With a final pre-season hit-out under their belts, all eyes are now firmly fixed on an Opening Round blockbuster as the Cats prepare to commence their 2026 campaign on the Gold Coast next Friday. 

Two competitive practice matches have helped Chris Scott's side tune up for the year ahead, following a solid outing at IKON Park against Carlton in Wednesday's AAMI Community Series match. 

There were plenty of positives to take away from the contest, with the Cats matching the Blues in inside 50s and clearances despite missing some key players like Jeremy Cameron and Bailey Smith. 

One player who impressed on Wednesday night was Jhye Clark, who played a number of different roles throughout the game and finished with a handy 20 disposals and an equal team-high four score involvements.

Heading into his fourth season with the Cats, Clark said that the practice match provided valuable experience for the team as they prepare for a hot contest against the Suns next week. 

"Yeah unreal, it has come around pretty quick which is good," Clark told Cats Media on Wednesday night. 

"I can't wait to get into the game, especially up on the Gold Coast because it will be nice and hot up there early in the season. They look pretty strong too, so it will be a good first game and a good first hit-out for the year. 

"It was a good couple of hit-outs the last two weeks, last week was pretty hot so that will keep us in good stead for the Gold Coast.

"Then tonight it was good to get a few of the boys back from the Origin, and kind of see what the team was going to look like tonight. It was good to see what our game is going to look like next week and into the season."

The conclusion to Clark's 2025 season produced plenty of optimism heading into the new year, making the most of a golden opportunity with a pair of impressive performances in Geelong's Finals campaign. 

After entering the game as the substitute in the Preliminary Final, Clark collected 14 disposals and three score involvements against Hawthorn, backing that up with another 14 disposals and seven rebounds 50s in the Grand Final. 

When quizzed on what he has been working on over the pre-season, Clark said he is looking to stay flexible and play whatever role the team requires. 

"Probably just keeping that versatility," Clark said. 

"Tonight I kind of played everywhere, a bit on the wing and through the midfield, then as a high forward.

"So I just want to work on that, spending more time with the ball and being confident with the ball. There are just heaps of little things to work on."

There were a number of Cats that performed strongly against Carlton at IKON Park, with the likes of Max Holmes (25 disposals, one goal) and Tom Atkins (27 disposals, 10 tackles) showing that they are certainly ready for the season to begin. 

But perhaps the most exciting aspect of the practice match was the displays by Tanner Bruhn (27 disposals) and James Worpel (21 disposals, six clearances), two players primed to have a significant impact in the new campaign. 

"It is so good to have Tanner back," Clark said. 

"We missed him last year and he looked very good tonight, so it is great to have him back.

"'Worps' coming in, he has been a great leader throughout the group. He has been able to bond those older and younger groups together, so he will be very good for us this year on-field and off-field as well.

"A few of the younger boys as well with Jay Polkinghorne and Mitch Edwards, they played their first real AFL hit-out so it was good to see them too."