Why Smith can't be expected to save Cats; Dockers fans 'waiting' as star told to 'knuckle down'

As the AFL gears up for its official pre-season matches next week, fans and clubs alike are already getting a taste of what's to come in season 2025.

Some clubs have been keeping a lid on their plans, while others are charging ahead with tactics and new recruits already on display.

But it's been a difficult off-season for some clubs on the injury front, so let's take a look at how your team is shaping up with and without some of their biggest names for the season ahead.

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BAILEY'S BACK - BUT CATS MIDFIELD IS STILL LACKING

Bailey Smith didn't set the world on fire in his first hit out in the blue and white hoops on Monday.

He did burst out of the pack and play a strong intercept game over three quarters, nabbing 10 possessions in the opening 15 minutes of the match.

But he was quiet after that. And it's not up to Smith to be the saviour of the Cats amid a lack of midfield prowess.

It still leaves concerns, especially with veteran premiership middle man Cam Guthrie sidelined for at least a month after undergoing Achilles surgery, that Geelong cannot replicate the success of their 2022 flag and since Joel Selwood's retirement.

That's where the hope falls on 22-year-old Mitch Knevitt, who played mostly midfield minutes in their 20-point scratch match win over Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium on Monday.

It's up to a young group, including Tanner Bruhn, Jack Bowes, Knevitt, Smith and the impressive Max Holmes to find their feet against the competition's best midfielders, especially with the Hawks dominating clearances on Monday.

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LALOR CONCUSSION LEAVES TIGERS PANICKED

Richmond's No.1 draft pick Sam Lalor entered concussion protocols after a nasty collision that left him with a broken jaw on Monday.

He collided with Eagle Sandy Brock, after being pushed into his ribs by Rueben Ginbey during a marking contest.

It left Richmond fans panicked, seeing the 18-year-old on the turf in pain as he clutched at his head and jaw, and now in serious doubt for round one.

But it's not up to Lalor to save the rebuilding Tigers.

The Tigers are well and truly committing to their rebuild, but they'll have to train up youngsters so when stars like Lalor go down, the hole won't feel so massive.

The pressure will fall onto tall midfielder Hugo Ralphsmith, entering his fifth season at the elite level, to lead a squad of young adults through what threatens to be a difficult period.

The Tigers went down to the Eagles by 36 points at Mineral Resources Park on Monday, with Lalor the only multiple goal scorer with two.

WILL'S DAY OUT REMINDS US HAWKS ARE A THREAT

Will Day broke lines and dominated in the Hawks' 20-point loss to the Cats in their scratch match on Monday.

Despite the loss, the Hawks dominated through the middle, with Day, alongside James Worpel, collecting clearance after clearance.

Hawks assistant coach David Hale heaped praise on the 23-year-old.

"He's had a good summer, and he has touched on it being the first full pre-season he has had. He looked the player we know he is going to be," Hale said post match.

"He is dynamic inside and he kicked a couple of goals to add to the scoreboard, which is something we want him to do a bit more of."

The young Hawks aren't so young anymore and their midfield showed that against some of Geelong's best like premiership pair Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Atkins.

KAKO THE GREAT

Goodbye Jake Stringer and hello Isaac Kako.

The new Bombers small forward has already created a buzz in front of goal during his club's match simulation against the Bulldogs.

It's exactly what Essendon fans wanted to see. Fire, hunger around the footy and good ball sense, something they've fallen away from as they've struggled to make finals in recent years.

After sitting pretty at the top of the ladder last season before falling away to finish in 11th, it's Kako's forward pressure that could be another puzzle piece to their dream of winning their first final since 2004.

But it'll take more than just a teenage goalsneak to get the job done.

Their defence lacked in 2024, with hopes key big man Ben McKay can make use of his height and size to concern goalkicking talls.

It's a collective effort at the Hangar, which requires a mental buy in from a plethora of youngsters to help veterans Zach Merrett and Darcy Parish reach finals.

DOGS IN STRIFE

The Western Bulldogs will enter their round one bout against North Melbourne without five of their best 22 available.

Adam Treloar (calf), Cody Weightman (knee), Jason Johannisen (hamstring), Liam Jones (hamstring) and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan (personal reasons), will all miss round one, leaving the door open for a shock upset by the Roos.

So who will fill the midfield hole left by Treloar and the defensive lockdown ability of Jones?

It can't all fall onto skipper Marcus Bontempelli for yet another season.

It's time to see how the addition of former Blue Matt Kennedy will ease the pressure on Bontempelli around the footy.

Meantime, Ed Richards will be required to find pace on the wing to support a side hungry to replicate their 2016 triumph with an under-pressure coach Luke Beveridge still at the helm.

'VANILLA' DOCKERS HIDING THEIR PROBLEMS?

After their 43-point loss to the Indigenous All Stars side, Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir declared that was nowhere near his side's best football.

"We played pretty vanilla," Longmuir said post match.

"This time of the year, trying to just make sure we get the basics right and we didn't want to expose some of the things we've been working on."

But is that avoiding the hard truth?

The Dockers are yet to win a premiership and will now go into round one without first-choice ruckman Sean Darcy yet again, as he battles another injury setback.

The one to look out for is running defender Jordan Clark, who failed to keep his cool on field in 2024.

Those outbursts cost his side on the scoreboard. It's time to knuckle down and play serious footy.

Their fans are waiting.