Cats' Midfield Ranking

AFL Media has ranked Geelong's midfield group.

By AFL Media

With the introduction of new rules set to make centre bounces more important than ever, AFL Media has cast their eye over the League's engine rooms and handed down it's pre-season midfield rankings.

The Cats come in at sixth in the league according to AFL Media, behind both of last year's Grand Finalists, the Tigers, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney.

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1. COLLINGWOOD

Collingwood already boasted the best midfield in the competition, and then they went and brought 2010 premiership star Dayne Beams back from Brisbane. He is yet another A-grader alongside Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury and Adam Treloar, while Taylor Adams had an unbelievable Grand Final and isn't far off that bracket and Brayden Sier is developing rapidly. Brodie Grundy had long threatened to take the competition by storm and he now sits comfortably alongside Max Gawn as the AFL's premier ruckman. Collingwood ranked No.1 for disposals and clearances, second for contested possessions and fourth for inside 50s last season, and a stacked engine room should only get better. Imagine if Daniel Wells can stay fit.

B: Brayden Maynard, Lynden Dunn, Tom Langdon
HB: Jeremy Howe, Darcy Moore, Jack Crisp
C: Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury, Taylor Adams
HF: Will Hoskin-Elliott, Brody Mihocek, Jaidyn Stephenson
F: Jordan De Goey, Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott
Foll: Brodie Grundy, Dayne Beams, Adam Treloar
I/C: Travis Varcoe, Daniel Wells, Brayden Sier, Josh Thomas

Defender depth: Tyson Goldsack, Ben Reid, Matt Scharenberg, Flynn Appleby, Nathan Murphy, Jack Madgen, Isaac Quaynor, Will Kelly, Mark Keane, Sam Murray

Forward depth: Ben Crocker, Tim Broomhead, Anton Tohill, Atu Bosenavulagi

Midfield depth: Tom Phillips, Chris Mayne, Levi Greenwood, James Aish, Callum Brown, Tyler Brown, Josh Daicos, Rupert Wills

Ruck depth: Jordan Roughead, Max Lynch

2. RICHMOND

Narrowly pipped as the AFL's best midfield, Richmond still boasts one of the most talented on-ball groups in the land. Dustin Martin remains one of the competition's most influential players, with his ability to also go forward just as crucial as his work out of the centre. Shane Edwards made the All Australian team last year, while Trent Cotchin, Kane Lambert and Dion Prestia are proven ball winners out of the middle. But why aren't they number one? Perhaps it's down to the loss of key depth players during the most recent NAB AFL Trade Period. A lot could rely on youngsters like Jack Graham, Connor Menadue and perhaps even Riley Collier-Dawkins should injury strike in 2019.

B: Dylan Grimes, David Astbury, Alex Rance
HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short
C: Shaun Grigg, Dustin Martin, Shane Edwards
HF: Dan Butler, Jack Riewoldt, Daniel Rioli
F: Josh Caddy, Tom Lynch, Jack Higgins
Foll: Toby Nankervis, Dion Prestia, Trent Cotchin
I/C: Brandon Ellis, Jason Castagna, Kane Lambert, Jack Graham

Defender depth: Nathan Broad, Oleg Markov, Ryan Garthwaite, Patrick Naish, Ben Miller, Derek Eggmolesse-Smith

Forward depth: Shai Bolton, Callum Moore, Jacob Townsend, Noah Balta, Mav Weller, Liam Baker, Mabior Chol, Jake Aarts

Midfield depth: Kamdyn McIntosh, Connor Menadue, Riley Collier-Dawkins, Luke English, Jack Ross, Fraser Turner

Ruck depth: Ivan Soldo, Callum Coleman-Jones

Dustin Martin will be hoping to recapture his scintillating form from 2017. Picture: AFL Photos

15. HAWTHORN

The Hawks midfield is in serious trouble. AFL.com.au had previously ranked them at No.8. But as the news emerged of Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell's broken leg, the Hawks began to slide further, and further down the order. While the 2018 season saw several young Hawks step up in the middle, far too often Mitchell was left to carry the burden. And let's face it, the best player in the competition, according to the umpires, is irreplaceable. He averaged 35 disposals per game, and it is unrealistic to think someone like James Worpel, in just his second season, will be able to fill Mitchell’s shoes. There are certainly still some good players in this starting midfield. Liam Shiels is the quiet achiever while Jaeger O'Meara made great progress last year. Veteran Shaun Burgoyne and boom recruit Chad Wingard will certainly spend game time in the middle as well which will help. But the loss of Mitchell will have a huge impact on the Hawks’ ball winning ability, and will seriously hurt their finals prospects in 2019.

B: Blake Hardwick, James Frawley, James Sicily
HB: Grant Birchall, Ben Stratton, Harry Morrison
C: Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels, Ricky Henderson
HF: Chad Wingard, Jack Gunston, Shaun Burgoyne
F: Paul Puopolo, Jarryd Roughead, Luke Breust
Foll: Ben McEvoy, Jaeger O'Meara, Dan Howe
I/C: James Worpel, Connor Nash, Jarman Impey, Jon Ceglar

Defender depth: Kaiden Brand, Conor Glass, Damon Greaves, Changkuoth Jiath, Jacob Koschitzke, Teia Miles, David Mirra, Tim Mohr, Tim O'Brien, Jack Scrimshaw

Forward depth: Oliver Hanrahan, Will Langford^, Mitch Lewis, Darren Minchington, Conor Nash, Jackson Ross, Ryan Schoenmakers, Mathew Walker

Midfield depth: James Cousins, Will Golds, Harrison Jones, Tom Mitchell*, Dylan Moore, Tom Scully*

Ruck depth: Marc Pittonet

^ Will Langford has retired, but remains on the list for salary cap purposes

James Worpel is expected to shoulder more responsibility in the absence of Tom Mitchell. Picture: AFL Photos