AS far as finding your feet at a new footballing home, the transition couldn’t have been any more seamless for Luke Dahlhaus.
Joining Geelong on a four-year deal after 154 games at the Western Bulldogs, including the drought-breaking 2016 premiership, the 26-year-old has been a pivotal contributor to the Cats’ 10-1 first half of the season.
The Leopold product says being in familiar surroundings has been important.
“That was the biggest reason, in the end, why I wanted to come down; to have the familiar surroundings and be around family and friends again,” Dahlhaus said ahead of Friday night’s MCG clash with Richmond.
“I think that’s played a massive role. I’m a bit more relaxed off-field and don’t worry as much anymore.
“I think it’s been a massive reason.”
Dahlhaus has also quickly found a role inside a new-look Geelong forward line as a pressure forward.
“We came together in November and it’s a pretty new forward line, and we just jelled together straight away,” he said.
“We love each other’s company, and you can probably see the amount we celebrate each other’s goals.
“We’re enjoying each other having success.
“It’s been great, we’re going well, but there’s obviously a long way to go yet.”
Dahlhaus, who is second only to fellow small forward Brandan Parfitt for tackles laid at the Cats, says maintaining pressure on the opposition defence will ensure Geelong can maintain its lofty status.
“A lot of it is mental, I think. We tend to watch highlights of us pressuring a lot just to remind us that’s where the goals come from; it’s from keeping it in your forward half.
“We always look at what we’ve done.
“But, just mentally, you need to bring that pressure to win games.
“It’s as simple as that.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
Email: kingy@geelongbroadcasters.com
Click below to hear the Luke Dahlhaus media conference in full.
