Coach: Mark Thompson
Captain: Cameron Ling
Finished 2009: 1st (18 wins, four losses)
Best and fairest: Corey Enright/Gary Ablett
Leading goalkicker: Cameron Mooney (46 goals)
Leading possession winner: Gary Ablett (744)
NEW PERSONNEL
On-field: Marcus Drum (exchange period), Daniel Menzel, Mitch Duncan, Allen Christensen, Nathan Vardy, Josh Cowan, Jeremy Laidler (NAB AFL Draft), Jack Weston, Ben C. Johnson, James Podsiadly, Jesse Stringer (NAB AFL Rookie Draft)
Off-field: Blake Caracella (assistant coach)
BEST 22
B: Darren Milburn, Matthew Scarlett, Corey Enright
HB: Josh Hunt, Harry Taylor, Andrew Mackie
C: Joel Corey, Cameron Ling, Travis Varcoe
HF: Jimmy Bartel, Cameron Mooney, Paul Chapman
F: Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins, Shannon Byrnes
Foll: Brad Ottens, Gary Ablett, Joel Selwood
I/C: James Kelly, David Wojcinski, Max Rooke, Mark Blake
MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER
People correctly laud Joel Selwood's toughness, but Gary Ablett, who cops criticism in the same area, has 40 more hard-ball gets than the second-placed Selwood at the Cats, and from fewer games with harder tags. Has won pretty much everything on offer in the footy world.
UP AND COMER
Jeremy Laidler debuted in round 15 last year, when a host of Cats were rested for the trip to Brisbane, but is expected to play more games this year after being elevated from the rookie list. A running defender, he is just what the ageing Cats defensive line needs.
NEEDS A BIG YEAR
Mark Blake - with primo ruckman Brad Ottens turned 30 and having played just 22 games in the last two seasons (including just six in 2009), the Cats are surely looking for a long-term ruckman to take over when he retires. Blake began as a cult figure at the Cats, but last year was dropped late in the season before fighting back to claim the premiership medal he missed in 2007. Needs to consolidate his spot with consistent performances.
CHANGING TACK
With two flags in the past three seasons, why would you change much? A bit of tweaking, no doubt, but there's no need for anything approaching wholesale changes. The loss of inspirational skipper Tom Harley will hurt at the back, but they get Josh Hunt back from an ACL, and Travis Varcoe is tipped to move to the wing. Brad Ottens had a fight with a boat in the off-season, but is expected to play in round one, and rookie James Podsiadly could take some pressure off veteran Cam Mooney and youngster Tom Hawkins forward.
INJURY LIST
Joel Corey (knee) - 3 weeks
Mitch Brown (leg) - 3 months
Max Rooke (knee tendinitis) - 3 weeks
Tom Allwright (knee) - 6 months
Mathew Stokes (club suspension) - round 7
WHAT THE CLUB SAYS
"We know that we're probably not going to be at our best in round one, but we still should have a really good team, and we'll still be able to play really well, but we'll hopefully play better footy as the year goes on." - assistant coach Nigel Lappin.
CRYSTAL BALL
It's easy to predict the end for a side that has won as much as Geelong in the last few years, but if the hunger is there, it's hard to see the Cats dropping away. The Cats are out to show that they're a truly great team, an accolade the 2008 grand final loss had denied them. Three flags in four years would allow them to claim that title.
SEASON OPENER
March 26 v Essendon at the MCG.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
