CATS’ QUEST TO RETAIN YOUTH
PUSH TO SIGN FOUR KEY YOUNGSTERS
GEELONG is eyeing off fresh deals for four of its young guns following its disappointing finals exit last week.
The Cats are in negotiations with highly talented midfielder Quinton Narkle, small forward Brad Close and defenders Nathan Kreuger and Zach Guthrie as the club looks to lock away some of its brightest uncontracted young talent.
It comes as Geelong weighs up the direction it will take with its ageing list in the off-season, with a shift to prioritising drafting rather than topping up with senior players from rival clubs on the cards.
Despite that, Lachie Henderson could also be re-signed in coming weeks, with the backman being another out-of-contract Cat in talks with the club about going on for another season.
He would join fellow veterans Rhys Stanley and Gary Rohan in signing new deals if he and Geelong come to an agreement on extending his 206-game career.
Narkle played 16 matches in 2021 but he was used as the medi-sub on multiple occasions and did not see any game time in four of those outings, while in another he played just 4 per cent of game time.
His silky skills and ability to win contested ball is seen as a major asset and despite not getting as many opportunities as he would have liked, it is known he loves Geelong and his signature would be a huge bonus as it looks to blood more young talent in 2022.
His manager, Ralph Carr, told SEN on Thursday that he expected Narkle to stay at the Cats.
“To be totally transparent, we’re working through a deal (to stay),”
Carr said. “If we get the deal done, great, if we can’t get the deal done, he might go. But at this point I’m hopeful he’s going to stay and that we can get the right deal across the line.
“It’s never been anything but positive with the Cats from the day I started managing Quinton. They’ve been terrific, the Cats.”
Kreuger was used sparingly – he played two games including his AFL debut in round 20 – this year but the Cats have long been fans of his versatility and were impressed with his performances in the senior side.
Reports have suggested Collingwood is keen on acquiring the 22-year-old but Geelong has identified him as an important part of its future.
Close made his first appearance in round 4 this year but did not miss a game from that moment after playing just eight games last season, with his tackling and forward pressure a welcome addition to the Cats’ attack. It is expected Guthrie, whose brother Cam recently signed a four-year extension at Geelong, will also stay in the blue-and-white hoops after breaking into the side late in the year.