THURLOW LIMBO
THE future of Geelong defender Jackson Thurlow will remain up in the air until season’s end, with the 24-year-old and the club agreeing to put talks for a new deal on hold until the end of the year.
Thurlow, who comes out of contract at season’s end, has been unable to nail down a permanent role with the Cats in 2018 and has played just six AFL games this season.
He managed 10 matches in his first year back from a knee reconstruction in 2017 and has been named emergency several times this season on the back of some solid form in the VFL.
But it is understood he has grown frustrated with his lack of opportunities at senior level at GMHBA Stadium.
Several clubs have shown an interest in acquiring Thurlow, who Geelong selected with its first selection — pick number 16 overall — in the 2012 draft. The Tasmanian’s manager, Tim Hazell, told the Geelong Advertiser his client’s preference was to stay with the Cats, but all parties had agreed to wait until the end of the season to recommence discussions.
Hazell said Thurlow’s focus was on finishing the season as strongly as he could but did not rule out the possibility of him leaving Geelong at the end of the year.
“We’ve had some really open and honest conversations and have all agreed that we should just wait until the end of the season, and that’s what we’ll do,” Hazell said.
“Geelong is great to deal with, so we will be open and honest and work through it.
“If we weren’t doing anything with the Cats, he’s happy to go wherever. Jacko is pretty flexible so we will just wait and see.
“It is a bit of a waiting game at the moment but Jacko can control the way he finishes the season and then we will take those conversations to the next level.”
Thurlow is one of several Geelong players out of contract with just two matches left in the home-and-away season.
The Cats have already resigned key pillars Mark Blicavs and Cam Guthrie as well as emerging stars Esava Ratugolea, Jack Henry, Lachie Fogarty and Quinton Narkle, but discussions with Jordan Murdoch and free agent George Horlin-Smith remain ongoing.
Daniel Menzel looms as the next key player Geelong would like to have locked away, but with a one-yeardeal the best he can hope for at the Cats, he is likely to wait until after the season before making a call on his future.
St Kilda has reportedly shown a keen interest in securing Menzel for next year.