The team at geelongcats.com.au have cobbled together their notes from the pre-season to bring you their assessment of every player on the list through the pre-season and NAB Challenge.
Each club looks to get something different out of the pre-season fixtures, but we hope these summaries will give you an idea of how each player is tracking just a week out from round one.
We've already looked at jumper numbers 1 to 10, numbers 11 to 20 and numbers 21 to 30, so now it's time to round things out with numbers 31 to 36.
31. Jordan Cunico – midfielder (0 NAB Challenge games)
Was unable to work his way into the team after his pre-season was interrupted by a couple of injury niggles.
32. Steven Motlop – forward/midfielder (3 NAB Challenge games)
Didn’t play his best footy during the pre-season, but still averaged 16 disposals per game.
33. George Horlin-Smith – midfielder (2 NAB Challenge games)
Gathered 21 disposals in a very encouraging display against Collingwood in the Cats’ NAB Challenge opener, but was quiet against Essendon and then missed the third match against Fremantle.
34. James Parsons – midfielder (0 NAB Challenge games)
First-year player who has been working on his craft on the training track and his strength in the gym.
35. Patrick Dangerfield – midfielder (3 NAB Challenge games)
Was a brilliant contributor in his first three games in the hoops. Gathered 28 disposals and kicked three goals against Collingwood, then tallied 24 disposals and a goal against Essendon. Rounded out his NAB Challenge campaign with 30 disposals and two goals in the narrow loss to Fremantle.
36. Tom Ruggles – defender (2 NAB Challenge games)
Missed the opening game against Collingwood, but was an impressive contributor against Essendon (15 disposals, seven marks) and Fremantle (10 disposals), putting himself in contention to be elevated to the senior list in time for the Cats’ premiership season opener against Hawthorn on Easter Monday.
37. Michael Luxford – forward (0 NAB Challenge games)
Was an emergency for the Cats’ first two NAB Challenge games but missed out on making the final squad. Will have to press his claims in the VFL team’s practice games.
38. Tom Read – forward/ruck (0 NAB Challenge games)
Has had an interrupted pre-season due to a number of injury niggles.
39. Shane Kersten – forward (3 NAB Challenge games)
Played in all three of the Cats’ pre-season games and kicked a goal in each of them.
40. Jackson Thurlow - defender (2 NAB Challenge games)
Looked on track for a big year before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the big win over Essendon in Shepparton.
42. Padraig Lucey – ruck (0 NAB Challenge games)
Didn’t crack it for a game in the NAB Challenge but continues to push his claims on the training track.
43. Zac Bates – midfielder/forward (0 NAB Challenge games)
Has been an impressive performer at training but wasn’t able to push his way into the team during the NAB Challenge.
44. Corey Enright – defender (2 NAB Challenge games)
Was a solid contributor in the games against Collingwood and Essendon, then was rested from the trip to Perth to play Fremantle.
45. Cameron Delaney – defender (0 NAB Challenge games)
Continues to work hard on the track after suffering a number of injuries since joining the Cats.
46. Mark Blicavs – midfielder/ruck (3 NAB Challenge games)
Was solid in the games against Collingwood and Essendon, then burst into life with a great display against Fremantle. He won plenty of the ball against the Dockers and also did a great tagging job on Nat Fyfe.
