A week out from the mid-season draft, the Cats are still working through a host of scenarios as two important players continue talks on new deals.
By not signing a player over the summer period, the Cats left a spot open on their list to fill in the mid-season draft on May 31.
Only once in the modern AFL mid-year draft has Geelong taken part, when it took forward Zane Williams last year.
The Cats drafted Zane Williams last year. Picture Dean Martin
Williams didn’t play a game and was let go off the list at the end of 2022.
The Cats have been playing with several holes in their team this year, with reborn defender Esava Ratugolea played as a solo tall back at times and Sam De Koning sent into the ruck at other times.
But the Cats are confident those holes will be filled in coming weeks as a crop of players eye a return including Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan, Jack Bowes and Cam Guthrie, while De Koning, Ollie Henry and Gary Rohan push to play this week against GWS Giants.
Cats list boss Andrew Mackie confirmed to the Geelong Addy that the club was still working through whether it participates in the draft.
Geelong can wait until draft night to make its decision.
Youngster Jhye Clark will take some time off his feet in coming weeks after scans pointed to a navicular stress reaction in his foot but that won’t slow down any talks between the Cats and his management.
Gryan Miers. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images
The first-round draft pick has been in communication with the club about an extension to his draft deal, which carries on to the end of next year.
Several other early picks from last year’s draft, such as North Melbourne pair George Wardlaw and Harry Sheezel, have extended their deals this year.
The Cats have been consistently impressed with the teen’s attitude and skill at training and he showed strong glimpses of his talent when subbed in for his debut quarter against Richmond in round 9, before complaining of foot soreness the next week.
Premiership player Gryan Miers is also edging closer to a new deal.
The forward’s contract expires at the end of this year and he told the Geelong Addy last month that “I definitely want to stay at Geelong”.