AT just 22, Jack Geary has packed a lot into his footy career.
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Five BFNL premierships with Golden Square, two Nalder Medals for best player on the ground in a grand final, captain of the VCFL under-19 team and winner of the Peter Knights Medal for best player for the VCFL under-19 team.
You can now add BFNL inter-league captain to the list.
The Golden Square midfielder will lead the BFNL into battle in Saturday’s Worksafe Country Championships clash with Gippsland at the QEO.
To those who have followed Geary’s career with the Dogs since he played his first game in 2009, it is no surprise he’s risen to such lofty levels.
It didn’t take Geary’s first senior coach Mark Adamson long to realise that he had a good player on his hands.
“We had a strong team in 2009 and Jack was identified as one of the better Bendigo Pioneers that year and we were keen to play him in our senior team when we could,’’ Adamson said.
“Right from the start you could tell he was going to be a good player.
“He was mature for his age, he was a competitor and he had enormous endurance.
“We used him as a run-with player against some of the good players we came up against and he was able to win his own footy as well because of that running ability.
“Even in the short period of time I coached him, the thing that stood out for me was how self-motivated he was.”
That work ethic has helped establish Geary as one of the BFNL’s premier midfielders.
Gisborne’s Rod Sharp played on, and now coaches against, Geary.
Sharp has watched from afar as Geary has developed into one of the BFNL’s premier midfielders.
“He’s more of a complete package these days,’’ Sharp said.
“A couple of years ago he did it in spurts, but now he’s a consistent performer week in, week out.
“He’s exciting and he plays to his strengths with his run and carry.
“In Simon Rosa’s absence he’s shown he can step up to a leadership role with Golden Square and there’s no reason why his game won’t go to another level as captain of the inter-league side.”
Golden Square’s current coach Nick Carter said Geary’s professionalism sets him apart from the average player.
“I haven’t seen too many people work as hard as he does on the track,’’ Carter said.
“He just loves playing footy and he prepares himself accordingly.
“He just works hard and he’s getting better and better. He’s a great asset for Golden Square on and off the field.”
Carter said Geary’s elevation to BFNL captain was richly deserved.
“In the past two years he’s grown into a strong leader,’’ he said.
“It’s a credit to the selectors and the league that they appointed Jack as such a young leader.
“I’m sure he’ll lead that group really well this year and beyond.”
The thing that stood out for me was how self-motivated he was.