From a virtual unknown to being on the verge of signing a contract extension, it’s been a whirlwind 12 months for Ollie Dempsey.
It’s exactly a year since Dempsey received the Round 1 Rising Star nomination for a standout performance against St Kilda to open the 2024 season, which led to the 22-year-old claiming the overall award.
“It is pretty crazy, and I do think back sometimes and think, ‘Wow! It’s good.’,” Dempsey said on Tuesday morning.
“12 months ago, getting that nomination and seeing where I’ve come from, and playing basketball growing up, and then coming into a new environment of footy… which is really cool.
“But, I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to get here and have so many good coaches and staff to help me out and teammates, which has been nice.”
Selected by Geelong with pick 15 in the 2022 Rookie Draft, Dempsey entered last year with just seven games and two goals to his name.
However, after that breakout three-goal effort against the Saints to mark the opening of the Joel Selwood Stand, the Carey Grammar never lost his spot in the team, playing all 25 games for the Cats while also kicking 22 goals.
Dempsey says he’s already attracting more opposition attention than he did in 2024.
However, he found plenty of space with a 15-possession, two-goal effort against Fremantle.
“Definitely a bit more than I did last year because I don’t think anyone coming into last year knew who I was,” he said.
“I was able to be free and sort of just play my role. And there’s other guys taking pressure, like Bailey Smith and all that stuff, instead of me.
Dempsey says contracts are being left in the hands of his manager, Winston Rous.
“I’m leaving it all up to my manager, Winnie, and he’s doing it, and I’m not too stressed about any of that,” he said.
“I love being at Geelong and being here, so I think this will be where I’ll be, and it’ll work itself out in the coming weeks or months or whenever it does.”
X: @krockfootball
