Even though zoning selections are a thing of the past, amazingly 15% of the Cats list has played for the local TAC Cup team – Jimmy Bartel, Jackson Sheringham, Billie Smedts, Allen Christensen, Josh Walker, Darcy Lang and Nick Bourke.
Darcy Lang is the latest Falcon to turn Cat
2. Young Talent Time
For so long the Cats were described as too old and too slow. Not anymore! The Cats now possess a massive 70% of their list being under 25!
George Horlin-Smith and Mitch Duncan are two of the Cats plethora of young stars
3. Australian made
With team success comes individual success and the Cats have it in spades with the following earning All Australian guernseys – Jimmy Bartel, Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, James Kelly, Joel Selwood, Steve Johnson, Tom Hawkins and Corey Enright.
Corey Enright, Tom Hawkins and Jimmy Bartel have all been selected in the AFL's All Australian team
4. Home and Away
There is no fear of the go-home factor for the Cats recruiters with an incredible 46% of the current list calling a state other than Victoria home.
For every Victorian like Jimmy Bartel the Cats nearly have an equal amount of interstaters
5. Blooded
Opportunities must be grasped and (taking out the newest draftees) a whopping 90% of the Cats list has done so and played a senior game. And look for some of the Cats who haven’t yet (Bews, Kersten and Hamling) to do so in 2014.
Shane Kersten should become the next Cat to play an AFL game
6. Recycled
The Cats have a history of drafting rather than trades or free agency but that may soon change. However as it currently stands, 94% have been drafted by the club.
Jared Rivers is one of three Cats who have played for another AFL side
7. The 90s
Notice a few 21st in Geelong the past two years? Well there was good reason! 35% of the current list was born in 1991 or 1992!
Jordan Murdoch and Mark Blicavs are two of many players born in 1991 or 1992
8. Instinctively Indigenous
With 15% of the Cats list being indigenous, the team’s average is six times higher than the Australian population which is currently at 2.5%.
The Cats have a proud group of indigenous players
9. Oh Brother, Where Art Thou
Currently the Cats have four players (Selwood, Jordan Murdoch, Jake Kolodjashnij and Daniel Menzel) who have brothers playing for other AFL side. Jackson Sheringham (Tim) and Travis Varcoe (Adam) both had brothers who were on the Cats rookie list in the past.
Joel and Scott Selwood compete like bulls
10. What’s His Name? Think It Starts With J!
In the US, 5% of the population’s first name starts with J. Unbelievably, the Cats have 37% of its player’s first names beginning with J! The breakdown sees three James/Jimmys, three Joshs, two Joels, two Jordans, two Jareds/Jarrads, two Jacksons, a Jesse, a Jake and a Jed.
Four of the Cats J's show a lighter side
