GEELONG captain Joel Selwood says the Cats are relishing the opportunity to prove their worth in the pressure cooker of finals football.
The veteran of 11 finals series says he’s more focused on what’s about to unfold in his 12th series as opposed to accomplishments of the season to date.
“We’re rapt with how we’re placed, every year we try to finish as high as we can on the ladder and this year it was on top but it doesn’t mean a hell of a lot,” Selwood says.
“We have two chances at it if we need it and I’m pretty proud of the group and what they’ve done, but it’s time to move on now.”
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The Cats tweaked their personnel and structures after last year’s disappointing elimination final performance against the Demons and are hoping the adjustments pass the finals football test.
“For this side it’s all new, a new finals series and we’ve got a lot of guys looking forward to it,” Selwood says.
“We’re a different side to what we have been in the past and I think that’s what we’ve worked off from the start of the year. I know that’s what we’ve worked off. “
“We planned for that especially over that November and December period to have a game style that will stand up this time of the year.”
“The boys have played it really well throughout the year so we’re really confident with what we’ve put together.”
The Cats aren’t spending any time concerning themselves with talk of home finals and GMHBA Stadium, with Selwood saying the club is ready to take on anyone, anywhere at any time.
“We’ll just rock up and play where we need to, when we need to and play well,” Selwood says.
“We’ve won there (the MCG) four times out of five (this year) and we really relish the chance of playing there.”
While the where is set in stone, who the Cats will face is a little more uncertain with a whole host of Magpies looming as potential ins for Friday week at the MCG.
Darcy Moore, Steele Sidebottom and Ben Reid sit under injury clouds, while Jordan De Goey and Jaidyn Stephenson look ready to return from injury and suspension respectively.
“For us there is a little bit of the unknown and we’re just going to have to worry about what we’re going to do,” Selwood says.
“Usually it works in a bit of a three or four week period where you look back and look what sides have done. They’ll be a little bit different with players that we’re guessing they’ll bring in.”
