1 MITCH BROWN displayed great flexibility against the Magpies, collecting 11 disposals swinging between the forward line and defence. Brown has played increasingly as a key defender over the past two seasons, but showed the forward prowess for which he was drafted with two goals.
AF: 78
DT: 56

2 BILLIE SMEDTS was in unfamiliar territory for much of the game, tallying 15 disposals primarily in defence. The young Cat was given the difficult task of kicking out after a behind and was not overwhelmed by the new responsibility, executing with 80% efficiency.
AF: 73
DT: 45

3 JIMMY BARTEL amassed 17 possessions playing in a variety of positions, as is often the case with the versatile veteran. The preseason contest was uncharacteristically physical and Bartel lead the way with seven tackles.
AF: 79
DT: 65

4 ANDREW MACKIE enjoyed the best season of his career last year and earned All-Australian honours for the first time. He didn’t miss a beat in the opening match of 2014, gathering 24 disposals from defence.
AF: 81
DT: 52

5 TRAVIS VARCOE was very productive with his time on the field, collecting 21 touches despite playing only 60% of the match. He played a more traditional midfield role and won six clearances, all from centre bounces. Varcoe was also able to translate effective stoppage work into attacking opportunities, adding one goal assist, one goal and sending Geelong inside 50m five times.
AF: 85
DT: 64

6 LINCOLN McCARTHY appeared thirsty for a hard fought contest after a summer of skills and fitness work, making six tackles along with his eight possessions. One of the smallest players on the ground, McCarthy set the standard for physical pressure in the opening minutes of the match when he flattened new Collingwood recruit Tony Armstrong with a bone-crunching bump.   
AF: 59
DT: 34

7 HARRY TAYLOR put the newly altered contested marking interpretation to the test in a mouthwatering match-up against Travis Cloke that would have pleased football traditionalists. Taylor took five marks, made nine spoils, and was set free in the second half to accumulate 24 disposals by the final siren.
AF: 59
DT: 86

9 JAMES KELLY accumulated 20 possessions despite playing only 49% of game time. As he so often does, Kelly tallied the most tackles, making eight for the match. He kicked a goal in the first quarter with a checkside snap, showing he has finishing skills to match his strength in a contest.
AF: 89
DT: 68

13 TOM LONERGAN hardly put a foot wrong. Just one in fact; disposing effectively with 15 of his 16 possessions. He is usually given the task of shutting down a single player, but the Geelong defenders were regularly moved to different positions and opponents. Lonergan took five marks and made nine spoils, seemingly unfazed by the constant rotation.
AF: 68
DT: 51

15 JORDAN SCHRODER made an immediate impact when substituted into the match just after half time. The 2013 Liston medallist collected 11 disposals in the forward line, dangerous around packs with his foot speed and hard approach. Schroder kicked two goals, including the match winner in the dying stages of the final term.
AF: 58
DT: 68

16 DAWSON SIMPSON was a welcome return to the Geelong side after suffering a season ending knee injury in round 18 last year. He was Geelong’s premier ruck man on the ground, winning 21 hit-outs and six possessions. Most importantly, the big Cat got through the match unscathed and appears primed to cement the number one ruck position in 2014.
AF: 46
DT: 44

19 TAYLOR HUNT developed into a solid contributor for the Cats last year and started the 2014 season with a strong midfield performance. Often used as a tagger, Hunt relished the free space he was given, gathering 20 touches and taking five marks.
AF: 75
DT: 75

20 STEVE JOHNSON did not lose any self-confidence over the summer break but did bite off a bit more than he could chew on multiple occasions. Despite a few comic errors he was very damaging, allowed to run largely unopposed by the Magpies and gather 29 disposals. Johnson did his best work in the attacking half of the ground, totalling five inside 50s, one goal and two goal assists.
AF: 94
DT: 81

22 MITCH DUNCAN was one of the best players on the ground in the opening half and worked hard in the midfield to amass 23 disposals. In the first quarter he kicked a sensational goal close to the boundary line in the “Garry Ablett Jnr pocket.” He added a second, equally impressive goal during the third term that required confirmation from a video replay
AF: 89
DT: 78

23 JOSH CADDY played with enormous confidence and was one of the most impressive performers on Wednesday night. He was constantly involved in the action, gathering 19 possessions and taking seven marks. Caddy made five tackles and was able to break through many more, using his physical strength to bullock his way out of congestion.
AF: 84
DT: 61

25 JARED RIVERS was as comfortable as ever in the Geelong back line, benefitting from a second preseason with his new team mates. The former Demon had clean hands in slippery conditions, taking nine marks and executing each of his 15 disposals effectively.
AF: 72
DT: 63

26 TOM HAWKINS delighted the Geelong crowd, moving without the impediment of the chronic back complaint that plagued him in 2013. He took three marks and gathered nine possessions, made the most of his chances with four straight goals. Accurate goal kicking was a feature of the Cats’ game and Hawkins lead the charge, converting each of opportunities from set shots.
AF: 74
DT: 71

27 MATHEW STOKES took ten minutes to get his hands on the ball but barely let it out of his grasp from that point on, finishing the match with a game high 39 disposals. Stokes had a career best season last year and, if his NAB Challenge performance is any indication, he is set for another one in 2014.
AF: 117
DT: 95

29 CAMERON GUTHRIE was outstanding in a variety of positions against the Magpies. Primarily a defender, he was thrust into the midfield and performed as if he had played in the centre his entire career. He attacked stoppages with speed, winning three clearances and tallying 19 possessions. Guthrie never forgot his defensive responsibilities, however, equalling James Kelly as Geelong’s most prolific tackler with eight for the match.
AF: 95
DT: 73

30 NATHAN VARDY let several marks slip through his fingers, as did most players in their first real hit-out for the year. His presentation, however, was first class, running defenders off their legs to provide a marking option around the 50m arc. He kicked one goal from his five touches and nearly broke the point post with a flush strike from a goal attempt after the quarter time siren.
AF: 41
DT: 32

31 GEORGE BURBURY scored the first goal of 2014 and did so with style. He ran back with the flight of the ball, snatched a mark from two Collingwood defenders and hit the ground running, playing on towards the open goal. The goal was just rewards for an exciting first quarter, but Burbury’s night was ended prematurely when he suffered a facial injury in an horrific incident with former Magpie captain Nick Maxwell.
AF: 42
DT: 29

33 GEORGE HORLIN-SMITH had plenty to play for on Wednesday night, one of a large contingent of Cats pushing to secure a place in the senior side. Horlin-Smith played mostly in the centre, collecting 17 disposals and winning three clearances. He was a useful contributor in the forward half, providing two goal assists.
AF: 46
DT: 39

34 JOSH WALKER was outsized but not outmatched when competing in the ruck, winning nine hit-outs. Playing just 40% of game time, the elevated Rookie had 10 possessions in multiple positions, including one goal when moved to the forward line.
AF: 53
DT: 41

44 COREY ENRIGHT was allowed to do as he pleased across half back, tallying 36 disposals. The champion defender collected 27 possessions unopposed and took a game high 10 marks. Enright regularly pushed up to the wings and sent the Cats inside 50m on four occasions.
AF: 128
DT: 86

46 MARK BLICAVS burst onto the AFL scene as a surprise debutant in round one last year and played a total of 22 games. He spent much less time in the ruck on Wednesday night than he did last season, collecting 11 disposals on a wing and at half back. Blicavs’ fitness is his biggest asset but his work load was minimised, on the field for the just 48% of the match.
AF: 43
DT: 35