With the news that Geelong has locked away Isaac Smith and Jeremy Cameron to go with potentially Shaun Higgins, their best 22 on paper is looking much improved, even without Gary Ablett and Harry Taylor.
Speaking on SEN, Dwayne Russell suggested the Cats will start 2021 as premiership favourites, with those three inclusions.
Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney has gone through Geelong’s best 22 line by line to work out what it might look like.
Backline
“Back pocket, Tom Stewart. You (Sammy Edmund) have retired Harry Taylor so I’ve left him out of full back, I’ve gone Mark Blicavs. Jake Kolodjashnij in the other pocket,” he told AFL Trade Radio.
“Mark O’Connor off half back, Jack Henry and Jordan Clark on the half back flank. He’s in Round 1. It’s his spot to lose.”
Midfield
“Sam Menegola is on the wing, Rhys Stanley is the ruckman, Patrick Dangerfield in the centre – I put him at half forward and he rebutted that – I’ve got Joel as a rover and Cam Guthrie. Other wing – Isaac Smith – which pushed Mitch Duncan to the half forward flank.”
Forward
“Jeremy Cameron at centre half forward, Shaun Higgins is on the other half forward flank, Luke Dahlhaus in the forward pocket, Tom Hawkins full forward and Gryan Miers in the other pocket.”
Interchange
“Zach Tuohy is the seventh defender, Brandan Parfitt, Sam Simpson and Gary Rohan.”
“It’s a really good 22. The competition for spots is there. It’s a good headache to have if you’re the Cats.”
Full team
FB: Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs, Jake Kolodjashnij
HB: Mark O’Connor, Jack Henry, Jordan Clark
C: Sam Menegola, Patrick Dangerfield, Isaac Smith
HF: Mitch Duncan, Jeremy Cameron, Shaun Higgins
FF: Luke Dahlhaus, Tom Hawkins, Gryan Miers
Fol: Rhys Stanley, Joel Selwood, Cam Guthrie
Int: Zach Tuohy, Brandan Parfitt, Sam Simpson, Gary Rohan