CATS SHARPEN CLAWS FOR BACK-TO-BACK TILT
CAN THEY CLIMB THE MOUNTAIN AGAIN?
GEELONG was head and shoulders the best team in the competition last year, pulverising Sydney in the premiership decider. The Cats have lost Joel Selwood but gained plenty of ace young talent in an outstanding trade period. Back-to-back premierships is an almighty feat but Hawthorn and Richmond have both pulled it off in the past decade and the hungry Cats are just as well-placed in 2023.
WHERE DOES HENRY PLAY?
NOT dissimilar to Sam Darcy at Western Bulldogs, Ollie Henry has spent parts of the summer playing half-back. But injuries to Jack Henry (foot) and Shannon Neale (ankle) in preseason have meant Henry is set to be swung into attack to help cover Tom Hawkins’s (foot) absence early. Henry has excelled on the track over pre-season and will show he has star aerial powers in his third season.
SCOTT’S NEXT TWEAK?
IT WAS one of the stories of last season: how the Cats tracked-up their offensive system to jump well clear of the competition. Previously, they had a strong defensive bias. Now that rival teams will play copycat to try to leapfrog the Cats, expect Chris Scott to have a plan to stop rivals’ similar-style offensive onslaught.
WHAT IS THE RUCK PLAN?
RHYS Stanley has defied his critics, leading the Cats to a premiership from the ruck. But the Cats also have Jonathon Ceglar who looks finally ready to help in the ruck after an injurymarred first season in blue and white. If Ceglar can stay on the park, it means Stanley may have more scope to go forward as a ruck pairing. The other option is to play Esava Ratugolea as a key defender, swapping into the ruck, after blocking his trade request to Port Adelaide. The Cats will have to be ready for Melbourne’s new-look superstar ruck pair.