Geelong midfielder Jack Bowes believes his first finals appearance last year puts him in good stead for strong 2025

Geelong won’t have to wait long to get a crack at the reigning premiers, and preliminary finals foe, Brisbane as opening round approaches. But one Cat believes immediate revenge won’t be their only making.

Jack Bowes in action against Essendon during Tuesday’s practice match. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Jack Bowes says Geelong won’t be driven by revenge in its opening round clash against preliminary finalist vanquishers Brisbane next Thursday night.

But the Cats midfielder is confident his and several young teammates’ first taste of finals last year will put the club in good stead for another strong season.

Bowes, who was one of Geelong’s best in match simulation against Hawthorn and their practice match defeat against Essendon earlier this week, is eyeing another consistent season further cementing himself into the Cats’ midfield rotation.

But it was the 27-year-old’s first taste of finals after eight years in the AFL system last year which has given the Queenslander the type of motivation you can’t just buy.

“It was an awesome experience... and it’s just made me hungrier in the off-season to get to work and I just want to get back to that position even more now,” Bowes said.

“And it wasn’t just myself either.

“I think we had like nine people play their first final last year.

“Shannon Neale, Oisín Mullin, Ollie Dempsey, for them to get that finals experience at such a young age is going to hold us in really good stead.”

Shannon Neale looking dejected after Geelong’s preliminary final loss to Brisbane. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Unlike the Sydney Swans’ brutal seven hour review into their thumping 60-point grand final defeat by Brisbane, Bowes said he and the Cats spent less time looking back on their own 10-point preliminary final loss to the Lions.

While players did reflect on their own performances, Bowes said they looked more to their coaches to drive the in-depth analysis and report back.

Bowes believed his own improvement this year would come from more consistent performances game-to-game, while he was also hoping to strike the right balance between handballing or kicking more, as the Cats seek greater penetration going inside 50.

Excited at the prospect of opening the season against the reigning premiers, Bowes acknowledged it had been hard to gauge the Cats’ form solely off of Tuesday’s 21-point defeat against Essendon in the AAMI Community Series.

“They’re obviously grand final winners last year,” Bowes said of the Lions.

“That’s the exciting challenge about next week, we’re looking forward to playing Brisbane up there and seeing where our game is really at.”

Bailey Smith gets some work in during Geelong’s light training session on Friday. Picture: Michael Klein

As for the Cats’ midfield mix come next week, and for the season at large, Bowes expected many different players to run through their at times, describing the group as a “selfless one”.

He remained confident star-studded off-season recruit Bailey Smith would be right for the opening round, despite missing this week’s practice match with knee soreness and leaving the training track a little early on Friday, with a possible round debut in hoops set to mark Smith’s first official AFL game in 564 days following his 2023 ACL injury.

“He’s going to get managed at time throughout the pre-season and I think it’s going to be the best thing for him,” Bowes said.
“We want him to be right for round 1 but we want him to be good for the whole season and I think the club’s got a really good, optimistic and long-term view of that.”

“I’m excited to see what Bailey can do for us.”

Originally published as Geelong midfielder Jack Bowes believes his first finals appearance last year puts him in good stead for strong 2025