CATS veteran Andrew Mackie says there’s a real buzz around the club as the boys put in the hard yards prior to their Christmas break.

“Everyone’s excited and up and about,” the 31-year-old veteran of 235 AFL games told geelongcats.com.au.

“Everyone’s training well. The intensity’s high. It’s a really good sign for this time of the year.

“I think the club’s in a really good shape. The list is looking good.

“The new boys have come and brought enthusiasm.

“They’re all good fellas, so that’s good, and they can all kick a ball too.”

Mackie recently signed a new two-year contract, which ties him to the club until the end of the 2017 season.

He, Joel Selwood, Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright are the only three-time premiership players left on Geelong’s list after the departures of Steve Johnson and James Kelly at the end of last season.

“I think we sent them off on a really good note,” Mackie said.

“To the boys’ credit, they were really admirable in the way they went about it.

“I wish them all the best.”