The team at geelongcats.com.au have cobbled together their notes from the pre-season to bring you their assessment of every player on the list through the pre-season and NAB Challenge.
Each club looks to get something different out of the pre-season fixtures, but we hope these summaries will give you an idea of how each player is tracking just a week out from round one.
We've already looked at jumper numbers 1 to 10, now let's look at those with numbers from 11 to 20.
11. Darcy Lang – forward (3 NAB Challenge games)
Averaged 11 possessions through three NAB Challenge games. Roamed through the midfield and forward line, is looking fit and has a good turn of speed to be a nice link option.
12. Wylie Buzza – forward (0 NAB Challenge games)
The big Queenslander is still raw but has shown glimpses of his potential through match simulation this summer. A year of development in the VFL will hold him in good stead.
13. Tom Lonergan – defender (2 NAB Challenge games)
Still no one better to play on the opposition’s gorilla forward. An ankle injury ended his first hit out against the Bombers in NAB2 but pulled down 10 marks in Perth against the Dockers the next week – three more than any other Cat.
14. Joel Selwood – midfielder (0 NAB Challenge games)
Injury plagued all summer with a plantar fasciitis injury but has turned a corner the past month. Has looked in great nick when thrown into drills and match simulation and will play on Friday night for the VFL Cats. As close to a sure thing for round one as can be.
15. Matthew Hayball – midfielder (0 NAB Challenge games)
Managed across his first pre-season at AFL level doing work away from the group with a knee complaint. Has worked his way into drills every week though and looks to be strong overhead. Seems to create time and space with ball in hand.
16. Scott Selwood – midfielder (0 NAB Challenge games)
Slow and steady the mantra for the younger Selwood. Has put in a mountain of work through summer on the road to recovery and is focused on taking the time needed to get back to his best.
17. Jock Cornell – forward (0 NAB Challenge games)
An impressive pre-season from the new rookie was highlighted when named in the 29-man squad for NAB2. Was close then but looks primed for an exciting year in the VFL.
18. Josh Cowan – defender (3 NAB Challenge games)
Finally some continuity in the dashing defender’s training as the 25-year-old completed a full pre-season. Averaged 12 disposals running out of defence in three NAB Challenge games.
19. Mitch Clark – forward (0 NAB Challenge games)
Luckless but committed to getting his body right. Looked fantastic in training and was moving well before successive calf injuries halted what was a great body of work.
20. Ryan Gardner – defender (0 NAB Challenge games)
No NAB Challenge games for the Tasmanian but has shown great ability to read the game and ball in flight through match simulation. Will develop through the VFL into a key defensive pillar.
