The pre-season is an exciting time of year with all eyes fixated on a brand new season ahead, with the competitive standards certainly lifting at Geelong as the Opening Round draws closer.
With a solid block of training and practice games awaiting, it is also the time of year where new faces push their case for a spot in the team, while the Cats' established stars look to build into another exciting campaign.
Heading into his eighth AFL season with Geelong, Tom Atkins will be looking to expand on his brilliant 2025 campaign which saw him average career highs in disposals, clearances and contested possessions, while also eclipsing the AFL record for most tackles in a season.
Despite his well renowned defensive prowess, Atkins was also able to have an impact offensively throughout the year, finishing fourth at Geelong for total goal assists and leading the club for score launches.
As another season and a fresh new opportunity beckons, the experienced Cat touched on a new recruit that he has relished the chance to work alongside during the pre-season.
"I have enjoyed working with James Worpel, just having his experience in there has been great," Atkins said.
"Obviously he is a really strong, physical player who has got really good endurance as well.
"That is probably one things that I have been surprised by, he is probably seen more as an inside player but he is really running and transitioning well.
"I have loved working with 'Worps' so far."
While technically not a new recruit, Atkins also noted that he has been impressed by athletic young ruckman, Mitch Edwards during the off-season.
Selected by Geelong in the 2023 National Draft, Edwards has been limited by injuries in his first two seasons at the club, but was able to showcase his potential in the back half of last year's VFL season. The standout performance came in the final round against Sydney, where Edwards accumulated 23 disposals and 21 hit-outs in what was a promising sign of things to come.
Atkins noted that it has been a joy to watch Edwards compete throughout the pre-season, with the 20-year-old looking to get a more consistent run of football in the new year.
"It has also been good to see Mitch Edwards play in the ruck a bit, to see what he can do," Atkins told media.
"I have got no part in selection, but it has just been good to see him getting some reps. We have had a lot of injuries with our ruck stocks over the last couple of years.
"To see these guys out and being able to be involved in footy, getting those important experiences with the rest of the team, it is good for the future of Geelong. Hopefully they keep healthy."
The positive impacts at training have not been limited to the players on field, with many around the club noting the instant impact that Nathan Buckley has had in his short time at Geelong.
Atkins said that he has taken plenty of learnings from Buckley's approach during the pre-season, helping to provide a fresh outlook as Geelong build into the 2026 season.
"We have loved having 'Bucks' so far," Atkins said.
"He is probably similar to me, a fairly intense and straight down the line guy.
"He has already seen some improvements that we can make in our game and with our program.
"It has been enjoyable just to hear his opinion on those sort of things, to get a fresh set of eyes across how we went last year and how we can go this year."
