New Geelong recruit Oliver Henry has no issue with being booed.
The 20-year-old was jeered relentlessly by opposition fans when he came up against Collingwood in Round 1, a club he demanded out of during the off-season to join the Cats.
Booing has been a topic of conversation around the AFL this season after Jason Horne-Francis - another young star who left the club he was drafted by to head home – has been a target of heckling, causing Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley to come to his defence.
For Henry, he was accepting of the Round 1 boos as he still holds a special place in his heart for the club that he earned his first AFL opportunity with.
“For me when I did experience it, it was just coming back to the moments on the ground and being present with my teammates,” Henry told AFL Nation.
“I still have a lot of love for Collingwood and I still have a lot of love for Collingwood fans, I love their passion and it wouldn’t seem right if they weren’t booing me.
“I still have that admiration for them and I like the way they go about it.”
Referencing his own experience, Henry believes Horne-Francis will be able to block out the noise if he can stay in the moment on-field, something the teenager has appeared to of done in recent weeks as his form builds.
“It’s whether Jason can really stay in the moment,” Henry said.
“He’s a great player and hopefully he can have a good year.”
Focusing on his own game, Henry – a lifelong Cats fan – finally got the chance to play at the club’s home deck in Saturday’s dominant 93-point Grand Final rematch win over Sydney.
After kicking two goals in the clash, Henry said it was surreal to play at a venue he spent so much time at growing up.
“It’s so surreal to actually have a game here personally,” Henry said.
“I’ve grown up here, been to so many games here, it was quite surreal warming up on it and seeing a packed house.
“Personally for me, that was all the energy I needed to try and attack the ball.
“It was such a good game.”
Henry and the Cats are now 3-3 on the season with three consecutive wins under their belts.
They’ll next gear up for a clash against Essendon at the MCG next Sunday.