Geelong's ongoing mission to introduce new faces and roles without surrendering familiar, winning ways will again be a compelling thread of the 2015 AFL season narrative. Guthrie's evolution from run-with to ball-winning midfielder - like Mark Blicavs' imminent testing of the waters in defence - is merely part of Chris Scott's evolving blue and white tapestry.

"I've come from a small defender into a tagging midfielder," Guthrie says. "This year I might still do a little bit of tagging, but talking to the coaches, they're keen for me to use more attacking flair and have the footy in my hands a bit more. I think that's the plan."

Thoughtful and understated, Guthrie isn't in the habit of blowing his own trumpet. Asked to sell why he might be ready to blossom unencumbered in the area of the ground that has been the bedrock of Geelong's modern-day success, he is matter-of-fact.

"I've got 64 games under my belt now, I feel pretty comfortable at the level. My body's at the point where it's AFL-mature now. I'm 22, I've done a lot of training, injury-wise I've been fairly lucky. Physically, I'm ready to go this year."

Guthrie's AFL apprenticeship was initially served under the guidance of Corey Enright and Andrew Mackie in the back line. Last season he progressed to running with some of the game's best on-ballers, which was self-evidently both a hard school and the best way to learn the trade.

Yet there was some give in the leash around his neck, Guthrie telling Fairfax Media mid-season that once the guns had led him to the ball, he enjoyed the confidence of teammates and coaches to back himself to win it too. He stood Patrick Dangerfield, Scott Pendlebury and Sam Mitchell in the early rounds of 2014, returned to defence against Port Adelaide to shackle Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard, and regularly upped his career-high possession count, which peaked at 33 in the round 22 loss to Hawthorn.

New teachings have dominated his summer. Guthrie thinks fitness was a flaw in a season that ended in uncommon straight-sets September elimination. Under new strength and conditioning guru Scott Murphy - formerly of the Wallabies, Brisbane Lions and Australian Olympic track and field team - the Cats have done more running and introduced a different weights regime.

Matthew Knights and Nigel Lappin have moved to midfield coaching roles and Guthrie credits them with "looking to develop my game in ways that will hopefully benefit the team". His pre-season homework has included studying Fremantle's modern midfield prototype Nat Fyfe.

"I've done a bit of modelling my game on him. All those guys are great attacking midfielders. If I can take some of their attributes they carry with them, you'll see me win a little bit more ball and help the team out."

Scott spoke this week of the likelihood that Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly - latterly employed in more forward and defensive roles respectively - would be pivotal in addressing a perceived lack of midfield experience. As will the continued emergence of 20-somethings like Guthrie, Josh Caddy and Mitch Duncan.

The coach has no doubt those whose duties and expectations are about to change are ready, and expects to see immediate results. "The ones who have new roles, who've played a bit of footy, we would be anticipating they'll play better than they did last year, otherwise we wouldn't do it," Scott said.

Guthrie acknowledges the run that left Kardinia Park with the departures of Travis Varcoe and Allen Christensen, but sees new growth blooming in the likes of second-year players Darcy Lang and Jarrad Jansen, and likes the addition of former Demon Sam Blease.

He's excited about the new challenge. And he's quietly confident that he's ready to meet it.