Geelong VFL: Cats start 2025 with win as veteran Mitch Duncan puts hand up for recall
There was plenty to take out of Geelong VFL’s season-opener, with a veteran making a strong case for an AFL recall and several VFL-listed players catching the eye. See the full scouting notes.
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Veteran Mitch Duncan has put his hand up for a recall in Geelong VFL’s season-opening win against Sandringham as a swingman shone in his Cats return.
Duncan, 33, has been overlooked on the outer over the first two rounds but the dual premiership player staked his claim to return to the senior side after star interceptor Tom Stewart was subbed out with a knee injury on Saturday night.
Duncan played 22 AFL matches last season and needs to play another four to reach his 300-game milestone.
Ruck-defender Sam De Koning appeared to spend more time down back after Stewart’s blow and Rowan Marshall was dominant in St Kilda’s upset win, but Rhys Stanley was unable to put selection pressure on De Koning against the Zebras.
Geelong forward Shaun Mannagh played his first full game after sitting out the majority of the pre-season with a foot stress injury and was solid as he spent more time in the midfield.
Free agency recruit Jack Martin was named to play in his first official VFL game as a Cat but was pulled out late as part of his load management.
Second-year small forward Oli Wiltshire was arguably Geelong’s best with a scintillating three-goal showing.
Meanwhile, delisted Magpie Nathan Kreuger starred in defence in his first game back at Geelong since 2021.
Tobyn Murray and intercept defender Charlie McCartin both attracted draft interest last year and made impressive starts to the 2025 VFL season.
AFL LISTED CATS
Mitch Duncan
116 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals, 19 kicks (84 per cent), eight marks, four intercepts
The stats are inflated somewhat from taking the kick-ins, but Duncan certainly did his chances of a senior recall no harm after Tom Stewart’s injury blow. The 33-year-old was typically polished by foot and consistently provided run from behind. Duncan was emergency for Geelong’s loss to St Kilda and Stewart’s setback could be the opening he needs to reach the 300-game milestone, currently just four games adrift.
Oli Wiltshire
113 SuperCoach points, 17 disposals, 13 score involvements, five marks, 3.4, two score assists
It’s a tough forward line to break into, but it is a matter of if, not when, Wiltshire gets his chance at AFL level this season. No VFL player had more score involvements than Wiltshire in round one and his 3.4 could have easily been a bag of goals. The lively small forward kicked two goals in the space of a minute in the third term, one after finding space in transition and another a clever crumbing goal that showed his forward smarts.
Shaun Mannagh
65 SuperCoach points, 15 disposals, six tackles, five score involvements, five inside 50s, two score assists, one behind
After a half of gametime in his return from a foot injury last week, Mannagh spent more time in the midfield against the Zebras. Mannagh’s kicking was a little scratchy, going at just 50 per cent by foot, but he brought the intensity we are accustomed to. It will be interesting to see if the Cats bring him straight in or opt to give him another run in the reserves.
Rhys Stanley
43 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals, 10 contested possessions, 23 hit-outs (four to advantage)
Rowan Marshall was arguably best on ground up against De Koning on Saturday night and coach Chris Scott has repeatedly said Stanley will get chances this year. But De Koning looks to be safe after the Zebras combination of Harry Boyd and Max Heath had the better of Stanley and Joe Pike on Sunday. Stanley’s follow-up work was a positive, winning 10 contested possessions.
George Stevens
115 SuperCoach points, 26 disposals, 14 contested possessions, eight clearances, six clearances five tackles
The 191cm big-bodied midfielder looks set to go up a gear in his second season. Stevens won eight clearances against the Zebras – something he did just once last year – and did a lot right in tight.
Patrick Retschko
97 SuperCoach points, 24 disposals, seven marks, six intercepts, five score involvements, four clearances, one goal
The 2024 rookie pick-up continues to impress after showing catching the eye during their practice matches. Retschko found plenty of the ball and used his big aerobic base to work both ways in transition. A strong mark led to a goal in the second quarter.
Jay Polkinghorne
50 SuperCoach points, five disposals, three marks (two contested), one goal, one score assist
Polkinghorne’s marking is his big strength and he clunked two contested marks against the Zebras as he showed he doesn’t need a lot of the ball to have an influence. He also hit the scoreboard with a goal.
Joe Pike
25 SuperCoach points, eight hit-outs (two to advantage), six disposals, five contested possessions, four tackles
Shared the ruck duties with Rhys Stanley and had some encouraging signs, including an intercept mark at one stage.
CATS VFL LISTED PLAYERS
Nathan Kreuger (Grovedale)
88 SuperCoach 17 disposals, 11 kicks (91 per cent efficiency), 11 intercepts, nine marks, six intercept marks
The Zebras only kicked two goals to halftime and that was in large part thanks to the returning Kreuger. Spending most of his time at Collingwood up forward, Kreuger was an intercept force in defence on Sunday, taking three contested marks to the main break. One of those was a mark of the year contender, soaring over a pack to take a specky deep in defence. The 196cm swingman was the Cats’ big signing over the off-season, back where his AFL career started in 2019, and this performance suggests he will have a significant impact. That’s if he doesn’t attract the attention of AFL clubs.
Marcus Herbert
124 SuperCoach points, 27 disposals, 14 contested possessions, nine tackles, six clearances, six score involvements
Herbert received more inside midfield opportunity with several young AFL-listed midfielders called on and he thrived. The 23-year-old led the Cats for disposals and recorded equal-team highs for contested possessions and tackles. Also showed his overhead marking with a superb grab back with the flight on the wing.
Tobyn Murray (Colac)
17 disposals, 11 score involvements, five marks, 3.3, two score assists
Murray put himself in the mid-season draft frame with six goals in his first two games last season. Now, the Colac product has started the 2025 VFL season with a bang. Murray ran into an open goal early and just like Wiltshire, everything he touched seemed to lead to a scoring chain. Injury kept him out of action in the month before the mid-season draft last year and he if he can continue this form, interest should come again.
Patrick Hughes (Torquay)
126 SuperCoach points, 18 disposals, nine contested possessions, nine tackles, six inside 50s
Hughes had much more influence than his disposal count suggests. The tough midfielder-forward had a big second quarter in particular, which included a big tackle that led to a holding the ball free kick and a set shot goal from 50 metres after an intercept mark. Hughes’ defensive pressure was immense as usual.
Charlie McCartin (Lorne)
87 SuperCoach points, 19 disposals, 16 kicks (81 per cent), 11 marks, eight intercepts, six rebound 50s, two intercept marks
The brother of Sydney defender Tom McCartin and 2014 No.1 pick Paddy made an impressive start to life in the hoops. McCartin, 26, won eight intercepts and used the ball well by foot out of defence. Kreuger stole the show with his reading of the play but McCartin wasn’t far behind with his intercept work, which took the Colac & District league by storm last year.
Paddy De Grandi (St Joseph’s)
68 SuperCoach points, 10 disposals, eight score involvements, five marks, two goals, one behind
It was an impressive VFL debut for De Grandi, who took three marks inside 50 and kicked two goals. Eight of his 10 touches led to scores.
Originally published as Geelong VFL: Cats start 2025 with win as veteran Mitch Duncan puts hand up for recall
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