CATS IN MIX FOR WOOLLER
OAKLEIGH Chargers captain Toby Wooller is looming as one of the fairytale stories of Friday night’s draft, with speculation Geelong could nab the grandson of 1963 premiership captain Fred Wooller.
The Cats have three secondround picks in the draft and could use one to select the 18year-old Wooller, who finished third on the TAC Cup goalkicking table this year with 43 majors. Geelong will enter the draft at selection No. 22 and also holds picks 24 and 35.
Wooller is viewed as a second-round selection, impressing during the season as a marking forward at 193cm and 90kg and showing an ability to win his own ball when rotated through the midfield.
Wooller said Geelong’s interest in recruiting him had been “on par with other clubs” throughout the year.
“Like most boys, growing up supporting that team, it would be great to end up at a club you’ve supported for so long,” Wooller said.
“It would be the same with any other club, you’d just be ready to go and hoping to put your best foot forward.”
The Camberwell Sharks junior played 16 TAC Cup games this year and was named in the Chargers’ best players 10 times to take home the club’s best-and-fairest.
He also cracked two games for Vic Metro at the national championships and ran an impressive time of 6min32sec for the 2km time trial at the draft combine, highlighting his endurance for a player of his size.
Wooller’s grandfather Fred played 132 games for Geelong, last pulling on the hoops in 1964. He was a best-and-fairest winner and three-time leading goalkicker at the Cats.
Wooller said his grandfather would be proud if he was recruited to Geelong.
“I’m sure he’d be the first one down at Kardinia Park just cheering me on,” he said.
“Not too sure where I sit but like I said, growing up supporting them, it would be very surreal ending up at such a great club, which I’ve been lucky enough to support growing up.”