It is rare for a young player to make a significant leap in a single season, it is even rarer for it to come from a rookie listed player, but Ollie Dempsey continues to impress.
One of the favourites to win the Telstra Rising Star, Dempsey started the season as a forward with just seven AFL games under his belt, but has become one of the brightest young talents with a swift move onto the wing.
Dempsey’s 2024 season is a testament to hard work and dedication, along with the continual commitment to development from Geelong’s coaching staff.
The secret? Competing with a smile on his face.
“I was really blessed to get selected full stop I reckon, just playing a few games of footy in my year 12 season after coming back to footy from basketball,” Dempsey said on his episode of Driven.
“It motivated me being on the rookie list, but I just looked to get better every training session and every offseason that was the goal to keep improving.
“I got lucky enough to land at the Cats and I still try to play with that same level of fun, smiling through every game, enjoying the opportunity.
“I am blessed to be a footballer for my living.”
The shift to the wing has seemed to unlock Dempsey’s potential, using his aerobic capacity to patrol the widest spaces of every ground.
It was a move concocted in the depths of GMHBA Stadium, with Dempsey and the coaching staff coming together to decide where he would be best suited in 2024.
“The change came through conversation with Scotty, Steven King and James Rahilly.
“We figured out where they can play me best, working to my strengths and I think we have a really good forward line which allowed me to go up to the wing.
“The coaches have been really good with me, talking me through it and trusting me.”
The process was not necessarily a quick one for Dempsey, who developed his craft at VFL level for the majority of his first two seasons with the Cats.
Seven AFL games in two years gave Dempsey a taste of life at the top level, giving him added motivation to work hard and cement his spot in the starting 22.
“It was good to get the development in the first couple of years, really building from year one to year two and then I was able to get my opportunity in the AFL more regularly in 2024.
“I learned a lot from my two years playing mostly VFL with a taste of AFL games in between.
“It is definitely good to build with a few of the young guys playing at that level.
“I had that hunger to play regular senior footy which was my goal coming into preseason, I was able to work on a few of my strengths and my weaknesses as well to keep getting better.
“I have been blessed enough to get regular opportunities this year which is nice.”
It has been an exciting third season, Dempsey has played every game in 2024 with hopefully plenty more in the Hoops ahead for the Cats #28.
