A SLIMMER Tom Hawkins will be allowed to settle in one role in 2016 after being forced last year to plug holes inside 50.

Hawkins still averaged more than two goals a game and won 29 per cent of his attacking one-on-ones (third best in the AFL) last year, but his coach admits the key forward could be better if less stretched.

The lack of other options at times saw Hawkins targeted and the Cats' scoring dropped below 2000 points for the first time under Scott.

"Last year we were asking him to fill two or three roles for us, which is not ideal," Scott told AFL.com.au.

In 2015, the leading goalkicker spent 93 per cent of game time on the ground despite battling at times with injury niggles and a less-than-ideal preparation.

This pre-season Hawkins has managed to get miles in the legs as well as improving his speed off the mark and agility in a solid pre-season.

"He is in good shape," Scott said.

"He doesn't have any of the niggling injuries that he's had in the past and he has been able to do the work, so that is the most important part."

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Scott said the forward set-up surrounding Hawkins, who is getting married in mid-March, should be stronger, allowing the big forward to concentrate on one role.

Nathan Vardy, Rhys Stanley, Mitch Clark and Shane Kersten are all potential tall sidekicks while the Cats could rotate Daniel Menzel, Steven Motlop, Patrick Dangerfield, Nakia Cockatoo, Darcy Lang, Joel Selwood and Lincoln McCarthy through the forward 50 to pick up the crumbs.

Recruit Lachie Henderson has been training to play down back, although he told the club's season launch on Tuesday night he hoped to drift forward occasionally and kick goals.

Despite the individual talent, how the forwards gel as a team will determine their potency. 

"There are options there and the names look pretty good to us on the magnet board but none of them have played that much footy together," Scott said.

McCarthy has not played since the Cats' most recent final in 2014, with a recurring foot injury keeping him sidelined.

Although he is still a way away from being a feature in Geelong's team, he has surprised many with the quality of his training in the past month.

"It's exciting for us because we are seeing him train and we are seeing what he can do," Scott said.

"We've seen little bits and pieces in the past but the reality is that he just hasn't been able piece together any long periods of training or games."