TOM HARLEY

Tom Harley captained the Geelong Cats to their first premiership in 44 years in 2007. We asked him how he plans to top that

WORDS CRAIG TANSLEY
Photo: Lachlan Cunningham/GSP Images

How on earth do you follow up this season after last year’s victory?

It’s tricky but what we have to do is curb our expectations. Last year was a record-breaking year for us, not just with the grand final but also with the Brownlow [medal awards] and the number of guys chosen as AllAustralians. We don’t want to think too much about back-to-back premierships – it’s not a focus for us, it’s not healthy.

So has your preparation changed, as defending premiers?

No, we’ve prepared much the same, although with fitness we’re even further advanced than this time last year. We’ve lost four players because of the debt of the club but that’s given opportunities to nine new kids. We have a bunch of great, 18-year-olds training with us, but we have roughly the same nucleus of 26 or 28 players.

Has the loss of Nathan Ablett thrown a spanner in the works?

Yeah. In AFL circles it’s pretty well unheard of for a 22-year-old to retire. We didn’t see it coming, but Nathan had lots of reasons. Tom Hawkins is the obvious beneficiary, he could get a permanent spot on the forward line.

Do you intend to keep the same sort of game plan?

It shouldn’t be too different, although Nathan’s gone, but I think we want to stay ahead of everything and continue playing attacking, exciting footy like last year.

Do you feel everyone’s out to get you now?

Because they are. (Laughs) Yeah, I’ve been in sides playing reigning premiers and I know how hard you try to beat them. But I think that already started last year. When we won 15 in a row we became the hunted, everyone wanted to knock us off. It’s an enviable position to be in, but of course it brings some pressure with it.

Are lots of people out there just waiting for you to fail?

There are always going to be people who want us to lose and of course, there’s the tall poppy thing but we’re not fazed. We have a lot of players who love being the big fish. I’m sure even with the early games of the season people will look very closely at our performances to see if we’re slipping.

On a personal level, how’s your fitness and form? You’re 30 this year, any niggles?

I’ve had a really good pre-season. The last few years I’ve had knee problems and last year it was the finger that kept me out ’til round nine. I’m confident I’ll play the whole season..

How do you escape the pressure of it all as captain?

I’ve been around a long time, I know how AFL works.
Having my fiancée in Sydney takes mental energy; a long-distance relationship keeps my mind occupied.

Any wedding bells on the horizon?

(Laughs) It’s a long-term engagement. I haven’t thought about it yet, but I’m sure it won’t be as nerve racking as a grand final (laughs).

Did last year’s off-field dramas, especially surrounding Ben Cousins, affect you as captain of the team leading the competition?

Yeah, it leaves a sour note, especially when it was such a fantastic year for us on the field. We just have to remember it really should be about what happens on the footy field.