Geelong’s quest for back-to-back Peter Jackson VFL premierships appears on track after a grueling summer campaign.
With intense competition for spots on the VFL list, Matthew Knights’ chargers have had little time to dwell on the triumphant end to 2012.
Knights, who lifted the premiership trophy in his first year at the helm of the Cats, said he was excited by the players who have lobbed at the Cattery this year.
Former Gold Coast Suns rookie Piers Flanagan and former Melbourne rookie Jai Sheahan will be looking to re-ignite their AFL ambitions with the reigning premier.
Two other rising stars likely to feature in the hoops this season are Gippsland Power graduate Ryley Hall and former Geelong Falcons midfielder Tom Gribble, both of who claimed best and fairest awards in the TAC Cup last season.
“Ryley’s a medium-sized defender who is very strong at the contest and we’ll see him in the VFL team at some stage this year,” Knights said.
“Tom is more a winger/midfielder who wins plenty of the ball and is good with his disposal. He joins Zak Sherman, another from the Falcons, on our list.”
But despite the rosy outlook, Knights knows keeping his team on the same page with so many expected to float through the AFL side will be a major challenge.
George Horlin-Smith, last year’s Norm Goss medalist for best afield in the grand final, and dashing left-footer Jordan Murdoch appear set for a much greater role in Geelong’s AFL side, leaving Knights without two of his better ball users.
Hard-nut Jackson Sheringham, key-forwards Mitch Brown and Josh Walker, and wingman Jesse Stringer are also likely to spend considerable time at the elite level.
“It’s definitely one of the challenges, but it is part of the job that if we do well we can get a lot of benefit out of,” Knights said.
“Something we found last year that when players came back to the VFL they provided a nice bit of karma and leadership to the group.
“The challenge will be that a lot of our younger payers are pushing hard for senior selection and they’re not always going to be rewarded.
“We’ve got make sure they come back at VFL level and play at an AFL standard.”
The Cats do, however, have the luxury of leaning on some of the competition’s most experienced campaigners when games are tight.
“Dom Gleeson, Mark Corrigan, and Troy Selwood are pillars of both talent and strength at our club,” Knights said.
“They’re all quality players in their own right but also tremendous leaders.
“We’re also very lucky that we have guys like Jack Hollmer and Jaxson Barham who are great people to have involved at the club.”
While Geelong’s depth of talent appears one of the best in the competition, Knights will have to do without a number of last year’s key contributors.
Smart small forward Shannon Byrnes is now at Melbourne trying to resurrect his AFL career and has been joined by key-defender Tom Gillies.
Experienced VFL-listed backman Andrew McLean has also departed, leaving big shoes to fill in Cats’ back half.
Geelong
Coach: Matthew Knights
2012 Ladder position: 3rd (13 wins, 5 losses)
Finals finish: Premiers - Defeated Port Melbourne
2012 Best & Fairest: Jonathan Simpkin
Key recruits: Jai Sheehan, Piers Flanagan, Tom Gribble, Ryley Hall
Key losses: Andrew McLean, Shannon Byrnes, David Wojcinski, Tom Gillies, Jonathan Simpkin
First match: Williamstown, Torquay, Sunday March 31
Last Modified on 21/03/2013 14:46