Premiership Hawk Campbell Brown believes Geelong is the team to beat this year.
Following Geelong’s dominant win over last year’s premiers Melbourne on Thursday night, Brown has declared Chris Scott’s men as the side the competition has to hunt down.
Brown has praised the progression of some of the young Cats this year, Sam De Koning and Max Holmes among those Brown believes has help elevate Geelong this year, alongside star recruit Tyson Stengle.
“They’re a pretty good side, I think they’re the side to beat now,” Brown said on SEN’s Off The Bench.
“I just think it’s a very different Geelong side from previous years.
“They made the Grand Final two years ago, they got blown away in a prelim last year, but you’ve got to remember last year they were a bit coy leading into the game because they reckon half a dozen of the players were crook.
“They’ve added (Tyson) Stengle up front, 9Sam) De Koning down back that didn’t play last year, they’ve got more games and experience into players like Brad Close and Tom Atkins in the middle, (Max) Holmes is a better player this year than he was last year, you add Tom Stewart back into the mix after his suspension – all of a sudden, they’ve got a really strong side.”
As for Melbourne, Brown believes Simon Goodwin’s men are not the side we saw obliterate the competition in 2021.
“The other thing that we don’t speak enough about is Melbourne’s last month of footy (in 2021) was just about the best month of footy I’ve ever seen anyone play last year,” Brown added.
“Max Gawn kicking five goals in a Preliminary Final as a ruckman, Bailey Fritsch kicking six in a Grand Final, they were unstoppable.
“They’re not the same side this year Melbourne for whatever reason, maybe sides are putting more time and effort into their young guys like James Jordan, Tom Sparrow and Jack Bowey who were relatively unknowns last year.”
Looking ahead, Geelong heads to the MCG for a Saturday night special against Carlton, while Melbourne will play Port Adelaide in Alice Springs on Sunday week.