Carji Greeves Medal 2025: All the contenders for Geelong’s best-and-fairest and our predictions

Who will win the coveted Cats prize?

We take a look at all of the contenders.

Max Holmes

Holmes won last year’s Carji Greeves Medal in a landslide, polling 44 more votes than runner-up Zach Guthrie, and went up a notch in 2025. The speedster polled 18 Brownlow votes – compared to 10 last year – and averaged more disposals, inside 50s, score involvements and clearances this season. The 23-year-old has Bailey Smith to contend with this year, but Holmes showed greater consistency than last season which should work in his favour under the voting criteria. Holmes’ strong form continued during the finals series, including 33 disposals and a goal in their grand final defeat.

Jeremy Cameron

A joint-winner of Geelong’s best-and-fairest in 2022, Cameron is one of the top Carji contenders this year after his Coleman Medal winning season. Cameron polled a career-best 20 Brownlow votes and booted 88 goals across the season — kicking four or more majors in half of his 26 games. He finished in third place last year with a return of 66 goals and averaging just a few more touches. Expect Jezza to get plenty of perfect 10s from the judges on Thursday night.

Bailey Smith

Smith has caused controversy off-field, but his on-field form remained ultra-consistent and elite. The ball-magnet averaged 31.3 disposals – ranked No.1 in the AFL – and finished third in the Brownlow Medal with 29 votes in a sensational first season in the hoops. Smith fell below 100 SuperCoach ranking points on just six occasions across his 23 games. The three matches he missed may be the only thing that costs him a Carji Greeves Medal. If he does win it, the speech will be must-listen.

Tom Atkins

Atkins is the dark horse after a career-best season where he broke the AFL tackle record. The inside bull’s selfless work in the clinches is sure to be highly rewarded by Geelong’s coaching staff. Atkins averaged 20.1 disposals, 11.1 contested possessions, 8.8 tackles and 5.1 clearances across the season and finished as runner-up back in 2023 with similar numbers (19.1 disposals, 9.9 contested possessions, 8.2 tackles and 5.6 clearances per game).

Ollie Dempsey

Dempsey finished seventh in Geelong best-and-fairest count last season as he won the Rising Star, and he may better that return Carji Greeves Medal night. Swung into a new forward-half wing role by Chris Scott, Dempsey booted 35 goals this season, and averaged 17 disposals and 6.1 score involvements. He was one of Geelong’s best on grand final day with 19 touches and four goals.

Gryan Miers

Miers put his pinpoint kicking on display again in 2025 and relished his midfield move later in the season. The dynamic forward-midfielder averaged a career-highs for disposals (22.3) and marks (5.7), and recorded seven score involvements per game – second only to his 2023 return where he broke the goal assist record

Patrick Dangerfield

Shifted from the engine room to the attacking 50, Dangerfield started the season like a house on fire. The Geelong captain slotted 30 goals and was equal second in the competition – with teammate Brad Close – for goal assists despite missing three games. Dangerfield should receive 10/10 votes for his epic preliminary final performance, and he had plenty more matchwinning outings. The three-time Carji Greeves medallist finished 10th in last year’s count despite missing eight games.

Zach Guthrie

Guthrie doesn’t steal headlines but he is highly rated internally, as his last two best-and-fairest finishes in 2024 (second) and 2023 (fourth) prove. The reliable defender produced similar numbers in 2025 to his 2024 season, albeit with less intercepts. Guthrie played every game this season and polled a Brownlow vote in round four with 30 disposals, 17 marks and seven intercepts.

Shaun Mannagh

Being recognised as the AFL Coaches Association’s Best Young Player raised eyebrows, but it underlined the impact Mannagh had in his second AFL season. Mannagh picked up where he left off returning from a pre-season foot injury, booting 31 goals and averaging 18.3 disposals, 6.9 score involvements and 4.9 tackles.

Tom Stewart

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How well will Stewart poll after missing six games with injury and suffering in-game injuries in another two? The dual Carji Greeves medallist has a strong polling history on his side, finishing fourth last season despite being hit by tags and winning the award in 2021 and 2023. He should poll well in his stellar qualifying final display and he finished the home-and-away season well.

Shannon Neale

Neale enjoyed a breakout season in 2025 as he started to take games by the scruff of the neck. The 203cm key forward ranked second at Geelong for goals for 44 and finished the season strongly, booting three goals or more on seven occasions in the last nine home-and-away rounds. He was ninth in the competition for contested marks and, surprisingly, eighth for tackles inside 50.

Originally published as Carji Greeves Medal 2025: All the contenders for Geelong’s best-and-fairest and our predictions