Geelong season 2025 preview: Matthew Forrest breaks down where the Cats sit
The buzz has all been about Brisbane and Hawthorn this off-season. But Geelong is quietly — and confidently — building for another premiership assault. MATT FORREST examines the Cats’ prospects.
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Geelong surprised many be re-emerging as a premiership contender last year when it was supposed to be a team in transition.
Now, with Bailey Smith on board, the Cats look to be one of the main premiership threats in 2025.
Will Chris Scott have his men in top-four contention again or will the competition catch up with the Cats?
What a time for Lawson Humphries to kicks his first AFL goal!@Coles | #AFLCatsCrowspic.twitter.com/EytskwiokW
— AFL (@AFL) August 3, 2024
SURPRISE PACKET OF 2024
It shouldn’t be any surprise when a late-pick draftee comes into the Cats’ side and impresses straight away, but Lawson Humphries maiden campaign was outstanding. He didn’t feature until round 16 but he featured in every game after breaking into the side. Only once did he drop below 12 touches and he cracked 20+ on four separate occasions, playing off half back and using the ball well on both feet. He should be best 22 going into 2025 and will be one of the main distributors off halfback.
INS AND OUTS
IN: Cillian Burke (Category B rookie), Lennox Hofmann (No. 66 draft pick), Xavier Ivisic (Rookie Draft), Keighton Matofai-Forbes (No. 69 draft pick), Jack Martin (delisted free agent), Jacob Molier (No. 52 draft pick), Joe Pike (Rookie Draft), Jay Polkinghorne (No. 44 draft pick), Patrick Retschko (Rookie Draft), Bailey Smith (trade, Western Bulldogs)
OUT: Phoenix Foster (delisted), Joe Furphy (delisted), Mitch Hardie (delisted), Tom Hawkins (retired), Emerson Jeka (delisted), Oscar Murdoch (delisted), Brandan Parfitt (delisted), Gary Rohan (delisted), Zach Tuohy (retired), James Willis (delisted)
WHO’S PLAYING FOR A CONTRACT?
He has struggled for a consistent place in Geelong’s best 22, but the No. 25 selection Mitch Knevitt has returned for his fourth pre-season in ripping condition. Already an elite runner, the 193cm midfielder has been lauded by skipper Pat Dangerfield as the biggest improver on track, having stacked on some weight to fill out his frame. He is more likely to start on a wing and fight for minutes inside the engine room, potentially rotating with Max Holmes and Bailey Smith who can both play inside and outside midfield roles. He is out of contract at the end of 2025, so will need to get consistent games or risk being forced to look elsewhere.
LAST YEAR IN CONTRACT
Brad Close, Cameron Guthrie, George Stevens, Jed Bews, Jeremy Cameron, Joe Pike, Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan, Mitch Edwards, Mitchell Knevitt, Oisin Mullin, Oliver Henry, Oliver Wiltshire, Ollie Dempsey, Patrick Retschko, Rhys Stanley, Sam De Koning, Shannon Neale, Shaun Mannagh, Ted Clohesy, Toby Conway, Tom Atkins, Xavier Ivisic
POSITION THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED AND WHO CAN FILL IT?
The ruck carousel has been a point of contention at the Cattery for a while, with Rhys Stanley managing the main duties for the past few seasons. But Sam De Koning was trialled in there with some effect, Mark Blicavs is a decent pinch-hitting option and Shannon Neale has the size to make the role his own. Then there is Toby Conway and Mitch Edwards; two young rucks that have shown signs in the early stages of their VFL careers, with Conway breaking through for some senior footy. But Conway’s biggest adversary has been his body, while Edwards is just 19 years old. The Cats also drafted Jacob Molier, a ruck-key forward option, over Alex Dodson, who was touted as the best pure ruck in the 2024 class, and Connor O’Sullivan who is an athletic key defender that has drawn comparisons to Blicavs. There is not one outstanding option to throw in the centre circle and so it is likely to be a mix of several options all year.
BURNING QUESTION
Geelong has done enough to prove to everyone that the club does not spent much, if any, time in the bottom half of the ladder. The Cats fell away in 2023 but rebounded strongly in 2024 and were a half away from another grand final before Brisbane stormed back in the preliminary final. The question isn’t ‘how long can they keep it up’, rather whether they did enough in the off-season to make the leap to premiership favourites. They brought in Bailey Smith at long last, who will fill their biggest need in the centre square, while Shannon Neale looks ready to fill a Tom Hawkins-sized hole at full forward. Brisbane and Hawthorn enter 2025 as the equal favourites, but will Geelong be in the conversation for a flag?
Originally published as Geelong season 2025 preview: Matthew Forrest breaks down where the Cats sit
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