EMERGING Geelong star Joel Selwood has warned that Mark Thompson's Cats can improve a lot this year.

While Grand Final conqueror Hawthorn is the young, vibrant team challenging a potential Geelong dynasty, Selwood says the Cats aren't going anywhere.

Tom Harley is expected to retire after this season, Darren Milburn is 31 and Cameron Mooney and Matthew Scarlett turn 30 this year.

But Selwood says the team will improve and the youthful half of the list will keep the club a powerhouse for years.

"We have an older group that is getting towards the end, but there are still a lot of younger guys," Selwood said.

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"Joel Corey only just turned 27 and Cameron Ling is only 27, so they still have a lot of footy ahead of them.

"They are known as older guys because they have been here for eight or nine years, but we have about 20 blokes who are 21 and under."

Selwood, 20, is one of a group including Tom Hawkins, Travis Varcoe, Mark Blake, Ryan Gamble and Andrew Mackie who still have considerable upside.

"I definitely see a lot of improvement in my game and I have worked on a lot of areas where I want to improve," Selwood said.

"There is Dan McKenna, who on the weekend played well and looks to play a lot like Darren Milburn, so hopefully we can speed up those guys for when 'Dasher' decides to pull the pin.

"Then Scarlo (Scarlett) has a little prodigy back in Geelong too, and Harry Taylor has put on size this year and looks big and strong and, hopefully, Matty Egan gets a chance to come back. Then we have got the Hawk (Tom Hawkins) in the forward line."

Despite his tender years, Selwood last year finished fifth in Brownlow Medal voting and polled Norm Smith votes - one of few Geelong players to hold their head high on Grand Final day.

Yesterday he launched the NAB Auskick season, and became an ambassador for the AFL's junior development program.

The former NAB AFL Rising Star winner will help give away 50,000 newly designed footballs, and next year will mentor the player deemed Auskicker of the Year.

"Every week they give the award to one kid who is playing in the right spirit, not necessarily the best player," Selwood said. "Auskick is where I started, and it's important that you give back."

Selwood says new tactics expected to be introduced this year will favour Geelong.

He says the Cats will be better placed to play through defensive zones better than rival teams.

"The game will be more about skill this year," he said.

"Everyone is talking about the cluster being introduced, and you have just got to work on your skill level.

"We have got to become perfectionists in that and work out the game and stay ahead of the game."