All the news as Geelong aims to bounce back against Hawthorn

The past has helped Zach Tuohy remain firm Geelong will bounce back in a big way from its slow start this season.

Zach Tuohy has faith the Cats will bounce back. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/Getty Images

Geelong’s ability to bounce back from heartbreak in recent years has veteran defender Zach Tuohy certain “it is going to turn for us” after a winless start to the year.

The Cats enter Monday’s traditional clash with the Hawks holding up the ladder after a flat, 0-3 start to the year.

Zach Tuohy has been through plenty of adversity. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

But Tuohy said he was “not too worried about it” given the way Geelong has handled adversity in recent years.

A lost grand final in 2020 and preliminary final losses in 2019 and 2021 showed the back flanker that the Cats will always keep coming.

“This little period feels like a mini one of those dips, I am not too worried about it,” he said on the Tuohy and Stewie podcast.

“I think our fans are pretty steadfast in their support for us so I am not too worried and just trust us when we say that this isn’t something we are taking lightly. It is going to turn for us, just like it did post-2021 and just like it did after every other loss we have had.”

Tuohy admitted there were points in the 2022 season he doubted the Cats could go all the way but after a come-from-behind win over Port Adelaide in round 19 assured him it was “not up for debate, we are the best team in the league”.

Tom Stewart on the move. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Geelong vice-captain Tom Stewart said the Easter Monday blockbuster would be “an opportunity to really find our identity again”.

“I don’t think the fans should be too disheartened about us being 0-3, the league is as hard as it has ever been,” Stewart said.

“We are so disappointed that right now we sit 0-3 but we are so bullish on the fact we will bounce back, we have proven it.

“It’s not like we will bottom out and we will turn up our toes and say it’s too hard because that’s just not in our DNA.”

Defiant Cats ‘not going to take a step backwards’

A defiant Geelong is “not going to take a step backwards” as experienced midfielder Mark Blicavs says Cats leaders “will stay composed” despite going winless through the first three weeks of the season.

A nightmare loss to Gold Coast on Sunday saw Geelong make history as the first reigning premier in VFL/AFL history to sit winless and on the bottom of the ladder three rounds into a season.

Mark Blicavs lines one up. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The losing streak is just the second time a Chris Scott-led Geelong has dropped three on the trot within a season after doing so in 2017.

The last-placed Cats will have a golden opportunity to right the ship somewhat when facing 17th-placed Hawthorn in the traditional Easter Monday clash.

Veteran Mitch Duncan (calf) could return for that match and defender Jake Kolodjashnij played a full game in the VFL on Sunday on his return from concussion.

Kolodjashnij could replace Sam De Koning, who was subbed out on Sunday after picking up a head knock.

Blicavs said the team would “stick together” and work to fight back.

“It’s a new challenge and one we are all going to work through,” he said.

“We are going to stick together as a team and a club and we are going to continue to try and improve.

“We are not going to go into our shells, we are not going to take a step backwards. It is a tough competition and we are going to work hard to improve.”

The Cats fielded 17 players from the side that won the premiership last year on Sunday but were made to look second-rate after quarter-time by the Suns.

Blicavs said there were positives in the bright first quarter that showed the Geelong game plan can still hold up and he was “very confident” the Cats would get rolling again.

“I am very confident, we were seeing a lot of positives in the game,” he said.

“When we do get it on our terms it is good to play but at the moment we aren’t doing that for long enough.

“We will continue to work hard and the leaders in our group and the coaches, they have some cool, calm heads on their shoulders and they will stay composed. So we will be okay.”

Originally published as All the news as Geelong aims to bounce back against Hawthorn