Cats’ draft picks hits and misses
ALL the signs are that Fogarty is going to be a long-term player for Geelong and while Constable is yet to play a senior game, insiders at the Cats love what they have seen. Tim Kelly was the standout of this draft, finishing in second place in the club best-and-fairest award rd in his first year at AFL level, and even though he may not be there beyond the end of 2019, his trade currency will be so high that Geelong should do considerably well at trade time if he wants to leave. Early days, but looks to be a good crop. NO pick in the top 25 but Parfitt, Stewart, Ratugolea and Narkle all look the goods. Stewart was All-Australian in just his second season and before his shattering leg injury, , Ratugolea showed signs that he was capable of being the player Geelong hoped he could be when it took him at pick 43. The rookies from this batch also look incredibly promising, particularly Henry, whose versatility saw him hold down key defensive and forward posts in 2018. ALWAYS tough when you don’t enter the draft until almost pick 60. Gardner and Hayball did not manage a senior game from this crop and there are still queries on whether Buzza is up to AFL level. While Parsons has been promoted from the rookie list, he has some work to do to establish himself in Geelong’s best 22. Menegola has been a decent pick up at 66. DIFFICULT one to judge given Cockatoo has the potential to be an A-grader if he gets his body right. Nobody could have foreseen the foot problems that Gregson was going to endure, and Gore’s contribution to the Cats was landing Patrick Dangerfield, so that was a plus. Cunico seems to be more than capable of holding his own and should get some more game time in 2019. Kolodjashnij, who despite stints on the wing in 2017 appears set for a lengthy career as a backman in the blue-and-white hoops. But it is difficult to see much else of note here. Lang never reached his potential at the he Cats and is now at Carlton, the rookies were a miss, and the two promoted rookies are both gone, with Walker still on an AFL list at Brisbane. JUST the two picks in the national draft and one rookie promotion in 2012, but six years s on there isn’t a lot to write home about for Geelong. The Cats probably never got to see the best of Thurlow, who has now been given a fresh start at Sydney. Hartman’s five games did not produce anything overly exciting. 2010 ANOTHER miss when you consider first round pick Smedts played at Leopold this year after a failed stint at Carlton and has since moved back to Warrnambool. Guthrie is a victim of his flexibility but has s the potential to be elite while Horlin-Smith just struggled for opportunities in a star-studded midfield. Not the worst group, but a long way from the best. FOUR of Geelong’s first five picks were cruelled by injury in their time at Kardinia Park, with Mitch Duncan — a 2011 premiership player — the only player from this batch still at the club. Menzel could have been anything and showed enough on his return from four knee reconstructions to justify the decision to take him at pick 17, while Christensen managed to play in a premiership before his move to Brisbane. Vardy could not stay on the park long enough to do any damage but he has s found form at West Coast t where he won a flag this year. Podsiadly was a cunning selection at pick 50 in the rookie draft. 2008 i CLEARLY one standout from this group — Steven Motlop — in what was an otherwise disappointing year following a disappointing loss to Hawthorn in the grand d final. Brown has done well for r himself at Essendon but did little at Geelong, while Gillies and Hunt are no longer on AFL lists. The rookies were all misses here as well.