Cats’ Duncan has wealth of AFL role models

Playing alongside a handful of three-time premiership stars, Geelong AFL midfielder-forward Mitch Duncan isn’t short of role models.

And he need look no further than fellow East Perth recruit Joel Corey.

Corey, a two-time club champion, plays his 250th game for Geelong in Saturday’s round-18 clash with Adelaide at Simonds Stadium.

Duncan is taking steps towards becoming a genuine heavy hitter himself, gathering an equal career-high 31 disposals in last week’s 67-point win over Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

The 21-year-old says Geelong’s dominant victory has boosted their self-belief.

It has also further illustrated Duncan’s talent, after he was part of Geelong’s premiership side in his second season last year.

“We did play a very good brand of football (against Essendon),” Duncan told AAP this week.

“We need to keep that going because the next couple of weeks (against Adelaide, Hawthorn and West Coast) are very important for our season.”

Duncan says the Cats (10-6) are confident their best football will be competitive against all comers.

“We haven’t really played our best footy this year. Last week was maybe a small stepping stone to us playing some good footy towards the end of the year,” he said.

Personally, the 187cm Duncan wasn’t getting too carried away by last week’s 31-possession, 20-kick, one-goal performance.

“You are always putting pressure on yourself to improve. Even if you’re going along nicely you always want to get better,” he said.

“Ideally you’d probably want to play more in the midfield.

“But when you’ve got the people in there at the moment who are playing well like Joel Selwood and Jimmy Bartel and Joel Corey, you can only do your best to try to kick them out.

“They’re very good role models.”

Since the start of the 2008 season, Geelong have lost once at Simonds Stadium, to Sydney in round 23 last year.

The Crows swooped on the Cats with a 14-goal first half to lead by 63 points at halftime before scoring a 50-point win at AAMI Stadium in round seven.

Duncan says the success of Adelaide (13-3) under former Cats’ assistant coach Brenton Sanderson is no surprise.

“He’s an absolute gun of a coach,” Duncan said.

The Crows regain Taylor Walker from suspension for fellow key forward Kurt Tippett (concussion), while Luke Thompson returns for Andy Otten (knee).

Bartel and Allen Christensen replace Matthew Scarlett (suspension) and Jordan Murdoch for Geelong.

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