GEELONG has named 18 premiership players in the team that will open the club’s quest for consecutive premierships for the first time since 1952.
The Cats have been forced into four changes from the side that destroyed Sydney in last year’s grand final for tomorrow (Thursday) night’s season opener against Collingwood at the MCG.
Heartbreak story Max Holmes, reinvented defender Esava Ratugolea and off-season signings Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry are the quarter that didn’t play against the Swans.
They replace retired captain Joel Selwood and injured trio Mitch Duncan, Jack Henry and Jake Kolodjashnij.
Grand final substitute Brandan Parfitt will vie for that role again; he’s been named as an emergency alongside ruckman Jonathon Ceglar, the versatile Sam Simpson, and uncapped Cooper Whyte.
Bruhn and Henry will become the 1105th and 1106th players, respectively, to pull on the Hoops at VFL/AFL level.
First-year captain Patrick Dangerfield will make his 150th appearance for Geelong.
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AFL ROUND 1
GEELONG vs. COLLINGWOOD
MCG
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 7:40pm
| Backs | Mark O’Connor | Sam De Koning | Esava Ratugolea |
| Half Backs | Isaac Smith | Tom Stewart (VC) | Zach Guthrie |
| Centreline | Mark Blicavs | Max Holmes | Zach Tuohy |
| Half Forwards | Tyson Stengle | Jeremy Cameron | Gryan Miers |
| Forwards | Oliver Henry | Tom Hawkins | Gary Rohan |
| Followers | Rhys Stanley | Cameron Guthrie | Patrick Dangerfield (C) |
| Interchange | Jed Bews | Tom Atkins | Tanner Bruhn |
| Brad Close | |||
| Emergencies | Jonathon Ceglar | Sam Simpson | Brandan Parfitt |
| Cooper Whyte |
