Cats go looking for versatility in team revamp

ALMOST a quarter of Geelong’s list in 2019 will be made up of new faces, with this week’s national and rookie drafts the final stages of what has been a major transformation at GMHBA Stadium.

The Cats yesterday nominated Geelong Falcons pair Oscar Brownless (father-son) and Blake Schlensog (Next Gen Academy), as the Geelong Advertiser first reported would happen last month.

Provided no rival clubs bid on them at a point Geelong deems early, the duo will join Gary Rohan, Luke Dahlhaus, Nathan Kreuger, Stefan Okunbor and draftees and rookies at training on Monday.

Cats list manager Stephen Wells said Geelong was excited about Schlensog’s development, adding he was anticipating a strong mix of youthful and experienced players would be selected across the draft’s two days.

“We will have a total of about 12 new players on our list over the course of the free agency, trade period and the draft, including signing a couple of category B rookies,” Wells said.

“So we will get a good mix of players, some experienced and a variety of different posi- tions, but we want blokes who will help us in the short term and a little bit longer than that.

“Blake (Schlensog) has improved a lot. He is a developing tall player who has still got a long way to go, but he has got a good attitude, a good size and he has a good understanding of footy as well.”

Geelong said goodbye to 11 players after its loss in week one of the finals, with Aaron Black, Stewart Crameri, Ryan Gardner, Cory Gregson, Matthew Hayball, George HorlinSmith, Timm House, Lincoln McCarthy, Daniel Menzel, Jordan Murdoch and Jackson Thurlow either being delisted or finding new homes.

Wells said the Cats would look for players who could play multiple positions.

“All of our preparation and planning is in identifying the players we would like to bring to the club, and we will of course have to cross off a lot of names before it gets to our second and third picks and beyond, so those decisions are made for us a bit,” he said.

“But we want to bring players to the club that we think can have a good AFL career.

“Having already brought Nathan Kreuger to the club as a young, developing tall, and the potential of Schlensog getting through, gives us a bit of flexibility on the night as well.”