Bonus points for Cats defender as Eagles hurdle looms
Shayne Hope |
Geelong premiership defender Jack Henry has treated most of his AFL career as a bonus.
As he reaches the 150-game milestone, the once rookie-listed Cats backman is pinching himself.
“I wouldn’t say I was the most red-hot recruit you’d ever see, but something eventually clicked,” Henry told AAP ahead of Sunday’s clash with West Coast at Optus Stadium.
“You get your opportunity and from there I just didn’t look back.
“Especially as a rookie, you’re kind of just excited for one game and from there it’s been a bonus.”
A particularly fruitful one at that.
Henry boasts a 66.4 per cent winning ratio across nine seasons and was a reliable cog in the Cats’ backline for their 2022 grand final triumph.
A series of foot injuries restricted his output in 2022-23, and a hamstring strain sidelined the 26-year-old for five weeks earlier this season.
But a second flag is on the radar, with Geelong firmly in contention after a 7-4 start to the season.
Winning one alongside brother Ollie, who joined the Cats from Collingwood in a trade at the end of 2022, would make it even more special.
“It’s not something you sit around all day thinking about, but you can definitely dream and that would be a dream,” Henry said.
“It’s all about your timing and if you can hit your straps at the right time.
“It feels like we’ve got a lot more to give and we’re not quite at our best while still being in a very good position.
“I’m very optimistic that our best footy’s ahead of us, so we’re all pretty excited.”
Former Geelong teammates Sam Simpson, Brandan Parfitt and Charlie Constable – all of whom now play for WAFL club Perth – will be at Optus Stadium with Henry’s family to celebrate the dependable backman’s milestone on Sunday.
The Cats are determined to avoid the same fate that befell St Kilda as the most recent Victorian team who took on the Eagles in Perth.
West Coast, winless after nine rounds, upset the Saints in a drought-breaking 28-point victory a fortnight ago.
It was first-year coach Andrew McQualter’s first win in charge, made sweeter by the fact it came against his old mentor Ross Lyon.
The shock result served as a reminder to the Cats that West Coast can’t be taken lightly, especially on their home deck.
Not even a possible top-four battle with Gold Coast at home next week will distract Chris Scott’s side.
“We’ve narrowed our focus to the Eagles’ more recent form, which hasn’t been too bad,” Henry said.
“A few things have clicked for them and they got that win.
“They’ve looked pretty dangerous at times, so we’ve got to show up with the right intent to dismiss them.”
West Coast suffered a huge blow when All-Australian forward Jake Waterman was ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury sustained in last week’s heavy defeat to Adelaide.
Ruck-forward Bailey Williams (managed) and Tom Gross (omitted) are also out of the team.
Emerging key forwards Jack Williams and Archer Reid have been called up, as has one-game defender Bo Allan.
Geelong made just one change to the team that beat the Western Bulldogs, with Connor O’Sullivan back in place of Jed Bews (managed).
AAP
