AFL 2024: Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley reflecs on his career ahead of his 200th game

After 15 years and countless setbacks, Rhys Stanley has reached game 200. He reflects on his injury woes, the phone call that got him to Geelong and his battle with Toby Conway.

Rhys Stanley opens up on his career ahead of his 200th game. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

It was the late night – or early morning – phone call from Chris Scott in the United States that sealed the deal for Rhys Stanley as he considered a move to Geelong.

The details are a little hazy for the Geelong coach, though, given it was 10 years ago.

Still contracted with the Saints, Geelong had dangled the carrot of the No. 1 ruck role to the athletic South Australian.

Then a versatile yet injury prone St Kilda key position player, Stanley, who was also holidaying overseas, and the Geelong coach had a lengthy chat – something that has become a custom between the two over the past decade.

“I think we were both overseas. I certainly was, it was at a bizarre time of day or night. I can’t quite remember exactly when,” Scott said.

“It was a long conversation – I’ve had a few of those over the journey with Rhys, he’s a good conversationalist.

“My takeaway was that he was really excited about the new role and I think looking back over the success stories that we’ve had bringing players into the club, generally they’ve been when you have a specific plan, and often players are good ‘generalists’.

“It was kind of, his to lose in a way. And I think he’s embraced that. And as I said, I think he’s been really good for us.”

Rhys Stanley was all smiles ahead of his 200th game. Picture: Alison Wynd

Even the most pessimistic and hard marking Geelong supporters would concede that the move has undoubtedly been a success.

The humble big man joked before his milestone press conference that they were getting his out of the way now after the main events of Tom Hawkins 350 and Mark Blicavs 250 in the past fortnight.

Stanley might not have the same accolades as some recruits the Cats have picked up, but he has more than held end of the bargain across his 141-games and counting in the hoops.

“I’m really proud of Rhys. We brought him in really with a specific role in mind that he hadn’t played much at AFL level,” Scott said.

“He was a forward at St. Kilda played a little bit back as well, but we brought him in specifically to be a ruckman and he’s just been terrific value for us. Been a really good person to have around the club and performed well for us on the big stage, but it hasn’t been easy for him. He’s had his ups and downs and he’s had to fight his way through and my observation is that he’s better for it.”

Stanley, 33, doubted at times whether he would reach 200 games with countless injuries holding him back across his 15 seasons – playing more than 20 games in just two of those, one being their premiership year in 2022.

Rhys Stanley with two of his children after their premiership win. Picture: Michael Klein

But his move down the highway Geelong has proved to be a “blessing” on and off the field.

“(The trade) did kind of come out of nowhere and then the move, when it did become an option, and I thought it through with the family, it made sense,” Stanley said.

“I think there are times when sort of constantly sitting on the side, trips to Germany to fix hammies and things like that. So early days, I sort of battled with a few injuries I couldn’t really get over and then I think the move to Geelong was, it was a real blessing.

“It reinvigorated my footy and from that point I probably didn’t doubt as much that I’d get there.

“After the last few weeks, ‘Blitz’ and ‘Hawk’, two incredible players for the club, it is pretty cool to play a couple of weeks after them and tick one off. It’s taken me a while, 16-odd years, a few injuries along the way. But it’s obviously something myself and my family are pretty proud of.

“Feel like this is definitely home. I’ve felt very settled here that’s for sure, three kids and a beautiful wife at home and we managed to get our farm a number of years ago and building a house out there.”

OVERCOMING INJURY

Stanley had rare gifts for a 200cm prospect, which he showed in his first season by winning the 2009 AFL grand final sprint.

He got his chance as a key forward when St Kilda legend Nick Riewoldt succumbed to a serious hamstring injury – ironic given the soft tissue issues that plagued Stanley early on in his career.

Rhys Stanley won the 2009 Grand Final sprint.

Soaking up knowledge under the likes of Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes and that star-studded St Kilda side was invaluable for Stanley.

“That was an eye opener. I was pretty raw, pretty skinny kid and playing in a pretty decent side at the time, 09’ 10’ and 11 they were a really competitive side. So that was a great experience and there were times then when I thought, ‘hey, I can do this’,” Stanley said.

“Started off sort of trying to fit into that (Nick Riewoldt) mould, I guess. And I wasn’t going to fit into that mould, he is a very unique player.

“But I think the move to the ruck and playing that versatile ruckman that can that can get forward and can play a bit back, that’s sort of suited me well.”

It wasn’t until he got to the Cats and partnered with strength and conditioning coach Chris Dennis that he overcame those issues.

“There are times where you’re just spending time on the sidelines and ‘am I going to just keep tearing hammies, am I going to keep doing this and that?’ “ Stanley said.

“The blessing in disguise was I guess coming here and getting strong, working with some really good S & C coaches and getting my body right.

“There is no magic potion – it’s just a combination of everything. I was lucky to have really good people around me and Chris Dennis, I worked a lot with Chris Dennis here… He just got my body in shape and got me really strong in areas that I was weak, and I think that’s held me in good stead.”

Stanley shoots on goal back in 2014. Picture: Michael Klein

UNCERTAIN FUTURE

Stanley knows better that anyone that his days are numbered with emerging ruckman Toby Conway waiting in the wings.

“It’s inevitable, isn’t it eventually?” Stanley said with a laugh.

“I’m getting older and he’s right in his prime, big Tobes. But that will happen one day, whether it’s there whether it’s now or right into the future.”

Scott has repeatedly said they are a ruck partnership rather and that Conway will be managed cautiously after an injury-interrupted start in his first two seasons.

Stanley showed he still has claims to the top spot on Saturday night, finishing as the third-ranked Cat up against All-Australian ruckman Tim English.

He won 44 hit-outs and 13 disposals and lifted in the final quarter when the Western Bulldogs were coming.

Rhys Stanley held his own against Tim English Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

While some veterans see the young buck breathing down your neck as a threat, Stanley welcomes the challenge and has put in time to help Conway improve his game.

Conway himself can vouch for that, telling this publication after his impressive Easter Monday display that Stanley has helped him “amazingly”.

“I’d love to finish up one day and look back and think I played a little role in developing some young guys, and I guess Toby Conway is probably one… He’s someone I’ve worked really closely with, especially in the last probably 18 months, couple years,” Stanley said.

As for the out of contract veteran’s playing future, he will assess the situation later in the year.

“List management will probably take care of that question. But we just want to play good footy and then see how our bodies are at the midway point of the year and see if the shoe fits,” Stanley said.

No matter long Stanley has left, as his coach put it, he has provided terrific value for the Cats in his tenure.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley reflecs on his career ahead of his 200th game