‘Smart move’ for Cats to lure ex-Falcons
THE targeting of homegrown products Gary Rohan and Luke Dahlhaus is a smart recruiting tactic for the Cats, according to Geelong Falcons talent manager Mick Turner.
Geelong — who yesterday parted ways with six players, including Cory Gregson and Stewart Crameri — has been linked with Sydney forward Rohan and Bulldogs free agent Dahlhaus in an attempt to improve on their eighth-placed finish to 2018.
Turner said both players would be suitable trade targets for Geelong, particularly be- cause both hail from the area.
“The recruiting strategy of Geelong to bring back the exFalcons is a sound one because it’s a great lifestyle down here,” Turner said.
“I personally think it’s a great strategy.
“They’ve already brought back Ablett, Dangerfield and Henderson, haven’t they? After players have been drafted and been at a club for a number of years and they’re a free agent, I think that’s a positive thing for Geelong to pursue.”
Turner said Rohan, 27, in particular, could become an even better player with the Cats’ brand of football.
“Gary Rohan at Sydney has to play a pretty defensive role,” he said.
“When he was with us (at the Falcons) he was probably one of the most exciting players I’ve ever seen.
“We used to pick him on a wing or half-forward and let him freewheel a little bit. He had to defend, of course, but he’s just got enormous pace. But if you’re in congestion and stoppages all the time like Sydney play, it’s difficult to show that.
“(But) there’d be some competition with North Melbourne for him, because he and Ben Cunnington were drafted the same year from Cobden and they’re pretty good mates and they’ve both got the same manager.”
But Turner said he would find it hard to believe St Kilda would let Jack Steven, another Falcons product, walk to the Cats.
“I know Jack really well. I’ve known him since he was 15 or 16 years old. He’s best mates with one of my sons,” he said.
“I think Jack would like to come home, he loves the surf and the lifestyle and has a beautiful property in Lorne that his parents live in and maintain.
“But that would be a hard one to do because he’s St Kilda’s only A-grade player.
“Jack’s still contracted and he’s a pretty highly-paid player and I think he’s still got two years to go on his contract.”
Turner said Geelong’s biggest target this off-season would just be to add talent to the list, whether through trades or the draft.