Geelong’s off-season purge forced Mitch Duncan to step outside his comfort zone

WITH four of his best mates at Geelong out the door at the end of last season Mitch Duncan says he was forced to step outside his comfort zone — and now he’s reaping the benefits.

Mitch Duncan has been flying for the Cats in 2017. Picture: Hamish Blair

AT the end of last season Mitch Duncan found himself in a foreign environment.

Housemates Josh Caddy and Billie Smedts left for Richmond and Carlton. Good friends at the Cattery Nathan Vardy and Shane Kersten also departed.

For the first time in a long time, Duncan would have to reach out.

Mitch Duncan and Josh Caddy are best mates off the field and fought together on it. Picture Sarah Reed

“It kind of made me step out of my comfort zone a little bit and start developing better relationships with other people,” Duncan said yesterday.

“I think it’s been beneficial in that way ... It wasn’t one of my strengths, gelling with everyone in the team and I think this year it’s been one of my focuses.”

Duncan made his debut for Geelong in Round 1, 2010 as an 18-year-old, just months after he was drafted from Western Australia.

It was only natural he would bond with older players who he was thrown together with.

Josh Caddy as The Dictator, Mitch Duncan as Steve Irwin and Shane Kersten as Ali G show off at Geelong’s Whacky Wednesday celebration. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“It was just hard at times, I was always in a different program (to other kids) or I wanted to get the best out of myself so I focused a lot on myself as well,” Duncan said.

“Then you start thinking about the team a lot more and you want to play good footy with those blokes and have success with them, so you need to branch out and bring them along with you.

“I think that’s a part of growing up and becoming a bit more of a leader around the footy club.”

Duncan isn’t sure if you can link his transformation with his stunning on-field performances in 2017.

“I’ve never kind of thought about it, that it would make me a better player,” he said.

But there’s no doubting he’s in career-best form.

Mitch Duncan has been flying for the Cats in 2017. Picture: AAP

In his own words he has worked on his deficiencies and strengthened his strengths.

And the dynamic midfielder is having a say on the scoreboard, with seven goals in nine matches.

He’s getting his head around his inside role and working closely with his onball colleagues — you know the ones — on the training track has certainly helped.

“You play on each other, you work together, you understand your teammates’ game, but you also train against each other,” Duncan said.

“When you can train against some of the quality that we have in our side, it’s always going to help you on game day when you come up against another quality opponent.”

After three consecutive losses — a run Duncan had never experienced — the Cats arrested the slide with a bullocking win against the Western Bulldogs last Friday night.

The Cats hunted the Dogs and Duncan led from the front. He had 18 tackles, eight more than he’s ever had in a game.

As one of the Cats’ leaders, Duncan is finding himself in front of the media more often. Picture: Nathan Dyer

He said the players went back to basics. They remembered why they play the game, why they love it. They had a renewed focus on the fundamentals.

“Even just starting on a man and working off them,” Duncan explained.

“You’re close enough to tackle, you can attack off them as well. That was probably one for me personally that I took into that game and it kind of paid off a bit. I had 18 tackles, which is non-existent for me usually. It was good to get a bit of reward.”

When conversations turn to Duncan, his kicking is always mentioned. This season Champion Data rates him the fifth best kick of all midfielders, behind only Scott Pendlebury, Lachie Neale, Sam Mitchell and Gary Ablett.

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Duncan said kicking goes hand-in-hand with the mental game.

“I was having a talk about kicking today with Nigel Lappin,” he said.

“I bring kicking a lot back to decision making, too. Obviously you have to have a sound technique, but it’s juts a matter of choosing your options wisely.

“At times during a game you might need to score so you take a riskier option, but it’s just using your natural instinct.

“Usually the first option is the best option and that’s how I was brought up. I seem to take the first option that I see most times and usually that’s the best way.”

Mitch Duncan and partner Demi Miles are expecting their first child in about 10 weeks. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Duncan turns 26 next month. He has matured as a player and person.

He’s expecting his first child with partner Demi Miles in about 10 weeks and he can’t wait.

“It puts life into perspective a bit,” Duncan said.

“It’s not so much focused on footy all the time, certainly there’s times where you need to be, but outside of that you try to clear your mind.

“You look at someone like an Andrew Mackie, the last four or five years he has had kids and I think he’s taken his game to another level.”