He is often the unsung hero in Geelong's defensive unit, but Jack Henry's importance to the Cats can not be understated and was clearly evident on Sunday at the SCG.
Regularly trusted on the last line of defence, the star back was at his brilliant best picking off a game-high 10 intercept possessions and four intercept marks, repelling numerous Sydney attacks throughout the afternoon.
His performance was part of a stellar display from the Cats' defence, with the likes of Tom Stewart (nine intercept possessions) and Sam De Koning (eight intercepts) also heavily influential in helping to hold the Swans to just three goals and seven scoring shots after half time.
Henry said it was a satisfying victory in Round 23, with Geelong finding a nice vein of form just two weeks out from September.
"Yeah it was really pleasing, it was probably one of our better four quarter performances that we have played in the last month or so," Henry told Cats Media.
"We are pretty confident in our ability, as long as we are in the contest then we are fine if it is low scoring or if it is a tight contest.
"We back that we will be able to run out the game really well, and I think we did that again today nicely.
"Hopefully there will be some good vision that comes out of that for us to look back at during the week. I think that is as well as we have worked together in a while, it is really pleasing and I am very happy with the boys."
The performance on Sunday continues a strong and consistent season from Henry, who currently sits in the AFL's top 10 players for average intercept marks per game (2.9).
He also ranks in the top 15 players across the competition for intercept possessions per game this year (6.9), averaging career-high numbers in both statistical categories.
Despite his knack for taking spectacular marks and producing plenty of highlights, Henry said it is important to get the basics right as September draws closer.
"It has been good, there has been a couple of injuries here and there but other than that it has been a consistent year," Henry said.
"I think that is all you can do sometimes, is just want to be consistent and go after things in your own game that you know that you can do every week. Try to make it pretty black and white with what you want to do, just keep trying to hit those things.
"It is important just to double down on the fundamentals going into Finals, just keep working together. I think a lot of Finals stuff is working as a group, having our whole system work together really well.
"Hopefully that will be the stuff that we are working on in the last game and then further on into the year."
