THE WINDS of change have swept through Geelong this offseason but the more things change the more an ever-reliable backline stays the same.

Key pillars Harry Taylor and Tom Lonergan will again be tasked with quelling the opposition’s best tall forwards whilst Andrew Mackie and Corey Enright will look to outsmart and rein in those fleet-footed small to medium sized targets.

This premiership-winning group of veterans are more than capable of turning defence into attack quickly and will roll the dice when needed to get the ball moving forward.

The stalwarts will be ably supported by a promising group of young Cats – most of whom have already tasted regular senior football as the club continues to transition from one era to the next.

Jackson Thurlow stepped up in 2015 to play 19 games at AFL level and returned to the club on day one of preseason with considerable size across the upper body.

Having already shown his attacking prowess and elite disposal by foot, the extra muscle can only improve the 22-year-old’s ability to go one on one with his opponent as he looms one to watch in 2016.

Fellow Tasmanian Jake Kolodjashnij managed nine senior games in his debut season and finished fourth in the Cats’ VFL best & fairest.

A tall defender with good athleticism and football nous, Kolodjashnij will be looking for further opportunity this season having already proven he can cut it at the top level.

Rounding out the mix of young guns is ever improving small defender Jed Bews.

Selected as a father-son selection in 2011, the 23-year-old took steps to becoming a staple of the backline in his fourth season at the club and is enjoying a strong preseason thus far.

Two new but vastly important names appear also likely to be added to the Cats’ defensive mix in 2016.

25-year-old key position player Lachie Henderson joins Geelong after 117 games with Brisbane and Carlton and should ease the pressure on talls Taylor and Lonergan.

His flexibility also means there’s a real chance Henderson will be thrown forward at times – replacing Harry Taylor as the Cats’ go-to swingman.

And finally, with so many quality additions to the Geelong midfield for 2016, it appears Cam Guthrie could spend time in the back six between his centre-square duties.

The 24-year-old was brilliant across the 2015 home and away season and has already demonstrated a strong defensive side to his game, coupled with raw, explosive speed.