Jonathon Ceglar on Geelong’s form, his life at a second club

After playing just three games in his first year at the Cats, some questioned whether Jonathon Ceglar’s move had failed. The ruck is having none of that talk.

Jonathon Ceglar can clearly see the two directions his career could have gone. Picture: Will Russell/AFL Photos via Getty Images

When laying out the two directions that followed the crossroads of his football career, Jonathon Ceglar sees it clearly.

Down one road, if the 100-game Hawthorn ruck had stayed in brown and gold, he would probably be retired and out of the game by now.

Jonathon Ceglar competes against Fremantle. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

The big man would probably be spending more time with his stable of horses, while he settles into family life with his newborn son.

Down the other, he is staking a claim for reigning premier Geelong and picking up “invaluable” knowledge in the blue and white hoops.

After crossing over between two of the biggest rivals in the AFL at the end of 2021, Ceglar had as many surgeries as senior games in his first year at the Cats and some fans queried if his move had already been a bust.

But even before he slotted in to play Geelong’s last three games, and will jump the first bounce against GWS Giants on Saturday, Ceglar wasn’t having any of the B-word.

“From my point of view, to think it has been a bust: absolutely not,” he said.

“The reality is, I probably would have been finished already: I think I had one year to go at Hawthorn when I left and they are probably not going down the 32-year-old path. They are more the youth and I would probably be finished.

“The people I have met and the things I have learned from (Cats coach Chris Scott) and the coaches and the management staff has been invaluable.”

Ceglar concedes his body is “a week-to-week thing” and knows Geelong is forever working to replenish its list and eventually pave the way for young ruck Toby Conway to seize the No.1 mantle.

Ceglar played his last game for Hawthorn in the final round of 2021. Picture: Michael Klein

He takes it easy early in each week to focus on recovery before ramping up into a solid football session to prepare for the weekend and the big man is not too busy living in the moment to think too far ahead.

Thanks to Geelong’s famous hospitality and flexibility, Ceglar is able to spend more time at home and so he is “genuinely excited” to get on the training track each week.

He has been caught up in the battle to claim a No.1 ruck position all his career – Ceglar played 31 games across Hawthorn premierships seasons from 2013 to 2015 without featuring in a grand final – and has learned to put that part of the job out of his mind.

When Rhys Stanley returns from an eye socket injury, the question will rise again, but Ceglar hasn’t given it any time.

Rising high. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I don’t give it a thought in my brain,” he said.

“It is up to the coaches and I will just do my job for the team and put my best foot forward. I am loving my time here and if you start looking at that stuff, you will start doing your head in.

“Early in my career, I probably did (think about it) because it has always been a battle. At any club you generally only play one ruck so there is always going to be that competition and the media loves that because it is one of the rare positions where you are the only one on the ground.

“Early on you listen and you worry, but I don’t give it two thoughts. They tell me on a Wednesday or Thursday what is going on and if you throw your toys out of the cot and drop your bundle, it reflects poorly on you for next time.

“I have a responsibility as an older player to help with the younger players as well.”

Ceglar backs Cats to turn season around

Geelong ruck Jonathon Ceglar remains adamant “nothing major” needs to change to get the premiership defence rolling again as the Cats eye some defensive tweaks.

Opened up several times by a free-flowing Fremantle on Saturday, Geelong has highlighted some areas is needs to fix up defensively to build on a 5-5 record, starting with a home game against GWS Giants this weekend.

Jonathon Ceglar competes. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

After building so much success off its defence in recent years, Geelong has been middling this season and has only been average at stopping opposition teams moving the ball.

But Ceglar said the Cats were positive they could turn things around quickly.

“We have some things to work on but it’s not diabolical at all,” he said.

“You would rather be in a side that is close and has a couple of things to work on than being a long way off it.

“(We need to fix) just a couple of defensive things and a bit of ball use. It’s nothing major and nothing the coaches don’t know or the players don’t know. We just have to keep putting in the work and showing up to training to make sure come Saturday you give yourselves the best opportunity to win.”

Ceglar has stepped in admirably for the injured Rhys Stanley (eye socket) this season and has performed well in playing three games in a row.

The Cats couldn’t stop Fremantle. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Cats coach Chris Scott has been clear the 32-year-old will be rested if he feels sore at any point, even if Stanley isn’t available.

Ceglar said hit fitness week-to-week was an ongoing conversation but given his form, he broke even with Fremantle star Sean Darcy in round 10, the veteran is not interested in putting his hand up for a break.

“It’s always a conversation but you also need to make hay while the sun shines and at the moment, I am going well so I don’t really have those conversations or think about it that much,” he said.

“If something pops up, (the club is) so good at working through it but at the moment, things are going well. I have a good routine, the club and fitness staff knows me really well.

“So while good things are happening, I will just keep it going.”

Originally published as Jonathon Ceglar on Geelong’s form, his life at a second club