Geelong are intent on bouncing back in 2024 after a disappointing premiership defence in 2023.
In order to do that, they’re going to need some youngsters to step up and help carry the load.
One of the more highly-rated Cats who is trending towards doing that is promising midfielder Jhye Clark.
The No.8 pick from the 2022 draft played just one AFL game last year after sustaining a navicular stress fracture in his foot.
However, he is in now training strongly and “hasn’t missed a beat” ahead of the 2024 season, according to teammate Jeremy Cameron.
“He’s had a really strong pre-season,” Cameron said on SEN’s Sportsday.
“He’s performing really well in the match sim. He hasn’t missed a beat.
“He’s sort of been forgotten about a little bit at times on the outside, but on the inside we know what he can do.
“It’s just (been) a matter of getting that foot right. Now it is, he’s really enjoying his time through the midfield. I’m looking forward to seeing a lot more of him this year.”
Cameron, as a forward, is particularly excited to get on the end of Clark’s handy work as both an inside and outside midfielder.
“He’s a bit of combination, I would say. He definitely wins his own ball and then he bursts away,” the 2022 premiership Cat added.
“He takes on the tackler and that’s what excites me as a forward, is guys that can grab the ball and really take on the tackler, gets their arms free and either release to someone on the outside or find a target themselves. He does a lot of that.
“It’s exciting as it breaks the game open and I’m looking forward to having him send it our way.”
Clark debuted for Geelong in Round 9 against Richmond, coming on as a late sub and picking up six disposals and laying five tackles.
Another young mid who could have an impact for the Cats at the elite level is George Stevens.
The 18-year-old was selected with Pick 58 in last year’s draft and arrived at the club with a formidable frame for such a youngster.
Stevens has been described as a “bull” by teammate Mark Blicavs who has loved what he has seen of the Warrnambool native during the Cats’ community camp in the south-west Victorian town.
“He’s been amazing,” Blicavs told SEN’s The Run Home of Stevens.
“He’s a big boy. He got to the club and he’s about 101kg an 189cm, so he’s an absolute bull, Ollie Wines (type of) specimen.
“He’s got a really good head on his solders. He trained with us this time last year when we were down for the Warrnambool community camp.
“He’s one that we’ve had our eyes on from early on. He’s a great kid and he’s settled in. I think he’s really enjoyed the last couple of days showing off his home town.”
Joining Stevens at the Cats this pre-season is Ollie Wiltshire who was a speculative pick out of Barwon Heads late in the 2023 draft.
Blicavs believes the 21-year-old country forward possesses “X-factor” and looms as a bolter to potentially play senior footy in 2024.
“He’s awesome,” Blicavs said of Wiltshire.
“He’s a great character and he’s going to be great. I’m looking forward to seeing him actually play against some other opposition.
“He’s got a bit of X-factor. He looks like a really good country footy player and knows where the goals are.
“It’s exciting. We’ll wait and see if this is another one who the recruiting team have absolutely pulled out of the bag.
“He’s excited to start playing games for the club and see how he can go.”
Also pushing for early-season selection is former Hawk Emerson Jeka.
He joined the Cats via the Rookie Draft and after seven AFL matches in brown and gold is intent on donning the blue and white hoops at senior level.
“He’s healthy, he’s had a great pre-season,” said Blicavs of the 22-year-old.
“He’s a good fella and he’s really silky-skilled with his feet and the way he uses the ball.
“The next month is really going to shape how we go into Round 1 and that starts with a scratch match with Carlton and then Essendon.
“He couldn’t have done any more in this pre-season to put his hand up to play.”
As alluded to by Blicavs, the Cats meet the Blues in a practice match at Ikon Park on February 22 before they meet the Bombers at GMHBA Stadium on March 1.
They kick off the season proper against St Kilda at home in Round 1 on March 16.
