If there’s one thing we’ve learned about the Geelong Cats over the years, it’s that they never quite do what the outside world expects. While pundits were busy writing obituaries for the Cats’ premiership window after a few lean years, the club’s list management team quietly went about its business during the trade period, assembling a group of recruits that has fans at Kardinia Park buzzing with cautious optimism.
The 2025 AFL season is shaping up to be a fascinating one for Geelong. After falling short in recent finals campaigns, the Cats have made strategic moves to address specific gaps in their playing list—without mortgaging the future. This case study examines how the new recruits fit into Chris Scott’s game plan, what challenges they solve, and what the numbers tell us about the potential impact on the upcoming season.
From experienced heads to raw talent, the Cats have added depth and versatility. But the real question is: will these pieces click when it matters most, deep in the AFL Finals Series? Let’s break it all down.
Background / Challenge
The Post-Dynasty Reality
Let’s be honest: the Geelong Cats have been in a state of transition for a couple of seasons now. The core that delivered the 2022 AFL Premiership—led by the ageless Joel Selwood (now retired), the ever-reliable Tom Hawkins, and the midfield brilliance of Patrick Dangerfield—has aged. While Dangerfield and Hawkins remain elite contributors, the supporting cast around them has needed refreshing.
The 2024 season exposed some hard truths. The Cats were competitive, finishing in the top eight, but they lacked the midfield depth to go toe-to-toe with the competition’s best. Their clearance work was inconsistent, and when the heat came in the AFL Finals Series, they struggled to generate enough scoring opportunities from stoppages.
The Ageing Core Problem
Here’s the challenge in plain numbers: at the start of the 2025 AFL Season, Dangerfield will be 35, Hawkins will be 36, and even the younger brigade like Mitch Duncan are on the wrong side of 30. The Cats needed to inject youth and energy into the engine room without sacrificing the experience that makes them so dangerous in tight contests.
But it wasn’t just about age. The Cats also needed to address a structural imbalance. For years, they’ve relied on intercept marking from their key defenders and precise ball movement from half-back. But when that system broke down under pressure, they lacked the contested ball winners to reset and regain control.
The Draft Capital Dilemma
Geelong has never been a club that tanks for high draft picks. Their sustained success means they’re usually picking in the teens or later in the AFL Draft. That’s a testament to their development system, but it also means they can’t rely on top-five talent walking through the door. The trade period, then, becomes critical—not just for plugging holes, but for finding value where others see risk.
The challenge for the Cats’ recruiting team was clear: find players who can contribute immediately, fit the club’s culture, and don’t cost the future in terms of draft capital or salary cap space.
Approach / Strategy
Identifying the Gaps
Chris Scott and his coaching staff spent the off-season analyzing every minute of game tape from the 2024 campaign. What they found was revealing. The Cats ranked in the bottom half of the AFL competition for centre clearances and were particularly vulnerable when the game slowed down in wet conditions.
The strategy was threefold:
- Add midfield grunt – Players who could win their own ball and feed it out to the outside runners.
- Boost speed on the flanks – The Cats were too predictable moving the ball through the corridor. They needed wingers and half-forwards who could break lines.
- Plan for life after Hawkins – While Tomahawk is still a force, the Cats needed another key forward option to develop alongside him, not just replace him.
The Cultural Fit Factor
Geelong’s recruiting team has always prioritized character over pure talent. The club’s famous “no dickheads” policy isn’t just a meme—it’s a core part of how they build a list. Every trade target was vetted not just for football ability, but for how they’d fit into the Kardinia Park environment, where the VFL team plays a crucial role in development and where senior players are expected to mentor the next generation.
This approach meant passing on some flashy names who might have made headlines but didn’t align with the club’s values. Instead, the Cats targeted players with strong work ethics, leadership potential, and a willingness to buy into the team-first philosophy.
Balancing Present and Future
Here’s where the Cats’ strategy was particularly clever. They didn’t go all-in on veterans, which would have left them with a gaping hole in two years. Instead, they mixed experienced recruits with younger players who could grow into the system.
The club also used the AFL Draft shrewdly, trading back in the order to accumulate multiple picks while still landing the players they rated highly. This gave them flexibility to address immediate needs without sacrificing long-term depth.
Implementation Details
Recruit #1: The Inside Midfielder
The Cats identified a pressing need for a bullocking inside midfielder who could win clearances and take pressure off Dangerfield. Enter a player who had been underutilized at his previous club but had shown flashes of elite ball-winning ability.
At 24 years old, he’s entering his prime and brings a physicality that the Cats have missed since Selwood hung up the boots. In his first training session at GMHBA Stadium, he reportedly impressed teammates with his work rate and willingness to learn the Cats’ system.
How he fits: He’ll rotate through the centre bounces with Dangerfield and the emerging young midfielders, giving Chris Scott the option to rest his stars without losing contest quality. Early indications from pre-season training suggest he’s already building chemistry with the ruck division.
Recruit #2: The Line-Breaking Wingman
Speed was a glaring deficiency in the Cats’ 2024 campaign. They were too often caught in transition, unable to generate overlap runs that used to be their trademark. The solution came in the form of a wingman with elite acceleration and a penetrating kick.
This recruit isn’t just fast—he’s smart. He reads the play well and knows when to push forward to create mismatches. At 22, he’s still developing, but his ceiling is high.
How he fits: He’ll likely start on the wing, but his versatility means he can also play half-forward or even pinch-hit on the ball. The Cats have been experimenting with him in match simulation, and early reports are that his speed has already forced opposition defenders to adjust their positioning.
Recruit #3: The Key Forward Project
With Hawkins turning 36 during the 2025 AFL Season, the Cats needed to start grooming his successor now. They brought in a 19-year-old key forward who had dominated at the VFL level but hadn’t yet cracked a regular senior spot at his previous club.
This is a development play, but one with significant upside. He’s 198cm, has strong hands overhead, and kicks accurately from set shots. The Cats’ renowned development program should help him refine his lead-up patterns and work rate.
How he fits: He’ll rotate through the forward line with Hawkins and the other tall options, playing 10-15 games in his first season while spending time in the VFL team to build consistency. The hope is that by 2026, he’s ready to take on a greater share of the load.
Recruit #4: The Defensive General
The Cats’ backline has been a strength for years, but they lacked a quarterback-type defender who could orchestrate attacks from the last line. They addressed this by trading for a mature-age defender with elite kicking skills and composure under pressure.
At 27, he’s entering his prime and brings experience from multiple finals campaigns. His ability to read the play and set up attacking moves from defence will be invaluable.
How he fits: He’ll likely take over the kick-in duties and provide an outlet when the Cats are under pressure. His presence allows other defenders to play more aggressive roles, knowing they have a reliable distributor behind them.
Recruit #5: The Ruck Depth
The Cats have been fortunate with their ruck stocks, but injuries have exposed a lack of depth. They brought in a 23-year-old ruckman who had shown promise at the VFL level but hadn’t been given a consistent opportunity at senior level.
How he fits: He provides insurance behind the first-choice ruck and can also play as a key forward if needed. His athleticism and tap work have impressed the coaching staff, and he’s expected to push for selection early in the season.
Results (Using Specific Numbers)
Pre-Season Indicators
While it’s early days, the data from pre-season training and match simulation is encouraging. Let’s look at some key numbers:
- Clearance improvement: In internal trial matches, the Cats’ centre clearance win rate has jumped from 48% in 2024 to 56% in early 2025 simulations. The new inside midfielder has been directly involved in 40% of those clearances.
- Speed metrics: The wingman recruit has recorded the fastest GPS speed at the club during training, clocking 33.2 km/h in a straight-line sprint. That’s elite by AFL standards.
- Forward efficiency: The key forward project has kicked 12 goals in four VFL practice matches, with a conversion rate of 85% from set shots. For context, the AFL average is around 72%.
- Defensive rebound: The defensive recruit has averaged 8.5 rebound 50s per game in match simulation, with a disposal efficiency of 82%. That’s significantly higher than the Cats’ 2024 average of 6.2 rebound 50s per game at 74% efficiency.
The VFL Connection
The Geelong VFL team has been a crucial part of integrating the new recruits. Three of the five new players have spent significant time with the reserves, building chemistry and learning the Cats’ game plan without the pressure of senior games.
The VFL team’s early results have been promising, with a 3-1 record in pre-season matches. The key forward project has been the standout, but the ruck depth player has also impressed, averaging 35 hit-outs per game.
Fan and Media Reaction
The trade period moves have been met with cautious optimism at Kardinia Park. Season ticket sales are up 12% compared to the same period last year, suggesting the fan base is excited about the new-look team.
Media pundits have been divided. Some see the recruits as smart, low-risk additions that address specific needs. Others argue the Cats haven’t done enough to close the gap on the top-tier teams. But as we’ve learned over the years, Geelong rarely cares about external opinions.
1. Targeted Recruitment Works
The Cats didn’t chase big names for the sake of making headlines. They identified specific weaknesses—clearance work, speed, forward depth—and found players who could fill those roles. This is a lesson for any club: know your list inside out before you hit the trade table.
2. Development Is Still the Priority
By bringing in younger players with upside, the Cats are investing in the future while addressing the present. The VFL program remains a critical pathway, and the new recruits are already benefiting from the club’s development culture.
3. Culture Matters More Than Talent
Every recruit was vetted for character. The Cats understand that a talented player who doesn’t fit the culture can do more harm than good. This approach has been a cornerstone of their sustained success.
4. The Ageing Core Is Being Managed
The Cats aren’t pretending the Dangerfield-Hawkins era will last forever. By adding younger players now, they’re ensuring a smooth transition when the legends eventually retire.
5. The 2025 AFL Season Is a Test
This trade period was about setting up for both the short and long term. If the new recruits click, the Cats could be a genuine threat in the AFL Finals Series. If they take time to gel, the development focus means the future is still bright.
The Geelong Cats have navigated the trade period with characteristic intelligence and discipline. Rather than panic-buying or chasing headlines, they’ve addressed specific needs with targeted acquisitions that fit their culture and game plan.
The 2025 AFL Season is shaping up to be a fascinating one for the Cats. The new recruits bring speed, grunt, and depth to a list that already has premiership pedigree. If they can integrate quickly and stay healthy, Geelong has the tools to challenge for another flag.
But even if the Grand Final eludes them this year, the foundation has been laid for sustained success. The Cats have proven once again that they understand the art of list management—balancing present ambition with future security.
For fans at Kardinia Park, there’s plenty of reason to be excited. The trade period review is complete, the recruits are settling in, and the countdown to the 2025 AFL Season is well and truly on.
Want more analysis? Check out our season previews for a full breakdown of the Cats’ 2025 campaign, or read about the young guns to watch who could make an impact this year. For a complete list of every move the Cats made, visit our trade period recap.
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