Geelong coach Chris Scott says it is a mistake to think the Cats will be the same team they were last season, rather, the extended offseason has given the club opportunity to look at things from a ‘whole new’ starting point.
The Cats missed the finals for the first time since 2015 last year, but with that result has come a longer offseason, allowing a playing group that has regularly played deep into September, a chance to refresh.
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According to Scott, while it doesn’t guarantee anything once the season begins, there have been some 'tangible' benefits.
“It's been a while since we've had a long off season period, especially with the bye, missing the finals gives you that extra week compared to where it was when we last missed the finals,” Scott said.
“But we've been conscious to not assume that that's going to give us any added benefit.
“It certainly has allowed us to get prepared in terms of post season surgery and those sorts of things, but a little bit of extra training doesn't guarantee you anything, but that being said, we feel confident that our preparation's been good, certainly better than last year.”
Scott, talking to SEN Breakfast as part of Geelong Cats Membership Day, said how the side plays this season will be dictated by personnel, as it always has been, and is optimistic for what some of the Cats’ new faces could bring, including new coaches James Rahilly and Steven King.
“I think it's a mistake to think we'll just take up from where we left off last year and try to tweak from there, we're trying to look at it from a whole new starting point,” he said.
“And in effect, for us, that boils down to what personnel we've got at our disposal, and that's the thing that is exciting them (Rahilly and King), because they haven't seen much of Toby Conway or Jhye Clark or our first round pick from last year, Connor O'Sullivan.
“Even guys like Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry are only their second year in our system so we're thinking about what we can be from here rather than looking back too much.”
Scott did reserve praise for O’Sullivan, the Cats’ 2023 first round draft choice, among others.
“He's got all the attributes you love to see in a young player, he's really enthusiastic," he said.
“I tend to not like this description of young players in terms of their leadership qualities because they should be allowed to find their own way in the game before they have to take on the burden of looking after others, but already you can see that he plays with that feel for his teammates.”
The Cats face Carlton in a match simulation next Thursday at Ikon Park.
