With superstars such as Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett on your list, you’d expect to be right in the conversation as premiership contenders.
However, after underachieving in 2018 the Cats enter 2019 with a sense of uncertainty with the acquisitions made by the sides around them and an ageing list seeing them well and truly at the crossroads.
At their best this side is a genuine force, with the star power of Dangerfield, Selwood and Ablett complemented by high excellent players such as Mark Blicavs, Tim Kelly, Mitch Duncan, Tom Hawkins and Tom Stewart.
On their day they have the capacity to beat anybody, and they showed that in 2018.
The major problem surrounding this side is their depth as they sport one of the weakest “bottom-six” groups in the competition.
With a number of players facing make-or-break seasons, 2019 will be a big season for the Cats as they look to develop their young core of Jordan Clark, Charlie Constable, Esava Ratugolea, Nakia Cockatoo and Brandan Parfitt, while also hoping to contend in the business end of the season.
So, do the Cats have enough to be a serious contender?
OUR BEST 22 - ROUND 1
NOTABLE OMISSIONS: Nakia Cockatoo (adductor), Lachie Fogarty (hip), Scott Selwood (hamstring), Zac Smith (knee), Zach Tuohy (knee)
MVP
Perhaps the best player in the competition, expect another Brownlow-quality year from star midfielder/forward Patrick Dangerfield in 2019.
Blessed with a blistering pace, incredible strength around the contest and the ability to break the lines, Dangerfield is about as complete a player as you can ask for.
The only problem Chris Scott has is that there isn’t two of him, one play to purely midfield and the other to play at full forward.
In what is a crossroads year for his side, the play of Patrick Dangerfield will be crucial for their finals aspirations, as the 2016 Brownlow medallist hopes to get his side to the last Saturday in September for the first time in his career.
Breakout
After just eight senior games, Esava Ratugolea has achieved cult figure status down in Geelong with the big Fijian's ability to jump at the ball and compete winning over the crowd at GMHBA instantly.
However, a sickening lower leg injury would cut the big man’s 2018 season short, leaving the Cats with a major hole inside their forward 50.
Now returning to the side, Ratugolea becomes a key player for Geelong’s hopes in 2019 as he supports veteran full forward Tom Hawkins in the Cats forward 50.
With nothing but positive words coming out of the Cats regarding his potential, expect a breakout year for Ratugolea has he continues to develop into a match hardened AFL player.
Under the pump
There are a number of Cats players who could potentially fall into this category leading into 2019.
However, after a relatively disappointing stint with the Sydney Swans, new recruit Gary Rohan really needs to take a step in 2019 upon his arrival back home.
At his best there is no question Rohan is a game-changer, with his incredible speed and ability to break the game open traits the Cats will be excited about introducing into their game plan.
However, the 27-year-old does have a tendency to disappear from matches, with many suggesting he doesn’t have enough in his arsenal to be a consistent contributor to a top-level team.
Now with a new opportunity, Rohan simply must show some improvement and become a livewire within the Geelong forward line.
Early Predictions...
1. Geelong will miss the finals in 2019
2. Gary Ablett will kick 35+ goals spending the majority of his time up forward
3. Jordan Clark finish in the top 3 of the Rising Star voting
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