Almanac Footy: Geelong 2026 season preview
List:
I may have said this before, but the modern Geelong are like British Paints, they just ‘keep on keeping on’ (Len Chandler, 1964).
So, the Geelong leadership have determined that what was missing last year was a Joel Selwood-like midfielder, reliable at stoppages.
Maybe they’re right! Or, maybe, Geelong is full of players past their prime who, repeatedly, can’t run out four quarters.
To win a premiership, a team needs to be able to run for four quarters!
The answer most probably lies somewhere in between. To resurrect the long retired Selwood, they’ve recruited James Worpel from Hawthorn. Worpel is good at centre clearances, and even better at stoppage clearances. However, Geelong still have a quarter of their list in the twilight zone. Yes, they’ve delisted some twilighters from last season’s list, but another year passes, and some of last year’s mature players become this season’s twilighters. That’s life!
Also, where is Toby Conway? 22yo, 206cms, and only 6 AFL games. He played 3 VFL games at the end of last season.
Geelong must make change, and it begins with their select 23.
Select 23:
For me, change starts in the ruck. Hypothetically, without Toby Conway for another season, Stanley and Blicavs are 35 and 34yo respectively. De Koning, at 24 and 204cm, should go into the first ruck. He is not crucial to their defence, as he rates fourtth in their key interceptors, behind Stewart, Jack Henry and O’Sullivan. Connor O’Sullivan, 20yo and 198cm, can be FB. Stewart has been CHB for years, and Henry can play third tall.
In the midfield, Worpel comes into the Geelong midfield, but should be seen as part of a long list of rotations. Worpel, Smith, Bowes, Holmes, Atkins, Stengle, Bruhn, Miers, Dempsey, Mannagh, and the impressive junior, George Stevens. Yes, 11 rotating midfielders in the one team is enough, but they will need to find extras over the season to support the inevitable injuries.
The forward half is excellent. It was the second highest scoring attack last season, Bulldogs were the highest scoring team.
Geelong will be there again, they have too many vested interests not to.
Geelong 2026 Select 23:
B: Humphries, O’Sullivan, J. Henry
HB: Z. Guthrie, Stewart, O’Connor
C: Bowes, Smith, Worpel
HF: Dempsey, Cameron, Mannagh
F: Dangerfield, Neale, Close
R: De Koning, M.Holmes, Atkins
I: Stengle, O. Henry, Bruhn, Miers, Stevens
You can follow all my list updates as they become available at https://www.ozfootylistmanager.com/2026-lists-new.html
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About
It was 25 years ago that I began developing a model for analysing footy squad lists for the purpose of improving those lists into a premiership window. Since then, the model has been used to successfully predict premiership clubs and to improve either lop-sided or underdeveloped lists into premiership lists. Indeed, the model was used for an article that I had published as a double page spread in The Age 2005 Pre-Season magazine. Over the 25 years, I have analysed the annual lists of one particular club but have used it for other clubs upon request. It has always been on my bucket list to display the lists of all the clubs, using the model, which I've done since 2021 on my website - OzFootyListManager.com
Mitch Edwards in the ruck. One to watch.
I would like them to win the flag this year but I said that last year and look what happened. There is the warning that Chris Scott’s two premierships are eleven years apart, which puts a dampener on further success and the last decade. I still believe they are a big chance this year, but Hawthorn looks better prepared to end Fitz-bleep-roy’s hegemony.
Whoa! Mark Blivacs would still get a game with every team such is his versatility. Worpel will be a plus as will Tanner Bruhn. Why haven’t the Cats gone to Fair Work about him? Yes we are a bit depleted in the ruck and if Edwards and Toby Conway are fit and firing that will ease the burden on the “ancient mariners”.
Most centre scrums should be won by the Pivots and the ball will go forward enough for the talented forward line to kick winning scores in most matches. Dempsey could be the real key up forward. He seems to have muscled up a bit which will help
Still will make the finals and continue to create records in that field of endeavour.