AFL 2022 SEASON
24JED BEWS
Position: Defender Games: 128
Debut: 2014
Goals: 15
Honours: Top 10 Geelong b & f 2021
A lock down defender that has the ability to break lines at the right moments and even kick the odd goal running over 50.
An important cog in Geelong’s defensive setup that has been so strong for a long period.
25 FLYNN KROEGER
Position: Defender Games: 0
Debut: Not yet
Goals: 0
Honours: No. 48 pick 2021 AFL Draft
A big-bodied midfielder from NAB League club Eastern Ranges, Kroeger impressed the Cats recruiters last year with his footy smarts and efficiency with ball in hand.
26 TOM HAWKINS Position:
Forward
Games: 302
Debut: 2007
Goals: 665
Honours: 2 x time premiership player, 2020 Coleman Medal, 2012 Carji Greeves Medal, 4 x All Australian, 10 x Geelong leading goalkicker
Ageing like a fine wine, Hawkins seems to get better and better each year into his 30s.
With a fit and firing Cameron, Geelong fans may get to see a full season of the duo in action.
27 SAM MENEGOLA
Position: Midfielder Games: 109
Debut: 2016
Goals: 76
Honours: All Australian squad of 40 in 2020
Another strong campaign in 2021 following on from an All Australian squad of 40 selection in 2021.
Pre-season injury not ideal, but should slot back in seamlessly when healthy.
28 OLIVER DEMPSEY
Position: Forward
Games: 0
Debut: Not yet
Goals: 0
Honours: No. 15 pick 2021 AFL Rookie Draft
Plucked from obscurity in the rookie draft, Dempsey is a rangy, high flyer capable of standing on defender’s heads.
Athletic enough to be moved around from the forward-line to the wing.
29 CAMERON GUTHRIE
Position: Midfielder Games: 205
Debut: 2011
Goals: 63
Honours: 2020 Carji Greeves Medal, 2020 All Australian
Back-to-back top-five finishes in Geelong’s best and fairest, including a win in 2020.
Gets plenty of the footy and is a clean ball user by hand and foot.
Set for another strong year in the midfield.
30 TOM ATKINS
Position: Defender Games: 57
Debut: 2019
Goals: 9
Honours: Geelong VFL b & f 2018
One of the toughest players on Geelong’s list that has made an immediate impact since making his debut in 2019.
Can play as a lockdown defender but can go in the midfield if need be.
31 FRANCIS EVANS
Position: Forward
Games: 2
Debut: 2021
Goals: 2
Honours: No. 41 pick 2019 AFL Draft
Capable goalkicking small forward, Evans kicked two goals in his two matches in his debut season.
Has speed and can take a mark overhead and will have designs on locking down a spot in a crowded forward line.
32
GRYAN MIERS Position: Forward Games: 61
Debut: 2019
Goals: 59
Honours: Rising Star nominee 2019, 22under22 team 2020
Like Brad Close, Miers has quickly become an important part of Geelong’s structure forward of the ball.
Gets right up the ground and knows where the goals are with his unorthodox kicking style.
33 SHANNON NEALE Position: Ruck Games: 0 Debut: Not yet Goals: 0 Honours: No. 33 pick 2020 AFL Draft
West Australian ruckman played some spot minutes in the AAMI Community Series but appears down the pecking order.
Has shown glimpses of his pack-marking capabilities in the VFL.
35
PATRICK DANGERFIELD Position: Midfielder Games: 285
Debut: 2008
Goals: 308
Honours: 2016 Brownlow Medal, 2016 AFLPA MVP,
3 x Carji Greeves medallist, Adelaide b & f 2015, 8 x All Australian,
Evident by his list of accolades, there’s not much more Dangerfield can achieve in the game, but a premiership medal would be nice.
36 PAUL TSAPATOLIS
Position: Ruck
Games: 0
Debut: Not yet
Goals: 0
Honours: Category B rookie, Australian basketball representative
Former basketballer was always going to be a long-term project as an athletic ruckman.
The rookie spent the majority of 2021 playing NAB League and will this year step up to regular VFL minutes.
37
SAM SIMPSON Position: Forward Games: 19
Debut: 2017
Goals: 7
Honours: No. 53 pick 2016 AFL Rookie Draft selection as a father-son choice
Became a regular member of the side during Geelong’s 2020 grand final run.
Injuries have hampered him since, but if he can get back on the park, he could contribute strongly.
38 JACK HENRY
Position: Defender Games: 90
Debut: 2018
Goals: 16
Honours: Runner-up Carji Greeves Medal 2021
Topped-off his best season to date last year with a runner-up in the Carji Greeves Medal. A foot injury has hampered the young defender this pre-season but once he returns he’ll play an important role down back.
39 ZACH GUTHRIE
Position: Defender Games: 33
Debut: 2017
Goals: 2
Honours: No. 33 pick 2017 AFL Rookie Draft
In and out of the side since his debut 2017 season but looms as a potential lock in the side early in the season. Impressed with 25 disposals in the AAMI Community Series against the Gold Coast and picked up seven intercept possessions.
40 LUKE DAHLHAUS
Position: Forward Games: 215
Debut: 2011
Goals: 138
Honours: Western Bulldogs premiership player 2016, Rising Star nominee 2011
Fell out of favour at the pointy end of last season but has proven his ability to contribute strongly in multiple roles over a long career. Should bounce back well.
42 MARK O’CONNOR
Position: Midfielder Games: 65
Debut: 2017
Goals: 4
Honours: Top 10 Geelong b & f 2020
A slightly delayed pre-season due to a knee injury but should cement his spot back in Geelong’s line-up.
Proved he can stop some of the game’s best midfielders, a handy option for Chris Scott to have up his sleeve.
44 TOM STEWART Position: Defender Games: 106
Debut: 2017
Goals: 3
Honours: 2021 Carji Greeves Medal, 3 x All Australian, 2018 AFLCA Young Player Award
Claimed his first Carji Greeves Medal last year and shows no signs of slowing down.
Takes intercept marks for fun but may find himself with some extra attention from the opposition come this season.
45 BRAD CLOSE
Position: Forward Games: 30
Debut: 2020
Goals: 17
Honours: Geelong Best Young Player Award 2020
Cemented his spot in Geelong’s senior side last season as a pressure-focused small forward.
Along with Gary Rohan and Gryan Miers, will play an important role at the feet of Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
46 MARK BLICAVS
Position: Defender Games: 203 Debut: 2013
Goals: 44 Honours: 2 x Carji Greeves medallist
An important part of Geelong’s structure whether he’s in defence, on the wing or pinch-hitting in the ruck.
Has played over 20 games every season of his career.