Geelong forward Ollie Henry on how Collingwood’s premiership drove him after trade move

Ollie Henry was on the wrong side of the last two premierships. He reflects on that time and gives his perspective on his move to Geelong with Bailey Smith looming as a trade target.

Ollie Henry. Picture: Getty Images

Geelong forward Ollie Henry has been on the wrong end of the last two premierships.

When Geelong saluted in 2022, he was at Collingwood just days away from being traded to his hometown club.

At the end of his first season at Geelong, his former teammates were the ones celebrating on the premiership dais while he watched on from Bali.

There was no jealousy nor resentment, only extra drive to get in the same position as some of his good mates from the Pies.

Ollie Henry speaks with Jack Crisp after his first meeting with the Pies as a Cat in 2023 Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Requesting the trade, you can never predict what that team is going to go on and do, but for me what they did go on and do, I actually admired and it made me a little bit more hungry to have that same sort of success this year,” Henry said.

“I was super happy to see some of my friends accept the medal and fulfil their childhood dreams because some of them haven’t had that before

“I was watching on from Bali very happy to see smiles on their faces and it is just something that makes me want to do it a lot more.”

Nearly two years on from that fateful move and the Cats are two wins away from a premiership.

While Henry, 22, has tried to focus more on his performances week by week rather than external expectations, he feels there are elements of the year that have taken him by surprise.

“There are so many things that happen in a season that surprise you. Players surprise you, how well some players do, that can definitely surprise you, not to say that some of our young players are a surprise, because you see them train so hard and work so hard to get where they’re at,” Henry said.

“But seeing them do so well and the team do so well, you kind of do pinch yourself and think, ‘wow, I probably wasn’t going to expect this, but now that it is happening I can actually see why it is happening.”

The Cats’ shock win over Port Adelaide has been a major talking point of the finals series, but since then it has been Western Bulldogs talent Bailey Smith’s trade request, with Geelong viewed as the frontrunner.

Bailey Smith has been linked to Geelong. Picture: David Crosling

Asked what he would say to a player considering a move to Geelong like he did, Henry said: “I’ll take Bailey’s name out of this because I would just express that you’re coming into a great club. I am sure most AFL clubs are probably similar in how they go day by day and what their calendar looks like, but from my own experience here at Geelong I love the place and I love the people.”

“It is ultimately up to the person who is in the situation where they think they do or don’t want to, it is a very choppy and changey lifestyle we are in.”

Henry said Cats players are in control of their own destinies at the club with their personalised programs.

“Some players might like a more rigid, set in place plan. Not to say that we don’t, but you can definitely assume that there would be more strict plans out there than ours,” Henry said.

“At the end of the day it is very individualised and I think, yes, as a club we do suit that niche of letting the players drive their career in the best way they think, but that is all kind of guided by an experienced list and experienced players.”

Henry was crucial to Geelong’s hot start last week perhaps an underrated part of their forward line that made the Power defence look silly.

The high-flying Cat won five disposals in the first quarter, three of those leading to scores, and showed his intent with a couple of crunching tackles. He was rewarded with a second-quarter goal from the goalsquare that fortuitously fell in his lap, with broadcast vision showing the hard running that saw him lose his opponent to get into that position.

Henry celebrates his goal against the Power. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Henry is one of three new faces in their forward line compared to the 2022 grand final: Shannon Neale, Henry and Shaun Mannagh replacing Tom Hawkins, Gary Rohan and Isaac Smith, who kicked three goals in that Norm Smith Medal display.

Geelong’s season was in jeopardy after Hawkins’ injury in the Cats’ concerning loss to Carlton during their mid-season slump.

But the introduction of Neale has been seamless, the key forward taking nine marks and kicking two goals in one of his best games of his career against Port Adelaide.

The cruel irony is that the unselfish Hawkins now finds himself behind the young talent he did plenty of work with behind the scenes.

“I saw Shannon and Tom work together so much while Tom was out to help Shannon progress in that role, and Shannon has taken that in his stride and he has worked so hard to a spot now where he is playing some great footy,” Henry said.

“It is really exciting to see because Shannon is a young player and we want him to be playing for us for a long time too. Hawk going down was super frustrating and unfortunate for us, but the way he was able to help others is probably why we consider this club such a great club, because of people like him.”

Originally published as Geelong forward Ollie Henry on how Collingwood’s premiership drove him after trade move