Cooper Stephens

GEELONG’S VFL team will open its 2022 campaign against Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday at 2.05pm.

In preparation the Cats played a practice match against the side they'll face in Round 1 last weekend and coach Shane O’Bree was pleased with what he saw.

“The biggest challenge in the VFL is getting chemistry with the mix,” O’Bree told K Rock Football post-game.

“They’ve really only played one and a half games together and today I thought the chemistry was there and we played some really good football.

“With a young group you probably always lack a bit of composure and that’s what came up today. We will look back over it this week and keep educating these boys and hopefully advance in that area and get better as the year goes on.”

APRIL 18: Shane O'Bree, Coach of the Cats addresses his players during the Round 01 VFL match between the Geelong Cats and the North Melbourne Kangaroos at GMHBA Stadium.

Mitch Duncan was one of a handful of Cats who impressed O’Bree and put his hand up for AFL selection against the Swans on Friday night.

“He played really good. He played three quarters of footy and looked really sharp. I assume now he just needs to pull up well, get through training and I assume he will be up for selection next week.”

Cooper Stephens, Quinton Narkle, Nick Stevens and first-year Cat Ollie Dempsey were others that caught O’Bree’s eye.

“Cooper Stephens went really well in the midfield and Quinton Narkle. They look like they are above VFL level now those guys and went really well.”

“Nick Stevens down back as well looks like he is developing nicely… and then one of the young boys up forward, a new player in Ollie Dempsey, probably our last pick in the draft, he kicked 4.3 and could have had a big day out today.”

Local product Cooper Whyte was drafted with selection 64 in the National Draft.

Another first-year player that has impressed Geelong’s VFL coach since the Club selected him with pick 64 in last year’s national draft is local Cooper Whyte.

“Cooper has really impressed us with his pre-season,” O’Bree said.

“He’s a young guy from Grovedale. Played a lot of (Geelong) Falcons football and what we like most about him is that he is really calm in the contest."

"He’s had a really good pre-season and he’s obviously on the cusp. If he doesn’t get an AFL game soon he just has to go back to the VFL and keep developing and bring what he’s brought to the club so far in a short amount of time."