Ultimate player ratings: Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane rate every Geelong player

Tom Hawkins is donning the hoops yet again in 2024, but can he still deliver, or do the Cats need to look elsewhere for help? JON RALPH and GLENN MCFARLANE rate every Cat.

AFL 2024: Geelong player ratings

Does Geelong still need Patrick Dangerfield to be its midfield wrecking ball?

For Paddy’s sake, and for the club’s future direction, let’s hope not, as Chris Scott looks to a midfield regeneration which could drive the Cats back into contention.

That’s not to say that Danger won’t play a big role in the club’s midfield narrative in 2024.

He will – if he gets a clear run at it with his body. But it’s time for the Cats skipper to be freed up a little for his own sake.

Danger will be 34 in April and can still play a huge role in Scott’s plans for this season and the future, potentially balancing his time between the midfield and attack.

Criteria: Prediction of their 2024 performance based on their 2023 season, expected improvement and role in their side.

We saw that early last season when he was almost back to his breathtaking best before injuries intervened. But he doesn’t always have to be the wrecking ball.

Others need to take up some of the slack.

Dangerfield recently revealed the Cats had made one significant change to their pre-season campaign – with a greater emphasis put on high-speed running.

That can suit the pathway ahead for the Geelong engine-room this year, with an emphasis on pushing new faces through the middle.

Should Patrick Dangerfield be spending more time up forward this year? Picture: Getty Images

Star defender Tom Stewart is keen to get some midfield time, Max Holmes is a future star, Tanner Bruhn and Jhye Clark will push for greater prominence, Tom Atkins just keeps on keeping on, while Cam Guthrie is set to make a welcome return through the middle after an injury-ravaged 2023.

There are others pushing for midfield time, too.

The Cats still have enough top-end talent to make their mark in 2024, but can the kids pushing for roles – particularly through the midfield – stand up when required?

That question could help define Geelong’s 2024 season.