AFL 2024: Emerging Cat Toby Conway opens up on ruck battle with Rhys Stanley, rucking against his brother and his impressive second game
Toby Conway is fighting for a spot with Rhys Stanley, but he also owes him a lot of thanks. He sheds light on that, his promising performance and rucking against his brother the previous week.
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Playing your second AFL game in the Easter Monday blockbuster is a daunting proposition for any player.
But Geelong ruckman Toby Conway had more jitters going into the opening round of the VFL the previous week.
That was because he found himself rucking against a familiar face at Werribee: his older brother, Sam.
While Werribee got the win over Geelong, the younger Conway undoubtedly got the points, earning his eventual AFL call-up with 17 disposals, 15 contested possessions, 10 hit-outs to advantage and six clearances.
“It was very fun. I probably had more nerves going into that game than going into this one to be honest,” Conway said with a laugh.
“I had a slow cooker on before the game and he came back (after) with my other brother and we made sure we were all okay.
“He is a very good player and it was good challenge against him.”
The 20-year-old didn’t quite amass the same numbers against Hawthorn ruckman Lloyd Meek, but his second senior game was an exciting glimpse into the future – and justified why his teammates have been raving about him all pre-season.
His very first hit out at the centre-bounce went straight to his former Geelong Falcons teammate Tanner Bruhn and took two intercept marks to cap an impressive first quarter.
But the main highlight from the 206 centimetre ruckman’s game was a towering contested mark in the forward 50 when the Hawks were on the march, with the St Mary’s product going back to convert his first AFL goal.
“I haven’t kicked a goal all pre-season and I haven’t kicked any in the first few VFL matches or practice matches. So if I could pick a time to do it, that’d probably be the moment. It was very good,” Conway said.
“(The game) was pretty special, it was good doing it in ‘Hawka’s’ game. It meant a lot to me being my second, the first on the ‘G, the first one that meant something for the season really, and to do it with ‘Hawkie’ is just the cream on top – incredible
“Playing against someone like (Lloyd Meek) gives you a lot of confidence.
“He’s a very, very strong player and I’m sure the more games I get the more I feel like I belong, but I think all the boys who are playing VFL right now feel like they’re ready to come in. So this competition, the squad competition is really healthy for us for our campaign this year.”
The competition between the premiership player Rhys Stanley, 33, and Conway for the No.1 ruck role has been the elephant in the room at the Cattery.
Conway only got his chance because Stanley was managed for the Hawks clash, with a short five-day break for the Cats ahead of their Saturday night match-up against the Western Bulldogs and All-Australian ruckman Tim English.
Geelong coach Chris Scott indicated post-match that regardless of Conway’s performance, the club will take a cautious approach throughout the season with the big man, who was restricted to just 13 VFL games in his first two seasons due to injury.
But speaking after the win against Hawthorn, Conway was eager to be in the side to face the Dogs.
“I’m hoping to play, but I’ll leave it up to the coaches. I trust the coaching staff to make a decision,” Conway said.
“There’s a few factors at play that always come into it selection, but I’ll just train as hard as I can, try and be aggressive again and do all my prep and if it falls my way, it falls my way and I will be ready for it.”
Conway might be in direct competition with Stanley, but the apprentice can’t speak highly enough of the master.
The athleticism that has set Stanley apart from other ruckman has challenged Conway at training, and the veteran has gone the extra mile to assist him.
“He is the sort of ruckman I don’t like playing on. He’s very quick, agile, fast and in the throw-ins especially he’s really, really good for me. Like, I find it very hard to beat him in throw ins. So yeah, the squad competition that he brings is very like, because he’s been out there for a very long time,” Conway said.
“We’ve been really competitive all pre-season, so we’ve really pulled each other along to try and get better and it’s been good. I’m sure we’ll have a good load together in the next few months.”
“He’s a very, very good player and he helps me amazingly just in competing with me every single day and doing vision.”
Whether Conway will be fronting up in the AFL or the VFL appears a week-to-week proposition for now, but the youngster is determined to make every opportunity count.
“I knew I had to work for my opportunity. VFL is a massive, massive means to do that so trying to beat a VFL ruckman versus grown bodies, just like ‘Meeky’, and trying to prepare yourself so when that opportunity does come, I take the chance,” he said.
Originally published as AFL 2024: Emerging Cat Toby Conway opens up on ruck battle with Rhys Stanley, rucking against his brother and his impressive second game
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