Routine change test Cats
Tom Lonergan believes it's not he mental impact that makes interstate games more difficult, it's the change in routine
Cats TV asked Tom Lonergan and Troy Selwood whether they believe there’s a psychological element involved when playing interstate?
Lonergan believes the readjusting of your pre-game routine can be a lot more difficult to manage, than the mental impact that comes with playing away.
However, he does concede that Patersons Stadium always has a much larger crowd presence than any other ground. Overturning the Eagles early and blocking out the roar of the crowd will be the Cats biggest challenge.
“Obviously it’s a bit different going interstate, your routine is not the same and also Patersons Stadium is a very loud stadium, when you talk to the boys they always say it’s probably the loudest stadium,” Lonergan said.
“We’ve got a big job to do over there to snatch the four points and we need to get our game going and put some scoreboard pressure on really early.”
Coming from the Brisbane Lions Selwood can relate to the challenges that come with packing up the boots and flying interstate.
“Well I guess it is finding that routine as a Lions player, being interstate every week you found a home routine and an interstate routine.”
Selwood believes it’s up to the older players to show the younger guys how to adjust to a new environment and routine when traveling interstate. He also admits that it’s easy to lose confidence when playing in front of the opposition’s crowd.
“I guess for the younger guys they need to try and work that out from the experience guys as much as possible.”
“I think the hardest thing to come to terms with when playing away is when a team gets a bit of momentum or gets a run on and the crowd just really builds, its really hard not to be too intimidated by it.
You’ve just got to really try to keep it simple and get back to the basics.”
Selwood expects to see another rivalry brother contest this weekend, between Geelong’s skipper Joel Selwood and their younger brother Scott.
“Unfortunately I don’t think Adam (Selwood) will be playing this week but I do think there could be an opportunity for Scott to play on Joel for long periods of the game, so they’re might be a little bit of brother rivalry happening again this weekend.”
Click on the video above to catch the full episode of Argue the Toss on Cats TV.