So too does the emergence of first-round draft pick Nakia Cockatoo, who Selwood is happy to hype as a ready-to-go factor in the club's premiership challenge this season as the 18-year-old livewire presses for a round one debut.

Every season, analysts look for reasons why Geelong can't contend for a premiership, and in the past few years it has been Selwood as captain who has provided reasons why they can, and the star midfielder has done so again heading into another Easter Monday blockbuster against Hawthorn.

Aside from the explosive Cockatoo, Selwood said the addition of Mitch Clark to the forward line and the expected return to full fitness of ruckmen of Dawson Simpson and Hamish McIntosh had Geelong better equipped to handle September than they did in last year's straight-sets finals exit.

But it also the development of the Cats non-triple premiership generation - players such as Cam Guthrie, Josh Caddy and Mitch Duncan (who played in the 2011 flag), which Selwood believes might help bridge the gap that existed between Geelong and more seasoned teams such as Hawthorn, Sydney and Fremantle last year.

"I'm excited," Selwood said when asked if he was more optimistic about the team's chance in 2015, than in other years where he has defended their premiership credentials.

"The last couple of years when we've gone into finals series, we've had to put a lot of reliance on guys who just haven't played enough games and so don't have the experience," he said.

"We were in a position in a preliminary final a couple of years ago [2013] where we got beaten by a better side [Hawthorn] because they knew how to do the right thing at the right time.

"But those kids are growing up quick now and that's what I'm looking forward to."

Though Geelong's knack for introducing young players around its experienced core of stars has allowed the club to continue to threaten for premierships even while regenerating, few draft picks have made a bigger impression at Simonds Stadium in such as short space of time than Cockatoo.

Taken at pick 10 in last year's national draft, the Northern Territory midfielder - listed at 185cms and 82 kgs - was a standout in the Cats' NAB Challenge campaign, impressing the coaching staff with his blistering pace, evasive skills and maturity.

Coach Chris Scott said after the team's NAB Challenge match against Carlton that he would buy a membership "just to watch Nakia Cockatoo play", revealing he had already emerged as a legitimate option to play in the midfield.

Selwood, the leader of the Cats' onball unit, agreed.

"It's great for out footy club," he said. "He's definitely in a position to play round one. He kicked that Supergoal against Adelaide [in NAB Two] that I think we all went 'wow', and then the run through the middle against Carlton [NAB Three] was similar. So I think he is going to give us something each week."

While other teams are adding to their list to keep up with the Hawks, Alastair Clarkson's team is trying to find ways to stay ahead.

Other than the outside run from injury-returning players like Jed Anderson, Brendan Whitecross and a fitter Cyril Rioli will provide this year, Hawks captain Luke Hodge said the arrival of James Frawley from Melbourne had also given the team greater flexibility with their key position players.

First on that list is incumbent defender Josh Gibson, who was a star of the NAB Challenge for the Hawks playing a new role as a roaming player impacting the game further up the ground.

"Gibbo has probably been stuck in that role for four or five years and had done it very well," Hodge said.

"But I guess having Chip [Frawley] come in, Lakey [Brian Lake] fit and Matt Spangher as well, it gives us a little bit of flexibility to free him up," he said.

"I think we can even play Brian a little bit up forward as well."