Last Sunday’s final quarter against the Saints was disappointing. We were in the game and had a chance to win but they pulled away when it counted. We will be looking to redeem ourselves this week when we face Brisbane. Don’t forget that Sunday’s game starts earlier than normal at 12:40pm. Let’s get to the mailbag.
Both Paul Hellwege and Robyn Cardwell posed questions regarding the new rucking rules and how they are impacting on you. What is your view of the new rule interpretations?
Steven King: Whenever rule interpretations change it is a challenge for players. All you want as a player is to make sure the rules are applied across the board and consistently. It is up to us as players to make the necessary adjustments, and as long as the rules are the same for everyone we just get on with the game.
Although the focus tends to be on the money players can command when their contracts come up for review, what are your thoughts and ambitions about being a "one club" player? - Stephen Chopping
Steven King: If you ask any player, they will tell you that they would like nothing better than to spend their career and have success at one club. I have been at Geelong since 1995 and would like nothing more than to play 300 games here and enjoy the success we all believe we can have.
While you are out there playing do you hear the cheer squad chanting for the boys? And if so do you think the cheering lifts morale in the team. And finally what is your opinion of the banner before the game? – Anthony Miller
Steven King: Gee Anthony, that’s a lot of questions! There is always a lot of noise at an AFL game, with the general roar of the crowd and the atmosphere that we all thrive on. The cheer squad does stand out though, as it is so loud and it certainly lifts the players when things get tough. As for the banner, it is one of the great traditions of the game and is unique to footy. A lot of people could take the banner for granted, but we all know that a lot of hard work goes into preparing and making it every week.
Daniel Hanrahan, Daniel Spitty, Ian Young, Robert Forsaith, Helen Walker and Jaron Sutton have all asked about the progress of our draftees Andrew Mackie and Ben Finnin are progressing and whether they will play in the seniors this season.
Steven King: Both Andrew and Ben have fitted in well and have been playing well in the VFL. Both are young players but as we have shown over the past couple of years, young players get opportunities to come through the system and play AFL. Both guys have the ability to play at the highest level. This is really Andrew’s first season with a club after having played most of his footy at school. Ben has moved back to Victoria after spending last year with the Crows and Port Adelaide in the SANFL.
I'm 18 years old, 194cm tall and weigh 73kg. I can’t put on any weight no matter how much I eat and am worried about stepping up to senior football because of my size. How should I approach this situation because my desire to play football is enormous? – Shayne Gillings
Steven King: Shayne I wouldn’t be too concerned about trying to gain weight quickly. It often takes tall players extra time to develop their bodies. Keep working at improving your game and getting stronger rather than just getting bigger. You can’t always control how quickly your body will develop, but you can always work on your skills. You can also work with you coaches to help ease your way into senior ranks.
I am 13 years old and am the Deputy Vice Captain of my U/14's team. I am not being arrogant but I am a pretty good player. The bad thing is that I'm only 145cm which is very small. Is there still a chance I can make AFL? – Snappa
Steven King: Through the years there have been a lot of good players that are not big guys. Brad Gotch was only 166cm and he played over 100 games with Fitzroy and St Kilda and Paul Callery played 182 games at 165cm. If your skills continue to develop and you keep playing well there is no reason why you could not play at AFL level.
Do you prefer to be in the middle rucking or up forward kicking goals? – Caleb Brown
Steven King: I have played in the ruck for most of my career and enjoy the challenge of ruck play. For the team’s benefit it is good sometimes to go forward and have a spell to freshen up and have more influence when I do go back into the ruck. When I go forward I try to provide an option to kick some goals. At the end of the day it is whatever the match committee decides. I am just happy to do my part.
I am playing for the Merimbula Diggers, (who you should know!). And came from Shepp like you as well. Problem this year is that we really don't have a big ruckman (for the seniors). Do you have any advice towards rucking against particularly bigger opponents? - Tim Hof
Steven King: There are a number of ways to attack this situation. Your midfielders are going to have to read the opposition ruckmen and try to gain first use of the ball even if your ‘smaller’ ruckman doesn’t win the hit out. Whoever plays in the ruck for the Diggers will have to use his body well, particularly around the ground. It sounds like your ruckman will also be a bit more mobile than your opponents, so he can use his additional mobility to his advantage around the ground. Even if he is not doing well in centre bounce and ball up contests, ruckmen can still contribute throughout the game.
Just was wondering what you and the team do fitness wise during the season out side of training.....like on your days off do you do weights in the gym, go running daily, swim? Also what position do u think Bomber will play Steve Johnson in during his career as I can see him being a very good forward pocket. He looks to be one of those players that has the height to take a strong overhead mark but is also that medium sized height that he'll be good on the ground in the contests. – Aaron
Steven King: Aaron, the way football has gone we have very few days off. If we aren’t training on the ground we are working on skills or in the gym. The training regime is mapped out for the year but it is flexible depending on how players pull up after games. We have regular weights sessions and use the pool for recovery after games and training. With regard to Steven Johnson, he has shown an ability to kick goals and seems well suited to playing up forward. His nose for the ball and goal could make him an ideal crumbing forward as he continues to develop.
Who did you barrack for when you were young and who was your idol? – Angela Johnson
Steven King: When I was young I was a big Essendon supporter. They had great players in the 80’s and the likes of Terry Daniher, Paul Salmon and our current coach Mark Thompson were the players I really looked up to as a kid.
How did you get so tall at a young age? – Malcolm
Steven King: Well Malcolm, I really didn’t have a lot to do with it. I have a tall family and was just lucky!
What do you see doing with yourself doing after you finish playing in the AFL, and do you have any career interests outside football at the moment? – Ben Jensen
Steven King: That is a good question Ben. I realise that you can’t play footy forever and so I am taking a course at Deakin University to ensure I have a career after football. My brother is a builder and I have an interest in property development, so I may team up with him.
Steven there have been many questions about whether you feel you need back up, whether that has helped you and how Peter Street and Paul Chambers are developing. These came from Kirralee Rendevski, Daniel Carty, Graeme McShanag, Allan Caelli, Bernadette Kennedy, Ron, Darren Mihaljevic and Adam Kerridge
Steven King: The role of a second ruckman is obviously a big talking point. I have always said that it is up to the match committee and in the past two weeks Paul Chambers has played well. Both Paul and Peter are working hard to improve their games, and it is often the case that big players develop as they get older. If we play another tall I can go forward and help in the forward line like I have the past two weeks. At the end of the day the match committee decides what line up gives us the best chance to win.
Send your questions to Steven via asktheskipper@gfc.com.au
