Geelong coach Chris Scott was super impressed with star recruit Bailey Smith's debut but declared there's a greater focus on what he'll provide the club long term.
Smith was arguably the biggest off-season trade last year after spending the past 12 months on the sidelines with an ACL injury.
Since the former Bulldogs joined the Cats, he has yet to put a foot wrong. But Scott admitted they've had to hold him back at stages, and simultaneously "temper expectations" on what he'll produce.
"Anyone that knows anything about him knows that he couldn't prepare better," Scott said of Smith.
"If anything, the risk with Bailey is, he does too much and sometimes, it's a humble brag saying that your biggest flaw in a job interview is that you work too hard.
"So there's no doubt about the work, but I don't care who you are, if you've missed a year of footy, there's anxiety that wouldn't have been there otherwise."
Smith recorded a game-high 32 disposals and 693m gained, while also notching up seven clearances, two goal assists and a late major to put the cherry on top.
"It was what we had in mind when we brought him in," Scott said.
"I think I've tried to temper expectations a little bit, even with him, not because we didn't think he could play the way he did, we always thought that was a strong possibility, but it was just (that) we've got a bigger focus, a longer-term focus.
"He's going to have his moments after missing a year of footy, but we're much more focused on what he's going to be over a 10-to-15-year period than this game of next game."
Through Smith and Mitch Knevitt, Geelong got a glimpse into the future.
Knevitt essentially "trained his way" into the senior side following an impressive pre-season, and was rewarded with bulk midfield minutes. The No.10 recorded 21 possessions, 11 tackles and four clearances.
"It was a good example of a player who trained his way into the team," Scott said.
"He really deserved the chance to play and it was good to see him play well off the back of all that work.
"We really liked the last quarter with Mitch Knevitt and Jhye Clark in there together."
As a result of the emerging youngsters through the centre of the ground, Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield spent large chunks of time up forward, attending 21 per cent of centre bounces.
Geelong's perfect start to 2025 has them primed for the Round 2 clash against St Kilda.
