Cats embrace Ablett, Stringer switch

HARRY Taylor says Geelong’s senior players are on board with an offseason trade windfall that could secure the club Gary Ablett and Jake Stringer.

Taylor, 31, has one more season on a fiveyear contract and says the drive to win another premiership is his biggest motivation.

Western Bulldogs halfforward Stringer would like to play at Geelong next year and Ablett’s management says he would take a pay cut to return to his first club.

Taylor says his message to the club’s powerbrokers has been they should do anything they can to keep Geelong in contention.

“Our recruiters have done a fantastic job up until now with our club. One thing we ask is they just give us the best chance to compete every single year,’’ he said.

“It’s the only thing as a leader I ask of the club, just give us a chance to be successful. They have taken that on board and been fantastic in picking up players in the draft or trading players who have kept us relevant and kept us in the finals.”

Asked if that included adding Ablett and Stringer, he said he was on board: “Whatever decision they decide to make, hopefully they do it with that in mind, that we stay relevant and stay competitive.”

Taylor, 31, is yet to decide when to hang up his boots, but says people he trusts will let him know when it is time to retire.

“I will have a chat to the relevant people at some point. I have some people who will let me know,” he said.