Having known its finals fate for several weeks, Geelong has been able to use the final month of the VFL home-and-away season to fine-tune its preparations, according to the versatile Jay Rantall.
The Cats claimed their first minor premiership since 2013 with a stunning 16-2 win-loss record, which included 12 consecutive wins.
They will face competition newcomers Tasmania at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday, in what will be the first meeting between the two clubs this season.
“We earned the right with our form earlier this year to know where we’re going to finish,” Rantall said.
“It is nice that we’re finally at finals and we’re playing
“In the last couple of weeks we’ve had a few byes, so it’s probably been a blessing for us to sort of home in on what we do well and that attention to detail.
“But the last week it’s been nice to know who we’re going to play and who we have to face in our first final.”
Rantall, who played AFL five matches for Collingwood across the Covid-impacted 2020 and 2021 seasons, has been at Geelong for the past two seasons.
He played 13 games last year, but a mid-season injury has restricted the South Warrnambool product to 11 appearances this year.
“It was a bit of a bummer just to miss footy, especially when the team was going so well in the middle part of the year and sitting on the sidelines and still having a bit of a role,” he said.
“But, obviously, (I was) quite jealous to not be out there, especially when the team’s going well.
“You want to be a part of that out there.”
“But it’s been great since being back in the team and (I’ve) been able to find a little bit of form and hopefully it continues throughout the final series.”
Rantall has enjoyed watching the progression of Geelong’s AFL-listed youngsters, but was loath to individualise.
“We’ve probably been very lucky to have some experienced AFL players throughout the team throughout the year,” he said.
“But it’s the boys that have been there all year. They probably haven’t played much AFL, or been exposed to any at all, that have played really, really good throughout the year.
“I don’t really want to name anyone because they’ve all contributed in their own ways.
“But without those boys, there’s definitely no way we’re in the position we are.
“So, it’s been good to see their development from the start. They should all be very excited.”
Meanwhile, after an injury-interrupted season, South Barwon-aligned Paddy Kelly is looking forward to his first VFL final.
Kelly returned for the Cats’ final-round win over North Melbourne, resuming the new forward role he’d taken on before being sidelined for nearly three months.
“While I was sidelined, I used it as an opportunity to learn more about my role by picking the coaches’ brains, understanding what the team needs from me, and working on how I can take my game to the next level,” he said.
“Having gone through that process, and after returning against North Melbourne a couple of weeks ago, I feel like I’m in a really good place heading into finals and I’m confident in where my game is at.”
Kelly, who represented the Bendigo Pioneers at Talent League level, arrived in Geelong from Nullawil in the North Central league in 2024.
He has made 26 appearances for the Cats.
“I’d say we’re a really united group,” he said “I’ve only been here for a couple of seasons, but this year the group feels especially close.
“Everyone enjoys spending time together and playing footy together, and I think that connection translates onto the field.
“We’re all playing for each other, which can be difficult when players come from different local clubs and often compete against one another.
“But our camaraderie is one of our biggest strengths.”
AFL-listed pair Jacob Molier and Keighton Matofai-Forbes, along with captain Daniel Capiron, Darcy Edmends and Will White, are the inclusions for the Cats.
Veteran ruck Rhys Stanley is sidelined with a knee injury; VFL-listed trio Ben Pennisi, Tanner Lewis and Jack Costello have been omitted from the team that defeated North Melbourne; and Jack Martin returned to the AFL team last week.
Among the Devils team are former St Joseph’s star Joey Chaplin and Brad Cox-Goodyer, who spent a season with Geelong West-St Peter’s in 2016.
First bounce at 12:05pm
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