Geelong Cats top 10 most important players in 2023 revealed
Geelong is set to begin its premiership defence against Collingwood next week. Have your say on who is the most important Cat in 2023 here.
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With the AFL season fast approaching, there are a lot of eyes on Geelong’s form in the pre-season and whether the defending premiers can repeat their efforts in 2023.
The Cats have seen plenty of change leading into 2023, with a new skipper, a number of new recruits, and some new rookies at the club.
Find out which players are set to be Geelong’s most important in 2023’s premiership defence.
10 – Patrick Dangerfield
The new skipper of Geelong will take over a role which has been dutifully filled for 11 years by Joel Selwood, so with Dangerfield’s appointment comes no small level of intrigue.
Dangerfield has his own glittering resume in the AFL, but adding a premiership captaincy to that would elevate him to a truly great level.
With Geelong’s heavy recruitment of young midfielders, as well as the development of those already within the club, it is unclear whether Dangerfield makes the transition forward as the season goes on, but his role as captain is set to be an interesting one to watch.
9 – Tyson Stengle
From delisted and likely to never get another chance at the level, to All Australian forward in 12 months, Stengle’s latest AFL chapter is one that boggles the mind.
Stengle’s 2022 was as impressive a year from a small forward in the competition, providing the Cats with a valuable third route to goal as well as defensive pressure to keep the ball locked in the forward half.
Stengle did not miss a game all year, kicked 53 goals and set up 12 others, with 17 games with two or more goals and 12 of those being 3+ goal games.
8 – Max Holmes
The heartbreak story out of 2022, Holmes missed the grand final through injury and had to watch his teammates win a premiership without him.
But Holmes will enter the 2023 campaign as one of Geelong’s most important players, with a centre square role firmly on the cards for the young star.
His quickness in the contest, as well as his ability to use the ball by foot, are both attractive traits for an outside midfielder providing his forwards with great use out of the centre square.
With new skipper Pat Dangerfield expected to spend more time forward each year, Holmes can provide Geelong with that explosive midfielder that can use his burst to get away from the contest.
7 – Mark Blicavs
The utility is genuinely one-of-one, with no player in the AFL coming close to Blicavs’ level of versatility.
Cats coach Chris Scott made the move for Blicavs from defence to the midfield in order to help give Sam De Koning more exposure, but Blicavs’ strength and endurance around the football was a major strength for the Cats.
A slight tweak in the game style allowed Blicavs to line up on a wing and have Rhys Stanley attend the centre bounces, before floating in to become an extra midfielder who can contest in the ruck when there was a stoppage.
It is unclear how Scott will play Blicavs in 2023, but his ability to be moulded into any position gives Geelong a distinct advantage.
6 – Tom Hawkins
He may be 34 years old, but Hawkins’ role in the forward line for Geelong is a difficult one to fill.
The veteran Cat has not missed a home-and-away season game since 2019, and despite being at an age that is usually past a player’s best, Hawkins has almost got better in the latter years of his career.
Hawkins kicked 67 goals in 2022, following 62 in 2021, and has had more 60+ goal seasons in the past five years (2018, 2021, 2022) than in the first 11 years of his career (62 in 2012, 68 in 2014).
There were concerns Hawkins would not line up in round 1 after foot surgery in the off-season, but the forward said there was a possibility he would not miss the game against Collingwood after a quicker-than-expected recovery time.
5 – Tom Atkins
The former VFL footballer has enjoyed one of the most astonishing stories to rise from irrelevancy to become one of Geelong’s most important players.
Atkins made the move into the midfield halfway through last season to offer the Cats a bit of defensive grunt after the shock loss to St Kilda, and he did not leave that position for the rest of the year.
Geelong is yet to lose a game with Atkins featuring primarily as a midfielder, and while the gun Cat does not average otherworldly numbers, his defensive pressure around the football adds a different element to Geelong’s midfield mix.
4 – Sam De Koning
De Koning would be one of the first players picked for Chris Scott after bursting onto the scene in 2022.
The young key defender took on some of the competition’s best forwards despite being just 20 years old, and with another pre-season and year under his belt, De Koning could easily become one of the league’s best defenders.
Even if De Koning does not improve at all in 2023, he is still a star defender who will be important to his side’s success, but all signs are pointing towards the rising star exploding and becoming a household name.
3 – Cam Guthrie
With Joel Selwood’s retirement and the introduction of younger talent into the centre square, Guthrie’s experience at the helm of Geelong’s engine room will be highlighted in 2023.
The experienced Cat will likely spend time lined up alongside new recruits Tanner Bruhn and Jack Bowes, as well as young gun Max Holmes, throughout the course of the season.
Guthrie averaged 29 disposals per game in 2021, and will more responsibility on his shoulders he should handle more of the workload than he did last season.
2 – Tom Stewart
Geelong’s vice captain for 2023 could easily be named as the most important player for the Cats’ premiership hopes this year.
Stewart is arguably the league’s best defender, able to match up on both taller and smaller opponents effectively, while also being able to float across the defensive 50 and pluck intercept marks to thwart opposition attacks.
He averaged 23.3 disposals, 7.3 marks and 6.3 rebound 50s per game, while also helping lead a young defensive group that includes rising star Sam De Koning.
1 – Jeremy Cameron
The superstar is arguably the best key forward in the competition, coming off a 65-goal season while also collecting 16.2 disposals per game.
Cameron’s ability to move further up the ground and provide a marking target out of defence, before putting his head down and motoring back towards goal, allows Geelong to play the faster brand of football that helped win the Cats a flag.
Cameron missed the practice match against Brisbane and his absence, alongside Hawkins’, was noticeable as the Cats struggled to find a constant aerial target up forward.
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Originally published as Geelong Cats top 10 most important players in 2023 revealed
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