Geelong has made initial inquiries about the availability of St Kilda star Jack Steven
GEELONG has long been linked to Western Bulldogs free agent Luke Dahlhaus but he might not be the only big name on the club’s radar, with the Cats making initial inquiries about St Kilda onballer Jack Steven.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
GEELONG has launched an immediate review of its game style and recruitment after another crushing finals exit.
Melbourne’s elimination final win against Chris Scott’s men on Friday night has raised more questions about the side’s ability to play finals football.
Cats chief executive Brian Cook said Scott’s position was not in jeopardy, but the game plan needed a close examination.
BAD LOOK: CATS FOLD UNDER FINALS PRESSURE
NO PANIC: CATS PRESIDENT BACKS CALLS FOR CALM
“I’m not a coach, but to me it’s rather obvious that you’ve got the possession-type football and you’ve the pressure-type football,” Cook said.
“We’ve shown some weaknesses in relation to the pressure. Melbourne were by far the better side. I don’t think I’ve seen Melbourne play with that sort of pressure for a long, long time, maybe since the John Northey days.
“Having said that, we didn’t really perform well on the weekend. We know that and we’re going to do something about it.
“Making the finals 13 of the last 15 years says that we’ve done pretty well. But it’s probably time for a really good look at what we’re doing right through our playing list and our style.”
The Cats coaches met on Saturday to analyse the defeat, including a goalless first term. The Cats laid only one forward-half tackle before halftime.
Cook said there was strong evidence to support the club’s chase for Western Bulldogs free agent Luke Dahlhaus.
“He applies that pressure we need, because we just don’t have that as often as we should,” Cook said on SEN.
Geelong has also made initial inquiries about St Kilda onballer Jack Steven, who remains contracted for two more years. But a trade deal would be difficult unless midfielder Tim Kelly leaves.
Geelong wants to keep Kelly, but could face a trade request for family reasons.
Kelly, who is from Western Australia, has three young children and has attracted interest from Fremantle and West Coast.
“If he went home and said, ‘I’m not coming back’, you’d probably have to have a good think about that (having to trade him),” Cook said.
Scott on Monday night denied the Cats were actively chasing Steven, saying such talk was “very misleading’’.
“That is not true,” he said on Fox Footy.
“There are contracted players everywhere. Jack, I think, is a contracted player.
“Managers and list managers have conversations at various times through the year. They would ask about hundreds of players.
“If there is some validity to that question being asked, I’m assuming it was answered pretty quickly and that’s that.”
St Kilda coach Alan Richardson said Steven was frustrated in his exit interview this month and was one of many senior players to ask about the club’s direction.
But he said the three-time best-and-fairest wasn’t going anywhere.
“We are really comfortable that Jack is not only staying with us but a really important part of driving what we are doing,” Richardson said last night.
Watch every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >
Originally published as Geelong has made initial inquiries about the availability of St Kilda star Jack Steven
Reluctant assistant to master coach: The making of Chris Scott
Chris Scott has come a long way from a reluctant assistant coach to one of footy’s greatest senior coaches. Those closest to the mastermind behind Geelong’s greatest era reveal the moments which shaped him.
McGuane: One way Brisbane can stun Geelong — accountability
The Lions got out of jail with a remarkable comeback against the Giants last week, but Mick McGuane writes, the same won’t happen against Chris Scott’s Cats in a crunch preliminary final.