Tom Atkins kicked off the Gather Round festivities, fronting the media for a press conference opportunity on Monday morning.
The tough on-baller has made a record-breaking start to the 2025 season, becoming the first player in V/AFL history to lay 10 tackles or more in each of his first four games.
See what he had to say ahead of the Cats clash with the Crows at Adelaide Oval.
Atkins on his tackling record
It is hard, you sort of just play footy and don't notice it.
Brisbane was a really wet game, then against the Saints we were defending for a lot of the game. You can't read too much into those things, I am just playing footy and I am a defensive midfielder so those things are going to happen.
It is just the way I play I guess, it is what I fall back on and sometimes that is how the game plays out.
It might just be that the stars have aligned and we had four games in a row that have been very contested.
Atkins on Dangerfield's impact
He was still one of our better centre bounce players on the weekend, anywhere he plays he is a tough match-up.
I don't think there is anyone in the league really that would feel comfortable playing on Paddy, so it is more about how we can best use him.
On the weekend it was a great balance of that.
He was able to impact the scoreboard, but also his power around the contest at times helped us drive the ball forward.
Atkins on Shaun Mannagh's return
I forget about Shaun because he is a mature-age, it feels like he has been part of the team forever now.
Having him back on the weekend gives us an extra punch around the ball, he is very clean and good with his use as well.
We loved having him back and we are looking forward to seeing what he can do this year.
Atkins on the Cats young stars
Connor [O'Sullivan] has been amazing, he and Lawson [Humphries] from that same draft crop.
We can't take any credit, it has all been Connor and Lawson's hard work.
They are always in here doing touch, working on their game along with George Stevens who has been playing well in the VFL as well.
Connor is very handy, when those young players go well it really lifts the team. We are very lucky to have them.
Atkins on Adelaide's tall forwards
They are flying at the moment.
It looks like we will get Mark Blicavs back, so that will help us defensively. Obviously we lose Jack [Henry] but as always, we don't try and rely on one or two people.
It is a team effort and I think often team defence helps out those match-ups in the forward line.
If we can stop the ball further up the ground, then we won't put as much pressure on our tall backs to have an impact.
