GEELONG'S emerging midfielders are poised to go to another level in 2015 according to Cats' skipper Joel Selwood.

That's the hope anyway, because the future performances of Mitch Duncan, 23, Josh Caddy, 22, Cam Guthrie, 22, George Horlin-Smith, 22, and Steve Motlop, 23, will play a large part in the club's chances of once again finishing top four, something Geelong has managed in every season bar one since 2007.

The Cats' champion has no doubt the emerging group is on the right track.

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"They're not so young anymore," Selwood said. "They have been here five or six seasons and they are ready to go."

The Cats have only four players aged 25-29 (including Selwood who is only 26) so are reliant on the improvement of their youngsters plus continued resilience from their champion veterans to once again contend.

Selwood said the heat was on everyone to continue to improve as the club enters 2015 after consecutive seasons that have ended with preliminary final losses.

"They know they want to grow. They want to make this club better and it's up to them," Selwood said.

"It's up to those older players to get better again too."

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The query over the club's midfield depth came after statistics showed the team's inside 50 differential advantage dropped off in the latter part of the season, as did their ability to win contested football for four quarters.

The Cats also lost Allen Christensen to the Brisbane Lions during the trade period but they have two first round draft picks – Darcy Lang and Nakia Cockatoo – who might force their way into the team, while Brad Hartman, Jackson Thurlow and Lincoln McCarthy have also shown promise.

If Daniel Menzel also returns from his litany of knee injuries, then the Cats' stocks would be promising.

Selwood said the midfield group needed to spend more time together to become a dynamic, co-ordinated outfit.  

Caddy was missing with injury between rounds five and 13 in 2014, while Motlop played just one game before round nine last season.

Selwood also said the club would not rush midfielder Thurlow, who is making a good recovery from a lacerated kidney suffered pre-season.

However the skipper said he expected the 20-year-old to return in good shape.

"We hope he can come back and have a big impact for us this year," Selwood said.