GEELONG pressure forward Tom Atkins has spent the pre-season training with the defensive group as the club weighs up a potential move down back for the committed clubman.
Atkins was omitted for the Cats do or die semi-final line-up that trounced the Magpies in October and couldn’t regain his place in the side for the remainder of the finals series.
Defensive coach Matthew Scarlett thinks Atkins’ clean hands in congestion and dogged defensive work rate could translate to the defensive arch.
“Scarlo’s been really supportive of me learning; I’m obviously pretty raw as a defender,” Atkins told krockfootball.com.au.
“They’re a really strong backline, so it’s been great to learn from some of the players down there.
“We’ve only had 2-3 weeks of me training as a backman, but I’m enjoying it so far.
Atkins is willing to go wherever his coaches need him as he looks to build upon the 35 AFL games already to his name.
His 2020 season was interrupted by a lingering rib injury which forced him to miss five games, wiping out the month of July.
The injury proved troublesome for the dogged Cat who bases his game on physicality and pressure.
“I’ll play wherever, to be honest; I don’t really mind. I enjoyed my time as a forward, and if there’s a spot as a forward, then I’ll go for that. But, if there’s room in the defence, then I’ll play there,” Atkins says.
“I’ve just got to focus on playing good footy. Hopefully, it all goes well.
“And, if it doesn’t, I’ve had a pretty good three years.”
Atkins' selfless and club-first attitude is clearly evident when asked to reflect on losing his place in the side in the backend of last year.
“The lesson I learned is that it (footy) is bigger than the individual,” he says.
“At the time, for you, it feels like the worse thing that’s happened but it’s not really about that. It’s about the Geelong footy club trying to win a grand final, ultimately.
“So, it’s probably not important that I missed a couple of games. The more disappointing part of the year was that we lost the grand final.”
“The club was around a long time before I’ve been at the club, and it will be there a long time after I leave.
Atkins understands why the selection panel made the decision they did and won’t be letting the tough break make him try to become something he’s not.
“At that time, we needed a bit of a change after the Port game, and Sammy offered an attacking element within the team that I didn’t offer,” he said.
“I could try and become him, but then I’d go away from what my strengths are.
They’re picking players based on their attributes and what fits in best.
“There’s no point me being someone I’m not.”
