AFL 2024: The five Geelong players under the most pressure entering the season

Players entering the final year of their contract, underperforming stars with a point to prove and veterans facing selection pressure. Here are the Cats who will be feeling the heat in 2024.

Sam De Koning shoots out a handball. Picture: Michael Klein

It is crunch time for Geelong ahead of its season-opener, and some will be feeling the heat more than others.

Whether it is players entering the final year of their contract, underperforming stars with a point to prove or veterans facing selection pressure, there are several Cats in particular who will be looking to start the 2024 season with a bang.

With Geelong’s clash with St Kilda just days away, here are the Cats players under the most pressure.

Rhys Stanley

Often harshly criticised by the Geelong faithful, the heat is now on Stanley internally with youngster Toby Conway seriously challenging for his spot. Stanley looks to have him at bay for now and will benefit from a full pre-season under his belt after being sidelined with a gruesome eye injury last year. His athleticism around the ground gives him a point-of-difference over the less mobile Conway, but if his form dips, he will be under immediate selection scrutiny.

Patrick Dangerfield and Rhys Stanley are among the Cats under the most pressure entering the season. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Patrick Dangerfield

Dangerfield’s first year as skipper didn’t go to plan. He joked last month that it “only took him 12 weeks” to bring Geelong down last season. There is no doubt Dangerfield will be desperate to lead his side back to the finals. The 33-year-old struggled with injury and form and will have extra responsibility after Cameron Guthrie’s injury. Noone is expecting the Dangerfield of old, but he will need to have more impact than last season. In the final year of his contract, the ageing superstar will also be looking to prove he has plenty left in the tank.

Max Holmes

Entering a contract year, Holmes’ exciting practice match performance underlined why he is attracting rival interest. The Cats will be relying on his run and drive out of defence and in the midfield, with his line-breaking speed able to add spark to either line. The 21-year-old said this week he would “stick to playing footy”, but that comes with pressure in the final year of a deal. A big first half of the year will help drive up the price of his next contract.

Max Holmes’ run was on show against the Bombers. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Sam De Koning

Max King, Taylor Walker, Mitch Lewis, Aaron Naughton and Nick Larkey. They are De Koning’s likely opponents in the first five rounds of the season with the key defender set to have his hands full this year. De Koning told this publication last week that he had a “disappointing” 2023 season, battling numerous injury concerns including nasal and maxillary bone fracture, but is confident of surpassing his breakout 2022 campaign after a strong off-season where he has added size to his frame. De Koning once sported a Batman mask and will have his Robin, Jack Henry, riding shotgun this year. But there is still plenty of responsibility resting on the 23-year-old’s bulked up shoulders.

Tyson Stengle takes a mark against Essendon. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Tyson Stengle

Stengle went from All-Australian in Geelong’s premiership year to just a solid contributor, averaging 1.4 goals per game in 2023 compared to 2.1 majors in 2022. A broken wrist at the start of the season didn’t help his cause but the 25-year-old is much more capable than his 2023 return. Stengle was close to Geelong’s best player against Essendon in their practice game, looking seriously dangerous in a three goal outing in a promising sign for the season ahead. Out of contract at the end of this season – and eligible as a free agent after being delisted by Adelaide – he is another with plenty riding on this year.

Originally published as AFL 2024: The five Geelong players under the most pressure entering the season