GEELONG's premiership veterans are fully aware their spots in the side are no longer guaranteed, midfielder Mathew Stokes says.
Stokes, 30, is one of seven Cats remaining who played in Geelong's 2007 premiership victory, and he is beginning to feel the pressure of looming football mortality.
He said he and his older teammates were driven by having to compete with a group of talented youngsters in the squad.
"This time of year you're constantly worrying about (your spot). Especially when you get to 30, you start thinking about how long you've got," Stokes said at the Cats' open training session at Simonds Stadium on Friday.
"You see in the guys we drafted this year that they're really skillful and good kids and smart, too.
"But it's something that's good. It motivates me everyday."
A crowd of about 2000 people turned out to watch the players go through their paces on Friday morning.
A crowd of about 2000 people turned out to watch the players go through their paces on Friday morning in what was termed a "light" session for the players.
Despite the bitter aftertaste of last year's shock finals exit at the hands of North Melbourne, Stokes said the Cats had no choice but to look ahead to the new season.
This year will be one of new beginnings, according to the Geelong star.
"That's (the semi-final loss) gone and we're a new group (now)," Stokes said.
"We've got some young kids around and I think this group's got to stop looking back and start looking forward to what we can create now."
Stokes was in stellar form at the start of last season, but a serious ankle injury sustained against Gold Coast in round 14 meant he never returned to playing at the same level.
He concedes rushing back to play too early was an error.
"I thought I was in really good form before I did it. I just wanted to get back out there and maybe rushed it a little bit," Stokes said.
"I worked my backside off to get back as quick as I could, considering we were struggling a little bit at that time.
"You have no excuses. The North Melbourne (semi-final) game I was pretty poor, but that wasn't because of the ankle."
However, the 175-gamer has not missed a beat this pre-season and is content with his fitness levels as he approaches his 10th year in the League.
"I'm not that old yet. I haven't missed too many sessions over my career in training and I just love to be out here with the boys," Stokes said.
"I'd rather be out here training really hard than being inside working on a program by myself."
However, he admits he will welcome the Cats' mini-break at the end of next week, designed to refresh the players before launching into the NAB Challenge.
"I need it," Stokes said with a grin.
"It's something to get the mind fresh again and when that's over we'll only have one more training base before the NAB Challenge."
