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Geelong recruit Ollie Henry has detailed his major weakness, as the young forward seeks to secure a spot in a star-studded side next season.
Henry’s departure from Collingwood after only two years with the Magpies was one of the major storylines of the October trade period.
The Magpies had offered him a lucrative contract extension but Henry, 20, wanted to return to his hometown of Geelong and play with his brother Jack.
Magpie no more: Oliver Henry is excited to train and play alongside his older brother Jack at Geelong.Credit:Getty Images
He has moved in with his parents – they live 800-metres from GMHBA Stadium – but intends to find his own place next year.
In the meantime, Henry, who began official pre-season training on Monday, knows he has much to do in building on the 25 games he played with the Magpies over two years.
“There is a lot for me to improve on. There’s no doubt,” Henry, the 17th pick in the 2020 national draft, said.
“I will try to work on consistency and just the mentality of keeping yourself in a football game when things don’t go your way. It could be the scoreboard, pressure, that’s the kind of stuff for me that I have struggled with. I would get my head out of the game, you see some players, like myself, can go missing in times like that … that’s just something I need to work on.”
Henry booted 28 goals with the Magpies, and shapes as a key piece of the Cats’ future. However, the immediate challenge will be finding a spot alongside the likes of Tom Hawkins, likely to miss the opening rounds after foot surgery, Jeremy Cameron and Gary Rohan.
“There is a lot of stuff that I will try to pick up and learn off them,” Henry said.
“I am definitely going to have to work super hard. It’s a great team, it’s going to be super hard to play in.”
Henry was part of a three-club deal confirmed in the final minutes of the trade period, which also involved Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell leaving Hawthorn for the Magpies, and young Cat Cooper Stephens, having battled injuries in his first three years, heading to the Hawks.
As the medical substitute against Carlton in round 23, Henry did not take to the field, and was overlooked through the finals. Regardless, Collingwood supporters were disappointed with his decision, Henry recently declaring he will be ready for “whatever backlash” came his way.
Henry grew up idolising the Cats, and his passion was on show while attending the grand final. He said it would be “unreal” if the Cats could go back to back with him in the side.
“Just watching in the stands, I was so happy for them. My brother is there, I also wanted to be out there,” he said.
“[But] you can’t think about it now, you have got to put the steps in place, put the work in. Hopefully, that proceeds to something great.
“I am not coming here to try and fix anything, make anything better. I am coming here to learn and grow and develop from a lot of these great players. If there is something I can bring to this team, I am more than happy to bring it.”
The Cats also unveiled two other prized recruits in former Sun Jack Bowes and former Giant Tanner Bruhn, the latter having played alongside Henry with the Geelong Falcons. Bruhn was the 12th pick in the 2020 national draft.
Bowes said he was keen to work with midfield coach Shaun Grigg, and learn from the likes of midfield stars Patrick Dangerfield and Mitch Duncan.
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