Why trust is a key theme for the rest of Geelong’s season

Footy fans often have a habit of being impatient but Cats supporters should trust the club to make the right decisions as Geelong chases another premiership. Here’s why.

Jack Martin has been a welcome inclusion. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

A key theme for Geelong this season comes down to one word – trust.

And it’s something fans must embrace alongside for the rest of the season.

Trust what the Cats are doing.

Saturday afternoon’s trip to ENGIE Stadium is on paper the hardest test which remains for the season and they’ve elected not to rush key defender Sam De Koning back from a shoulder injury.

Fans might see him listed as available but giving him another week to get cherry ripe is the right call. There’s so much more to look forward to than this weekend’s twilight clash.

“It’s more likely an abundance of caution than anything else,” coach Chris Scott said in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

These are words which will ring true for the rest of the season.

You can’t undersell the fact, Geelong are once again in premiership contention and De Koning has a key role to play.

The management of Bailey Smith has been an interesting talking points. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Bailey Smith is back into the senior side after being a late withdrawal through illness last weekend, replacing Mitch Duncan who suffered a shoulder injury.

And it wouldn’t be a shock if Smith misses another game or two in the back end — and one which will probably annoy rival fans.

If he does watch from the sidelines, Geelong fans should trust it’s the right decision because the Cats’ depth is far superior to most teams in the AFL.

With the softest run home of any club, player management is going to be about picking the right times.

Expect Patrick Dangerfield, Mark Blicavs and maybe even Jeremy Cameron to put their feet up.

“We do look forward, but that is a coaching group’s job. The short answer is yes, but the next bit is that we don’t take anything for granted,” Scott said.

When the time does come that the veterans take a week off, there’s no need to be up in arms.

It’s a time to trust the decision making and remember the long-term goal.

If we needed a timely reminder of trusting those who pick the senior side, you only need to look back at the win over Richmond last week.

George Stevens was impressive on debut. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Young midfielder George Stevens made his debut and finished with 21 disposals and a goal.

Almost every time Geelong’s team was announced in the lead up to games, social media was flooded with comments asking when Stevens was finally going to crack the side.

The Cats nailed the timing and Stevens delivered. But it should be no shock as the decision making is often right with the youngsters.

Look no further than second year defender Connor O’Sullivan who played one game in his debut season. The Cats elected to develop him in the VFL and it proved a masterstroke – he has quickly emerged as one of the game’s most exciting talents.

O’Sullivan’s new defensive teammate Jack Martin is quickly emerging as one of the Cats’ feel good stories of 2025.

With four games to his name now, after being picked off the scrap heap following his delisting by Carlton, Martin is looking an astute pick up.

He was another player the Cats were patient with as they aimed to get on top of his previous injury woes.

“At times it’s been a little frustrating, I felt like I could have played football a little sooner,” Martin said earlier this week.

But even the man himself has shown what happens when you trust the Cats off-field program. He’s gone into an unfamiliar role across halfback, with the ability to float forward, and has been able to show his superb skills by foot.

While Martin is a success story, there are countless reasons why the Cats must be trusted.

Trust they can make another deep run with the people in charge making the right decisions.

Originally published as Why trust is a key theme for the rest of Geelong’s season