Geelong midfielder Cam Guthrie is having a career year, and is one of the keys to the Cats’ premiership push in 2020
Geelong's Cam Guthrie was brilliant against Adelaide on Sunday, racking up a game-high 33 disposals as his career-best season continued. Here's what led to the star Cat's meteoric rise in 2020.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Geelong midfielder Cam Guthrie had a very different birthday this week in what has already been a highly unusual year.
The 28-year-old, who is enjoying the most consistent season of an already solid career and who is arguably in the running for the Cats’ best and fairest award, had separate zoom celebrations with his parents, Andrew and Suzanne, with two of his brothers Ben and Josh back in Melbourne, and with his grandparents.
His other brother, Zach, is with him in Geelong’s Gold Coast hub, along with the rest of the playing group and many of their partners and children.
“We’ve learnt to do things a bit differently,” Guthrie echoed the mantra of 2020 for so many people worldwide, as he rounded out his preparation before Sunday’s clash with a winless Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.
Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“Sometimes different is memorable.
“That’s the mindset I have taken and the club has kind of taken as well.
“We think if you are caught up with what you don’t have or what is bad with the experience, it is going to be a long season.
“I think that (positivity) is showing on the field. It feels like we are clicking (as a team) and there is a really good vibe around the place.”
That improved even more when some of the players’ wives and girlfriends, including Guthrie’s partner, recently joined the hub.
“That was pretty special, to have a bit of home up here with us,” he said.
Guthrie has channelled all of his positive energy into thriving in the new circumstances, and looks to be playing a significant role in driving the Cats’ premiership aspirations.
He had game-high 33 disposals against the Crows on Sunday, and before that had played all 12 games this season.
If Champion Data normalised the 2020 game times, Guthrie - heading into the game against Adelaide - would be ranking career high returns for rankings points (99), disposals (26.5), uncontested possessions (15.1), marks (5.3), clearances (4.8) and pressure points (48.9).
At that time he also rated as the No. 2 player in the competition – behind Bulldog Caleb Daniel – for disposals from turnovers (7.7).
Guthrie’s role has slightly altered since spending some time on the wing earlier in the season and has thrived on playing the inside mid-role.
“I was playing a little bit more as a wingman at the start of the season and then we had a few little injuries here and there in terms of our inside players in terms of Joel (Selwood) and Quinton Narkle,” he said.
“I have kind of played a little more inside, which is good.
“I actually like being in the action.
“It’s hard to compare seasons. But I feel like I am contributing each week. I am not alone in there (the midfield). We have had a lot of solid performers.”
Part of the success of the Cats this season to date has been the spread of contributors, particularly in the midfield, where Guthrie and Sam Menegola would be leading contenders for the Carji Greeves Medal, alongside star forward Tom Hawkins.
“We’ve had a really even contribution,” Guthrie said.
“Guys who haven’t played a lot of footy have come in and played really well. Guys who have played a lot of footy have evolved even more, which has been great.
“We’ve been good at not looking too far ahead, and just taking care of what is right in front of us.”
Gary Ablett’s likely return to the group next month would provide another emotional lift.
“He was having a super season,” Guthrie said of Ablett, who left the Perth hub after the Collingwood loss for family reasons.
“I don’t want to speak for him, but I think he is having a tough year with his family situation. We would be really happy for him to return.
“If that happens and he can sort out his home life, and he wants to come and finish the season, he would be very welcome.
“He is a quality person and you can’t have too many of them.”
Guthrie said the Cats were being driven by the support of their fans – those attending games in Queensland and those cheering from home in a locked-down Victoria.
“We are being driven by the support base we have,” he said.
“We really appreciate all the messages and the support from all of the people back home and we are thinking of them.”
How's that for a dribbler from Cam Guthrie?#ColesGoals pic.twitter.com/RRaBmZ3vVH
— AFL (@AFL) June 20, 2020
The quietly-spoken but articulate Guthrie has a remarkable 65.9% winning success rate from his 173 games since his 2011 debut.
But the Cats have only won three of the 11 finals he has played, including last year’s preliminary final second half fade out to eventual premier Richmond.
“We haven’t dwelt on that result,” he said of the preliminary final.
“There have been a few things in a couple of our finals results that lend themselves to not playing our best footy. We are conscious about not lapsing into those habits in big games going forward.
“Sometimes we have to check ourselves a little bit and bring those good traits back into our performance. That’s an ongoing balance with our team.”
SUBSCRIBE TO SACKED HERE
MORE FOOTY NEWS
Brendan McCartney column: Cats tops in tale of two tables
Cats happy with new role for Blicavs and Henderson’s form as replacement
Full seasons are required from second-tier Cats to keep up flag hopes, says Scarlett