He is one of the hardest working and most dedicated players at the Geelong Football Club and the proof is in the pudding, with George Stevens looking primed to take his game to new heights this year. 

The tough midfielder played a starring role in the Cats' VFL season opener on Friday night, accumulating an equal game-high 34 disposals and nine clearances while going at a very impressive 82% efficiency. 

While Stevens is renowned for his work around stoppages, he was also damaging in the forward half against Essendon, recording 11 score involvements and showing great signs of development with his ball use and decision making. 

Now into his third season with Geelong, Stevens said that he is looking to add new dimensions to his game in order to stay ready for when his opportunity at the top level comes knocking. 

"I am absolutely loving my time here and continuing to do so," Stevens told Cats Media. 

"For me, it is continuing to work with the likes of Nigel Lappin and 'Harry' Corrigan, our VFL coach and Mitch Herbison who is our midfield coach this year. Continuing to develop many parts of my game, just becoming a little bit more well rounded.

"I just want to be ready when the opportunity comes, to be honest.

"The boys have started the season strongly with their win over Fremantle last week, so I'll continue to support them at training and then hopefully when my opportunity arises, be ready to go."

After a relatively even start to Friday night's game, Geelong put the foot down through the middle of the match and piled on 14 unanswered goals, setting up a thumping 85-point victory to open their campaign. 

The Cats' clearance work (+14) and ability to control the play (+40 marks) was telling, with Stevens noting that a quarter time message from the coaches helped the team to capitalise on their dominance. 

"I think the message was about maximising our wins a little bit more," Stevens said. 

"We had control stats wise and with our key performance indicators, we were doing everything well. It was just that pressure around the ball, it was either we win it and we go forward or they win it and score.

"As soon as we could get a bit more stability around the ball, start to use our shape a little bit more and own territory to keep it on our front half, that is when the game looks the best for us.

"We were able to do that from quarter time onwards, the boys are really good at getting the message from the coaches and implementing that."

Geelong struck a brilliant balance between experience and youth on Friday night, with a number of AFL and VFL listed players putting their best foot forward to start the year. 

Premiership Cats Jake Kolodjashnij, Rhys Stanley and Jed Bews all impressed and looked a class above, while Jack Bowes and Mitch Knevitt did not miss a beat in their first VFL appearance of the year. 

Ollie Henry, Oli Wiltshire and Jay Polkinghorne combined for 13 goals to put the Bombers to the sword inside 50, but there were a number of VFL listed players who also dominated throughout the contest. 

Kye Annand (eight intercepts) was brilliant in a new defensive role, Jay Rantall (22 disposals, two goals) was heavily influential while leaders Dan Capiron and Marcus Herbert both capitalised on big moments early in the match. 

Stevens said that it is always great playing alongside and learning from so many experienced players, but he was quick to give credit to Geelong's VFL stars. 

"I have played a little bit of footy with Rhys [Stanley] now, he is so predictable. I love playing with him, he is a really good communicator," Stevens said. 

"All those boys that you mentioned, having Mitch Knevitt in there and Jack Bowes, Ollie Henry up forward and I think Jay Polkinghorne got on the scoreboard a bit.

"But for me in this program, it is about some of the VFL boys coming through.

"We had Jesse Hart on debut tonight up from Albury, Kye Annand in the backline, Will White who has come across from Carlton.

"The VFL listed boys are the ones that work their backsides off, have to go to work and then come to training Tuesday and Thursday.

"To see them play really good games and really support us, to build that connection with us is pretty incredible."