AFL 2024: Geelong defender Jed Bews on biding time in VFL before breaking back into finals-bound Cats side

Geelong’s Jed Bews has only played four games in 2024 after biding his time in the VFL. After breaking back in by round 20, Bews opens up on his journey ahead of Saturday’s prelim against Brisbane.

Geelong defender Jed Bews talks to the media ahead of Saturday’s preliminary final against Brisbane. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Geelong defender Jed Bews knows more than most that timing is everything.

In a case of poor timing, an ankle injury earlier this season put Bews’ push to break into the AFL side on the backburner.

Forced to wait until round 20 to get his chance, Bews’ timing now appears to have paid off as the Cats prepare for Saturday’s blockbuster preliminary final against Brisbane.

Geelong’s Jed Bews pictured during Monday’s training session ahead of a preliminary final against Brisbane. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

A mainstay in the Cats’ 2022 premiership season, Bews played 15 games last year due to various injuries.

Missing selection early in 2024, the unsigned Cat had to bid his time in the VFL.

But when he felt close to a recall as the Cats battled for form, his ankle injury set him back.

Coach Chris Scott said consistently throughout the season he saw the 30-year-old Bews in their best 22 at some point this season.

But as the weeks wore on, Bews would be lying if he said his continued omission didn’t have an impact on his confidence.

“At times you doubt yourself, especially when it starts to get close to the end of the season, you go ‘when am I going to get in’,” Bews said.

The ability to debrief with dad Andrew, an ex-Geelong captain and 200-gamer, helped Bews through.

“Actually (he’s) living with me at the moment which makes it easy to grab him for a quick chat,” he said.

“In saying that he doesn’t’ say too much of what he thinks, it’s like ‘what’s working, what’s not, what are you going to do, what’s next’, not so much looking at what’s happened.

“Having my old boy around has been good just to bounce some ideas off of and debrief different games and different things.”

Since his return in round 20 — interjected with a two round detour back to the VFL — Bews has held three of four direct match-ups to one goal.

Jed Bews takes off from defence during the Cats’ second qualifying final win against Port Adelaide. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Against the Crows in round 21, his opponent Josh Rachele kicked three goals, though he returned in round 24 to keep Eagles’ Harley Reid quiet.

Bews sought to find consistency in his game in his time in the VFL, while biding his time for a window of opportunity.

“More so just a bit of timing this year, with them trying other guys in different spots and then they played really well as well, they won seven in a row so it’s hard to make any big changes when the team’s going so well,” he said.

“It was just getting the consistency, bit of attack off the half back, just putting myself in spots just to impact the contest and get around the footy a bit.”

With Bews a regular in the Cats from 2017-22, some could have found it hard to take the step back to VFL, but Bews credited the success of the team and the guys around him for making it an enjoyable time.

“Had to wait a little bit to get my chance, but I think, playing in the VFL, having success in the VFL, we were playing good footy down there and winning,” he said.

“It makes it not a chore to go back and play VFL, it makes it enjoyable and you can work on the things you need to work on to get back into the AFL team.”

Playing his part in the Cats’ 2022 flag success, Bews would love to bring another premiership back to Kardinia Park, as much for those around him as for himself.

“To win 22, that was probably the best day of my life winning that,” he said.

“To be able to recreate that, and not just for me, all my friends and family, just the joy it brought them, the whole town, it’s just a buzz.”

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong defender Jed Bews on biding time in VFL before breaking back into finals-bound Cats side