Where does your AFL club sit: Geelong has the firepower to go back-to-back if the hunger remains

A revamped Cat moving from attack to defence might just be the trump card to deliver Geelong back-to-back flags.

The Cats have rewritten the rebuild rule book after pulverising the Sydney Swans with the oldest team in Grand Final history. Joel Selwood’s retirement combined with Tom Hawkins’ foot injury will require some adjustments ahead of the new season, but Geelong took the chocolates in a big way in the trade period nabbing blue-chip youngsters Ollie Henry, Tanner Bruhn and Jhye Clark (pick eight). If the hunger remains, Geelong will once again be up to their ears in a back-to-back premiership tilt. What a reign it has been.

GEELONG

Coach: Chris Scott

Captain: TBC

Chris Scott won a premiership in his first year at Geelong and now finally has the satisfaction of a second one.

What happened in 2022?

It was a coaching masterclass from Chris Scott and his coaching crew as the Cats took about eight rounds to bed down the new attacking game plan. Geelong was still miserly in defence with a new sparkling crown jewel in Sam de Koning at centre half back, but it was the new scoring power which catapulted the club ahead of the pack. Tyson Stengle, Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron had outstanding years in attack and Tom Atkins added another A-Grade leg to the midfield. And the careful management injury plans paid-off big time when Patrick Dangerfield put the Swans to the sword in the premiership decider. They looked the best team in the league for the bulk of the season by some distance and got the reward the Cats deserved.

Where do they finish in 2023?

It has been a mighty run for the best part of two decades and it is hard to see how they fall out of the top-four next season. If they stay sharp mentally, you would expect Geelong to flourish again with a full deck of home games at the Cattery, and an uprising of young talent, including ready-to-go recruits Bruhn and Henry, and speedy wingman Max Holmes. Lookout for Toby Conway to get a chance in the ruck and athletic tall Shannon Neale to get an opportunity early in the season. The Cats still rely heavily on veteran backmen Mark Blicavs and Tom Stewart to lead the defence, and Rhys Stanley is in the twilight of his career, but there are still too many A-graders — including superstar goal kicker Jeremy Cameron — spread across the ground to suddenly bomb out of premiership contention. Held Esava Ratugolea who will be very handy key position insurance.

The Cats have high expectations with new signing Oliver Henry.

Biggest improver in 2023

The Cats believe Oliver Henry has enormous upside in his game, after securing him as part of a last-minute trade with Collingwood and Hawthorn for pick 25 and Cooper Stephens. Henry battled some goal kicking yips and lost his place in the Magpies’ side for the finals, opening the door for a trade to Geelong. The Cats love his aerial ability and plan to push him up the ground next year so he can run and jump at the ball with some freedom. Chris Scott admires flexibility in his players and Henry, much like his brother Jack, can be deployed at either end. He probably didn’t completely settle in Melbourne and couldn’t wait to join forces with his brother down the highway. Already has 28 goals from his first 25 games and will be a third banana in attack alongside Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron, potentially taking Gary Rohan’s spot at times.

Esava Ratugolea could prove a massive trump card in defence for the Cats.

X-factor

Esava Ratugolea is something of a forgotten man at the Cats after struggling to lock down a regular spot. But there was some good signs in the VFL after making the change to a key defensive role. He requested a trade to Port Adelaide but Geelong refused to hand him over in the belief he still has a lot to offer as a strong-bodied swingman and bit-part ruckman. Clubs are often saying how hard it is to find quality talls in the state leagues so Ratugolea will help provide flexibility and depth in the big man department. But if he doesn’t see regular senior action in 2023 it will be his last campaign in blue and white before another trade request is lodged in 12 months’ time. Tom Hawkins looks set to start the season on the sidelines so there will be a rejig and Shannon Neale will also be in the mix to start in the team in Round 1.

Coach status

The two-time premiership coach signed a two-year extension to tie him to the Cats until the end of 2024. Plenty have lined up to criticise Scott over his decade in charge for failing to win more finals, but the reality is the Cats’ boss looks like the best coach in the caper currently. He changed-up the team’s game style beautifully last year and while some said it should have happened years ago, Scott’s job in 2022 cannot be faulted. He is said to be on upwards of $800,000 a year.

Who is in last year of contract?

Tyson Stengle, Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins, Zach Tuohy, Rhys Stanley, Jon Ceglar, Gary Rohan, Gryan Miers, Isaac Smith, Esava Ratugolea, Shannon Neale, Brad Close, Sam Simpson, Sam Menegola, Cooper Whyte, Flynn Kroeger, James Willis, Mitchell Knevitt, Ollie Dempsey,

Outs from 2022

Joel Selwood (retired), Luke Dahlhaus (retired), Shaun Higgins (retired), Cooper Stephens (traded to Hawthorn) Francis Evans (delisted), Quinton Narkle (delisted), Nick Stevens (delisted), Zane Williams (delisted), Paul Tsapatolis (delisted)

Draft recruit Jhye Clark has already showed enough to suggest he could quickly make the step up to AFL level.

Ins for 2023

Jack Bowes (Gold Coast), Oliver Henry (Collingwood), Tanner Bruhn (GWS Giants), Jhye Clark (pick no. 8), Phoenix Foster (pick no. 52), Ted Clohesy (NGA), Osca Riccardi (F/S), Oscar Murdoch (rookie), Oisin Mullin (category B rookie).

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Originally published as Where does your AFL club sit: Geelong has the firepower to go back-to-back if the hunger remains