By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
Geelong will be happy with its pre-season journey to the round one Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn, despite some losses and injury concerns.
The Cats wanted to get the bulk of their senior players through the three games unscathed, and by and large that goal has been kicked.
Jimmy Bartel was wrapped in cotton wool after a heavy knock early in the game against Fremantle, but with two week’s break, he will be fine to tackle the Hawks.
A couple of knee injuries have soured the preparation somewhat, but this season Geelong has sufficient cover.
Prized recruit Patrick Dangerfield has well and truly demonstrated the value he brings to the side. He is third in Brownlow Medal odds, with Joel Selwood seventh.
More than form, it is obvious Dangerfield is in a happy place, relishing his new role, showing leadership and feeling at home.
The key to the season will be how the two guns fire side by side. That has been the only downer for Geelong’s coaching staff out of the NAB Challenge – a lack of game time for the superstars together.
Watching Selwood and Dangerfield operate in tandem will be a sight to behold, given the form lines of both.
The biggest benefit will be on-field leadership, with Dangerfield showing the way when Selwood is taking a break, and vice versa.
But the reality will only become apparent on the ground, as big name tandems have failed as often as they have fired.
Selwood says he has recovered from a foot injury and is on track to play against Hawthorn with a hit out in the VFL against Richmond on Friday to prove it.
The skipper said he would be “surprised” if he didn’t take the field against the Cats’ modern rivals.
A win would announce Geelong for 2016 like nothing else could.
Coaches and assistant coaches have been tempering expectations, warning that team chemistry is an unknown quantity.
That will be less of an issue in the midfield and more obvious up forward, where a couple of pieces of the puzzle have yet to fall into place.
Organising the attack to maximise Hawkins’ size and power and stretch defences will be high on Chris Scott’s to-do list.
Perhaps, rising to the challenge of toppling the team that has taken the mantle of the best side in footy will bring out the best in the Cats.
