How the Cats look for 2017 in the AFL

GEELONG

Coach: Chris Scott

Captain: Joel Selwood

Last five years: 7-3-5-10-3

Key five: Patrick Dangerfield, Joel Selwood, Harry Taylor, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan.

Premiership clock: somewhere around 12 o'clock. The Cats are in the sweet spot ... or is their moment passing?

One to watch: Dan Menzel: With a horrendous run of four knee reconstructions behind him, the forward played 18 games last season and kicked 33 goals. A genuine talent.

Under the pump: Steven Motlop: The dashing midfielder/forward can dominate, but the Cats put him on the trade table after an ordinary finals series - and he attracted minimal interest. With free agency looming later this year, he needs a big season.

Ins: Ryan Abbott (Geelong, VFL), Aaron Black (North Melbourne), Zach Guthrie (Calder U18), Jack Henry (Geelong U18), Timm House (Geelong, VFL), Jamaine Jones (North Ballarat U18), Quinton Narkle (Perth, WAFL), Mark O'Connor (Ireland), Brandan Parfitt (North Adelaide, SANFL), Esava Ratugolea (Murray U18), Sam Simpson (Geelong U-18, father-son), Tom Stewart (Geelong, VFL), Zach Tuohy (Carlton).

Outs: Jimmy Bartel (retired), Zac Bates (delisted), Josh Caddy (Richmond), Mitch Clark (delisted), Jock Cornell (delisted), Cameron Delaney (delisted), Corey Enright (retired), Shane Kersten (Fremantle), Padraig Lucey (delisted), Michael Luxford (delisted), Tom Read (delisted), Billie Smedts (Carlton), Nathan Vardy (West Coast).

Best line-up:

B: Tom Ruggles, Tom Lonergan, Jake Kolodjashnij

HB: Zach Tuohy, Lachie Henderson, Jackson Thurlow

C: Mark Blicavs, Joel Selwood, Mitch Duncan

HF: Nakia Cockatoo, Tom Hawkins, Steven Motlop

F: Dan Menzel, Harry Taylor, Lincoln McCarthy

R: Zac Smith, Patrick Dangerfield, Cam Guthrie

I: Andrew Mackie, Sam Menegola, Rhys Stanley, Scott Selwood

Predicted finish: 6th

Betting (William Hill)

To win the flag: $11

To make the top eight: $1.45

AAP rhv