With a blockbuster Qualifying Final awaiting next Thursday night, the Cats have started their preparations as they look to continue their strong recent history at Adelaide Oval.
Geelong have won four of their last five games at the venue dating back to 2022, while also holding valuable experience having played two Qualifying Finals against Port Adelaide in the last four years.
The AFL’s Gather Round has also meant the Cats have been able to play at the venue more frequently, having defeated both Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval in 2024.
Tom Atkins spoke to media during a press conference on Tuesday, noting that the team feels comfortable heading to Adelaide next Thursday night.
“We have been over there to face Port Adelaide twice in Finals recently, it is always a big challenge playing them at their home ground,” Atkins said.
“We are very comfortable at Adelaide Oval though, we play there at least once a year and with Gather Round it becomes twice a year.
“We were back in at the club pretty early, didn't have too many days off after the West Coast game.
“I think everyone is super excited to get over to Adelaide and get our Finals campaign started.”
The Cats secured a top four spot for the 14th time in the last 18 seasons, bouncing back strongly after missing the Finals in 2023.
For Atkins it will be his fifth Finals series in six seasons at Geelong, after joining the Cats AFL list in 2019.
Atkins said it is exciting to be back in the thick of the action heading into September, with the group confident about what they can achieve in the Finals series.
“It definitely felt weird last year missing Finals, it didn't feel like us,” Atkins said.
“I am very fortunate to be at this club, where we have had such great success over the years and it was an outlier in my career.
“We have made plenty of Preliminary Finals in the time I have been here, so to miss Finals definitely stung and I think that was seen in the way we came back for preseason.
“We really got after it, you combine that attitude with some of the improvement we have had from our younger players, we feel confident that our footy is the best.”
Follow the link below to see the Cats Finals Hub for all information heading into September.
