AFL 2025: 25 storylines to follow in Geelong’s season, Bailey Smith at 1
From the immediate impact of Bailey Smith, to the big calls looming over aging stars and the young guns ready to kick on, these are 25 storylines to follow in Geelong’s season.
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The 2025 season is upon us and it shapes as another premiership tilt for Geelong.
A perennial finals combatant, the Cats fell agonisingly short of eventual premiers Brisbane in the preliminary final.
The Cats will be hunting to go one step further and there will be a host of storylines to follow, headlined by their big name recruit Bailey Smith.
Here are the 25 things to watch from Geelong in 2025.
Bailey Smith
‘Baz’, ‘Bazlenka’, Smith. Whatever you call him and whatever you think about him, all eyes will be on the Cats recruit and his big white headband this season. The social media phenomenon has kept to his own channels this pre-season, but his first appearance in Cats colours set tongues wagging as he won possessions at will. Geelong has tempered expectations on the former Western Bulldog given he missed the entire 2024 season with his knee injury, but he is just what the Cats need: a ball-winner who covers the ground superbly. Expect to see him get more time in the midfield than he did at the Dogs, but his impact across the year will be a fascinating watch.
Shannon Neale’s development
The keys have officially been handed to the 22-year-old as Jeremy Cameron’s new partner in crime after the retirement of Tom Hawkins. Neale played 15 games last season, booting 23 goals as he made the most of his opportunity with Hawkins sidelined. Physically, Neale looks even stronger than last year and appears to be maturing into his body. The key position prospects always take a little longer to adapt to the level. There’s every suggestion Neale could be one of the AFL’s breakout players in 2025.
Can Conway get his body right?
The Cats will be hoping the young ruckman can take the next step this season and assume the mantle as Geelong’s top big man. However, Toby Conway’s 2025 preparation has been hindered by a disc issue – which assistant coach Steven King said he sustained while coughing in bed – coming on the back of a foot issue which ended his season prematurely.
How far can Geelong go with a tougher draw?
Geelong surged from 13th to third last season but a more challenging schedule awaits in 2025. The Cats play 2024 top-four sides Brisbane, GWS and Port Adelaide twice, and have a difficult first half of the season to navigate. It does open up nicely in the back-half of the year, so if the Cats can get wins on the board early they will be right in the hunt once again.
Matt Rowell contract
Geelong’s pursuit of the off-contract Suns star has been well-documented, with the Cats reportedly meeting with Rowell and his manager late last year. Rowell gave a one-word answer of, ‘Yes’, when asked if would be at Gold Coast in 2026 last month, but the longer he puts off re-signing, the more speculation will grow. The clearance king would address a glaring need for Geelong in the engine room and Cats fans will be watching his movements with interest.
Danger the forward
With the emergence of Geelong’s young midfielders and the arrival of Bailey Smith, the skipper looks set to spend more time inside forward 50 this season. Dangerfield hasn’t played more than 18 games in a season since 2020 and with his explosiveness around the footy still as strong as ever, could more time alongside Jeremy Cameron help lighten the pressure? Danger kicked 45 goals in his first season at the Cattery in 2017 and it’s a number we shouldn’t be shocked to see again. He is contracted until the end of 2026.
Jack Martin
Martin managed just three AFL appearances last season and he has played above 16 matches in a season just twice across his 11 seasons. The injury-prone forward may only need 10 games to have a telling influence at the Cats. Joining Geelong for nothing as a delisted free agent, the former Carlton and Gold Coast playmaker has been carefully managed across the pre-season as they build his body. There is no denying his talent, and if they can get him anywhere near his best, look out.
Ruck dilemma
Key defender Sam De Koning has been thrust into the No. 1 ruck role, Toby Conway is sidelined again and Rhys Stanley is entering season 17. De Koning showed some good signs when he was trialled in the role last season but he and Mark Blicavs were beaten in both ruck duels – by anyone’s estimation – this pre-season. Will the Cats persist with that mix if it doesn’t work, or would they turn to veteran Stanley again, as they did late last season? 206cm Mitch Edwards is another who could come into their thinking after a promising second pre-season.
Sam De Koning’s contract
Out of contract at the end of the year with a new role, it is a big year ahead for De Koning. The athletic 204cm tall was a force in Geelong’s premiership year in just his second season but he hasn’t been able to reach those same heights since because of injury and form. De Koning finished last season in the VFL after undergoing minor knee surgery and had a delayed start to this pre-season after another knee procedure. A strong 2025 campaign will not only drive up the price of his next contract, it can help the Cats towards a flag.
Other key signings
Geelong successfully signed several potential free agents – most notably Ollie Henry and Tyson Stengle – last year. And along with De Koning, footy boss Andrew Mackie will be looking to sign up some key players for their future in Ollie Henry, Ollie Dempsey, Shannon Neale, Toby Conway, Shaun Mannagh and Brad Close.
Can Max Holmes become one of the game’s best midfielders?
Holmes took his game to a new level last year, having a devastating impact both as a halfback and as a midfielder. The Cats robbed Peter to pay Paul at times as he switched between the backline and centre bounces at different stages, but Holmes showed his matchwinning qualities as a midfielder during the finals series. If he can produce this on a more consistent basis, he can stake his claim as one of the game’s best midfielders.
Mitch Knevitt breakout
Knevitt played just four games last season – one of those where he was the second latest injected sub of all time. But the 193 centimetre midfielder was immense in his final VFL game on the inside, registering 38 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 13 clearances, 10 tackles and 224 SuperCoach points, and he has taken that confidence into his 2025 campaign. The 10-game Cat has been the talk of the town after a superb summer and a breakout year beckons as an on-baller.
Gryan Miers taking his game to another level
Miers broke Jason Akermanis’ goal assist record in 2023 and he added more goals to his repertoire in 2024 – slotting 21 majors in 2024 compared to seven in 2023. What will 2025 have in store? The silky-skilled forward told reporters in January that he is striving to be the best kick and runner in the competition. And his strong summer – capped by 30 disposals and a goal against Essendon – suggests he can go up another notch in 2025.
More opportunity for Connor O’Sullivan
O’Sullivan was handed Geelong legend Joel Selwood’s number after he was taken with pick 11 in the 2023 draft. The key defender played just the one senior game in his first season, but his exciting practice match display against Hawthorn and his strong pre-season suggests Cats fans will see a lot more of him in 2025. O’Sullivan isn’t your normal 198cm backman, with great running capacity and athleticism adding to his intercepting ability.
Can Jhye Clark take the next step in season three?
A prized selection in the 2022 national draft, Clark played 15 games last year – three of those as the substitute – but was unsighted after round 18. The Queenscliff product will be eager to cement himself as a senior regular in his third season. He trained at halfback at times over the summer but was back in the midfield for their practice games. Clark’s two-way running can add to Geelong’s on-ball brigade, but can he take that next step?
Where does Mitch Duncan sit in 2025?
Duncan is just four games away from being the sixth Cat of all-time to reach the magic milestone of 300 games. The 33-year-old played 22 games last season but does he still remain in Chris Scott’s best 22? He’s slotted in across halfback in recent times but competition for place is fierce. Duncan has never been blessed with outstanding speed but he’s a classy ball user which means he has something to offer. Coach Chris Scott faces some tough decisions on his experienced heads.
Other potential retirements
Duncan isn’t the only Cat in the twilight of his career. Rhys Stanley signed a one-year deal late last year and turned 34 in December, while Mark Blicavs (34 later this month) and Cam Guthrie (32) enter the last year of their respective contracts. The versatile Blicavs remains a key pillar in the Geelong side and looks set to partner De Koning in a key defender/ruck split, while injury is the only thing holding dual best and fairest Guthrie back.
Cam Guthrie’s achilles
Guthrie, 34, has played just 10 games since the Cats premiership in 2022 including four last year and he’s already facing a delayed start to this year. He recently underwent surgery on his left achilles and there has been no update on his possible return. The Cats have gone younger in their midfield brigade. In the last year of his contract, is there a situation where he and Duncan are fighting for the same place?
Unsighted Cats
A trio of Cats pick-ups from the 2023 draft will be looking to earn themselves a new deal. We are yet to see project ruckman Mitch Edwards, big-bodied midfielder George Stevens or lively forward Oli Wiltshire at AFL level but all have shown promising signs at VFL level or across the pre-season.
Tom Stewart – can he continue from the back-end of last year at 32?
It feels like Tom Stewart continues to find new ways to impress us every season. Set to turn 32 on March 15, is there going to be any signs of slowing down for the five-time All-Australian? His magnet was thrown around last year – mixing time between defence and the midfield – to which there were varying degrees of success.
Will Jezza continue to age like a fine wine?
Cameron booted 64 goals last season and all signs point to him producing a similar return in 2025. He was in brilliant form during the Community Series and has shown no signs of slowing down. Cameron remains the focal point of Geelong’s forward line and while the young kids are starting to stamp their own authority inside forward 50, the form of the soon to be 32-year-old could determine just how far the Cats go.
Make GMHBA a fortress
Geelong will host 10 games at GHMBA Stadium this year, with the Easter Monday clash against Hawthorn at the MCG, the only home game up the highway. The Cats dropped three games at home last season and had close finishes against Adelaide and St Kilda. It’s a record they’ll be desperate to improve this season.
Can Oisin Mullin lock down a regular place?
The Irishman played 12 games last season, up from six when he debuted in 2023. The speedsters found himself on the fringes for much of last season but broke back into the side late in the season, eventually playing in both finals. He looks to be in a battle with Jed Bews for a place in the back six but could his raw talent see him trialled in other positions?
What more does Ollie have?
Ollie Henry has been a sensational recruit since crossing from Collingwood. He’s booted 78 goals in two seasons, including 37 in 2024. With no Hawkins and Neale, a fellow youngster, Henry could find himself with more opportunities in front of goal. He’s sometimes unfairly maligned by supporters but he’s a consist source of goals. A career best season could be on the cards.
Chris Scott tricks
His role as Chief of Leadership with club sponsor Morris Finance came under scrutiny this summer, but Scott eats pressure for breakfast. The Cats’ season was in strife after their heavy loss to Carlton last year and he managed to rally the troops to get them to a preliminary final. He threw Sam De Koning into the ruck and Tom Stewart into the midfield to help turn their indifferent form. What innovations will he have in his trickbag for season 2025?
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