Fantasy Footy Tips for Cats Players

So you’re diving into AFL fantasy footy, and you’ve got your eyes on the Geelong Cats. Smart move. The Cats have been one of the most consistent teams in the Australian Football League for over a decade, and their players often deliver reliable fantasy scores—if you know who to pick and when.

Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy coach or just getting started with the game, this guide is your playbook for selecting Geelong players in your fantasy team. We’ll cover the superstars, the value picks, the rookies to watch, and the strategies that separate the top of the ladder from the rest. Let’s get into it.

Why the Cats Are a Fantasy Goldmine

Before we dive into specific players, let’s talk about why Geelong is such a fertile ground for fantasy points. The Cats have built a culture of sustained success under Chris Scott, and that translates into consistent game time, clear roles, and high-scoring potential for their stars.

Key reasons to target Cats players:

Consistent game plans: Geelong’s system is built around high-possession football, which means plenty of touches for midfielders and half-backs.
Veteran reliability: Players like Joel Selwood (even in his final seasons) and Tom Hawkins have been fantasy staples for years because they rarely miss games and produce week in, week out.
Emerging talent: The Cats have nailed recent AFL Drafts, bringing in young guns who are ready to contribute immediately.
Home ground advantage: Kardinia Park (also known as GMHBA Stadium) is a slightly smaller ground, which can lead to higher possession counts and more scoring opportunities for Cats players.

If you’re building your fantasy squad, having a core of Geelong players is like having a reliable engine room. They won’t always be the flashiest picks, but they’ll get the job done.

The Elite Tier: Fantasy Superstars You Can’t Ignore

Every fantasy team needs its pillars. These are the Geelong Cats players who command high prices but deliver elite returns. If you can fit them into your salary cap, they’re worth every dollar.

Patrick Dangerfield: The Midfield Maestro

Patrick Dangerfield is the definition of a fantasy premium. Even as he enters the later stages of his career, Dangerfield remains one of the most damaging midfielders in the AFL competition. His ability to win contested possessions, break tackles, and push forward for goals makes him a dual-threat fantasy asset.

Why he’s a must-have:

Averaging 95-110 fantasy points per game in recent seasons
Strong tackle numbers (averages 4-5 per game)
Can go huge on any given day (watch for games at Kardinia Park)
Leadership role means he’s almost never subbed off or managed

The catch: Dangerfield is expensive—usually among the top 5 most costly players in the game. You’ll need to build your team around him, but if you do, he’s a captaincy candidate every week.

Tom Hawkins: The Key Forward Who Keeps Giving

Tom Hawkins, or “Tomahawk” as fans call him, is a unique fantasy asset. Key forwards are often inconsistent in fantasy footy because they rely on goals and marks inside 50. But Hawkins is different. He’s a monster in contested marking, he takes kick-ins (bonus points!), and he’s the Cats’ primary target going forward.

Fantasy stats to know:

Averages 85-95 fantasy points per game
Elite mark numbers (6-8 marks per game, many contested)
Goal-kicking reliability (50+ goals most seasons)
Takes kick-ins, which adds 3-5 points per game

Pro tip: Hawkins is a great “set and forget” forward. You don’t need to trade him unless he gets injured. He’s that consistent.

Joel Selwood: The Legend (Even in Retirement)

While Joel Selwood has retired from the AFL, his legacy lives on in fantasy footy history. If you’re playing a historical fantasy league or a draft mode, Selwood was a top-tier pick for over a decade. His combination of contested possessions, clearances, and tackles made him a fantasy machine.

What we learned from Selwood’s fantasy dominance:

Tough, inside midfielders are undervalued in many fantasy formats
Leadership and consistency matter more than flashy highlights
Don’t overlook older players who still have high ceilings

If you’re new to fantasy footy, studying Selwood’s career can teach you what to look for in a midfielder: durability, role clarity, and a high floor.

Value Picks: Mid-Range Cats Who Punch Above Their Weight

Not everyone can afford the superstars. That’s where value picks come in—players who are priced below their expected output. These Geelong Cats can give you premium points without breaking the bank.

The Midfield Rotators

Geelong’s midfield depth is legendary. While Dangerfield gets the headlines, players like Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan have been fantasy staples for years.

Cam Guthrie:

Averaged 100+ fantasy points in his Brownlow Medal year (2021)
Consistent 85-95 point player since then
Takes kick-ins and is involved in stoppages
Priced as a mid-pricer, but delivers like a premium

Mitch Duncan:

The ultimate “under the radar” fantasy star
Averages 90-100 points when fit
Elite disposal efficiency (bonus points in some formats)
Plays a mix of midfield and half-back, which means plenty of ball

Why these two are gold: They’re not the flashiest names, but they play every game and rarely have stinkers. In fantasy footy, consistency is king.

The Defensive Gem: Tom Stewart

If you’re looking for a defender who can score like a midfielder, Tom Stewart is your man. He’s a dual All-Australian and the Cats’ quarterback off half-back.

Stewart’s fantasy profile:

Averages 95-110 fantasy points per game
Elite intercept mark numbers
Takes kick-ins and distributes by foot
Rarely gets beaten one-on-one, so his scoring floor is high

The catch: Stewart is priced as a premium defender. But if you compare his scoring to midfielders, he’s actually great value. Plus, defenders are harder to find than midfielders, so locking in a top-tier option like Stewart is a smart strategy.

Rookies and Breakout Candidates: The Future of Geelong Fantasy

Every fantasy season, the winners are the coaches who find the undervalued rookies and breakout players before everyone else. The 2025 AFL Season is no different, and the Cats have some exciting young talent that could be fantasy gold.

The Next Generation

Geelong’s recent success in the AFL Draft has brought in players who are ready to contribute immediately. Keep an eye on these names:

Jack Bowes (if fit):

A former Gold Coast player who came to Geelong via trade
Can play midfield or half-back
Has shown flashes of 90+ point fantasy scores
Priced as a bargain if he gets a consistent role

Tanner Bruhn:

A young midfielder with elite ball-winning ability
Averaged 70-80 fantasy points in his first season at the Cats
Expected to take on more midfield minutes in 2025
Could be a breakout candidate if he pushes into the top 22

Ollie Dempsey:

A raw but athletic forward/midfielder
Showed promise in Geelong VFL before breaking into the AFL side
High upside but inconsistent scoring
One to watch for the second half of the season

Rookie tip: Don’t jump on rookies too early. Wait until they’ve played 2-3 games and shown they can hold their spot in the 22. The Cats are a deep team, so some young players might get dropped after one poor game.

Strategic Tips for Picking Cats Players

Now that you know the players, let’s talk strategy. How do you maximize your points from Geelong Cats in fantasy footy?

1. Target Home Games at Kardinia Park

The Kardinia Park Redevelopment has made GMHBA Stadium a fortress for the Cats. The ground is slightly smaller than the MCG or Marvel Stadium, which often leads to higher scoring games. Geelong players average more disposals, marks, and goals at home.

Strategy: Look at the fixture and load up on Cats players when they have a run of home games. You can often get a 3-4 week stretch where your Geelong players score 10-15% higher than their season average.

2. Watch the Bye Rounds

The AFL Finals Series isn’t the only thing to plan for. During the regular season, every team has bye rounds where they don’t play. The Cats typically have their bye in the middle of the season (around Round 12-14).

Strategy: Don’t have too many Cats players in your team during their bye week. You’ll have gaps in your lineup. Instead, trade a couple out before the bye and bring them back after.

3. Follow the VFL Form

The Geelong VFL team is a great indicator of who’s pushing for AFL selection. If a young player is dominating at VFL level (think 30+ disposals or 3+ goals), they’re likely to get a call-up soon.

Strategy: Check the VFL results each week. If a Cat is tearing it up in the reserves, they could be a great cheap addition to your fantasy team before their price rises.

4. Don’t Overlook the Captaincy

If you have Patrick Dangerfield or Tom Stewart in your team, consider making them your captain in weeks where the Cats are playing a weak opponent at Kardinia Park. A double-score from Dangerfield’s 120-point game is worth 240 points—that’s a game-changer.

Captaincy rules of thumb:

Pick a midfielder (they have the highest scoring ceiling)
Target teams with weak midfield defenses
Home games are better than away games
Check the weather—rain can hurt scoring

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced fantasy coaches make errors when picking Geelong players. Here are the traps to avoid:

Mistake 1: Chasing Last Week’s Score

Just because Tom Hawkins kicked 6 goals last week doesn’t mean he’ll do it again. Fantasy footy is about consistency, not one-off explosions. Look at season averages, not single-game heroics.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Injury History

Patrick Dangerfield has missed games in recent seasons due to soft tissue injuries. Mitch Duncan has had his share of niggles too. Don’t spend your entire salary cap on injury-prone players, even if they’re superstars.

Mistake 3: Forgetting About the Bye

We mentioned this above, but it’s worth repeating. The 2025 AFL Season has bye rounds. If you have 5 Cats players and they all have the same bye, you’ll have to field a team of rookies that week. Plan ahead.

Mistake 4: Overvaluing Rookies

It’s exciting to pick a young Cat like Tanner Bruhn and watch him score 100 points. But rookies are inconsistent. Don’t rely on them as your core players. Use them as cash cows—buy them cheap, watch their price rise, then trade them for a premium.

Building Your Fantasy Team Around the Cats

Here’s a sample approach to building a fantasy team with a Geelong focus:

Step 1: Lock in your premiums

Patrick Dangerfield (midfield)
Tom Stewart (defense)
Tom Hawkins (forward)

These three will cost you about 40% of your salary cap, but they’ll give you 300+ points per week combined.

Step 2: Add value mids

Cam Guthrie or Mitch Duncan
Priced as mid-range, but deliver premium scores

Step 3: Find your rookies

Tanner Bruhn (if he’s playing)
Jack Bowes (if he’s fit and in the 22)
One or two cheap players from the AFL Draft class

Step 4: Balance your byes

Don’t have more than 3 Cats players in your starting team
Trade them in and out based on the fixture

Step 5: Monitor the AFL Finals Series
If you’re in a league that runs through the finals, Geelong is usually a contender. Their players tend to score well in big games because they’re experienced and composed under pressure.

Final Thoughts: Your Geelong Fantasy Edge

Fantasy footy is a game of knowledge, timing, and a little bit of luck. By focusing on the Geelong Cats, you’re backing a team with a proven track record of success, consistency, and fantasy-friendly game styles.

Remember these key takeaways:

Dangerfield, Hawkins, and Stewart are your premium targets

Guthrie and Duncan are value picks who deliver like stars

Rookies like Bruhn and Bowes could be cash cows if they break into the 22

Home games at Kardinia Park boost scoring by 10-15%

Plan for byes and don’t chase last week’s scores

If you’re just getting started with fantasy footy, check out our getting started guide for the basics. Want to understand the history of Geelong’s dominance? Read our club milestones timeline. And if you’re new to the AFL altogether, our how to follow AFL guide will get you up to speed.

Now get out there, build your team, and watch those Geelong Cats points roll in. The 2025 AFL Season** is going to be a big one—make sure your fantasy team is ready.

Go Cats!

Fantasy Footy Tips for Cats Players