The ruck position has been a contentious issue for the Geelong Cats selection panel and a frequent area of concern for their fans for several years now, and it will be no different in 2025 as the Cats still lack a clear number one option.
Geelong knows full well that having an elite ruckman is not a necessity required to be a premiership side in the AFL, but the lack of a consistent option can be just as hurtful.
It was evident in Round 15 against Carlton last season. Injuries to both of Geelong's key ruck options Toby Conway and Rhys Stanley paved the way for fullback Sam De Koning to take on the rucking role, where he was truly outclassed by his more proficient brother.
So, how should Geelong manage the ruck in 2025? One pathway forward is clear and could be critical for the Cats as they enter the next era of the club's talent.
If there's one thing Geelong has proven to be brilliant at, it's their ability to roll in the new generation without needing a complete rebuild. Slowly phasing out ageing superstars in favour of youthful talent has allowed them to consistently play finals for almost two decades, highlighted by both Shannon Neale and Ollie Dempsey's stellar 2024 seasons. Therefore, it is clear that the next step in this process is to play Toby Conway more regularly in 2025.
While Conway wasn't available for the majority of last season due to a foot injury requiring surgery in June, his five appearances between Rounds 3-12 were exactly what the Cats wanted to see out of the youngster.
He comprehensively manhandled Brisbane's Oscar McInerney in Round 6, winning the hitout battle 41-18, and kicked a goal and had three score involvements against Hawthorn in their Easter Monday clash. While the sample size is obviously much smaller, his 24.4 hitouts per game are just shy of Rhys Stanley's 26.7, who Geelong utilised as their primary ruck throughout the latter half of 2024. The flashes of potential have been apparent with Conway and it's something Geelong must capitalise on.
Geelong's midfield was bolstered with the addition of Bailey Smith this off-season, meaning there will be plenty of pace and ball-winning abilities in this area of the ground.
This should excite Cats fans given Conway's skill at winning hard balls from the ruck, ensuring Geelong retain possession. Conway averaged 3.0 ruck hard-ball gets in his five games last season, which ranked him tied-eighth in the AFL with Rowan Marshall. While Conway's 4.6 hitouts to advantage are lower than Marshall's 6.7, the fact he finds himself within this upper echelon is impressive enough.
It illustrates that Conway has the aggressive ruck game that the top ruckmen of today's game pride themselves on. With more time spent at an AFL intensity and a full pre-season under his belt, he will be sure to improve in this area.
A positive with Geelong's current ruck situation is Conway won't be asked to immediately take on every ruck contest, allowing him to develop at the AFL level with significantly less pressure. Mark Blicavs has proven to be an excellent option to provide support, and his versatility should continue to provide value for the Cats in 2025 if they begin to bring Conway in more regularly.
Ultimately, it is time for the ruck experiments to halt at the Cattery given Conway's clear potential. As proven with the successful development of Dempsey, Geelong has a track record of turning raw prospects into high-quality footballers quickly with more AFL experience.
Stanley has been serviceable for Geelong in his tenure at the club but his age now detracts what he can bring to the table. The De Koning trial provided its ups and downs but it is evident that he is suited in the backline with a clearer role.
There is simply no better time to escalate the development process of Toby Conway than now.