Tom Atkins has played down his impact on Geelong’s first half of the season as the Cats prepare for a clash with fellow top-four contender Gold Coast.
The hard-as-nails midfielder, who put pen to paper last week on a two-year contract extension, is leading the AFL in tackles (119) while at the same time averaging 18 disposals per game, providing a defensive edge to the attacking flair of Bailey Smith and Max Holmes.
However, don’t expect Atkins to be comfortable with the plaudits that have come his way.
“Everyone really sort of brings it up with me or talks about it, but I mentioned before that it’s not a focus of mine,” he said.
“I think only two weeks back, I only had five tackles; it’s just how games eventuate.
“We’ve got some pretty potent attacking weapons in our midfield, so if I can try and complement that with my defence, then (that’s) how we can win games.”
Geelong will face a Gold Coast line-up that has also managed eight wins in the first half of the season, but is coming off a surprise loss to Fremantle at home last week.
Noah Anderson is averaging 31 disposals per game, while Matt Rowell and captain Touk Miller will also have to be nullified if the Cats are to climb into the top four for the first time since the opening round.
“Anderson’s probably been the standout,” Atkins said “His last month’s been awesome. Rowell and Touk are really consistent players.
“We’ll have a challenge. It’s always a challenge.
“We feel like we’ve been going pretty well as well.
“So, it’s more about how can we nullify their strengths but amplify ours?”
Atkins has also played down his involvement with Geelong’s AFLW team.
The 29-year-old has taken on a development coaching role with the Cats’ midfield, who are ten weeks away from the start of the new season.
“They’ll have a midfield coach going forward, and then I’ll very much just be there if they need me,” he said.
“It’s more just, I’m a midfielder, Nina’s (Morrison) a midfielder, Amy (McDonald), Georgie (Prespakis), all those guys are midfielders, so how can we share craft and better each other?”
X: @krockfootball
