Geelong defender Zach Guthrie says his brother Cam is eyeing opening round berth after nightmare run

Cam Guthrie has been cruelled by injury the past two seasons, but things are looking promising ahead of 2025. Plus, Bailey Smith’s potential role and the young Cat to watch.

Geelong defender Zach Guthrie says his older brother Cam well-placed for an opening round berth and is hopeful the two-time best and fairest winner has put his nightmare injury behind him.

Cam Guthrie, 32, has played just 10 AFL games since Geelong’s premiership win in 2022 after a series of frustrating setbacks.

He completed most of the program when Cats players returned ahead of the 2025 season and has since increased his training load in the New Year.

The luckless midfielder’s 2023 campaign was wiped out by a toe injury and after a strong 2024 pre-season he suffered a quad injury in the first 30 seconds of their opening practice game against Carlton.

Returning in round six in 2024, Guthrie lasted just four games before succumbing to a nagging Achilles injury that was worse than first feared, seeing him sit out the rest of the home-and-away season.

Cats player Cam Guthrie has been cruelled by injury. Picture: Mark Wilson

Guthrie played in Geelong’s VFL semi-final to put himself in contention for their preliminary final clash with Brisbane but missed out on selection.

Zach completed sessions with Cam and their other brothers over their break and said the 240-game Cat is aiming to feature in their upcoming practice games in February.

“I think that’s the plan (to play practice games and opening round), He’s moving around and he’s progressed his stuff even since the end of last year and he’s feeling good. So I’m looking forward to seeing him just keep on putting himself in the best shape possible to perform for us early in the year and just set himself up for a big year,” Zach said at a light Cats training session on Tuesday.

“But he’s going well, he’s progressing well and I’m sure he’s really looking forward to bouncing back from what has been a frustrating couple of years. But more than anything, I’m just looking forward to hopefully having him out there and playing some footy with him again.

“It’s probably frustrating when you can’t get on the field and play games. That’s sort of what you’re here to do, isn’t it, to help the team, get some wins.

“Which I think is the frustrating part, but he’s been really positive throughout it all and really hoping that some of the things that have affected his body in the last few years can be put behind him and he can get back some really good form and help the team, which I know he can.”

Zach said off-season recruits Bailey Smith – who he believes will be a “weapon” for the Cats – and Jack Martin have fitted in seamlessly and have shown exciting glimpses at training.

Smith was unwell and not in at the club on Tuesday with fans unable to catch a glimpse of him at the open training session at GMHBA Stadium.

Jack Martin at training on Tuesday. Picture: Mark Wilson

“They’ve been doing really well and, they’ve both showcased why they are really good players early on in the pre-season,” Zach said.

“I think that they’ve been able to showcase some of the things that they’re going to bring this year, and that I’m excited to see myself.

“So that’ll just continue to grow as we get sort of more into that match specific stuff, I’m sure. But I’m really looking forward to seeing what both of those guys can do across the year.”

Captain Patrick Dangerfield flagged last month that Smith, who crossed from the Western Bulldogs after being squeezed out of their on-ball brigade, would be playing inside midfield,

But Guthrie feels Smith’s role won’t be set in stone and could change over the coming months, with that call in the hands of the coaches.

“I think that when you are a player like Bailey and you’ve got a number of strengths that you can bring to the game, I think flexibility is something that we can really utilise, and I’m sure he will play a number of different positions for us and do it at a high level for us.

“So I’m looking forward to seeing how that evolves and I think just when you when you have some of the strengths like someone like him has, I think it’ll be a real weapon for us.

“We’re not exactly sure how that will look just yet, but I’m sure it’ll be something that will continue to change and continue to tinker with to get the best make-up across the whole team.”

Another big difference from 2024 is the loss of retired champion Tom Hawkins and Guthrie conceded that his leadership is irreplaceable.

But he said other Cats have been stepping up to fill the void.

“He’s (Hawkins’) been at the club for such a long period of time and had such a big impact on the club as a whole,” Guthrie

“And when you do lose guys like that, it’s obviously challenging and you can never replace them. But there’s guys that are stepping in and looking really hungry to try and fill the void and try and I guess keep guiding the club in the right direction.”

Reigning Carji Greeves medallist Max Holmes has been the top performer this pre-season in the eyes of Guthrie, impressing him in their running blocks and in match simulation with his trademark speed.

Guthrie finished runner up behind Holmes in their best and fairest count and has drawn on revelation Lawson Humphries, who he has formed a close bond with, to take his game up another notch.

The top three in last year’s Carji Greeves medal — Jeremy Cameron (3rd), winner Max Holmes and Zach Guthrie (2nd). Picture: Mark Wilson

The 26-year-old believes another promising defender Connor O’Sullivan as one to watch after an encouraging pre-season to date for the 2023 first-round selection.

“He’s a really, really good athlete, he’s someone that is in that boat where he played one game last year and looked comfortable at the level,” Guthrie said.

“He’s going to be a really good player for us in the future I think as he continues to develop and he’s moving really well along with some of those other guys and really pushing the training standards at the moment.

“So I’m sure he’ll be someone to watch early in the year and looking forward to seeing, because he is so flexible, a number of different roles that he can play. But I’m sure he’ll be someone who will be really keen to impress and he’s been looking really good.”

Originally published as Geelong defender Zach Guthrie says his brother Cam is eyeing opening round berth after nightmare run