THE DRIVER WHO KEPT CATS’ MOTOR PURRING

GEELONG’S biggest departure this off-season won’t be an Andrew Mackie or a Tom Lonergan, or even a Steven Motlop or a Daniel Menzel.

It will be the straightshooting yet considered and highly regarded football manager Steve Hocking, the former blue-collar Cats defender whose fingerprints have been all over the club’s decade of high level success.

“He’s one of the greatest men I’ve men I’ve met in footy,” former Geelong forward Cam Mooney said yesterday.

“If I was coaching and got a senior gig, there’s three people I’d want around me. Brendan McCartney would be my assistant, Brian Cook the CEO and I’ve have Steve Hocking as the football manager.”

Hocking’s ability to hold the players’ respect while having the conviction to make ruthless and at times unpopular decisions saw him climb the Cats’ internal hierarchy.

No key decision in the football department happens without Hocking’s involvement. Delistings, coaching appointments, injury management, player contracts, staff appointments, recruitment, legal defence for tribunal cases . . . the list goes on.

Every time this newsroom calls the club for an injury update, we’re told “speak to Hock”. How’s that player contract going? “Speak to Hock”. When’s the coach going to re-sign? “Speak to Hock”.

Trade and free agency targets? “Talk to Hock, or Stephen Wells”. Will Geelong challenge the match review panel’s finding? “Speak to Hock”.

Hocking had been groomed as a potential successor to Cook as chief executive and still had a couple of years to run on his contract at the Cats.

After more than a decade behind the scenes, Hocking goes with Geelong’s blessing, but will leave a big hole.

In recent times, aside from the day-to-day football