HARRY Taylor believes a growing closeness in the playing group will help the Cats achieve their best on the field in 2018.

The Cats’ deputy vice captain is entering his 11th year on the Geelong list and holds a positive outlook on the season ahead.

“We spend a lot of time with each other now and good things in my view take a bit of time to develop,” he said.

“I think we’re getting to a stage now where everyone knows each other a little bit more intimately on and off the field and everyone just seems to want to hang out with each other off the field and I think that’s a really important part of any culture.”

Fellow leadership group member Scott Selwood says the Cats’ up-and-coming stars will help the club deliver on that promise.

“I think Tim Kelly’s going to play a really important role for us throughout the year and little Lachy Fogarty and that will get their chance throughout the year as well,” he said.

“Quinton Narkle gets to come back and play footy again which is really exciting.”

Patrick Dangerfield agrees that the club’s young talent will play an important role this year.  

“There’s a little bald guy that’s pretty exciting on the track at the moment but besides him we’ve got some pretty exciting young players coming through,” he said. 

“Nakia Cockatoo is one of my favourites – he does things on the track that you just marvel at.”

The club vice captain hopes those budding stars will step up in 2018.

“There’s so many stories within our first to third year players that are ready to take that next step… from not playing to now playing and other with leadership potential like James Parsons who I think has real aspirations in that area,” Dangerfield said.

“We need those guys to push the older guys as much as possible and not take no for an answer and not just think they’ve got to wait their time – their time is now.”