Quiet achiever Jarryn Geary has had another strong start to the 2010 AFL season. After playing the first 14 games of 2009 and having played eleven games so far this season, Geary is hoping that 2010 might bring added opportunities.

“I used the experience of last year as a stepping stone for the pre-season this year, and I thought if I have another good pre-season and work hard it would give me the best chance to play more games this year.”

Being nominated for the 2009 NAB Rising Star after a 19 possession game against Essendon in Round 8 was another step in Jarryn’s career in which he continues to develop.

“(Being nominated) was good recognition I guess, after I’d had a few solid games in a row. It is a good award and was a great day to meet all the other people who had been nominated that year.”

Marking his position as a defensive midfielder, Jarryn has been focusing on developing more of the defensive side to his game and is likely to have more of an opportunity to further expand his experience in the strong Saints backline.

“I’ve been playing on the small forwards, so I have been speaking to a few of the other players to get a bit of advice on positioning and how to go about it.”

“Last year I was more in the midfield but this year I have been working with Stephen Silvagni a lot more on developing my game in defence.”

Although winning the Best and Fairest at TAC Cup side Bendigo Pioneers in 2007, where he played with good friend and current Geelong player Joel Selwood, Geary was overlooked in the AFL Draft and instead picked up by St Kilda in the Rookie Draft.

The 2007 Rookie Draft has proven a success so far for the Club with Clinton Jones and Robert Eddy also picked up during that selection.

“I was never expecting to get drafted, I knew I was more of a chance to get rookie listed. But once I arrived at the Club they made it very clear that it didn’t matter where you had come from or what pick you were, as if you put in the work you will get rewarded for your effort.”

Watching the success of his close friend Selwood has only helped to motivate Geary in his career admitting; “Watching his (Selwood’s) success has really helped drive me to really try to succeed in my own career.”

A number of well known AFL players have come from Geary’s home town of Bendigo, including our own Nick Dal Santo. Although 22 year Geary was a few years behind Dal Santo, now in his eighth year with the Club, he was still happy to hand out some ‘home truths’ on his teammate.

“Obviously I knew of Dal, he’s a pretty big name back in Bendigo. But not many people would know that he has a room named after him at the youth centre in Bendigo - the Nick Dal Santo Room.”

“Although I have to admit that having someone else from Bendigo at the Club was great, and Dal helped me settle in when I first arrived at the Saints.”

Looking at the season ahead, Jarryn seems comfortable on what lies in front of him, as long as he is able to play his role in the team.

“I don’t tend to do too many flashy things during the game, I just tend to do my job each week and I’m happy with that. I’m comfortable being a role player in the team rather than a star.”