Geelong defender Zach Guthrie is ‘super confident’ brother Cam can return to his best as calls loom on ageing Cats

Tom Hawkins and Zach Tuohy’s time in the hoops is over. But what lies ahead for their other veterans? A Cat is confident one in particular can return to his best.

Geelong defender Zach Guthrie is “super confident” his older brother Cam can get back to his best next year after another season cruelled by injuries.

The luckless Cat has managed just 10 games since his stellar 2022 season where he was joint best-and-fairest in Geelong’s premiership year.

His 2023 campaign was curtailed by a quad setback in the opening minutes of their first pre-season game and then a troublesome achilles injury — that has been a week-to-week proposition over the past month — that kept him out of the senior side from round 10.

In 2022 it was a toe injury that kept him out of action from round six, heading to a training camp in the United States last off-season.

Guthrie returned for Geelong VFL’s finals exit against Southport a fortnight ago, where he collected 19 touches and kicked a goal in an encouraging display.

But despite that performance he was ruled out for their AFL preliminary final earlier this week along with retiring champion Tom Hawkins due to injury.

The 32-year-old is contracted until the end of next season, and his younger brother and teammate believes he can put his injury woes behind him in 2025.

Cam Guthrie was overlooked due to injury. Picture: Michael Klein

Guthrie returned in the VFL a fortnight ago. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’m super confident of that, he has had a bit of a rough run over the past couple of years with his body, but I’m super confident he can get back to his best and I know he will have the hunger to do that,” Zach Guthrie said.

“Obviously the season has finished in a way that is really disappointing, but I’m privileged I get to go back to pre-season training with him when the time comes, I’m really looking forward to it.

“And we will bring that right mindset, everyone will be hungry when that time does come.”

Zach Guthrie will miss Hawkins and fellow retiree Zach Tuohy, who was dropped for their loss to the Lions after starting their qualifying final win over Port Adelaide as the substitute — a decision that was questioned by coach Chris Scott post-game.

He said the premiership pair will be sorely missed and that Tuohy in particular helped mould him into the accomplished player he is today.

Guthrie was one of Geelong’s best across the finals series as an underrated part of the Cats defence, winning 22 intercept possessions across their two matches.

Zach Tuohy was omitted. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“Obviously ‘Hawk’ has been at the Geelong footy club for such a long period of time and just his excellence of is performance over those number of years, he’s been such a consistent performer, but he makes everyone feel welcome,” Guthrie said.

“He is an absolute gem around the club and certainly one of my favourites teammates I have had the pleasure of playing with and Zach Tuohy, he arrived at the same year I arrived at the club.

“He was great at relating himself to the younger guys as well in the earlier stages and someone I have built a bit of a bond with as well, and similarly he has had an amazing career himself — he has been super consistent and done some amazing things for an Irish player.

“I worked with (Tuohy) closely especially because we played in similar positions as well. And just having the leadership of both those guys on the field and off the field during the week is a huge reason why this club has continued to have success over a number of years.”

Asked if a player like outgoing Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith, strongly linked to the Cats, would make a difference to the list, Guthrie said: “Whenever you can bring talented players like that in it obviously helps, however it goes for a number of different guys.”

“Every club is sort of going through the same thing, I am just going to be thankful that this list that I have spent so much time with and we have got a great group

“I sort of just enjoy the company of some of the guys I’ve been lucky to spend the year with.”

Guthrie said the veterans of the Cats have helped steer the group as the new faces have helped inject energy into the side.

Ruckman Rhys Stanley, 34, is yet to make a call on his future and was solid with 45 hit-outs, 10 touches and 87 SuperCoach points, but missed a crucial shot at goal from close range in the dying seconds.

Forward Gary Rohan is also uncontracted and dominated headlines for his gruesome stitches on his head this week after undergoing surgery on a fractured skull.

It was the 33-year-old’s second concussion in the space of two months.

Dual premiership Cat Mitch Duncan, 33, started the match as the substitute and remains unsigned, as are defenders Jake Kolodjashnij (aged 29) and Jed Bews (30).

Kolodjashnij is poised to receive a new deal, while Bews went a long way to securing a new contract with an impressive end to the season, including restricting dangerous forwards Willie Rioli and Charlie Cameron during the finals.

Captain Patrick Dangerfield is set to sign a two-year contract.

Originally published as Geelong defender Zach Guthrie is ‘super confident’ brother Cam can return to his best as calls loom on ageing Cats