Geelong VFL captain James Byrne is driven by a burning desire to fulfill one of football’s hardest dynasties.

The premiership captain, entering the final year on his contract, this week emerged from a season decorated by individual and team brilliance to declare his intentions of leading the VFL Cats to back-to-back titles.

“The challenge of going back to back in 2008 is something that I find very exciting and I really can’t wait for the matches to start,” Byrne told gfc.com.au.

“If we are to achieve this feat, it is something we are going to have to do with a totally different group of players.”

Byrne has already run a fine-toothed comb over the healthy influx of new talent at the Cattery for 2008, earmarking a number of players he believes will make an immediate impact.

The Cats have lost eight VFL premiership players this season and Byrne said it was paramount the new draftees filled the void if the Cats were to challenge for back-to-back crowns.

“The club has recruited nine new AFL-listed players with six of them being 18 of younger, so it is going to be a much younger, inexperienced group – however I think all sides across the VFL competition are becoming younger every year,” he said.

“The older recruits Harry Taylor (East Fremantle), Brodie Moles (Tasmania Devils) and Shane Mumford (Geelong VFL) will certainly help out our structure whenever they play VFL, because they have some great experience at senior state level football”.

“I think we will be a tough side to beat because of the depth on the Geelong AFL list”. “You only have to look at how talented the 11 2007 VFL premiership players are that remain on the list – David Johnson, Brent Prismall, Travis Varcoe, Tom Hawkins, Tom Lonergan, Ryan Gamble, Trent West, Nathan Djerrkura, Simon Hogan, Jason Davenport and Liam Bedford.”

Byrne said he expected Chris Urie and Jack Hollmer, who were on the fringe of grand final selection last year, to command the respect of the VFL football world this season by forging reputations as consistent players.

“Because we are a younger group, I think the experience of our VFL playing group will be very important,” he said.

“Jay Cheep and Matt Firman both played in the VFL premiership last year and once again we will need them to step up.

“Jack Hollmer and Chris Urie played 10-12 games last year and are going to have to play some big roles at certain stages for us this season.”

Despite boasting an ever-expanding trophy cabinet, Byrne, who turns 30 this season, said retirement was not on the horizon yet.

“I haven’t really thought about that – at this stage the body feels really good and I am still really enjoying what I am doing,” he said.

“I think when you play with so many young and exciting players, you really don’t feel that old.

Currently sitting on 78 games, Byrne is well placed to become the first player to play 100 VFL games with the Cats.

“It is something I would love to do one day and it is something that I would consider a great honour.”