Tanner Bruhn returns to Geelong, Nathan Buckley marks coaching comeback
Tanner Bruhn has returned to Geelong training after his sexual assault charges were dropped, as Nathan Buckley made his official coaching comeback.
Geelong midfielder Tanner Bruhn has returned to Cats training after a season in the wilderness as Nathan Buckley made his official coaching comeback.
Bruhn, 23, was stood down by the AFL for the 2025 season amid a lengthy court battle fighting allegations of sexual assault.
The charges were dropped earlier this month after a key witness admitted to lying.
Bruhn, who was working as a farm hand across the year, completed drills and running as the Cats kicked off their pre-season at Deakin Waurn Ponds with Geelong’s first to fourth year players.
Bruhn showed a little bit of rust, missing a target early in the session under no pressure, but overall it was a step in the right direction as he vies to break into the Cats engine room in 2026.
He last played in Geelong’s 2024 preliminary final loss to Brisbane, and the Cats have since added 2025 All-Australian Bailey Smith and former Hawthorn midfielder James Worpel, who turned out for his first session as a Cat.
Dual Carji Greeves medallist Max Holmes also returned early with his younger brother, Cats draftee Hunter, and caught the eye on several occasions, including a big fend-off on strong midfielder George Stevens.
Max said last week that Bruhn would be “like a new recruit” in 2026.
Buckley is another new recruit for Geelong following his shock signing as an assistant coach in October, an announcement which was welcomed by Tasmania Football Club, having expressed his desire to coach the inaugural team.
The former Magpies coach gave plenty of voice and reconnected with Hunter Holmes, who he had coached at junior level a decade ago.
Buckley gave the running machine some guidance at one stage during a full-ground drill and even got his hands dirty later in the session, wrapping up defender Lawson Humphries with a smile on his face.
Geelong Next Generation Academy graduate Jesse Mellor and rookie selection Nick Driscoll also trained for the first time as Geelong players, with Mellor having spent time during last pre-season with the Cats.
South Australian Harley Barker, the Cats’ first selection at pick 24, was consigned to handball drills off to the side after rupturing his ACL in the back-half of the year.
Patrick Dangerfield has had his training loads managed carefully in recent years, but the Cats captain led by example in returning early along with Max Holmes.
Fringe midfielder Mitch Knevitt was another setting the standard, looking noticeably stronger after signing a one-year deal towards the back-end of the season.
The 22-year-old showed off his burst and wowed teammates with a one-handed mark close to the boundary.
Originally published as Tanner Bruhn returns to Geelong, Nathan Buckley marks coaching comeback
