AFL Team Profile: Geelong

2022 premiers Geelong suffered a massive fall from grace last season and will be looking to bounce in the 2024 AFL campaign.

After winning the 2022 grand final, everyone was expecting the Cats to be in the mix again.

However Chris Scott’s team had a season to forget and finished way down the ladder, missing out on finals altogether.

The aim will be to bounce back in style in 2024 and they are priced at 16.00 to go on and win the grand final.

Returning to finals has to be the first step however, and Geelong are priced at 2.00 to make the top eight.

Let’s take a look at the Cats heading into the 2024 season.

Cats suffer grand final hangover

Hopes were high heading into the 2023 AFL campaign following their grand final success in September 2022, however things did not go to plan.

Geelong managed to win just 10 of their 23 games to finish way down the ladder in 12th spot, eight points behind the top eight.

A poor start to the season set the tone as they lost the opening three games against Collingwood, Carlton and Gold Coast.

They looked to be back on track and over their grand final hangover as they won the next five games on the spin.

But that was followed by three straight defeats and the Cats seemed to be a shadow of the team that won the flag the season before.

They lost five of their last six games of the season that ended any hopes of making a late charge for the top eight.

The Cats will have been away and licked their wounds over the off-season and are sure to bounce back in some form in 2024.

A talented list remains with a premiership-winning coach, so Geelong will be looking to get back in the mix in the season ahead.

Key players

Geelong may have suffered after losing Joel Selwood following their grand final success, but there is still plenty of experience and quality in the Geelong ranks.

2024 could also see the emergence of a number of young stars who could take the Cats into the future.

Geelong will once again be lead by influential captain Patrick Dangerfield, and he could have a new buddy in midfield.

The Cats have confirmed they are considering moving premiership defender Tom Stewart into midfield as they look to shake-up the team.

The five-time All-Australian won the club’s best and fairest award after a stellar 2023, but could still make the switch to midfield.

A lot will again be expected from star forwards Jeremy Cameron and Tom Hawkins this season, along with Gary Rohan.

There are also a number of youngsters to look out for, including the first selection from last year’s draft pick, Connor O’Sullivan.

The young defender is a potential star of the future and has been impressing in pre-season.

St Kilda first-up

Geelong will get their 2024 campaign underway with home clash against St Kilda on Saturday 16th March.

The Cats are priced at 1.52 to begin with a win, while St Kilda are available at 2.55.