How star Cat 'flipped the script' on pre-finals anxiety

Shannon Neale was just starting to ponder the pointy end of Geelong's latest bid for glory when anxiety hit.

The key forward was a part of the Cats team that enjoyed a scintillating 2025 campaign, then suffered a demoralising defeat to the Brisbane Lions on grand final day.

Neale, 24, and his teammates are seeking redemption this year - and midway through this season, it all became very real.

"I sort of battled with a little bit of inner anxiety around thinking about 'what does it look like if we get back there' and going through the (grand final) parade back through my head," Neale said.

"I created a bit of anxiety and a bit of tense shoulders throughout that process ... It came on for no specific reason - more so around when we had our bye (in June), thinking about what the back half of the season might look like.

"You picture it all and what it looks like. I don't think any team sees them losing. You always expect to win."

For Neale, the lead-up to last year's grand final and the game itself was all a "blur" - apart from the brutal final moments.

"Towards the end, I was sort of stuck on the bench for a bit," he said.

Midway through this year, Neale's mind started rushing forward, forecasting where the Cats might finish and how the finals might look.

"That's sort of when it builds up a little bit," the key forward said.

"I was like, 'oh, geez, I don't know how I'm going to deal with those emotions if we get there again'."

Fortunately for Neale, he is surrounded by older heads at Geelong who have experienced the anxiety that comes with expectation.

"They said 'you sort of dive into that anxiety a bit' - which I have," he said.

"And it fuels you more and excites you. Rather than taking a step back, you take a step forward. So the hunger is certainly there."