Geelong finished on top of the ladder last year before losses to Collingwood and Richmond saw them bow out of finals.
Australian football Hall of Famer Terry Wallace believes that the Cats will remain a competitive finals team, but aren’t in the premiership mix.
“Have Geelong kept their premiership window open or their finals window open?” he told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“I don’t (think the Cats are in the premiership window), I think they’re still in the final of playing finals.
“Their home ground advantage is the greatest home ground advantage in the competition and they’re more inclined to play the lesser clubs down there so I think that secures them up enough wins with a competitive list that they keep topping up and they’ll always be around the mark.
“Whether they are going to take that step (and win a flag), I’ve got my questions.”
Geelong added Jack Steven and Josh Jenkins in the trade period, but lost star midfielder Tim Kelly to West Coast.