By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
CATS coach Chris Scott admits Geelong was low-profile on the free-agency front but is hopeful a couple of recruit-like players will have a big impact next season.
And the operative word is big because having Dawson Simpson and Hamish Mcintosh available could be the difference between being contenders and also-rans.
McIntosh in particular adds experience and maturity to help make up for some of the enormous number of games that walked out of the club at the end of this season.
The former North Melbourne ruckman missed all of last season with recurring leg injuries, while Simpson suffered a knee injury just as he was showing top form.
“We’ve lost some extremely talented players over the last three or four years from this footy club,” Scott said.
“Sure, we’ve got a lot of faith in our younger players but it makes it harder and, combined with the fact that the opposition keeps getting better, we need to get everything right to compete.
“The guys that didn’t play much football last year are in good shape.
“Hamish McIntosh is in full training at the moment. I shouldn’t say at the moment – he’s healthy and going to stay that way.
“Corey Enright and Dawson Simpson missed the later stages of the season but they’re pretty much ready to go.”
Scott said power forward Tom Hawkins was undergoing a standard pre-season program without being “managed”, while speedster Travis Varcoe was in full training.
“It is challenging for us. Our list is different, we’ve lost some incredible players, so we’re all going to need to improve but I think that drives us.
“It’s a little different but every year there’s a turnover of players, so hopefully we’ll gain some experience for our younger players with more exposure to AFL football.
“It’s never been more competitive, a number of clubs have made long term investments in their lists. The days of the short-term fix are probably over.
“It seems to me there’s a big group of clubs that have been building for a long time and they’re ready to have their day in the sun.
“The way the system is set up makes it even harder for clubs that have been up in the top four for a long period of time.”
Scott said the older players had returned in good shape and was confident they could develop a solid fitness base before the Christmas break.
Daniel Menzel was back running but Scott warned he still had several boxes to tick “before we even consider match simulation drills”.
