LOOK out AFL. The Cats are primed to be even better in 2023.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s if Tom Atkins\u2019 assessment of the Geelong list is anything to go by.<\/p>\n
The Cats won the premiership last year after finishing the home and away season on top with a strong record of 18-4.<\/p>\n
The way they dismantled Sydney in the grand final suggests that they were by far the best team of last season.<\/p>\n
Despite losing inspirational captain Joel Selwood to retirement, Geelong recruited shrewdly in the off-season and according to premiership midfielder Atkins are in a better position now than they were last year.<\/p>\n
Atkins, who has been a VFL Cat since 2014 and a senior Geelong player since 2019, said he and teammate Gryan Miers have been discussing just how deep the playing group is on the back of last year\u2019s flag.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reckon there\u2019d be maybe five or six guys, maybe a couple more, who are pretty sure of their place in the team,\u201d Atkins said on SEN Breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust with the evenness of the squad. I actually messaged Gryan the other night, our team photo got released and I was going through the faces and the majority of those guys you\u2019d be happy if they played in the AFL team.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said to him it might be one of the strongest lists we\u2019ve ever had. It\u2019s definitely the strongest list we\u2019ve had since I\u2019ve been here.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good thing for the Cats.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Cats were dominant for much of last season, playing a revitalised game plan under Chris Scott.<\/p>\n
But can they go to a whole new level in 2023 having recruited the likes of Jack Bowes, Tanner Bruhn and Ollie Henry?<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely, that\u2019s the aim,\u201d Atkins replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI heard you saying that we looked unbeatable but we didn\u2019t look too unbeatable in that Qualifying Final against Collingwood, so there\u2019s always room for improvement.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we started to hit our straps at the right time last year, so if anything we can try and continue that this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the guys that we\u2019ve brought in they\u2019re going to bring their own strengths through. It\u2019s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Geelong opened up their pre-season with a thumping 85-point win over Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium last week.<\/p>\n
Henry starred up forward with four goals, while fellow Kardinia newcomers Bruhn and Bowes also impressed.<\/p>\n
The Cats\u2019 2023 season proper kicks off against Collingwood at the MCG on 17 March.<\/p>\n
The Cats are considered by many as the premiership favourites for the 2023 season.<\/p>\n