The Geelong Cats returned to the final day of September for a third time in six seasons last year but will rue the Grand Final as a missed opportunity, considering how convincingly the Cats defeated Brisbane in the Qualifying Final just three weeks prior.
They were led by Coleman medallist Jeremy Cameron, whose 88 goals were the most in a single season since 2008, as well as superstar recruit Bailey Smith, who claimed co-AFLCA Champion Player of the Year honours.
Those two are only the tip of the iceberg, however, as the Cats' extraordinary depth looks to pay dividends for another successful season in 2026 for one of the modern era's most dominant clubs.
The Cats' list will remain largely the same in the new year, with James Worpel's recruitment down the highway the only notable addition from the 2025 trade and free agency period. However, several young talents are looking to push through into the senior side, which could see a shake-up from the 23 that took to the hallowed turf in the 2025 decider.
With all of that in mind, let's take a look at what Geelong's best 23 might look like...
Defenders
Geelong's back six is perhaps the safest bet entering the new season, with the club's best defensive group firmly established.
The Cats were forced to make a difficult change in the Grand Final due to Tom Stewart's concussion, though Mark O'Connor's versatility as a utility across the ground means Stewart will immediately reassert his role as the club's key interceptor in 2026.
Geelong's developing youngsters in defence could take another step in 2026 as they add more AFL experience to their names. Connor O'Sullivan's defensive impact, which saw him become just the third under-21-year-old since 2012 to average over two intercept marks per game, will remain pivotal, while Sam De Koning looks more and more like his 2022 best after senior coach Chris Scott quickly scrapped his experiment in the ruck and returned the 24-year-old to deep inside the defensive 50.
Lawson Humphries has quickly become paramount to the Cats' elite defence too, with 2026 looming as a year for more growth for the Pilbara native.
Premiership heroes Jack Henry and Zach Guthrie will likely round out the back six, both unsung stars given their aerial capabilities and strong composure under pressure deep in their own half.
Fellow veteran premiership players Jed Bews and Jake Kolodjashnij will push for selection, but given their age and recent injury issues that limited the pair to four combined games in 2025, they may remain on the outer this year.
