Paul Tsapatolis is thankful for the advice he has received since joining Geelong.
Tsapatolis, a talented basketballer who represented Australia at the FIBA Oceania and Asia Championships in 2019 and 2018 respectively, signed for the Cats last week as a Category B rookie.
The 202cm prospect has touched base with Melbourne young gun Luke Jackson, a former Australian basketball teammate, Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien and new Geelong teammate Rhys Stanley.
“I’ve spoken to Luke Jackson a bit. He said, ‘Congratulations. Just work hard, tick all the boxes and the results will take care of themselves’,” Tsapatolis told SEN Mornings.
“Even Reilly O’Brien. He goes, ‘Mate, if you ever need anything or any assistance, just give me a buzz’. I’ve had amazing support.
“Rhys Stanley has been good to me. He’s spoken to me about what to expect. Everyone has been awesome so I’m getting plenty of insight about what to expect, what obstacles I’m going to have to overcome
“Everyone’s been giving me heaps of advice.”
The 18-year-old also attracted interest from Adelaide but the Cats won the race to secure his signature.
“It was definitely the Crows and the Cats that were my two main preferences,” Tsapatolis said.
“The connection I had with the Cats was just unreal, I’ve never felt so welcomed into a club. Troy Selwood, Stephen Wells, Simon Lloyd, all those guys were so supportive of me and so welcoming.
“I just said to my manager to inform other clubs that I’m signing for Geelong.”
Tsapatolis last played football for the Yarraville Seddon Eagles as a 13-year-old in 2015.