The Cats are about toembark on the club’s most critical training period of the year as they prepareto rebuild for the 2015 home and away campaign.

Up until the Christmasbreak, Geelong skipper Joel Selwood will have the Cats hitting the decks hardwhen the full team returns on December 1.

“Before Christmas is apretty important time for our team, we have got a few young guys that we havegot to bring through and make sure they become elite players,” Selwood told theBendigo Advertiser on Tuesday.

“We have got to work on thatright now.

“Our draft has been reallygood; we have brought three guys on already which is really exciting.”

During thisyear’s trade period, the Cats picked up three developed players including MitchClark, Rhys Stanley and Sam Blease, along with a top 10 draft pick in theupcoming national draft on November 27^th.

Following adisappointing end to last year’s season, Selwood says the club’s focus is nowon 2015.

“We had a little bit of areview but I have moved on quickly,” Sewlood said.

“I realised what I have gotto work on and what our side has got to get better at and we will try and takethat into next season.

“We are going to giveourselves the best chance to win, like we do every year.

“If we are good enough wewill get it done, if not then we will have to find another way.”

Although Selwood has beenenjoying the sights of Europe and having a much-deserved break from the track,he admits that it’s merely impossible to switch off completely, both physicallyand mentally, when it comes to the off-season.

“It is really hard to stoptraining,” Selwood said.

“It is easy to keep rollingand not doing those high intensity sessions.

"You obviously startlooking after your body to make sure you aren’t getting sore. 

“You sit around for a fewdays on the couch and then you get a bit bored and want to start doing things.

“You get addicted to it.”

Heading into his fourthseason as captain, Selwood admits the challenges of the role can be wearing butwith the help from the club the rewards are never outweighed.  

"I do get a lot ofhelp down at the footy club," he said. 

"I am lucky to have alot of the guys that are older than me that have been around for a long timethat can help me out and then at the same time there is the younger group ofplayers which really look up to me.

"There are times youdislike the job, you don’t find much time for yourself, but there is also somegreat times and the good times always outweigh the times when you are feelingdown." 

Before the skipper kicksinto gear for preseason training he will head to Perth with fellow teammates,Steve Johnson and Harry Taylor, to battle the Irish in this year’s prestigiousInternational Rules Test, led by Hawthorn’s senior coach Alistair Clarkson andassisted by Geelong’s Chris Scott.

“We don’t want to play notto win, so we have a bit of work to do to get up to scratch because the Irishare pretty crafty,” he said.  

“It will be good fun; I amlooking forward to the week.”

In Perth this month at Patersons Stadium, Australia will take on Ireland on Saturday, November 22nd at 5:45pm WST for the 2014 International Rules Test.

This year the AFL have chosen an All-Australian squad to compete.