AFL 2024: Geelong youngster Oliver Dempsey turns heads as Cats forward line shines in win over Carlton

A new-look Geelong forward line shone and a little-known Cat provided some serious spark. Plus, an experiment continued for a speedster and some best 22 hints for round one.

Oliver Dempsey was one of the standouts. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

You might not have heard much about Oliver Dempsey if you aren’t a Geelong supporter, but it looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in 2024 after an eye-catching display against Carlton on Thursday.

The seven-game Cat was plucked from obscurity by recruiting guru Stephen Wells in the 2021 rookie draft and with plenty of buzz internally around him this pre-season, he put his promising pre-season on show against senior opposition.

Dempsey, 21, produced the play of the day when he used Blue Blake Acres as a stepladder in the second quarter and coolly slotted the set shot in the searing heat.

The lively forward’s speed and work rate was also a highlight as he gathered possessions up the ground and set up options inside 50.

Being named in the VFL team of the year last season after averaging 21 disposals, a goal and 102 SuperCoach ranking points, Dempsey appears set to add an extra element to a forward line which looked damaging against last year’s preliminary finalist at Ikon Park.

Oliver Dempsey showed some serious spring with this mark. Picture: Michael Klein

Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong piled on five goals in a row in the first term after the Blues kicked the first two as their quick ball movement stood out.

But the largely healthy Cats — besides a quad injury to the luckless Cameron Guthrie in the opening seconds — rotated more players through than their opponents.

Veteran goalkicker Tom Hawkins started strongly with two early goals, Jeremy Cameron kicked a stunning goal from the boundary and set up multiple other scoring opportunities, while crafty flanker Gryan Miers booted two majors himself.

Add the imposing frame of athletic 203cm big man Shannon Neale (one goal) and the dangerous Patrick Dangerfield (one goal from the boundary) resting down there, and it is a forward combination that will have opposition defenders quaking in their boots.

Dempsey said the return of assistant coach James Rahilly, who had worked in various coaching roles at the Cats from 2010-2021 before three seasons with Adelaide, has helped instil him with confidence as he eyes a round one berth.

“I just got lucky with the sit I guess but it was good, good kick by Paddy and got under it,” Dempsey said on his big grab.

“’Rahills’ coming in has really helped me, I’ve really liked that having a new forwards coach. Not that ‘Nig’ (Lappin) was bad or anything but Rahills has been really good for me, he has confidence in me. I feel like I’m playing with more confidence this year.”

“Just giving me licence, talking to me and reassurance and stuff like that. Giving me more of the opportunity I guess and I’m really enjoying it.”

At the other end, Jack Henry played tall on Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay in his first game against senior opposition since round 21 last year, while Zach Guthrie and Sam De Koning both had good moments in defence..

Zach Guthrie impressed for the Cats. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images

HALFBACK HOLMES

As he has during match simulation, Max Holmes lined up at halfback as the Cats look to inject more speed into their back half.

Holmes took a nice intercepting mark deep in his defensive 50 and provided some run, but he arguably looked more damaging during his stint on ball in the final quarter.

The Cats expect to continue experimenting with the move in the final year of the speedster’s contract.

“He’s got that speed and everyone is looking for that speed off halfback. You want that overlap so he can turn that play or a short kick into a 100m play with that speed and overlap and long kick,” Rahilly said.

“Probably that back-half player. He’s probably played a bit of wing and on ball but we’d like to get it in his hands around that halfback line.”

HANDS OF NEALE

Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie said on Wednesday that he believes Neale is capable of playing in the same forward line as Hawkins and Cameron, and his performance on Thursday proved just that.

The 21-year-old moved well and took several strong grabs with his vice-like hands around the ground as he finished with one major, also spending some time in the ruck.

And a roost from beyond the arc showed he has plenty of distance on his kicking.

Neale is among the young talents who have caught Rahilly’s attention in his first pre-season back at the club, saying the forward-ruck “runs like a gazelle”.

“Shannon Neale has had a few games and I think he jumped at the ball really well today,” Rahilly said.

Shannon Neale put in a strong showing. Picture: Michael Klein

BEST 22 CLUES

More than half of SuperCoach teams own Shaun Mannagh, and they may have to think of a back-up plan.

In his first game at to the ground where he won a Norm Goss Medal last year for Werribee, Mannagh came on midway through the third quarter.

While Cats players were rotated throughout the eight periods, it was primarily a ‘probables’ line-up in the first four quarters of the match.

Geelong’s top draft pick Connor O’Sullivan started on a wing and showed some good signs down in defence playing on a range of opponents from Charlie Curnow to Jesse Motlop, highlighting his extreme versatility.

But he had a moment he’d like to forget when a dropped mark gave up a goal in the second half.

Geelong’s first pick from the previous year, Jhye Clark, spent most of his time in the midfield and looks primed to make an impact early doors.

Jack Bowes’ role in the was unclear last year as he split his time between defence and the midfield. Playing primarily as a on-baller — among the top centre-bounce attendees for the Cats — his follow-up work around the ground out stood out.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Geelong youngster Oliver Dempsey turns heads as Cats forward line shines in win over Carlton