Geelong will be looking to avoid successive non-finals finishes for the first time in two decades when they look to bounce back from a 2023 campaign that saw them finish 12th.
In their attempt to defend the premiership, the Cats could only conjure 10 wins from their 23 games under Chris Scott, with injuries and areas of weakness opening up throughout the year.
The Cats weren't as active as they often have been through the trade and free agency periods, instead attacking the draft to bring in a total of seven fresh faces.
A quartet of those inclusions came in the form of mature-aged assets, with recruiter Stephen Wells hoping to have uncovered another diamond or two from the rough.
Among those is VFL star Shaun Mannagh, who will be firmly in the selection conversation to start the 2024 season.
Here we've previewed what Geelong's best 23 for 2024 might look like...
BEST 23s: ADELAIDE, BRISBANE, CARLTON, COLLINGWOOD, ESSENDON, FREMANTLE
The Cats lost Esava Ratugolea through the recent trade period, but with all of Zach Guthrie, Mark Blicavs, Sam De Koning and Jake Kolodjashnij playing more than the departed defender's 16 games this year they shouldn't struggle to find options to replace him.
Chris Scott will likely welcome Jack Henry back into his defensive plans after a year interrupted by injury, with the Geelong swingman likely to partner De Koning in taking on the opposition's best tall forwards.
The Cats have added ex-Hawk Emerson Jeka to their rookie list and are likely to use the 198cm utility as a defender.
Five-time All-Australian will again be the integral piece in Geelong's backline structure as a damaging two-way asset, while premiership players Jed Bews, Zach Tuohy and Mark O'Connor can offer some relief down back.
Jack Bowes is entering his second season at Kardinia Park and showed glimpses of what he can provide across multiple lines for Geelong in his 17 games in the hoops, while Mitch Duncan will also offer some service across all three areas of the field.
The Cats could look toward Irishman Oisin Mullin as a dashing half-back, while top draft selection Connor O'Sullivan would be an outside chance of being thrust into the deep end to start his career.
Geelong played the long game with De Koning before he was used at AFL level, with the decision paying off for Scott and his side last year.
The Cats' weakness throughout the 2023 season, with an at-times undermanned or aging engine room a key reason in why Geelong failed to book themselves a finals finish.
Captain Patrick Dangerfield remains their No.1 midfielder heading into 2024, while All-Australian Mark Blicavs is likely to spend the majority of next year through the centre as well.
Tom Atkins came runner-up to Tom Stewart in Geelong's best and fairest count this year to further prove the value Cats coaches have in the hard-nut onballer.
Injuries limited Cam Guthrie to just six appearances in 2023, with the veteran midfielder and fellow premiership Cat Mitch Duncan set to provide some steady heads through the middle.
Former GWS first-round selection Tanner Bruhn will be looking to be a more common feature at centre bounces as he enters his fourth year in the system and second with Geelong, while fellow 2022 recruit Jack Bowes will be looking to do the same.
Max Holmes will be a big watch over the course of next season, with Geelong likely looking to use their speedy young gun in the middle instead of out wide.
The Cats added some mature-aged recruits at the National Draft in Shaun Mannagh and Lawson Humphries, with the former a strong chance to be in the Round 1 mix after a prolific campaign with Werribee in the VFL.
Rookie George Stevens is already built for senior football and could also get a look early into next season.
Rhys Stanley will resume the No.1 ruck role, but the Cats will want to see some competition at selection from Toby Conway after the developing tall got his first look at AFL-level football this year.
The Cats will also be hoping Jhye Clark can return to full fitness and add to his debut from this year, while Mitch Knevitt and Brandan Parfitt will also be knocking on the door for spots in Scott's side.
An area of the field where the Cats aren't short on star options, with Coleman Medal-winning pair Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron to spearhead Geelong's attack once again. The pair combined for over 100 goals in 2023 while both missed some games through injury.
Recruit Ollie Henry was more than serviceable in his first year at the Cats, booting 41 goals from 22 games - kicking multiple majors in 14 of those matches.
Athletic attacker Gary Rohan will act as the third or fourth tall in the front third, while the damaging trio of Tyson Stengle, Brad Close and Gryan Miers will roam the forward line and offer some pressure on the defensive end.
The aforementioned Mannagh is likely to spend some time at half-forward given his attacking traits, while Oliver Dempsey could get a decent look next year after a strong 2023 season at VFL level.
Local recruit Ollie Wiltshire will be a left-field option for a run in the forward line in his maiden year, but will likely only get a look if injuries strike Geelong's forward mix.
Fringe tall Shannon Neale could be viewed as a long-term forward for the Cats as Hawkins and Cameron near the end of their respective careers, while utility Jack Henry is likely to spend some time forward when needed.
FB: Tom Stewart, Sam De Koning, Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: Jed Bews, Jack Henry, Zach Guthrie
C: Max Holmes, Patrick Dangerfield, Cameron Guthrie
HF: Gryan Miers, Jeremy Cameron, Gary Rohan
FF: Tyson Stengle, Tom Hawkins, Brad Close
FO: Rhys Stanley, Tom Atkins, Mark Blicavs
I/C: Mitch Duncan, Ollie Henry, Tanner Bruhn, Jack Bowes
SUB: Shaun Mannagh
Also in the mix: Mark O'Connor, Zach Tuohy, Toby Conway, Connor O'Sullivan, Jhye Clark, Brandan Parfitt, Mitch Knevitt, Oliver Dempsey, Shannon Neale