In the coming week we'll take a look at the Cats  defenders, midfielders, ruckman and forwards. We'll pick the players who'll fall in these lines and look at what 2014 will look like for them.

Click here to read the analysis of the Cats defenders

Billie Smedts
A very interesting quantity for the Cats in 2014 is Billie Smedts. Whilst many will judge Smedts on the fact that he is in his third season and yet to cement a spot, many forget that he missed all of 2011 with hip problems. In fact to have played 27 games by 21 years of age is a remarkable feat. Smedts will look to use his agility, speed and skills to push for a place in the Cats midfield. Whilst he might not be expected to be a full-time midfielder in his third ‘real’ year, Smedts may combine it with run off the half-back line.
Potential position – wing, centre, half-back
Other positions – half forward

Travis Varcoe
Travis Varcoe has already spoke off his disappointing 2013 so Cats fans will hope for a injury-free Varcoe recapturing his 2011 form. At his best Varcoe holds claim as one of the Cats most explosive players and one of the team’s best field kicks. With Varcoe bouncing around the training track for the Cats look for him to become a key part of the Cats line breaking midfield in 2014.
Potential position – midfield, wing
Other positions – half back, half forward

James Kelly
Despite completing season 12 in 2013, James Kelly showed no signs of slowing down. Whilst registering a career high in scoring shots and the second most tackles in his career in 2013, Kelly provided much needed grunt to the Cats midfield. With Joel Corey gone, Kelly will again be required to provide this grunt as well as schooling the Cats next group of midfielders.
Potential position – midfield
Other positions – half back

Darcy Lang
The Cats first pick of the draft, Darcy Lang, has recovered well from his broken leg suffered in last year’s TAC Cup and is setting hearts racing. Smooth, clean and tough, Lang may follow in the footsteps of Jackson Thurlow and play AFL in the first half of the season in 2014. Whilst body size may preclude him from much centre square action he could be a handy wingman early on.
Potential position – midfield, wing
Other positions – half back

Jesse Stringer
Jesse Stringer has moved up in guernsey number and will look to also move up in the pecking order for the Cats midfield. Stringer backed up from eight games in 2012 with another seven in 2013 and will now look to make the jump to regular action. A tough as nails player, Stringer will look to become a key contested player for the Cats.
Potential position – midfielder, wing
Other positions – half forward

Joel Selwood
What does a three time premiership player, two time best and fairest and runner up in last year’s Brownlow look to get out of his game in 2014? Joel Selwood added another string to his bow in 2014 when he booted an incredible 30 goals including seven times of at least two. He also registered a career high in tackles. Ever the perfectionist, Selwood will find another way to improve his game so the league better watch out.
Potential position – midfield
Other position – half forward

Jordan Schroder
Last year’s joint JJ Liston medallist Jordan Schroder has the potential to make a big impact for the Cats in 2014. A nuggety on-baller who loves, repeat, loves having the ball in his hands in the forward 50, Schroder should provide the Cats with some much needed grunt work inside. Durable, hard running and with the ability to go forward, Schroder will become extra important with changes to rotations.
Potential position – midfield, forward pocket
Other position – half-forward

Josh Cowan
A welcome site on the training track this preseason has been Josh Cowan. After a retched run of Achilles and hamstring injuries in the past two years, Cowan is finally ready to show what has Cats insiders so excited. With speed, strength and nice skills Cowan will add something different to the Cats midfield brigade and not just his Matthew Scarlett/Peter Riccardi mop of hair!
Potential position – wing
Other positions – half-forward, half-back

Taylor Hunt
Taylor Hunt was flying at the start of 2013 for the Cats before a busted collarbone derailed his season. With that injury far behind him the Cats will be hoping he regains his gut running, close checking, goal kicking best. Whether he takes on the two way running role he had against some of the game’s best midfielders or a wing, Hunt provides zip to the Cats line-up.
Potential position – midfield, wing
Other positions – half back, half forward.

Steve Johnson
The recently re-signed Steve Johnson produced an unbelievable season in 2013 where he registered a career high in disposals and finished third in the Brownlow medal off just 16 games. Now a bona fide midfielder, Johnson brings an x-factor of the likes can’t be matched in the league. A great distributor, Johnson found the ball an average of 29 times a game.
Potential position – midfield, half forward
Other position – forward pocket

Mitch Duncan
Mitch Duncan expressed his desire to take his game to another level in 2013 and whilst he saw jumps in games played, disposals and tackles, they weren’t the impact he was looking to have. Now ready to enter his fifth season with 76 games under his belt, Duncan will look to provide greater influence for the Cats in the centre square.
Potential position – midfield
Other position – half forward, half back

Josh Caddy
Now entering season two at the Cattery, Josh Caddy will look to take the form from his second half of 2013 into this year. Caddy is one of the few players who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and dominate. Now with a better idea of what it is to be a Geelong player, watch for Caddy to be influential in the clinches and deadly up forward.
Potential position – midfield
Other positons – half forward, wing

Mathew Stokes
No one, perhaps even Mathew Stokes himself, would have foreseen the year he had in 2013. A permanent shift to the midfield saw Stokes become a crucial member of the Cats line up. An uncanny ability to find the ball in space and use it well meant Stokes racked up disposals at will. A similar role in 2014 should see Stokes maintain the standard.
Potential position – midfield, forward pocket
Other position - wing

Allen Christensen
Another who saw significant increases in their output in 2013, Allen Christensen will head into year four of his AFL career with a chance to become an elite AFL midfielder. A key to this will be Christensen finding more of the ball. The fact that Christensen loves to find a goal will work well for the Cats with the ability to swap him from up forward to midfield without many trips to the bench.
Potential position – midfield, half forward
Other position - wing

Steven Motlop
Is 2014 the season the AFL’s most feared talent is Steven Motlop? The Cats will be hoping so. No longer just a exciting forward, Motlop now finds himself in the centre where his amazing agility and burst of speed can hurt teams more. When resting forward, Motlop’s ability to get to the ball first and hit the scoreboard is equally important.
Potential position – midfield, half forward
Other positions - wing

George Horlin-Smith
Cats fans are anxious to see what George Horlin-Smith has to offer on a regular basis after impressing for the Cats in 2013. With eight consecutive games last year including a blinder against Sydney the earned him a rising star nomination, Horlin-Smith should be a staple of the Cats midfield going forward. Horlin-Smith’s work in the clearances is nearly his most valuable asset and something the Cats are crying out for.
Potential position – midfield
Other position – half forward

Jarrad Jansen
Jarrad Jansen comes to the Cats not looking like a guy fresh out of high school but a like a man. Tall, strong and quick, Jansen is the new blueprint for an AFL midfielder. While it will take a while to get the polish look for Jansen to push for claims at an AFL birth this year.
Potential position – midfield, wing
Other positions – half back