NATHAN Krueger has given an impressive glimpse of why Geelong was keen to have early access to the young forward in the VFL Cats’ 76-point win over Coburg at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
The South Australian, who Geelong traded a draft pick to Carlton in exchange for one of the Blues’ state league priority signings late last year, kicked six goals in the 20.10 (130) to 7.12 (54) victory.
“He’s been going OK, but it’s probably just consistency during games, and he’s been playing down back as well,” coach Shane O’Bree told K rock Football.
“The Essendon game three weeks ago, when he got knocked out, he was probably our best player and turned the corner.
“Last week he showed signs, then today he took his opportunities. He took a lot of contested marks and looked lively, and obviously hit the scoreboard.”
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Krueger says he is getting plenty of confidence from being defended by a couple of AFL stars at training on a regular basis.
“I’m playing on blokes like Harry Taylor and ‘Blitz’ (Mark Blicavs); if you can get a couple of wins on those sort of guys it’s massive when it comes to VFL,” he said.
“If I can keep putting in the work at training, matching up on those sort of guys, it will hold me in good stead, I think.”
Click below to listen to the full interview with Shane O’Bree
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GEELONG 4.0, 11.4, 14.5, 20.10 (130)
COBURG 1.1, 2.8, 5.9, 7.12 (54)
Goals: Geelong: N. Kreuger 6, J. McLachlan 3, B. Schlensog 3, J. Tarca 3, L. Smith, R. Abbott, Z. Smith, W. Buzza, S. Selwood
Coburg: S. Lowson 2, P. McEvoy 2, M. Podhajski, T. Old, S. Binion
Best: Geelong: J. McLachlan, N. Kreuger, L. Fogarty, B. Reid, Z. Smith, J. Tarca
Coburg: A. Swierzbiolek, J. Weightman, L. Dickson, P. McEvoy, S. Lowson, W. Donaghey
