The contested masterclass from Atkins saw him awarded the most coaches votes of anyone on the ground, eclipsing other strong performances from Gryan Miers and Mitch Duncan.
Cameron Ling and Meg McDonald discussed Atkins’ impressive showing during this week’s episode of the ‘To the Final Bell’, podcast.
“Tom Atkins was just superb again with 25-touches, 14-tackles and seven-clearances from that game,” Ling said.
“I thought out of the Sydney game, which was a bit of a messy game from the Cats perspective, he was one of the Cats best and he is in terrific form."
"He is going really well and speaking about a number of players who are reclaiming their 2022 form, he is certainly one of them,” McDonald added.
“He's not the same size as a Dangerfield, but the has the same hunt, hardness and will to get the football."
Atkins currently sits on 98-games played in his AFL career, with the tough onballer due to play his 100th against Brisbane in a fortnight.
Having finished in the top ten for tackles in 2022, the 27-year-old has laid the fifth most tackles of any player in the AFL this season, averaging nearly eight-tackles per game in 2023.
Having built a career around contested football, Ling and McDonald said they love the way he goes about it.
“I look at him and I love his walk,” McDonald said.
“You know when he's done something hard on the ground because his shoulders go forward, and he walks back like he just wants to get back to work.”
Atkins hitting top form has also been the case for a number of Geelong’s crucial players, as the Cats look to build momentum in the run towards finals.
Tyson Stengle was lively against North Melbourne booting five goals, Gryan Miers amassed a career-high 32-disposals in the win and Jack Henry picked off seven intercept possessions.
Ling and McDonald discussed the Cats finals hopes on the podcast, with positive signs being shown right across the starting 22.
"I look at the form of some of the unsung heroes,” Ling said.
"It's that type of player that drove the 2022 Premiership. You had Tom Atkins playing just brilliant football, and another one starting to recapture last year's form is Tyson Stengle.
"They don't have to have the greatest game they've ever had, but they have to deliver to their expectations and that allows the top players to shine even brighter.
"I look at Geelong and I see that group of players really starting to get rolling."
Geelong will look to continue their momentum this Saturday night, when they take on Essendon in a top-eight battle at GMHBA Stadium.
