SEN host Andy Maher has been impressed by Geelong’s rebuild on the run.
The Cats won the 2022 premiership with 12 players over the age of 29 and many expected them to fall off a cliff shortly after due to that age demographic.
While Chris Scott’s side fell down the ladder to finish 12th in 2023, they’ve started 2024 brilliantly to sit fifth with a 4-0 record.
The Cats had just seven players over the age of 29 in Saturday’s win over the Western Bulldogs and Maher picked out nine players aged 25 and under that he already considers big contributors.
“Geelong's regeneration on the run matters,” Maher said on SEN The Run Home.
“(Gryan) Miers is 25, (Max) Holmes is 21, (Brandan) Parfitt is 25, Ollie Dempsey is 21, (Tanner) Bruhn is 21, Ollie Henry is 21, (Sam) De Koning is 23 and Jhye Clark is 19.
“We've all been waiting for Geelong to hit the cliff and tumble off it. ‘Old, old, old, old, old, old, old’, that’s all we’ve heard about Geelong.
“Well, there's a whole lot of blokes who are playing pivotal football for Geelong right now and they're not old.
“Zach Guthrie is 25, he’s about to approach the peak of his powers.”
Maher believes that Geelong have gone about a mini-rebuild without revealing their plans publicly.
He also expects some current young Cats to be a crucial part of their next very good side as well as contributing heavily to become a potential contender in 2024.
“They have done this surreptitiously and effectively,” Maher said.
“All of these blokes will be an integral part of the next generation of a very good Geelong team – Miers, Holmes, Guthrie, Parfitt, Dempsey, Bruhn, Henry, Clark.
“They've got the kid who played last week, Toby Conway, the ruckman.
“This is a football club. Everything about the Geelong Football Club is worthy of respect.
“It’s amazing.”
Geelong have added the likes of Henry, Bruhn, Clark, Oisin Mullin as well as first-round pick Connor O’Sullivan since their 2022 flag victory.
The Cats will hope to go 5-0 when they face North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
