While the 20-year-old tall forward had just cracked it for a place in the Geelong team, playing six games at the end of the season before a foot injury cut his year short by one week, he knew the club had long-term plans for him and housemate Matt McCarthy, who had both agreed to new deals in August.
The Cats’ search for a big name to spearhead one of the youngest lists in the AFL came to nothing, and the pressure on the likes of Playfair and McCarthy to perform will be greater than ever in 2004.
Both showed enough in 2003, their second season at Skilled Stadium, to suggest the club’s persistence might pay off, McCarthy perhaps stating his case in a more spectacular way.
McCarthy played a vital part in the Round 20 draw with the West Coast, taking a huge pack mark on the wing and then setting up Gary Ablett for an important goal with a crucial bump then handpass.
But Playfair, who is 14 months younger than his housemate, also took a lot from his first season of senior football.
“I’ve always doubted whether I can make it to that level but I proved to myself I could play there last year,” Playfair told afl.com.au.
“I improved a lot from the year before and hopefully I can improve like I did last year, take that next step and play a few more games.”
Playfair recognises the foundations for a successful year are laid in the pre-season, and he has worked harder than ever this year to get himself into a position where he is constantly considered for senior selection.
“I started (the pre-season) with a bit of a leg injury, I twisted a ligament in my leg against Brisbane in the second last round and I didn’t do a lot of running for about two weeks but since then I’ve been doing just about every session,” he said.
“It’s been a lot more intense (than previous years), a lot more running and expectations of you to lift it a bit. It’s certainly been a lot harder than the last two”
Playfair’s preference is to play up forward, where he can use his height (now 199cm) and his body strength to provide the target the Cats have been so sorely missing over recent seasons. But he is also prepared to lend a hand to skipper Steven King in the ruck if required.
“I see myself more as a forward, I don’t mind going into the ruck, it’s a bit of a change, but my first priority is to be a good forward,”
“We do a couple of sessions with Damian Bourke a week, he works with the ruckman, so I take part in pretty much every ruck session.”
Playfair can expect plenty of competition for a senior spot this year, and not just from McCarthy. The Cats drafted talls Mark Blake and Matthew Spencer, both capable of playing in attack, as well as securing former West Coast forward David Haynes in trade week.
“When new guys come in you always feel a bit of pressure, but I think that’s good for everyone in terms of motivation,” Playfair said.
