Geelong star Tom Stewart outlines ‘good, honest’ training session that has Cats ready for Hawthorn

It is no secret Geelong ha struggled out of the gates this year but some brutal feedback delivered midweek could get the Cats going.

A sharp session filled with “good, honest feedback” on Wednesday has Geelong prepared to turn its season around against Hawthorn.

In unfamiliar territory on the bottom of the ladder with a 0-3 record, the Cats spent longer than usual working through the kinks in their system in the hope they will be ironed out at the MCG on Monday.

The Cats get moving on the training track. Picture: Brad Fleet

The long main session at GMHBA Stadium came after the Cats pored over the tape from last weekend’s horror loss to Gold Coast and defender Tom Stewart said it had his side well placed to pick up its first win of the year.

“Our structure at training doesn’t change so I think having that extra day (amid an eight-day break) to really knuckle down on what we are trying to implement is pleasing,” he said.

“We had a really good session (on Wednesday) where we had some good, honest feedback with each other and worked quite well on the track.

“We went into a little bit more detail with our review which was probably necessary and it’s given us a fresh and clear focus going into the game.”

Stewart said the extra time was vital to help new players bed down their role in the system, while the Cats have been clear they simply haven’t been good enough in the opening weeks when the ball is in dispute.

“We are not happy with what has been happening around the contest in every facet of the game, forward back and middle,” he said.

“We are going to come out and have a really good contest against Hawthorn and try and work on the things we are trying to achieve.”

Sam De Koning will not face the Hawks. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images

With Sam De Koning out due to concussion, Stewart said he was happy to take an extra burden in the back half against the Hawks.

“Probably a bit more opportunity falls on my shoulders and Esava (Ratugolea) gets more of a chance to make that spot his own,” he said.

“It is going to be a collective effort, Sam is a really special player that has a lot of footy ahead of him and a massive scope for improvement but it is going to take a lot to fill that void.”

Originally published as Geelong star Tom Stewart outlines ‘good, honest’ training session that has Cats ready for Hawthorn