Six Geelong players who need big pre-seasons ahead of 2025 campaign

Geelong’s flag hunt began in earnest this week. And several Cats in particular will be vying to put their best foot forward this pre-season.

Geelong was in front of eventual premiers Brisbane with two a half minutes left on the clock in this year’s preliminary final.

That’s how close the Cats were to playing off in another grand final against Sydney.

After landing midfielder Bailey Smith during the trade period, Geelong will be vying for the top spots of the ladder again in 2024.

But before then there will be plenty of hard work on the track to come — and a host of Cats determined to prove themselves.

Bailey Smith joined the Cats during the off-season. Picture: Alison Wynd

“I think the most important period for any and all teams really is going to be the Christmas break this year, because the runway is short, particularly those teams playing (Opening) round,” Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield said this week.

“Post the Christmas period, I think most teams will turn around January 8th, it’s pretty much a month before practice games.

“How teams manage that Christmas period will be the most important part and really it’s more how individuals handle their own training because you’re away from the place.”

These are the six Cats who will be desperate to have big pre-seasons — and even bigger 2025 campaigns.

Bailey Smith

Geelong’s midfield struggled without Dangerfield in the engine room last season and Smith shapes as a crucial addition to the Cats line-up. Sidelined with an ACL rupture in his final season with the Western Bulldogs, ‘Baz’ returned to Geelong pre-season early with the first-to-five year players and joined in on their community camp. Smith has already made an impression with Carji Greeves medallist Max Holmes remarking that he, “works the house down”, and his training intensity was there for all to see in Geelong’s first full session of the pre-season. If he can keep that going, look out.

Bailey Smith trains with the Geelong Cats for the first time. Picture: Alison Wynd

Sam De Koning

De Koning found himself out of the team when the whips were cracking in September, and he will be eager to get his pre-season off on the right foot ahead of the final year of his contract. The athletic 204 centimetre tall has been unable to replicate his breakout season of 2022, marred by setbacks in 2023 and injury striking again late this year. A minor knee surgery meant De Koning had to prove his fitness in the VFL and despite two solid performances as a ruckman, he was surprisingly overlooked for their qualifying and preliminary clashes. The 23-year-old is as talented as any of Geelong’s younger group and a strong preparation will set the platform for a major extension – or tempt other clubs to get the chequebook out. Could he be used in the ruck, as he was late in the AFL season?

Sam De Koning finished his season in the VFL. Picture: Michael Klein

Cam Guthrie

Like De Koning, Guthrie couldn’t break his way back into their preliminary final side and also enters a contract year in 2025. Previously the most reliable player on Geelong’s list, Guthrie has been cruelled by a toe blow and then a lingering Achilles injury over the past two seasons. It has restricted him to just 12 games – 10 AFL and two VFL – since the Cats held the cup aloft in 2022. The 32-year-old completed drills and running at their first session back and Dangerfield feels he will be like a new recruit next season. It is easy to forget he was joint best-and-fairest in a premiership year in his last full season.

Cam Guthrie has been injury-riddled the last two seasons. Picture: Michael Klein

Jhye Clark

Clark is an important piece of the Cats’ midfield puzzle into the future, but could he be reinvigorated with a move down back? The prized No.8 pick from the 2022 draft was used in defence during match simulation at their first full session. Ball-use isn’t necessarily Clark’s strong suit, but the youngster looked off the pace at times in his second season as a midfielder. The Geelong Falcons product played 15 senior games in 2024, three of those starting as the substitute, and there will likely be a midfield squeeze with Smith and Guthrie also competing for spots. A big pre-season from the tough 20-year-old will help his chances of securing an opening round berth.

Jhye Clark played 15 games last season. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Jack Martin

While Smith is the high profile recruit, Martin comes in with minimal hype given he was a low risk punt from the Cats. But after managing just three AFL games for Carlton last season – one of those subbed out with injury – the Cats will be hoping he can build a strong base this pre-season. In an encouraging sign, the injury-ravaged forward completed a full session on Monday. Martin, who turns 30 in January, was so highly touted that he was taken a year early by Gold Coast as a mini-draft selection in 2012. The Cats are the masters of extracting every last ounce of talent out of players, and at his best he can add plenty to their forward line.

Will Jack Martin overcome his injury woes? Picture: Geelong Cats

Toby Conway

At full fitness, Conway man should have the No.1 ruck spot sewn up and a pre-season free of setbacks will go a long way in him having a fruitful 2025 campaign. The 206cm ruckman was away from the main group at their first full session and you’d suggest the Cats will be extra cautious with him given his history. Conway has had no luck with injury to start his career, playing 23 games in three seasons at both levels. The 21-year-old showed some promising signs in his five AFL appearances this year – which the Cats carefully managed him through – before he was sidelined again with another foot stress fracture. His contract also comes to a close at the end of next year, and there are sure to be rivals watching his progress.

Originally published as Six Geelong players who need big pre-seasons ahead of 2025 campaign