While the Cats struggled at times in their first JLT series hit-out against the Gold Coast in Townsville, the club’s senior debutants provided plenty of promise for the season ahead. 

Geelong’s six debutants all showed flashes of what’s to come on an otherwise challenging afternoon.

Gryan Miers

Miers was a noted goal kicker throughout his junior career and didn’t take long to get on the scoreboard at the higher level.

The former Geelong Falcon opened the Cats’ account for the afternoon with a major in the first quarter and remained involved in the Cats’ forward half for the rest of the match to record 12 disposals.

Tim Kelly

Kelly burst onto the AFL landscape as he sharked the first clearance of the afternoon and delivered a bullet to Tom Hawkins with his first touch, showing plenty of flashes in a mature performance. 

Kelly had 13 disposals and three tackles in the match.

Charlie Constable

Constable came into the squad as a late inclusion for Brandan Parfitt and impressed in a busy first outing.

‘Chook’ had no problems finding the ball at the junior level and that transferred to the JLT, as the young midfielder compiled 22 touches on the afternoon. 

Esava Ratugolea

‘Sav’ arguably provided the highlight of the game with a booming right foot goal from the edge of the centre square early in the last term. 

Ratugolea lead up strongly at the ball-carrier after coming into the game at the half, recording six disposals, two marks, one goal and a behind. 

Lachlan Fogarty

The former Western Jet will be encouraged after his first taste of AFL football. 

Fogarty had 16 disposals and tackled four times playing as a mid-forward on a difficult day for the Cats.

Jermaine Jones

Jones also played as a mid-forward and showed promise in a zippy first outing for the club. 

The mid-forward gathered 10 disposals, had two tackles and kicked a behind.