Geelong coach Chris Scott is taking no notice of how round-one opponents Fremantle performed last year, believing their miserable four-win campaign was an aberration.
Having contested finals in each of the four previous seasons, the Dockers plummeted all the way to 16th on the back of a crippling injury toll.
Despite the retirement of captain Matthew Pavlich, the Dockers look much stronger on paper this year.
Hawthorn's triple premiership winger Bradley Hill heads a strong suit of recruits which also includes key forwards Cam McCarthy (GWS) and Shane Kersten (Geelong) as well as defender Joel Hamling, who was a member of the Western Bulldogs' 2016 flag-winning outfit.
"I think it's a waste of time going back and looking at (Fremantle's) year last year," said Scott ahead of the round-one encounter at Domain Stadium on Sunday evening.
"I don't think that's representative of who they are as a club and where they are right at the moment.
"One, because of the changes that they've made to the list and two, because of the players they've got internally that couldn't have an impact last year.
"McCarthy is far from an unknown quantity but he's going to change their forward line a little bit.
"We know Kersten pretty well. They've clearly got some weapons there that they didn't have last year."
The Cats won't be able to consider midfielder Scott Selwood (foot) and defender Jake Kolodjashnij (groin).
Rookie Zach Guthrie, Brandan Parfitt and Tom Stewart are all in the selection mix to potentially make their senior debuts against the Dockers.
Share
