Geelong will be spoilt for choice at the selection table ahead of Round 1 according to assistant coach Steven King on the back of the Cats’ final pre-season hitout against Eseendon last Friday. 

The home team emerged 12-point victors over the Bombers in front of 11,000 fans at GMHBA Stadium, most of them seated in the newly minted Joel Selwood Stand.

King, speaking with media post match, said that over 30 players have put their hand up for selection when the Saints come to town on March 16.

“We even had some headaches picking the squad of 26 for the (AAMI Community Series) game,” he said. 

“Also, I think we’ll go away from this game and have a really good debate around what the best team looks like but we’re in a really fortunate position where we’ve got probably 32-35 players who you could legitimately play Round 1, we’re really fit and healthy.”

“It’s probably going to be horses for courses around who we’re playing, and what mix we want both ahead and behind the ball. We’re really lucky we’ve now got two more weeks to train because ultimately the whole pre-season has been about St.Kilda.”

Geelong stormed home in front of an increasingly vocal crowd, kicking five last quarter goals, after the Bombers got out to a 14 point lead at one point in the match.

King said it was important for the team to be challenged at this point in the season, particularly at home. 

“It’s the end of a really good preparation from our point of view for the whole preseason,” he said.

“I think to get eight quarters of footy against two quality teams, especially down here it was really exciting to be challenged. It was a hot game early, but the boys really responded, and I think we take a lot of positives out of it. 

“Not only tonight, but I think the last couple of months.”