Zach Tuohy says Thursday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium has a ‘finals smell’ to it, the short turnaround an afterthought compared to what’s on the line.
Both teams played on Saturday night and recovery plans will have been adjusted accordingly, but according to Tuohy, none of that matters with top spot on the line.
“It makes recovery even more of a premium but you can get into a nice rhythm when you play quickly, plus we're playing the best team in it so it gives you a bit of extra spice,” he said.
"It's got a kind of finals smell to it this game and this is why you play.
“To be playing against the best teams in games that really could have significant ramifications, not quite knock out, but we are playing the reigning premiers and probably the best team in the comp so there's a fair bit on the line.”
The Demons lost three games in a row leading into the bye but Tuohy dismissed suggestions Melbourne is anything other than the team to beat this season.
“Of course they are,” he told media on Monday. “It's ridiculous to suggest they're not.”
“If anyone thought they were just going to go through the season unbeaten they obviously haven't watched footy for the last 150 years. That's not how the game works.
"The fact that they've dropped a couple of games says nothing about the caliber of team they are, they’re still the benchmark and I suspect we're going to be underdogs this week and justifiably so.”
To add an extra dimension to the game, Geelong will wear a specially designed guernsey inspired by the club’s 1960-1970 era to celebrate Retro Round.
“It's cool,” Tuohy said. “I think along with the indigenous jumpers, the retro jumpers often look the best. I think the fans love it. It's a throwback to some of the older players that our fans adore, so it's exciting.”
