“I was surprised at how genuine the guys are,” Rivers told MMM.
“They have been so successful over so many years; it would be easy to get ahead of yourself. But the club and the players are still hungry and they go about it the right way.
“Moving to Geelong has been fantastic. I feel privileged to play in a team like this. They have been fantastic to me since day one. To play alongside great players that have been successful over so many years is very good. They have been very down to earth and respectful.”
Rivers opened the season well after an impressive NAB Cup campaign, but two knee injuries early in the campaign saw him sidelined from round five. He came back into the team in round 20 against Port Adelaide, and has fitted into the Cats tight defensive unit seamlessly. But he isn’t taking anything for granted.
“I wanted to earn my stripes and it started off well,” he said. “Then I got injured, but worked hard to get back and earn the respect from the playing group. It’s a tough team to get into and stay in, and that is a good thing to have.”
Rivers played 150 games with Melbourne before travelling down Geelong Road to Simonds Stadium, and he is on the verge of returning to finals action for the first time since 2006.
“We have a really good focus at the moment,” Rivers said. “Our defence has been good, with numbers around the ball and the pressure from our forwards and mids has been a huge help for the defenders.”
With September just a week away, Rivers couldn’t be happier at his new home.
“The players are great to be around. It’s such a well run club. You get to enjoy your footy, and love being around the club. It’s fantastic.”
