Grand final misses spur on Tom Atkins, Zach Guthrie in Geelong’s premiership quest

It’s never easy missing out on the biggest game of your career but a pair of Cats who had to watch on in 2020 are ready to take their chance this year.

It took Tom Atkins some time to move past his disappointment.

Dropped midway through the 2020 finals series for Sam Simpson, Atkins was in the stands at the Gabba when Geelong was denied a premiership by Richmond champion Dustin Martin.

Come Saturday, he will be one of six Cats running out in a grand final for the first time.

Tom Atkins was dropped after the 2020 qualifying final. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Atkins will join Zach Guthrie, Brad Close, Tyson Stengle, Sam De Koning and Max Holmes – if fit – as grand final debutants.

Missing out two years ago was devastating, but Atkins learned to get through it.

“Time heals. I think it might have been different if Geelong had of won but who knows,” he said.

“You just need time. Then you get back into pre-season and you are back into the swing of things and if anything, it made me want to train a bit harder.

“I really feel for the guys who are missing out this weekend. It was just a really empty feeling (in 2020). I was lucky at the time I had good support with my parents and (assistant coach) Shane O’Bree and people I can talk to about it.

“Just being on the other side of it now, I am so grateful. That is the main feeling I have.

“I know that it is a very rare opportunity that I have been given so I am just hoping I can do everyone proud.”

Zach Guthrie is taking in grand final week. Picture by Michael Klein

Defender Zach Guthrie was sitting in the Gabba stands alongside Atkins on that night.

He had played just three games for the season, but even back then he tried to be ready just in case.

“I have always been someone that has tried to prepare the same no matter whether I was playing or not,’ he said.

“The whole buzz around the place (now) is awesome. The 2020 one was exciting but you were a bit limited in the build up. You weren’t able to experience what the whole week had to offer.”

Brad Close has a smile at training. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

No-fuss forward Brad Close is yet to badger his experienced teammates for grand final advice.

But senior Cats like Joel Selwood, Tom Stewart and Tom Hawkins have been dishing out instructions on how to handle the biggest week of Close’s football career.

“It’s like any other game, so we want to play the way we do any other week,” he said.

“We’re all enjoying what the week has for us. It’s obviously a special time. Only two teams get to play each year, so we are just embracing it and it should be good fun.”

Zach enjoying being ‘more part of it’

Geelong defender Zach Guthrie as happy to feel “a bit more part of it” as he not only plays in a finals series but stars.

The defender has finally locked away a spot in Geelong’s best side and is all set for his first grand final, against Sydney on Saturday.

Zach Guthrie is in top form. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Guthrie had played four finals before this season – including two last year – but was only ever a bit player.

This finals series he has been outstanding, as he was Geelong’s best defender in a thrilling qualifying win over Collingwood before grabbing 19 disposals and kicking a goal in a preliminary final thumping of the Brisbane Lions.

Not just playing but properly contributing, Guthrie said he was enjoying his moment.

“It's been good to prepare and feel like you are a bit more a part of it,” he said.

“It is just good fun at the moment. I feel like we are all clicking off each other well, gelling as a group and we have a number of guys who are just playing awesome footy.

“We have another opportunity to go out there and put it all on the line this week and hopefully we can put in a good performance when it counts on Saturday.”

Having accounted for talented Magpie and Lions forwards, Guthrie’s defence will have to stop the Swans on Saturday.

The adaptable defender is likely to spend some time playing tall and small, rotating through the likes of Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney and even Lance Franklin and Logan McDonald.

“I watched the (Sydney) game against Collingwood, particularly in that first half they looked pretty dangerous,” Guthrie said.

“Buddy (Franklin) hasn’t changed has he, he looked dangerous and Papley always brings the energy as well.

“I know what they can bring. I have watched a lot of footy of theirs in the back-half of the year. We know we are going to have to be at our best to beat them, that is for sure.”

Originally published as Grand final misses spur on Tom Atkins, Zach Guthrie in Geelong’s premiership quest