Geelong – along with Hawthorn – have been one of the best clubs of the decade. However, their finals exit last year was earlier than they would have wanted and they will look to continue their rebuilding in 2015.
1. The transition continues
Geelong has been considered a benchmark team in being able to maintain a strong competitive playing side while still being able to integrate youth into senior football.
This was heightened last year as players like Darcy Lang, Brad Hartman, Lincoln McCarthy, Jed Bews and Shane Kersten were given opportunities in a strong Geelong side.
On top of this youngsters Cameron Guthrie, George Horlin-Smith, Jordan Murdoch and Josh Caddy all saw increased roles. The question on this transition is at what point this young group really take the mantle as the leaders for the group.
It has been discussed about the ages of Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly, Steve Johnson, Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie and Tom Lonergan and it would appear either 2015 or 2016 is going to be the telling year when the youth really does replace the experience as match breakers.
2. Third time lucky
Mitch Clark is likely the biggest risk that the Geelong Football Club has taken in the past decade. It is easy to see why Geelong covered a powerful key forward to complement Tom Hawkins given none of their drafted options have made the jump as yet.
But as Clark has twice quit on football clubs means it is a huge risk that Geelong are taking. All the talk has been positive in pre-season but in every football season come dark days and tough points and how Geelong have set up a support system to Clark is likely the most significant part of getting an on-field contribution.
Still Clark has been out of football a long time making him a potential on-field risk and the concerns still have to linger about his off field issues. It is a high risk high reward play, one that Geelong would not normally make.
3. A three-headed MVP
It used to be a long held theory that players football careers peaked between the ages of 24 to 28 and hence clubs with a wealth of players in that group would be the contenders.
In recent times that thinking has changed with youngsters grabbing their chances earlier and veterans keeping up career best from in their thirties, still that 24 to 28 bracket is important and it is one area that Geelong are currently lacking in.
However when three of the key players you have in that group are Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Harry Taylor, you can potentially buck the trend. This group of three are undeniably the key three players for Geelong this year. Selwood is the heart of the midfield, Hawkins is the presence of the forward line and Taylor is the reliability of the defence.
The age profile is against the grain, but these three will always find a way to keep Geelong as contenders.
4. Missing run
Perhaps the greatest concern for Geelong heading into 2015 is that in a league that has apparently switched to pace and hard run, Geelong appear to be lacking on the pace side with the off season departures of Travis Varcoe, Allen Christensen and Taylor Hunt.
Although this group combined to play only 38 games, it has to be a worry to determine where the explosive run may come. The obvious answer is continued improvement from Steven Motlop who could be the most damaging in the league and Nakia Cockatoo who has impressed throughout pre-season.
But looking at other contenders it is clear on the verge of the season that Geelong do not have the same running options that others do. They will try to play to their strengths of winning and controlling the football and this contrasting style will likely lead to some epic battles involving Geelong this year.
5. Bucketloads of cash
As much as Geelong would no doubt like the focus to be on their on-field performance all season, the reality is with the free agent class coming through and the salary cap space that Geelong has it is natural that a lot of talk will revolve around Geelong and how they look in 2016.
Patrick Dangerfield has already been heavily linked to the club given his strong ties to the Geelong region, while the talk on Scott Selwood will likely intensify the longer his contract talks are held up given the Selwood influence at the Cattery.
Smart list management and a host of key players heading to retirement soon means that Geelong are in a real position to inject a different look to their team. It would be nice to think focus could always stay on football during the season, but Geelong more than most will be widely discussed about what is happening away from the oval.
6. Fast starting Cats
For the past two seasons Geelong has been written off as a top four team at the start of the season because of the expected demise after a successful era.
They have, however, beaten the odds over that time by getting off to a fast start each year. In 2014 they won five games to start the year and found themselves top of the ladder.
In 2013 they won seven games to start the year and topped the table. It is a challenging start to the year with Hawthorn, Fremantle and North Melbourne on the slate in the first month of the year.
Key again to Geelong being a top four team is another one of those fast starts. Find themselves 5-0 again, talk won’t be on the demise, but whether this is another Geelong premiership season.
7. The pessimistic Scott
While twin Brad continues to be one of the most positive coaches in the AFL, Geelong coach Chris though has taken the unusual step saying his team are behind the eight-bal heading into 2015.
It is refreshing to see a coach being upfront and conscious of his team and the league as a whole, but everything an AFL coach does in the modern game has meaning.
Chris Scott has appeared to be a coach that uses the media as a way to motivate his playing group. It is a tough act to pull off, but so far he has been successful at using the media to unite the playing list and a loyal supporter group.
The hard work is likely being done but whether the omen that Chris has foreshadowed comes to pass is an intriguing part of the Geelong season.
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