AFL Editorial and Opinion

2022 AFL Season Preview: Geelong Cats

Can the Cats take the next step to bring home a flag to Kardinia Park?

Published by
Aidan O'Carroll

Geelong are the AFL's model of consistency, with their ability to stay up the top-end of the ladder for over a decade now.

The Cats have made the preliminary final an impressive 11 times in the past 15 seasons, including last season, however, their latest attempt ended badly when suffering an 83-point thrashing at the hands of eventual premiers Melbourne.

Chris Scott's side boasts the most experienced team in the competition, and their premiership window continues to remain open despite their recent poor finals record - a mere 6-13 under Chris Scott since the 2011 flag.

Tom Stewart continues to impress as one of the best defenders in the competition, whilst the cattery also boasts a strong engine room with the likes of Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Cameron Guthrie and Mitch Duncan.

Down forward is where the Cats are at their most dangerous with the twin towers in Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron still in great form and will look to continue their heavy scoring and assisting outputs in 2022.

The lack of youth throughout the side is a particular concern, with the exception of recent draftees in ruckman Toby Conway and hard-running midfielder Mitch Knevitt, but the star talent is hard to ignore in this side, and it should find the Cats up the top-end of the ladder once again in 2022.

Off-Season Moves

Ins: Jonathon Ceglar [Hawthorn], Tyson Stengle [Woodville-West Torrens], Toby Conway [pick 24], Mitch Knevitt [pick 25], James Willis [pick 32], Flynn Kroeger [pick 48], Cooper Whyte [pick 64], Oliver Dempsey [Rookie Draft pick 15]

Outs: Jordan Clark [Fremantle], Charlie Constable [Gold Coast], Darcy Fort [Brisbane], Lachie Henderson [retired], Oscar Brownless [delisted], Josh Jenkins [retired], Ben Jarvis [delisted], Nathan Kreuger [Collingwood], Stefan Okunbor [delisted], Cameron Taheny [delisted]

Last Season

Geelong's season looked similar to previous seasons of late, with the Cats performing strongly in the regular season securing the double chance, before another underwhelming finals series that saw them beaten by Port Adelaide and Melbourne convincingly.

The expectations are always high on Geelong given the talent on their list but their poor finals efforts beg the question if they can go all the way with the list that they currently possess.

Chris Scott's side will be ruing their Round 23 loss to Melbourne, blowing a 44-point lead and subsequently a home qualifying final spot, which led to travelling to Adelaide instead of staying in their home state.

Despite the poor end to their 2021 campaign, Geelong will be looking forward to the start of the season due to their talent all over the ground and a massive home ground advantage at their GMHBA Stadium fortress.

SEE ALSO: 2022 AFL Season Preview: Essendon 

After a breakout season in 2020, Cameron Guthrie continued his impressive output, averaging a career-high 29 disposals per game and was the club's leading vote-getter at the Brownlow Medal with 18 votes.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 24: Cameron Guthrie of the Cats runs the ball during the round 14 AFL match between the Brisbane Lions and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on June 24, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Chris Scott will look to his star players including Guthrie, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart and Tom Hawkins to produce another stellar campaign as they eye off another top four finish to set Scott up for potentially another flag for the first time since 2011.

Strengths

Experience: As previously mentioned, Geelong is the most experienced side in the competition, with an average of 25.7 years of age across their list and 96.6 average games across the board.

The majority of their list has experience in big finals and they know what it's like, which helps them going into another campaign.

The Cats use their experience to beat down on the younger inexperienced teams in the competition, which sees them continually perform strongly across the season.

10 players have over 200 games of experience, an asset that not many teams boast in the competition.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Joel Selwood of the Cats (left) and Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats (right) look dejected after a loss during the 2018 AFL First Elimination Final match between the Melbourne Demons and the Geelong Cats at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 07, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)

Consistency: Geelong just knows how to get the double chance come finals time.

11 out of the last 15 preliminary finals have featured the Cats and it's a testament to the longevity of their playing list, and the club's ability to keep bringing experienced heads in to prolong that level of excellence every season.

As they use Kardinia Park's unique dimensions to suffocate the opposition, Scott's side make it so hard for the opposition to score and come away with a win.

Expect another strong season at home and don't be surprised if the Cats finish the home and away season with another top-four finish.

Weaknesses

Finals record: Recent finals performances are a glaring problem for the Cats, and have heaped pressure on Chris Scott for what is perceived to be a coaching style that doesn't hold up in cutthroat finals.

Scott's 6-13 record since winning the 2011 flag in his first season coaching the Cats is alarming, and he'll want to improve on that record in 2022.

The Cat's style of chipping the ball around and maintaining possession works well in the regular season, especially against the weaker teams, but come finals time, that style doesn't seem to hold up when the pressure and intensity is ramped up.

A change in playing style may be the way to go for Scott and his team, to embrace the high-pressure, frenetic energy that wins finals that has been adapted by recent premiers in Richmond and Melbourne.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 24: Cats coach Chris Scott leaves the field after the 2020 AFL Grand Final match between the Richmond Tigers and the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on October 24, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Lack of youth: Another massive problem for the Cats lies with the age demographic of their list.

Although their experience and talent are still very good, the next crop of young players coming through doesn't seem to be there.

Draftees and local talents in Conway and Knevitt could be exciting players in Geelong's future plans, but after the departures of young talents in Jordan Clark and Charlie Constable, it is clear that the Cats are going for now instead of the future.

It is understandable that Geelong wants to capitalise on the talented playing list that they currently possess, but they are only a few injuries and retirements away from a vastly different looking Geelong side in the future.

Star Player

Tom Stewart

The tattooed backman has become one of the best defenders in the competition in recent years, and continued his rise in 2021, capped off with a best-and-fairest.

Averaging a career-high 24 disposals and 8.9 marks last season, Stewart excelled with his intercept marking ability, and his run and drive off half-back being so important and influential to what the Cats do.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 18: Tom Stewart of the Cats marks the ball during the round 22 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Fremantle Dockers at GMHBA Stadium on August 18, 2018 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Geelong's drop off in defence when Stewart went down with a foot injury in the last five games of the season was telling and proved that Stewart is arguably Geelong's most important player.

Along with the best-and-fairest, the dashing defender picked up this third All-Australian blazer, which is an impressive resume for anyone, let alone a player who's only entering his sixth season in the league.

Look for the Barwon Heads local to continue his stellar form throughout the 2022 season.

Breakout Player

Jack Henry

Jack Henry stepped up in Tom Stewart's absence at the back end of last season and showed that he is a quality and reliable defender in the back six for the Cats.

Averaging a career-high 14 disposals and 6.3 marks per game in 2021, Henry could break out even more in 2022 given the retirement of key defender Lachie Henderson, with Henry to bear more responsibility down back.

At 23-years-of-age, Henry is still young and yet to hit his prime, with his ceiling as high as any defender in the competition.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Jack Henry of the Cats avoids a tackle by Blake Hardwick of the Hawks during the round 3 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 05, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Geelong native is a versatile player, as he can play on tall and small defenders, and can also be seen as a forward option. Standing at 194cm, if Hawkins or Cameron go down with injury or if they want to switch the magnets around.

Look out for Jack Henry further improving in 2022 and could be a key factor if Geelong is to go all the way this season.

Defining Period

The defining period for the Cats will definitely come in the back end of the season as they look to gain some good form and momentum heading into what is expected to be yet another finals campaign at the cattery.

Rounds 15 to 20 will be very important for the Cats as they face some quality sides with a couple of danger games in the mix as well.

During that period, the Cats face Richmond [H], North Melbourne [H], Melbourne [H], Carlton [A], Port Adelaide [A], Western Bulldogs [H].

Four out of these six games are against genuine premiership fancies in Richmond, Melbourne, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs, and will be a good indicator as to how far the Cats can go in 2022.

RELATED: 2022 AFL Season Preview: Fremantle

The danger game is the Carlton game at the MCG, as the Blues will be competitive and could upset the Cats at home.

This stretch will likely be the defining period as to whether the Cats make the top four or slide into the 5-8 bracket.

Prediction

Geelong should deliver another strong regular season, but with numerous sides pushing for the premiership, we have them sliding ever so slightly outside the top four.

Their talent is as good as any side in the competition, but it's the ageing list that is of concern and they can't afford too many injuries before it takes a toll on their list.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - JULY 13: Patrick Dangerfield of the Cats runs with the ball during the round 17 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the St Kilda Saints at GMHBA Stadium on July 13, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

The Cats are still a massive chance to make the top four so don't count them out, but with so many top end talented teams, it will be a tight situation as to whether the Cats will finish in the four or not.

Predicted Position: 6th

 

 

Published by
Aidan O'Carroll