How star young Cat Ollie Dempsey has learnt to thrive

Geelong star Ollie Dempsey says a faith-based approach to life endorsed by AFL great Gary Ablett jnr has allowed him to escape the pressures of being an elite footballer – while dominating on-field in a new role rival clubs have copied.

Dempsey, 23, said Ablett’s mentorship, whether that be through their shared Christian faith, or when it comes to discussing football, had been central to his growth personally as a grounded and happy man, while arguably becoming the most dominant wingman in the competition.

An ability to shrug off the typical fluctuating emotions of life as a professional footballer helped the former star young basketballer and state representative be named the AFL’s Rising Star in 2024, and play a key role in the Cats’ surge into the 2025 grand final. That superb form has continued this year, heading into Thursday night’s blockbuster against Fremantle in Perth.

“It stems from off the field really, nothing to do with footy, which has been great, for my faith,” Dempsey told this masthead of his relationship with the largely reclusive Ablett, a dual premiership player and Brownlow medallist, and beloved Cat.

“He has been seriously amazing for me with that, and then, obviously, when I do talk about footy with him, he has the best brain there is. He has got a wealth of knowledge … especially, I feel like, the start of this year when I was playing a lot more inside [mid] during the pre-season. It was something that Kel [Kelly] wanted me to work on, gave me the opportunity to do so. He [Ablett] helped me a lot with spacing, and has been really good.

“Mainly, our relationship is outside of footy and faith based, and just getting a real good mate, which is nice.”

Dempsey likes to avoid the volatility of life as a footballer.

“I feel like it’s such an up and down, rollercoaster [life]. One week you are flag favourites, the next week you are not – you can’t win a game, and you are done, that sort of thing,” Dempsey said.

“You can take that personally with how you are playing. I feel like the first couple of years I did that a bit more.

“I grew up with a faith, then I sort of went away from it a bit. For me, my identity is so in that. It’s not wrapped up in footy, which is great. That’s something ‘Gaz’ has really helped me with. There is no better role model to have in that space with faith and footy.

“It helps me so much. It gives me so much peace and joy. I honestly come in every day, I love life, and really enjoy playing footy. I think it’s off the back of just the fact I don’t let it take control of my life. I don’t ride the ups and downs from playing well or not playing well because those days will happen. I just enjoy life. It’s a big part of my life, my faith, and I put that first.”

Dempsey became teammate Bailey Smith’s surrogate Uber driver this year after the star midfielder, also with flowing blond locks, lost his license for three months. The pair were already great mates, and regularly have a coffee with Ablett – although Smith does not share the same faith.

“It’s been really good to do that [catch up outside of football]. I drove him around for three months because he lost his licence. I live nearby, plus it’s a great opportunity for us to catch up,” Dempsey said.

“We often do go for coffees, and ‘Gaz’ joins us there, and another great mate of mine Nathan Spicer, who is a great influence, is also Gaz’s best mate. We all catch up. I think they have been great for him.”

Smith has so far this season eschewed the behaviour – and headlines – that dogged his maiden year in the blue and white hoops. Dempsey has sensed a greater calmness in Smith’s life.

“I feel in his footy this year, the way he is able to move his identity away from I guess, [being] wrapped up in footy, and you can see how much his life has been a bit more positive, and he is not riding those bumps,” Dempsey said.

“‘Baz’ has been great, and it has been great to catch up with him and ‘Gaz’ regularly.”

What hasn’t been so great for opponents is Dempsey’s form. Under the guidance of coach Chris Scott and assistant James Kelly, Dempsey has transformed the role of a wingman, through not only his elite running and power, but ability to hold his line, push deep forward and score.

Dempsey’s individual heat map plotted by Champion Data reaffirms his role. Where last year he split time on either wing, but spent 58 per cent of his time in the attacking half, this year he has patrolled the outer wing almost exclusively, with a near-even spread of time in the forward and defensive halves.

However, he appears to be running deeper at both ends of the ground, leading to a career high in disposals and uncontested possessions.

While it’s early days, the Cats may have to consider introducing the Dempsey Wing, such has been his prowess.

“That’s very funny,” Dempsey replied with a laugh when asked about having his own wing.

“I am evolving with it and have evolved with it from a normal winger, which has been pretty cool. Even just to see other teams adapt the same sort of role as I have made my own, which has been cool.”

He has also won high praise from four-time premiership star Isaac Smith, a former teammate and one of the best wingmen of the past 50 years.

“I think the best wingers in the comp challenge their opponent and the opposition offensively and defensively, and Ollie is doing that as good as anyone in the comp,” Smith told this masthead.

“That role is so important to how you structure up as a team, and can often get missed.”

Dempsey booted a career-high 35 goals last season, including three in a best-on-ground qualifying final win over Brisbane; this year he already has 15, with five coming from 15 metres or closer to goal.

Dempsey has 72 goals over the past three seasons. Of the top 75 goalkickers in the AFL over the past three seasons, no one has scored a higher percentage (36.1 per cent) of their goals from within 15m than Dempsey.

He is quick to put the pressure on opponents, whether that be slipping forward of play, or behind play.

When the ball is in dispute in the midfield, Dempsey regularly – and instinctively – peels off towards goal. This leaves his opponent in two minds or, as Smith says, dealing with a “game of chess” – to dash after him, or to hold position and follow team orders.

“Not a lot of wingers want to go that deep, maybe. It’s a strength of mine. Running, a lot of running, really,” Dempsey said.

If the ball is on the opposite wing, Dempsey still remains a major threat, for he reads the play as well as anyone, holds his line and dashes towards the goal square, potentially leaving him one-out and only in need of a kick to advantage to mark, should the Cats retain position on the opposite forward flank.

That he regularly pushes forward can lead to claims he “cheats”, for it’s left to teammates to win the hard ball. But that’s a folly, according to Smith.

“You know what that is, that is a coach’s term, who gets upset that someone spat forward of the ball – ‘cheating’,” Smith said.

“To me, there is no such thing as cheating in football. You either read it, get on the end of it, or you read it, and have gone the wrong way. I just think ‘cheating’ is an easy term for: ‘We couldn’t stop that’.”

So damaging has Dempsey become that rival clubs have adopted this tactical shift. Melbourne wingman Harvey Langford has embraced a similar role, and is the leading goalkicker for a wingman this season, one ahead of Dempsey. The Western Bulldogs had Cody Weightman begin on a wing against Adelaide last week, and immediately push forward.

But it was only when draftee Harley Barker, also a wingman, arrived at Geelong last year and told Dempsey that he was his favourite player that the established Cat realised the magnitude of his impact.

“I was his favourite player, which was weird for me to think that he had modelled his game on me – a different way to play the wing. That was pretty cool to be his favourite,” Dempsey said.

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