With the clock ticking and the 2025 AFL season just around the corner, Geelong are right back into the swing of things as they ramp up their pre-season preparations. 

An exciting campaign awaits the Cats, with plenty of blockbuster matchups on the schedule and some new faces set to pull on the Hoops for the first time. 

Set to be a prominent figure in Geelong's line up once again is star defender, Zach Guthrie who will be looking to build on his incredible 2024 season which saw him finish second in the Carji Greeves Medal. 

Guthrie said he has been impressed by a number of players during pre-season training, giving him full confidence that the team can compete at a high level again this year. 

"I think we have a got a number of guys that have played a handful of games at the level now, that you can tell are really hungry to keep trying to forge their way," Guthrie said. 

"Some of those guys have been really impressing and without individualising too much, I think they look ready and you can tell they are moving really well.

"Obviously some of the guys that set the standards as well, some of the more experienced guys are in really good shape as well and pushing everyone along.

"Every year presents something different, you probably don't know until you start getting into the early rounds of the season.

"I am really confident that we have the list again to compete, we have got a number of guys that have been performing really well at training and we still have plenty of really talented players."

Guthrie continues to grow in the Cats backline, setting career high numbers in 2024 for disposals (18.24 per game), marks (6.00) and rebound 50s (5.16), while also ranking seventh in the competition for intercept possessions. 

The star defender is set to enter his ninth season at the top level this year, looking to help the team build on an impressive season in 2024. 

With Geelong featuring in the Opening Round this year and two practice games in the lead up, there is only a short period of time left before football returns in 2025. 

Guthrie touched on the importance of pre-season training and the Christmas break, to help players prepare for the quick turnaround prior to the season starting. 

"Everything is becoming more and more condensed with the earlier start to the year, playing in the Opening Round and I feel like the practice games are going to come around really quick," Guthrie said. 

"That Christmas period is really important to keep the things you put in practice before the break going, to feel like you can roll into this time of year and keep looking to improve.

"We just want to get ourselves in the best shape possible as a team."