Best 22
B: Jared Rivers, Tom Lonergan, Jed Bews
HB: Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Corey Enright
C: Mathew Stokes, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan
HF: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Steven Motlop
F: Nakia Cockatoo, Mitch Clark, Josh Caddy
Foll: Rhys Stanley, Cameron Guthrie, Jimmy Bartel
I/C: George Horlin-Smith, Mark Blicavs, James Kelly
Sub: Jordan Murdoch

Health of the list
Geelong is reasonably well placed from an injury standpoint, although the long-term injuries to Lincoln McCarthy (foot), Daniel Menzel (knee/hamstring) and Nathan Vardy (knee) hurts the club's depth. Ruckman Rhys Stanley, who battled bone bruising in his leg during the pre-season, is finally ready to go. Jackson Thurlow, who suffered a lacerated kidney in a training mishap in December, is back in full training and will play in a VFL practice match on the weekend.

The big questions
Does the recruitment of Mitch Clark and Rhys Stanley provide enough support for Tom Hawkins?
It's fair to say there was an unhealthy reliance on Hawkins last season, so finding another key forward target was important for the Cats' hopes of pushing deep into the finals. Clark's form through the NAB Challenge suggests he will be an ideal foil for Hawkins, while Stanley is working his way back to full fitness after an injury-interrupted pre-season.

Have the Cats addressed the issues surrounding their midfield depth? 
Geelong has spoken of the need to re-introduce some of the club's bigger bodies to help the younger players transition into the midfield. As such, it has hinted Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly, who have played different roles in past years, are set for a return to the midfield. The Cats' hope is that Bartel and Kelly will help better clear the path for Mitch Duncan, Cameron Guthrie, George Horlin-Smith and Josh Caddy.

Does Geelong's ruck set-up lend itself to finals success?
The Cats' thin ruck stocks reached dire levels in last year's semi-final against North Melbourne. With Hamish McIntosh and Dawson Simpson sidelined, it was up to Mark Blicavs and Josh Walker to take on Todd Goldstein. Their lack of experience was telling and it's why getting the ruck division right shapes as critical this season. McIntosh and Simpson are fit once again, while Stanley, Blicavs and Clark are all likely to do some ruckwork too.

Summer standout
Harry Taylor is one of the top defenders in the AFL, but even he recognised he had a lot of improvement left in his game. Taylor came to the conclusion he was not fit enough last season, so he hired a running coach in the off-season to shed up to five kilograms from his frame. Mark Blicavs - no great surprise considering his athletics background – and Cameron Guthrie were the standouts in the running sessions.

Fantasy cash cow
There a few young Cats in this category, including Nakia Cockatoo and Dean Gore, but second-year midfielder Darcy Lang is the astute pick. Lang [MID, $236,000] played one game (his debut) in 2014, coming off a limited pre-season while recovering from a broken leg. The 19-year-old has had a terrific pre-season and Geelong will be keen to give him plenty of senior opportunities this season.

Sudden impact
Mitch Clark has shown throughout the NAB Challenge that he could be a force in 2015. The former Demon booted 11 goals through the pre-season, including a haul of six against Adelaide. If the 200cm big man can impact the scoreboard consistently, Tom Hawkins will benefit immeasurably.

It's crunch time for…
Billie Smedts. The Cats' first-round pick (No. 15 overall) from the 2010 draft is yet to establish himself in Chris Scott's first-choice side and faces a tough test to break into the settled line-up. Smedts, whose early career has been hampered by injury, is also out-of-contract at year's end, placing even greater pressure on the 22-year-old.

Pivotal match
Round one v Hawthorn. It goes without saying that Geelong's meetings with the Hawks are highly anticipated. And the traditional Easter Monday clash looms as a real scene-setter for the Cats. Should they get over the top of the Hawks, Geelong's premiership credentials are likely to skyrocket. With the Dockers, Suns, Kangaroos and the Tigers to follow, the Cats have a tough start to the season.

The Cats will have a good year if…
Put simply, it boils down to whether the veterans can maintain their level of performance and how quickly the young players can get to the level those premiership champions have displayed in the back half of their outstanding careers.

AFL.com.au consensus predicted ladder finish: Sixth

Premiership clock: The Cats have been sitting at the 1am mark for the last few years, but never seem to fall over the edge. With plenty of premiership heroes still running around, expect Geelong to once again challenge at the pointy end of the season.