GEELONG gave recruit Zac Smith no guarantees he would be the Cats' No.1 ruck in 2016 when he joined the club.

But the Cats were definitive about one thing.

Versatility will be required if he is to be a starter in a line-up that could boast several formidable big men in 2016. 

With Smith joining Mark Blicavs, Nathan Vardy and Rhys Stanley on the Cats' list, the club's ruck division will be one of the more intriguing – and persistent – questions facing the club's coaches heading into next season. 

"I definitely think there can be a few of us in the team and that we can learn to work together," Smith told AFL.com.au.

"But you have to be able to play forward."

If that sounds a standard line from a big man at this time of the year, the reality is that doing so successfully will take work.

"It's something I need to work on for sure. When you are in the midfield, you can chase the ball. You have to think more when you're forward with things like running patterns," Smith said.

Slotting inside 50 alongside Tom Hawkins and either Mitch Clark or Shane Kersten is not a job for the timid either.

Fortunately, Smith is up for whatever challenge comes his way.

"I have come in with an attitude to learn and grow and get better as a footy player and see where that takes me," Smith said.

Smith, 25, earned a solid reputation in 65 games with the Gold Coast over five seasons as an excellent tap ruckman.

His first season was outstanding – he was third in the NAB AFL Rising Star (behind Dyson Heppell and Luke Shuey) – and he drew comparisons to former West Coast star Dean Cox.

But then a knee reconstruction, ankle problems and subsequent form struggles slowed his progress.

He played just 45 games in the next four seasons, giving Tom Nicholls the chance to become the Suns' preferred rucking option.

Smith's goals also dried up, kicking just 17 in 45 games after kicking 14 in his first 20 games.

And he became something of a forgotten man.

His lean stretch of form didn't wipe the smile off his face – he happily owns up to being a positive person – but it certainly prompted thoughts that a change of environment might kickstart his career.

So after a chat with Geelong, Smith realised he and the Cats shared the same view on where he needed to improve, and the former Sun did what he does best and made the leap.

Although he enjoyed his journey at the Suns, he said the benefits in joining an established club became obvious quickly.

"It is different when you come into a club that has already got that history and the culture already set in stone," Smith said.

Nothing is set in stone however as 2016 approaches.

Smith has had a solid pre-Christmas period, training well alongside the other big men on the list. The genial nature of the boy born in the Queensland town of Biloela is never far away.

But don't be fooled by the big man's grin. He wants to show his best.

"You almost have to work together and then, at the end of the day, you are fighting against each other. You just have to work as hard as you can," Smith said.

"We're not all lumbering big ruckmen. We're quite mobile [and] can run quite well. You have got to be able to do that."