GEELONG youngster Billie Smedts is confident he can make a big impression in 2012.

Smedts, who was the Cats' first selection (number 15 overall) in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft, didn't play at all last season after needing surgery in May to fix a hip problem.

"My hips weren't right, so we thought we'd get the operation done as soon as possible to give me the best crack at pre-season," Smedts told AFL.com.au on Thursday.

"I got that done and then spent the rest of the year in rehab, trying to get my hips as strong as I could.

"I'm ready to go for pre-season, which is exciting. I haven't really done a full pre-season before, so I'm trying to get a good start."

The 19-year-old defender from North Warrnambool has now set his sights on making his AFL debut early next season.

"I feel like I'm starting my career with Geelong now," Smedts said.

"The first thing is just to get through the pre-season and get my body in the best shape I can, so that when the NAB Cup comes around I can hopefully put my hand up and get a few games.

"I hope I can show some things to 'Scotty' [Cats coach Chris Scott] that he likes, so he'll put me in the team for round one, which would be a nice little reward."

Smedts, along with seven of his first- and second-year teammates, is taking part in a pre-season training camp at Falls Creek in Victoria's high country.

"I suppose it's a bit of high-altitude stuff," he said.

"Not as high as Arizona or anything like that, but it's as close as we could get to that type of place while staying in Victoria.

"We've done a fair bit of hiking. We just set off from our lodge, hike up a couple of mountains, and see where it takes us.

"We go until our legs start burning and then we head back.

"We've also been doing plenty of bike riding. On the first day we had a 45km ride and yesterday we had a 60km ride.

"This morning we had a footy skills session with some running, and tomorrow we've got another run, so it's pretty full-on."

A number of second- and third-year players will travel to Falls Creek over the weekend to take part in the rest of the camp.

Leadership group members Jimmy Bartel and Joel Selwood, who are both in line to replace retired skipper Cameron Ling as the club's next captain, are also making the trip into the hills, as are Grand Final hero Tom Hawkins and small forward Mathew Stokes.

The rest of the players are due back at training in Geelong on Monday, November 21.

Although many other clubs are holding pre-season camps overseas, Smedts is glad the Cats are staying close to home.

"A few of the boys have already done a fair bit of travelling in the off-season, and I think the plane rides can take it out of you," he said.

"I'm pretty happy to be staying in Australia. I went over to Hong Kong for a holiday and that was enough travelling for me for the moment."

Smedts and his teammates almost had to call off their training program on Thursday after 80mm of rain and hail was dumped on Falls Creek and the surrounding peaks.

But the recent retirements of Ling and fellow triple premiership player Brad Ottens are driving Geelong's youngsters to train hard regardless of the weather.

"A few holes have definitely opened up in the team," Smedts said.

"Scotty said as soon as he got to the club that he's keen to play the young kids, so I just want to push my name up the order and get a game."