Stinear on the challenge against his former side

Yeah good, really excited.

There has been some good banter during the week, with the players and with a few of the staff as well. It is a team I know well, probably trying to find a balance of not getting too carried away on opposition analysis.

I feel like we have really evolved as a team, throughout the pre-season and throughout the 12 home-and-away rounds. So we go into tomorrow's clash really confident that our game stacks up, and we are looking forward to the challenge against a really good side.

It is just one of excitement, I am sure it will be a bit weird at times, having spent so much time there. But excited for it, really proud of the work that our group has put in.

But ultimately, it kind of means nothing unless you can produce it in the post-season, so that is our next opportunity tomorrow. 

Stinear on backing in the game plan

I feel it comes down to the off-season and pre-season planning, when you are putting together your game style.

It is designed to beat the best teams in the comp, so you go into this week not needing to shift magnets, not needing to create new roles, not needing to shift your style. You can emphasise different parts of your game a little more, depending on what the opposition's strengths are.

But ultimately, we need to go our an execute what we have been doing, and what we have been working on. It is another week where we get to evolve again.

So that has been critical, but I think the main thing is doing the work in the off-season and pre-season, to have a game style that stacks up in Finals against the best teams. Then you get to re-enforce and sharpen up what you are doing, rather than having to change.

Really proud of our coaching group and the players for how we have continued to evolve and progress, and we believe we will give it a red-hot crack tomorrow. 

Stinear on the unchanged line-up

It is probably the first time in a while we have been unchanged.

We have had really good depth, with players playing scrimmages and performing well. We haven't had as many injuries in the past few weeks, so we were open to making changes if necessary, but the team performed really strongly.

Across the ground, everyone performed their role and contributed, that is the sort of performance we are after again tomorrow.

We need depth heading into a Finals campaign, and we have got players there that are in form and out of the team. We feel like we have picked a side that will give us the best chance of winning. 

Stinear on his first year at Geelong

We have got a really good coaching group as well, so I love coming to work.

Our staff, the club as a whole, is a really good environment to work in. It is nice to feel close to home, being part of the one community as well. The kids are often in here and they are loving the experience.

The playing group have got an edge about them, they have always had a strong sense of belonging, but I feel like that edge has been more prevalent this year. Then they are using that to enhance performance, and I think they are understanding that fun comes off the back of hard work.

They are willing to roll their sleeves up during the week and continue to evolve, but then game day they are prepared to produce it and really play for each other.

It has been a really enjoyable year and excited to make the most of the work we have put in, hopefully over the next four weeks.