Geelong defender Jed Bews pushes forward in search of greater opportunity

JED Bews is more than happy to try something a little different as he looks to cement his name inside Geelong’s best 22. FULL TRAINING GALLERY INSIDE.

Cats training at Deakin Uni. Cam Guthrie escapes Jed Bews. Picture Jay Town.

JED Bews is more than happy to try something a little different as he looks to cement his name inside Geelong’s best 22 for Round 1.

The defender has spent time playing as a forward and midfielder in drills and match simulation through pre-season as hunts for more strings to add to his bow.

The 23-year-old managed eight games, including Geelong’s preliminary final loss to Sydney, as a lockdown player last season, but admitted versatility was crucial to seeing more senior action in 2017.

“It’s the same every year, you have to attack it (pre-season),” Bews said.

“You’ve got to try new things, make mistakes in training so you can get better so you are ready to go for the season. That’s kind of been my approach so far.”

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“I’ve kind of been doing a bit of everything. A bit of defence, a little bit of midfield and a bit up forward.

“I am just learning the different roles up the field. It’s about learning where to run and what to do.

“It’s a reverse of what I’ve been used to. But it’s good fun and it’s good to do something different.”

And while Bews has enjoyed the change of roles, he admits he still sees himself as a defender.

“I’m happy to be a defender first and foremost,” Bews said.

“From there if they need me anywhere else then hopefully I’ve done the training, which I am doing now, so there is that option if they need it.

“Where ever they want me (I’m happy to play).”

Bews and his team mates slogged it out for about three hours at Geelong’s Deakin University training base as the clock continues to tick down to their opening pre-season clash against Hawthorn on February 17.

The Cats also play Adelaide and Essendon in the new-look AFL pre-season competition.

Bews has managed 31 senior games since being selected by the Cats in 2011.

He managed a career best 16 games in 2015, but was in and out of the team through 2016.

Many will expect Bews to cement his spot in the side now that he has five years experience under his belt, but he doesn’t rate 2017 as more or less crucial to his career than any other.

“As much as it sucked to lose that prelim, I just hope to pick up exactly where I left off (and that’s being) in the team,” he said.

“This year is just as crucial as last year to me. I just want to play as many (games) as I can and cement a spot. “

Originally published as Geelong defender Jed Bews pushes forward in search of greater opportunity