AN OFF-SEASON recruiting drive has Geelong poised to be among the contenders once again but coach Chris Scott has played down the suggestion 2021 shapes as his best chance to coach the Cats to a second premiership.
Last year's grand finalists have added star goalkicker Jeremy Cameron to their squad as they look to secure their first flag since Scott's debut coaching season in 2011.
PRESSURE GAUGE How much heat is your coach under?
"We'd be overconfident if we thought that this was a better shot than what we had driving to the Gabba on October 24 last year - that's a pretty good shot," Scott said on Wednesday.
"We've got a lot of work to do to get back to that point again.
"But comparing it to previous seasons - I can't remember a season where we've gone in thinking 'if we get a lot of things right and we get a bit of luck' - I don't think there's been one where we've thought we can't contend in that scenario.
"I bore myself now - we're always trying to have one eye on the future and one eye on the now and those two things don't need to be mutually exclusive."
Cameron will make his Geelong debut against Adelaide on Saturday - along with Isaac Smith and Shaun Higgins - officially beginning his partnership with spearhead Tom Hawkins.
"We'd like to kick a good team score - I think the best forward lines in history, in the best teams have been really cohesive ones," Scott said.
"I don't know Jeremy as well but Tom's proven himself to be a very unselfish forward - even when he kicks a lot of goals in seasons, he's always high for assists as well.
"I guess if I could have my way, one would be kicking it to the other a fair bit."
Mitch Duncan (calf) won't face Adelaide but Luke Dahlhaus (groin) and Rhys Stanley (concussion) have been cleared to play.
MEDICAL ROOM The full AFL injury list
Talented winger Jordan Clark will play, while Tom Atkins' successful off-season switch to defence has him in line to face the Crows.
With Esava Ratugolea (leg) and Darcy Fort (knee) both unavailable, Josh Jenkins is in the mix to play a ruck-forward role.
