New-look Cats attack baring claws in AFL

Geelong's Corey Enright is proving an impressive poacher-turned-gamekeeper in his role as their forward line coach.

(AAP Image/Julian Smith) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

Geelong forwards coach Corey Enright has highlighted evergreen Gary Ablett's form at half-forward. (AAP)

Geelong great Corey Enright notes that he kicked 66 goals in his stellar AFL playing career, so the forward line is not foreign to him.

But his club-record career of 332 games was forged mainly across half-back or through the midfield, with occasional forays into attack.

Now the multiple premiership player and club best-and-fairest is the poacher turned gamekeeper, in his second season as coach of Geelong's forwards.

Enright is also enjoying success in that role, with Geelong boasting the league's most potent attack heading into Sunday's massive home game against defending premiers West Coast.

The Cats made big calls with their forwards after they were knocked out of last season's elimination finals.

Daniel Menzel was let go, Luke Dahlhaus and Gary Rohan were recruited, and veteran Gary Ablett was assigned a more permanent half-forward role as Geelong changed their structure around spearhead Tom Hawkins.

Teenager Gryan Miers has also been an impressive addition to the forward mix.

"It's a work in progress ... it's only early and no point in getting too carried away," Enright said after five rounds.

"We've been fortunate to have a bit of continuity early in the season, which does help.

"The team in general is quite settled - that's important."'

It helps when Ablett turns back the clock and produces the sort of star performance that highlighted their Easter Monday win over Hawthorn.

"It was huge - we don't expect him to have those games, but his ability to impact at the right stages on Monday was crucial for us," Enright said.

"He's had a good start to the season. He doesn't look like a 35-year-old."

Enright is far from the first former defender to become a forward line coach.

Importantly, he brings a different perspective to the role.

"Especially for guys who play forward a lot, it's good to have that balance and understanding of what a defender doesn't like," he said.

While West Coast are coming off an upset loss to Port Adelaide, Geelong also went down to GWS in their most recent match at GMHBA Stadium.

"It's a huge challenge, playing against the reigning premiers," Enright said.

"In terms of the last time we played here, a few things we normally do well, we just didn't do well that day and the Giants were superb."

The Eagles have not won in Geelong since 2006.

Geelong defender Zach Tuohy will play his first game this season and Charlie Constable also returns, while the Eagles recalled youngsters Daniel Venables and Jarrod Brander.


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Source: AAP



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