GEELONG'S Billie Smedts is aiming to reinvent himself as a rebounding defending this season.
 
The 21-year-old, who was the Cats' first pick in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, has previously spent a lot of time in attack, playing mainly as a hard-tackling goal-sneak.
 
But with his club needing to groom some youngsters to take over from the likes of five-time All Australian defender Corey Enright, Smedts is ready to press his case.
 
"I've looked at who I'm going to play like when I go down there, so I've been working alongside Andrew Mackie and 'Boris' Enright," he told geelongcats.com.au.
 
"I've been picking their brains and trying to learn as much as I can.
 
"When the games come around, I want to feel really comfortable and understand my role for the team and what I can give.
 
"I think (the backline) suits the way I play a lot better. I can see the game ahead of me and can read the play a bit better and take the game on a lot more.
 
"So I'm really looking forward to getting down there."
 
Smedts made his debut in 2012, playing 14 games that season and another 13 last year.
 
In 2014, the heat is on the boy from North Warrnambool to step up and cement his place in the team.
 
"He played some great VFL footy at the end of (last) year," Cats assistant coach Dale Amos said.
 
"He looks too comfortable at VFL-level to stay there any longer. He just looks a class above when he's in the VFL.
 
"Billie's ready to take the next step and become a regular and consistent AFL player. That's where he at."
 
Having put in the hard yards during the summer, Smedts is delighted that the NAB Challenge has finally arrived, with Geelong taking on Collingwood at Simonds Stadium on Wednesday night.
 
And he is looking forward to running out alongside draftee Jarrad Jansen, who is the only new player included in the Cats' strong squad.
 
"He's shown a lot," Smedts said. "He's got a big body, he's hard to tackle and he's very strong, so he has stood out a lot."
 
Smedts is also keen to point out that Geelong's senior players remain as motivated as ever.
 
"Steve Johnson still has that burning ambition of winning another premiership," he said. "The way he trains, he's just ferocious.
 
"And Travvy Varcoe. The aggression that he's brought to training – he really sets a good standard of how hard we should be training.
 
"There's no friendships on the training track, which is good. It brings everyone else up."