With the 2025 season just over a month away, Geelong's journey back to the AFLW Finals is ready for its opening act as the Cats gear up for another thrilling campaign. 

Geelong certainly had their moments in 2024, taking down eventual Grand Finalists, Brisbane while being the only team to take points off Premiers, North Melbourne but inconsistency plagued the Cats as they ultimately finished 10th and missed out on the post season. 

But the playing group has clearly put that season in the rear view mirror, focused on what is ahead with another exciting opportunity awaiting in 2025 the Cats look to recapture some of the magic they have produced in recent years. 

At the centre of Geelong's hopes and dreams is superstar midfielder, Georgie Prespakis who provided some insight into the Cats pre-season with a little over four weeks remaining until Round 1. 

"It has been really good so far," Prespakis told Cats Media. 

"You find that the pre-season goes quite quickly, and you are almost into the game side of things. It is good to ramp things up a little bit now into some match sim, I think the girls are feeling in a really good place.

"We are really trying to build the connection now as we lead into games, to have that connection across all lines so we are on the same page. It has been really nice, we have had some really good connection into our forwards in previous weeks.

"Being able to hone in on that and get some really good looks ahead of the ball, that is something that is a key focus." 

While her 2024 campaign perhaps did not quite reach the lofty heights of previous years, Prespakis was still one of Geelong's most influential players around stoppages while copping plenty of attention from opposition taggers throughout the season. 

The star on-baller lead the Cats for clearances and contested possessions last year despite missing two games, while also finishing in the top three at the club for disposals, tackles and inside 50s.

With everything that she has achieved already in her career, it is hard to fathom that Prespakis is still just 22 years old and heading into her fifth AFLW season, but the brilliant Cat said there is still plenty of room for improvement. 

"A big focus for me is consistency," Prespakis said. 

"It is a really good opportunity in this next block to be able to work on my one touch, all my stuff around stoppage and away from that all the running patterns.

"It is exciting times and there is always plenty to work on."

Throughout the off season, Prespakis also spent time with Geelong's VFLW team and the Cats Next Generation Academy in a leadership capacity, an opportunity she said has helped her to see the game in a different light. 

"I loved it, I am someone that loves learning the game so anywhere I am able to add layers to game, it is something that I enjoy doing," Prespakis said. 

"It offers me an extra lens on how to see the game a little bit differently, and to be involved in some other programs. There is some great coaches in both programs, being able to learn a little bit of Taylah Hassett in the VFW program, she was awesome.

"I loved my time there and I think it has helped me a lot with my own game, bringing it back to pre-season."

Prior to Geelong kicking off their 2025 season, the Cats will take part in a pair of practice matches to help fine tune their game heading into Round 1. 

The first will be a match simulation against St Kilda on the 26th of July, before heading to the Gold Coast to take on the Suns on the 2nd of August. 

"They are just a good time to work on what you have focused on over the pre-season," Prespakis said. 

"A big thing is how we move the ball, how we look to score and be dangerous from that A-Mid part. Particularly how we can set up defensively and the more that we can win the ball back in attack, I think we look fairly good.

"I know for us as a midfield group, we want to be really strong in how we go this year so we want to build that connection and make sure we are all on the same page, so we can have a really good start to the season."