Quizmaster could be the answer for Cats

A settled hub life has Cats ruckman Rhys Stanley ready to fire in the grand final against Richmond.

Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley and his wife Kirsten pose for a family photo after training on the Gold Coast this week. Picture: Michael Klein

On answering his phone at Southport on Monday, Geelong ruckman Rhys Stanley bellowed “Italy”.

The surprising introduction was not sparked by a desire to skedaddle from the hub and head for Europe, nor by the stresses related to playing in his first grand final, which comes against Richmond at The Gabba on Saturday night.

If anything, the 29-year-old was relaxed. As Stanley clarified, he had just finished his duties as Geelong’s quizmaster and was providing the final answer when the call came through.

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In a regular season, several Cats including Stanley and Zach Tuohy grab the paper on the morning after a game and test each other’s general knowledge following a recovery session.

In extraordinary times, the quiz has become a near daily ritual for the pair and other Cats, just as Richmond players have become addicted to the card game Monopoly Deal in their hub.

“It has definitely helped pass the time,” Stanley told The Weekend Australian.

The agile Cat became a father shortly before Geelong embarked on a road trip now into its fourth month.

It is one that has taken Geelong from Perth to Sydney, up to the Gold Coast and through to their first grand final in nine seasons.

Stanley said his daughter Sloane, who was born in June, has “known about hub life more than anything else”, while his son Jagger, who is two, has kept the Cat and his wife Kirsten on their toes.

But the presence of his family and the familiarity of old routines such as the trivia tests have helped Stanley feel settled and find his best form in an extraordinary season.

It is now ten years since Stanley almost got a taste of grand final action.

In his second season at St Kilda, he was an emergency for the grand final replay after the thrilling draw between Collingwood and the Saints a week earlier.

At the time, he was on notice to replace Jason Gram, who was touch-and-go to recover after what had been a brutal decider, but Stanley ultimately missed out as the Magpies crunched the Saints.

Stanley, who hails from Berri in the South Australia’s Riverland region, played 58 games for the Saints but sought a trade to Geelong in the hope of greater rucking opportunities.

A mobile ruckman capable of playing as a forward, he has played 88 games for Geelong since his arrival in 2015.

It is a more than handy career for a man who, according to Wikipedia, “played little football growing up”.

When asked about this entry, Geelong’s quizmaster said it was always worth checking with the source.

“I have no idea where that has come from. Footy was pretty much everything for me and my family,” he said.

“My dad (Peter) was the vice-president of a footy club and my granddad played more than 350 games.

“We had a pretty strong competition when I was growing up. I’ve always been a footy man.”

Stanley, who lives on a farm in Mt Moriac, has flourished when working in tandem with Mark Blicavs this year.

He takes the centre square hit-outs and then drifts into attack to provide a marking option while his teammate uses his tremendous running ability to cover territory.

As a result, Stanley is averaging a career high goal per match in 2020.

He managed a couple against Port Adelaide in a qualifying final, one against Collingwood and, although goalless against Brisbane, was influential yet again.

Stanley was absent with a groin problem when Geelong lost to Richmond on the Gold Coast in September.

But he performed well when pitted in last year’s preliminary final against Richmond and shapes as a key player at The Gabba on Saturday night.

“I have gone OK against them in the past but obviously this weekend we need to be at our absolute best,” he said.

“They are such a good side … and I have got to focus on my game. I am a little cog in our team and if I can do my little bit and everyone else can do their little bit, we will have a chance.”