The Engine Room: Inside the Geelong Cats Development Squad
There’s a quiet revolution happening at Kardinia Park. While the spotlight naturally falls on the superstars—the Patrick Dangerfields, the Tom Hawkinses, and the retired-but-never-forgotten Joel Selwoods—the true lifeblood of sustained success in the AFL is often invisible to the casual fan. It’s the grind. The late nights. The extra sessions after a VFL loss. It’s the Geelong Cats development squad.
If you’ve followed the Cats for any length of time, you know the drill. Geelong doesn’t do flashy rebuilds. We don’t bottom out for three years to snag top-five draft picks. Instead, we reload. We develop. We turn raw talent into premiership-quality contributors, often years before the rest of the competition realizes what’s happening. The development squad is the engine room of that philosophy.
This guide is your deep dive into how the Geelong Cats development system works, why it’s arguably the most effective in the AFL, and what it means for the 2025 AFL Season and beyond. Whether you’re a new fan trying to understand the pathway or a seasoned supporter looking for the next big thing, this is your blueprint.
What Exactly Is the Development Squad?
Let’s clear up a common misconception first. When we talk about the "development squad," we’re not just talking about the Geelong VFL team, though that’s a critical component. The development squad is a holistic system that includes:
- Listed players not in the senior 22: Young draftees, rookie-listed players, and Category B rookies.
- VFL-listed players: Local talents, state league stars, and reclamation projects who train full-time with the AFL group.
- The coaching and high-performance team: Dedicated development coaches, strength and conditioning staff, and mentors who focus exclusively on player growth.
The Three Pillars of Development at Geelong
The Cats don’t just throw kids into the deep end and hope they swim. There’s a method to the madness. Here are the three pillars that define the Geelong approach:
- Patience with a Purpose: Unlike some clubs that rush first-year draftees into the AFL, Geelong is famous for letting players marinate. A player might spend two full seasons in the VFL system, learning the structures and building an AFL-ready body, before getting a sustained crack at the senior level. This isn’t neglect; it’s investment.
- System Over Individual: Chris Scott and his coaching staff have built a game plan that is notoriously difficult to learn. It relies on positional flexibility, defensive accountability, and precise ball movement. The development squad isn’t just about teaching a player to kick and handball—it’s about teaching them how Geelong plays. This is why players who come from other clubs often take a full season to "get it."
- Cultural Immersion: You can’t buy the Geelong culture. It’s built on the legacy of players like Joel Selwood, who set the standard for work ethic and selflessness for over a decade. Young players in the development squad are immersed in that standard from day one. They learn that you earn your place, not through talent alone, but through commitment to the team.
The Pathway: From Draft Day to Senior Debut
So, how does a raw recruit actually become a Geelong Cats AFL player? Let’s walk through the typical journey.
Step 1: The AFL Draft and Rookie Intake
Every November, the AFL Draft brings a new wave of hope to Kardinia Park. The Cats are famous for their drafting strategy: they rarely trade away future first-round picks, preferring to accumulate talent over time. But they also excel in the later rounds and the rookie draft.
Look at the history. Tom Hawkins was a father-son selection. Patrick Dangerfield came via trade, but the players around them—the Mark Blicavses, the Mitch Duncans, the Tom Stewarts—were developed internally. The draft is the starting line, not the finish line.
Step 2: The Pre-Season and VFL Foundation
Once drafted, the player enters the full-time program. For the first six months, they are essentially in a football boot camp. The focus is on:
- Physical Development: Building strength, endurance, and resilience to withstand the AFL rigors.
- Skill Refinement: Kicking on both sides, handball under pressure, overhead marking.
- Tactical Education: Learning Geelong’s zone defense, forward press, and transition patterns.
Step 3: The "Project Player" Phase
This is where the development squad truly earns its keep. The club identifies specific areas for growth in each player. For a tall forward, it might be leading patterns and goal-kicking accuracy. For a midfielder, it might be defensive running and contested ball winning.
The VFL team becomes a laboratory. Coaches will give a player specific instructions for a quarter, then review the footage, then do it again the next week. It’s repetitive, it’s boring, and it’s essential.
Step 4: The Senior Opportunity
There’s no set timeline. Some players, like a top-10 draft pick, might debut in Round 1. Others might wait two or three years. The trigger is usually a combination of form, fitness, and team need.
When the call-up comes, the player is rarely a passenger. They’ve been so thoroughly drilled in the system that they can slot in and execute their role. This is the hallmark of the Geelong Cats development model: when a young player gets his chance, he’s ready.
Why Geelong’s Model Works Better Than Most
The AFL is littered with clubs that have failed to develop talent. High draft picks fizzle out. Promising careers stall. Why is Geelong different?
Stability in the Coaching Box
Chris Scott is one of the longest-serving coaches in the AFL competition. That stability means the game plan doesn’t change dramatically every two years. A player drafted in 2022 is learning the same core principles as a player drafted in 2012. This continuity allows the development squad to build on previous work rather than starting from scratch every season.
The Kardinia Park Advantage
The Kardinia Park Redevelopment has turned GMHBA Stadium into a world-class training and playing facility. But it’s not just about the new stands and the upgraded change rooms. The redevelopment has allowed the club to house its AFL and VFL programs under one roof, literally. Young players train alongside their heroes every single day. They see how Patrick Dangerfield prepares. They watch how Tom Hawkins leads. They learn from Joel Selwood’s legacy, even in retirement.
This proximity is invaluable. You can’t put a price on a 19-year-old watching a Brownlow Medal winner do an extra set of lunges after a two-hour training session.
The "No Egos" Culture
It sounds cliché, but the Geelong Cats genuinely have a culture where the senior players invest in the younger ones. Hawkins has been known to spend 20 minutes after a VFL game talking to a 19-year-old key forward about leading patterns. Dangerfield runs midfield masterclasses for the next generation. This isn't mandated by the club; it’s simply what happens when you have selfless leaders.
Key Stories to Watch in the 2025 AFL Season
The development squad is always a source of intrigue. As we look toward the 2025 AFL Season, here are the narratives that will define the next wave.
The Next Generation of Midfielders
The Cats have been quietly stockpiling midfield talent. With the retirement of Joel Selwood, there’s a gap in leadership and grunt work in the middle. The development squad is tasked with finding the next engine room.
Keep an eye on the young midfielders who have spent 2024 building their bodies in the VFL. They will be the ones pushing for selection in 2025. The question isn’t if they will play, but when they will become consistent contributors.
The Key Position Forward Depth
Tom Hawkins is a legend, but he won’t play forever. The Cats have been developing tall forwards in the reserves for years, waiting for the moment to step up. The 2025 season will be a critical test for these players. Can they support Hawkins and eventually take the reins? The development squad holds the answer.
The VFL as a Feeder System
The Geelong VFL team isn’t just a place for AFL-listed players to get game time. It’s also a destination for mature-age talents who have been overlooked. The Cats have a history of plucking players from the VFL and turning them into AFL regulars. Watch for a state league player who has a breakout VFL season—they might just earn a spot on the senior list via the mid-season draft.
Practical Tips for Following the Development Squad
Want to track the progress of the next generation? Here’s how you can stay ahead of the curve.
1. Watch the VFL Games
This is the single best way to see who is developing. AFL games are high-pressure, and young players often play a limited role. In the VFL, you see the full repertoire. You see the decision-making, the work rate, and the raw talent. The Geelong website and the AFL app usually stream VFL games.
2. Follow the Injury Updates
Development is often derailed by injuries. A player who misses six months with a hamstring injury is six months behind. Keep an eye on the injury updates section of Geelong Cats Insider. It will tell you who is building fitness and who is on the verge of a return.
3. Read Between the Lines of Trade Rumours
Trade and draft periods tell you a lot about what the club thinks of its development squad. If the Cats are aggressively pursuing a young midfielder via trade, it might mean they lack confidence in their internal options. Conversely, if they hold their draft picks and stand pat, it signals belief in the players they already have. Check the trade rumours page for context.
4. Listen to the Coach’s Press Conferences
Chris Scott is famously guarded, but he often drops hints. When he praises a young player’s "training standards" or says they are "knocking on the door," pay attention. That’s code for "this kid is close to a debut."
The Big Picture: Why Development Wins Premierships
Let’s zoom out for a moment. Why does any of this matter? Because in the modern AFL, you cannot buy a premiership. You have to build one.
The last decade has shown that clubs who rely on free agency and trades alone eventually hit a ceiling. The salary cap forces you to pay market rates for established stars. The only way to build a deep, sustainable list is through the draft and development.
The Geelong Cats have won multiple AFL Premierships in the modern era. They’ve done it without the number one draft pick. They’ve done it without tanking. They’ve done it by having the best development squad in the business.
When you see a 22-year-old play a shutdown role in a Grand Final, or a 23-year-old kick a clutch goal in a final, remember the journey. Remember the cold Tuesday nights at Kardinia Park. Remember the VFL games with a crowd of 500 people. That’s where premierships are forged.
Conclusion: The Future Is Bright
The Geelong Cats development squad is more than a system—it’s a philosophy. It’s the belief that hard work, patience, and culture can overcome a lack of high draft picks. It’s the reason why the Cats are perennially in contention, even when pundits predict a decline.
As we head into the 2025 AFL Season, take a moment to learn the names of the players you don’t know yet. Watch the VFL highlights. Read the key stories about the next generation. Because in two or three years, those names will be starring in the AFL Finals Series, and you’ll be able to say you saw it coming.
The engine room is humming. The development squad is doing its job. And the Geelong Cats are, as always, building for the next flag.
Want to stay ahead of the curve? Bookmark the key stories hub for the latest on player development, draft analysis, and exclusive interviews with the next generation of Cats.
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