Breaking News: ‘He’s big, he’s fit, he’s powerful’: Cats Contemplate a Significant Midfield Shift

GEELONG is exploring the possibility of transitioning five-time All Australian defender Tom Stewart into the midfield as part of their strategy to bounce back from missing the finals last season.

The Cats express optimism about the potential success of this positional change for Stewart, and it is expected to undergo testing in upcoming pre-season games.

Cats assistant coach James Kelly voiced his support for the idea on Tuesday, stating, “I would love to see it. I have spent a fair bit of time coaching the backline, and it’s maybe a bit counter-intuitive for me to say that Tom shouldn’t be there.”

However, I believe it can only be advantageous for the team.

“He possesses size, fitness, and power.

“If we could somehow orchestrate having him and (captain) Pat (Dangerfield) in the midfield simultaneously, it would be quite challenging for the opposition to defend, in my opinion.”

Stewart clinched his second club best-and-fairest award last year following the Cats’ 2022 premiership win, despite the team slipping to 10th due to a series of injuries.

Key midfielder Cam Guthrie was on the extensive injury list, featuring in the initial six games before sitting out the remainder of the season following foot surgery.

However, the 31-year-old Guthrie has made a positive impression during Geelong’s pre-season.

“He looks really good; he’s incredibly professional and diligent,” remarked Kelly.

“He took some time off at the end of last year and has returned as a genuinely content and ready-to-train individual.

“It was a lengthy year for him, grappling with a persistent injury that he couldn’t overcome.

“There was a period where he might have made a comeback, and that’s the most challenging time for a player, when you’re in a state of uncertainty.”

Guthrie was part of a group of Geelong players who have addressed their injuries during the extended pre-season after missing the finals.

“Last year didn’t conclude the way we desired,” remarked Kelly.

“But the silver lining is that we’ve had an exceptionally long pre-season, longer than what we’ve experienced in the past four or five years.

“We’ve seen many players return in good shape and put in a significant amount of work.

“While our primary goal has always been to perform strongly in the finals, the advantage for us, in terms of bouncing back in 2024 is evident.”