After the false start that was Opening Round for Geelong, vice-captain Tom Stewart is keen for the challenge Fremantle will provide to start the new season at GMHBA Stadium on Saturday.
The Dockers have no fear of the Cats’ home, winning their past two meetings at the venue, three of their past five, and four from seven dating back to the infamous 2013 qualifying final.
Before that unique September outing at Kardinia Park, Fremantle had only won once in nine appearances.
“It’s a real challenge,” Stewart, who turns 32 on the day of the game, said. “I’ve got a lot of respect for every line of their team.
“They’ve got threats all over the board, and we’re really excited to come up against them in Round 1.
“They’re going to be fresh. They’re going to be hungry.
“By all reports, they’ve had a really good pre-season, as every team has at this time of the year. So we’re excited to come up against them on our home deck.”
Saturday will mark the highly-anticipated Geelong debut of former Western Bulldog Bailey Smith following his off-season move down the highway.
Smith played the most recent of his 103 AFL games in the final round of the 2023 season before suffering a serious knee injury that wiped out his 2024.
“I think he’s jumping out of his skin, to be honest with you,” Stewart said.
“It’s been a long and challenging road for him individually, but ever since he’s got to the club, I’ve been really proud of the way he’s applied himself to his craft and to his work.
“He’s obviously different, with the way that he comes with the media attention and his character.
“But I can only speak so highly of the way he’s embraced our culture and come in, put his head down, got to work.
“And he’s really dragged a lot of the young boys along with him as well.”
For Stewart, one area of Smith’s game has caught his eye.
“Just his ability to play with penetration is something that we’re really excited about,” Stewart said.
“He gets the ball going our way, he’s strong in the contest, and he drives his legs and uses his foot, which is, it’s as good as you’ll see, I think.
“We saw that as an 18, 19, 20, 21-year-old, and if he can bring those traits to our team, it’s going to really help.”
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