On the most recent episode of our official Geelong Cats podcast To the Final Bell, panellists Scott Gullan and Cameron Ling took the bye week as a chance to take stock pick their best sides for the year ahead. 

You can listen to the podcast here


Scott Gullan (Herald Sun sports writer) 

B: Bews, Blicavs, Kolodjashnij
HB: Stewart, Taylor, Tuohy
C: Duncan, J Selwood, Kelly
HF: Parfitt, Menegola, Menzel
F: Cunico, Hawkins, Narkle
R: 
Stanley, Dangerfield, Ablett
INT: S Selwood, C Guthrie, Henry, Fogarty

“The forward pocket is a complete mystery to me. Linc McCarthy I’m not putting in because of his injury prone ways and he’s missed too much footy. Fogarty I like but he’s a bit up and down. Quinton Narkle – I think he’ll come of age in the next three months and he’ll be there.”

“There’s two spots clearly in the 22, I think we both agree, that are really up for grabs. Henry, Scott Selwood and Guthrie are locks on the bench. Forward pocket we’ve debated and the other bench spot we’ve debated.”

“The fourth spot on the bench is in much contention. Jordan Murdoch is a regular senior player and hasn’t made it yet. Cockatoo – I’m not convinced I can put him in there.”

“We can’t have Jack Henry and Henderson in the same side in my opinion. I’d love to be able to say Henderson can play forward but it’s a long time ago when he played forward.”

Cameron Ling (Geelong Great and Channel 7 Commentator)

B: Bews, Blicavs, Kolodjashnij
HB: Stewart, Taylor, Tuohy
C: Duncan, Selwood, Cunico
HF: Parfitt, Menegola, Menzel
F: Kelly, Hawkins, McCarthy
R: Stanley, Dangerfield, Ablett
INT: S Selwood, C Guthrie, Henry, Cockatoo

“I’ve decided to go with the old champ, Harry Taylor. Assuming he gets back into his best form and his body does hold up ok, I think he still has the right to display he can get back to that form, he’s back in there as good as Henry has been.”

“Cunico is not a forward, he has to play in the midfield. I’ve got Tim Kelly in the forward line as a rotation of Kelly, Ablett, Dangerfield.”

“Assuming he comes back from his hammy fine, McCarthy will be taking grabs, he kicks goals, he puts huge pressure on."

“Henderson is the unknown because if he gets back playing his best possible football he potentially pushes Henry out.”

“If Nakia Cockatoo’s body eventually holds up he will be doing things that Patrick Dangerfield does in games. He will rip it out of a contest, he will blow past four blokes – we’ve seen him do it. He could be the x-factor come finals.”