A number of Cats’ have been bullish on the term ‘buying in’ over the past few weeks, often referring to the team first mentality that has players doing whatever it takes to help the team succeed.  

A big part of that has been an even contribution from Geelong’s small forward brigade, notably the performances of Gryan Miers, Ollie Dempsey and Brad Close in 2024.  

The trio all rank inside the top 11 league-wide for goal assists this year, helping to set up plenty of the Cats’ attacking forays while also hitting the scoreboard themselves.  

Although he is not quite on the same pace as his record-setting 2023 season, Gryan Miers still leads the team with 17 assists this year to sit inside the top 10 in the AFL.  

The assist king continues to be an integral part of Geelong’s ball movement but has also been the final link in the chain more often this season, booting 14 goals in 17 games which is double his final goal kicking tally in 2023.  

One of the more underrated assets in the Cats forward half this season has been Brad Close, who is tied for 11^th in the competition with 16 goal assists for the season.  

Close’s career high goal assists came in 2022 when he had 22 for the season, with the 25 year old well on track to break that this season.  

Along with his goal assists Close has also kicked 23 goals in 2024, well on track to break his own career high of 26 goals which also came in the 2022 season.  

Ollie Dempsey’s rapid rise sees him sit equal with Close for 11^th position on the goal assist table, dishing off 16 direct assists in 17 games so far this season.  

Through his first seven AFL games Dempsey had recorded two goals and two assists, but in 17 games this year he has amassed 14 goals and 16 assists in a stellar season.  

Tyson Stengle has been another important piece down forward, booting 33 goals and recording 14 goal assists of his own this year with numbers that rival his All-Australian season in 2022.  

With 170 goal assists for the season, Geelong sit second in the competition behind Sydney across 2024 in that category, helping to propel the side to third place on the ladder.  

Goal Assist Leaderboard