Best 22 – round one
B: Jed Bews, Harry Taylor, Tom Stewart
HB: Zach Tuohy, Jake Kolodjashnij, Cam Guthrie
C: Tim Kelly, Joel Selwood, Jackson Thurlow
HF: Nakia Cockatoo, Wylie Buzza, Sam Menegola
F: Daniel Menzel, Tom Hawkins, Brandan Parfitt
R: Zac Smith, Gary Ablett, Mitch Duncan
I: Zach Guthrie, Mark Blicavs, James Parsons, Lachlan Fogarty
E: Cory Gregson, George Horlin-Smith, Mark O'Connor, Esava Ratugolea
2017 best and fairest top three
1. Patrick Dangerfield
2. Mitch Duncan
3. Zach Tuohy
Injury list
Patrick Dangerfield (hamstring) looks a long shot to play in round one after taking no part in Friday's training session, while Rhys Stanley (calf) has been sidelined. Lachie Henderson (knee), Lincoln McCarthy (quad) and Quinton Narkle (knee) were reduced to running laps on Friday and will hope to feature inside the first month. Scott Selwood joined in the main group for match simulation after recently returning to running following an ankle surgery.
The big questions
1. Who will partner Tom Hawkins? Rhys Stanley has injured his calf, while Stewart Crameri looked underdone in Friday's VFL practice match. Entering his second year, Esava Ratugolea is coming with a bolt and crashes packs in attack. Aaron Black hasn't played since the first JLT clash on the Gold Coast. After six games in 2017, Wylie Buzza might get first crack.
2. How much midfield/forward split for Gary Ablett and Patrick Dangerfield? Ablett was used on-ball in Friday's match simulation alongside captain Joel Selwood and Mitch Duncan but with an interrupted three-week block, expect him to spend minutes in the front half early in the season. Will Dangerfield return in attack?
3. Who fills the Tom Lonergan and Andrew Mackie void? Harry Taylor will be a permanent member of the back six, while the Cats are impressed with the development of third-year tall Ryan Gardner. With Henderson injured, Jake Kolodjashnij will be pushed back from a wing and Tom Stewart will have greater responsibility after a breakout 2017. Jack Henry looked composed as an intercept defender in Friday's VFL match and could be a smokey.
Look for…
Cory Gregson to return to what he delivered in his debut season of 2015. After a long-term foot injury, he has not played a senior game since round 14, 2016. Geelong missed his front-half pressure last season and his potential partnership with fellow injured forward Lincoln McCarthy has the coaching staff excited. The departure of Steven Motlop could see Gregson used as a high half-forward/wing.
Who they play
After years of lobbying, the Cats get nine matches at GMHBA Stadium, the most since 1999. Seven matches at the MCG to prepare for September – up from five last year. Only two fall as 'home' fixtures but the Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn will boost the club's coffers. They hit the road five times – four against 2017 top-eight teams – including West Coast and Port Adelaide in the first five weeks. Will Ablett's hamstring stand up to the travel?
Fantasy cash cow
While mature-age prospect Tim Kelly (MID, $224,000) is the obvious selection, keep an eye on Zach Guthrie (DEF, $237,000) as a left-field option for your bench. Chris Scott isn't afraid to throw him into the pressure cooker – playing two finals last year – and with Andrew Mackie leaving this season, there should be more kicks coming his way in 2018.
Sudden impact
With five seasons of consistent WAFL football under his belt, Tim Kelly is ready to mix it on the big stage. The 23-year-old hasn't missed a beat in the pre-season, turning heads in the JLT Community Series and looks certain to debut in round one. Asked for his opinion at captain's day, Joel Selwood was quick to nominate Lachlan Fogarty as the other first-year player set for game time in the first half of the season.
It's crunch time for…
George Horlin-Smith enters the final year of a three-year contract as a free agent at season's end. After 21 games in 2014, including two finals, Horlin-Smith has played 15 matches in the past three seasons battling ankle and knee injuries. The arrival of Gary Ablett and emergence of Tim Kelly will see midfield time even harder to come by this year.
Pressure rating on the coach
Chris Scott can simmer on the stove until September – provided the Cats make it – and then it's time to pull the thermometer out. Since the 2011 premiership, they are 3-8 in finals, including 0-3 in the penultimate week.
The 2017 habit the Cats must kick…
Is arriving to play well after the first bounce. In the preliminary final against Adelaide, a five-goal margin at quarter time proved too much. They were caught napping on the road earlier in the season against the Eagles, Suns and the Crows again. Maybe the removal of the on-field warm-up could work in their favour.
The Cats will have a good year if…
They keep 'Dangerwoodlett' on the field. Yes, it's simple. But the prospect of facing Dangerfield, Selwood and Ablett in front of 70,000-plus under lights at the MCG in a preliminary final would cause plenty of sleepless nights for the opposition.
They're in trouble if …
They're losing matches at Geelong. Of the nine opponents in their backyard this season, only Sydney and Greater Western Sydney finished in the top eight last year. Drop any more than two games on their home deck and a top-four berth looks out of reach.
Pass mark
A Grand Final berth. Three times the Cats have failed at the final hurdle since 2013 and with a 34-year-old Gary Ablett plus Joel Selwood, Tom Hawkins and Harry Taylor all 30 or older come September, their time is now.
AFL.com.au predicted ladder finish: Third
Player Ratings star
Patrick Dangerfield (ranked No.1) has been at the top of the Schick AFL Player Rating since round 12, 2016 and will be aiming to stay there. But watch Tom Stewart (No.451) continue to rocket up the leaderboard after finishing fifth among all first-year players in 2017.
