Jed Bews put in the hard yards this year in the VFL to earn his spot back at the top level, touching on the importance of his family throughout 2024 when he joined RSN Breakfast this week.
In his 13th season at Geelong, Bews played 13 games with the VFL Cats this year before earning a recall to the AFL side in round 20 against North Melbourne.
The small defender showed his importance in the Qualifying Final win over Port Adelaide, playing a significant lockdown role on Willi Rioli to help the Cats secure victory.
Bews opened up on his 2024 season when he joined RSN’s Breakfast with Harf, noting how he leaned on his father’s (Andrew Bews) experience to help him through.
“There was definitely some stressful periods in there, especially getting later in the season,” Bews said.
“I wasn't sure if I would get myself back in the side, but I have a few good people around me like my parents to lean on whenever I need it.
“That has been great this year, especially my old man because he has been through everything I have and probably more.
“Just to get his perspective and his assistance has been great, so that one was one big thing that helped.”
The Cats continue preparations for Saturday’s big clash against Brisbane, set to be the third time in five years they have faced the Lions in a Preliminary Final.
2022 was the last time the two sides have squared off in the penultimate week of the season, with Geelong cruising to a 71-point win to secure a Grand Final berth.
Both teams have had significant changes to their side in the two years following that game, with Bews saying that the Cats are not reminiscing on that match ahead of this weekend’s clash.
“It hasn't been mentioned a lot, probably more in the media than internally,” Bews said.
“For us it is a completely different look, even for the Lions their team is completely different so it is going to be a different game.
“Hopefully for us it will be the same end result, but the journey itself will be different with the new faces we have in the team.
“We have a lot of younger guys, they have come in and brought that excitement. It is a different looking team to 2022.”
