Geelong Cats: Midfielder Tom Atkins reaches 100 game milestone after long journey to AFL

Overlooked and undervalued, Tom Atkins’ journey to the AFL, and then to 100 games, has not been smooth sailing. Find out why his coach believes the midfielder is in an “elite” bracket of players.

Tom Atkins kicks a goal for St Joseph's in the GFL Qualifying Final between St Mary's and St Joseph's at West Oval. Picture: Leanne Kelly

The journey to 100 games for Tom Atkins is unique in comparison to the path forged by many to reach the AFL system, but it is one that is not unfamiliar at Geelong.

Atkins was not even considered in the realm of potential draftees at 18 years old, playing local football in the GFL’s under 18s competition.

He made his presence felt at GFL level for St Joseph’s in 2015, helping guide the Joeys to their first flag since 1989 while also featuring for Geelong’s VFL team at times.

Tom Atkins, St Joseph's. Picture: Peter Ristevski

Atkins dominated for the Cats in the VFL program for several years, winning two club best and fairests, captaining the side and being named in the VFL team of the year in 2016 and 2018.

Cats coach Chris Scott said Geelong “unashamedly” selected local players to give footy lifelines to.

“While he has come through a slightly different path than most AFL players it’s not unique in our system,” he said ahead of Atkins’ 100th game.

“We’ve actually had quite a few players come through our VFL program and even if you look at a guy like Tom Stewart, eventually he came through our VFL program.

“He was a mature player playing in the local comp, we feel like we unashamedly prioritise players from the region, and we’re gradually trying to expand that region from anywhere west of Werribee and anywhere east of Adelaide.

“But those players who do feel like they have a connection to Geelong, we tend to prioritise.

“That might be read as they get a leg up, no one can say that about Tom Atkins. he has had to work his way through the early stages of his career and really deserve his place on our list.”

Atkins became one of Geelong’s many success stories in 2018, being picked up with the 11th selection of the rookie draft.

He debuted in 2019 as a small, pressure forward before evolving into a lockdown defender, and then finally moving into the midfield where he has thrived in 2022 and 2023.

Tom Atkins of the Cats breaks away from Sam Gibson of the Hawks during the VFL match between Box Hill and Geelong played at Box Hill City Oval on Saturday 5th August, 2017. Picture: Mark Dadswell

It is a path well worn by Geelong players, with vice captain Tom Stewart, hard-nosed defender Tom Ruggles, premiership player James Podsiadly, and retired ruck star Shane Mumford all being drafted from Geelong’s VFL program into the senior side.

Scott said he Atkins’ talent was clear to see, despite coming through a hard journey to reach the milestone.

“He’s a talent too, he’s not just a grunt player, he’s got great awareness, he’s a really good decision maker, he’s a good kick,” he said.

“Sometimes you can denigrate how good these guys actually are by saying they’ve come from a long way back and they’ve worked really hard to get here.

“If you forget his background just for a second and look at him on what he’s delivering right at the moment, he’s in, in my opinion, the elite bracket in his role within the AFL.”

As one of Geelong’s primary ball winners in the past month of football, Atkins is averaging 23.7 disposals, 12.3 tackles, 7.3 clearances and three inside 50s per game in the past three weeks.

Brad Close, Gryan Miers and Tom Atkins of the Cats after the win over Essendon. Picture: Michael Willson

Scott said it was difficult to find a more competitive footballer across the AFL.

“It feels like when he did that (get drafted) it was only the start of the job, he came in for us, somehow trained his way really, played through the VFL program into a spot in our forward line because that was the only spot we had at the time,” he said.

“He excelled there, and we thought he had some attributes that’d be good as a defender so he went back and he excelled there, and now he’s come into the midfield and he’s excelled there in what has been a pretty consistent team as well.

“It feels to a lot of people that 100 games has come pretty quickly, but when you actually work through Tom’s path to 100 games, it’s been a long hard road and Tom deserves every bit of it.

“He’s just crucial to what we’re trying to be, not just as a football team but a football club. He’s a humble, young man.

“He’s just a salt of the earth guy but when he gets on a footy field there’s none more competitive. We love him.”

Originally published as Geelong Cats: Midfielder Tom Atkins reaches 100 game milestone after long journey to AFL