Geelong hard nut Tom Atkins says recruit Jack Stevens has been ‘unreal’ for playing group
Is Jack Steven’s best football just as damaging as Tim Kelly’s best? With four best-and-fairest trophies at St Kilda under his belt, newly re-signed Cat Tom Atkins says he has already made a seamless transition to the Cats.
Geelong
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Newly re-signed Cat Tom Atkins says Jack Steven has made a seamless transition into the club, tipping him to make a big splash next year after a turbulent 2019 season.
The four-time best-and-fairest winner played only seven games this year at St Kilda given his mental health battles but has moved closer to his family in Colac and already feels at home.
Admitting he was overweight and unfit late in the year, he was still a slashing presence playing midfield and forward, kicking three goals from 22 possessions in the Round 21 win over Fremantle.
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With a full pre-season under his belt and only turning 30 in the first days of the 2020 season, he has the talent to again set the competition alight.
In five of his last eight seasons he has kicked at least 13 goals and had more than 400 possessions, with Steven the cut-price replacement whose best football is as damaging as West Coast-bound Tim Kelly.
Atkins said Steven had already shown his value in match simulation.
““Stuv” has been unreal. He is great. He has just got really quick feet, makes really good decisions and he’s going to fit in really well,” Atkins said.
“Just at training and in the gym, he goes at a million hours an hour and it definitely rubs off on the younger blokes. And its rubbed off on me as well.
“He is a great fella and a good person to have around the club. He is always up for a chat and he’s been great. I can’t wait to see him play next year, he’s going to be unreal, I reckon.
“He has won four best-and-fairests and it’s unbelievable. He is a very established player and we are very lucky to have him.”
Atkins played 15 games in his debut season after dual best-and-fairest trophies in the Geelong VFL side, another homegrown talent made good.
He joined Sam Menegola in adding another year to his contract this week, secured through to 2021.
“You take what you can get at my age,” joked the 24-year-old.
“It’s massive, it gives me some peace of mind going into the season and it’s all still a bit surreal. It’s a big relief.
“We are probably just building on what we put in place last year, there are no bold strategies, we are making sure we perfect our craft and our way of playing.
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“I think it’s pretty well-known our back six are one of the best in the comp. It’s about our attack off the back line and there was talk towards the end of the season we weren’t moving the ball well from there so it’s definitely something we are working on over the summer.
“We want to be a team that possesses the ball and doesn’t cause turnovers and get done on the turnover side of things, we are trying to build on what we put in place last year.”
The Cats will vote on their leadership after Christmas but the expectation is captain Joel Selwood, 32 next May, will continue in the role.
“Last year we did a camp down in Torquay and we just had a chat about it and did some voting and that was how the leadership group was selected,” he said.
“I would be very surprised if Joel wasn’t captain but there are so many leaders in the club. We had a great leadership group last year but the whole playing group has got leaders everywhere. Anyone can step up.”