Much of the external talk has focused on Geelong’s 3-9 finals record since the 2011 Premiership.
However, this Geelong outfit is a different team and coach Chris Scott is of the belief that his troops are better prepared and ready to rise to the challenge this finals series.
“The teams that tend to not deliver in the big moments, don’t deliver because they are just not good enough and I think that’s probably where we have been at,” Scott said speaking to Gerard Whateley on SEN.
“Last year in particular, we finished eighth for a reason and we got beaten in a final by 29 points, and clearly early in that game we weren’t good enough and I think that reflected our season a little bit.”
“We weren’t the team then that we are now.”
“I think it would be folly to go back and say we need to rectify the issues that we had in the final last year in the final this year.”
“It’s a new team, a much better team in my view and we are a lot better prepared.”
Many contributing factors have helped Geelong clinch the Minor Premiership this year.
During the offseason the club welcomed 12 new faces into the group headlined by former Swan Gary Rohan and Premiership Dog Luke Dahlhaus.
Combined with the emergence of Gryan Miers and Mark O’Connor, and the continued improvement from the likes of Brandan Parfitt and Jake Kolodjashnij have helped the Cats improve to 16 wins this year.
More importantly, that continued development and exposure to playing more regularly at AFL level has given Scott and his players the belief that they're ready to meet the big moments to come.
“Yes, we are, whether we do it or not, that is the challenge in finals by its very nature, you are playing against the best teams as well so it’s not easy,” he said.
“I suspect in the subconscious now that the players know that they’re good enough and if we play as well as we can, we can beat whoever we play.”
A blockbuster qualifying final against Collingwood awaits in 10 days time.
"I suspect it will be two teams going out and playing to their strengths and backing if they do that well, they will prevail."
The two sides last met in round one with Geelong prevailing by seven points on that occassion.
"Perhaps the dynamic has shifted slightly since then, but I imagine that the challenge for us will be going into that game with the same mindset as in round one, which is if we take any liberties in the way we play here, we are going to get knocked over and I think that is a proven approach to take irrespective of the quality of your team."
Scott: We weren’t the team then that we are now
Coach Chris Scott believes his team is a lot better prepared this year to stand up in the big moments.